Ursula's Discussion Question (Ch. 36-42)

Shakespearean tragedy (with which Melville was well versed) often revolves around a great character flaw, the greatest of these being an inevitable fate. These fates are often displayed through prophesies. For Captain Ahab, is the idolatrous history of his name is his greatest prophesy? How then, does Chapter 36, the chapter in which the Captain finally states his intention portray him as keeping with his prophesies or breaking with them? If so, does this make him a villain or a tragic hero?