The answer is: A. obsession
.
In the excerpt from "Moby D*ck," by Herman Melville, the narrator describes Captain Ahab's determination and fixation to kill the whale that caught his leg. Thus, Ishmael mentions Ahab's upright posture, his coraugeous persistance, and devoted look towards a dangerous task like encountering the whale.
The author uses first person perspective to help create suspense in this passage.
Having the author experience the events along with the narrator creates a sense of calm and happiness at first, lulling the narrator (and the reader) into a sense of comfort. Then, seeing the surprise and the horror of her older face the narrator and the reader discover it together and the mood shifts instantly.
