The book In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick, is the inspiring story of a Nantucket Essex attacked by an eighty-five sperm whale tons for miles. at the bottom of the ocean. At that time, going on an ocean expedition had its precautions. Although the focus was on food, clean water, medicines, and methods of curing disease, the most neglected handicap was that of the creatures of the ocean. While the men of that ship left the docks as predators, the survivors of the ninety-three day voyage on three small harpoon boats returned as prey. This story gives a beautiful description of the potential of the sperm whale as well as the devastation it can bring. Although whaling is not as popular today, at that time many men made or attempted to make a living in this industry. . Despite the hard work, dangerous standards, and general intimidation, shipmates were lured to the industry for the high wages. When one felt protected by a large ship, weapons, and a fearless captain, it was easy to forget the power of what they were hunting. The sperm whale is the largest of all toothed whales, with males reaching an average size of fifty-two feet and sometimes reaching up to sixty-seven feet in length. “It’s a twenty-foot-wide tail swollen up and down.” (Philbrick, 2000, 82) The domain of life to which the sperm whale belongs is the eukaryote. Indeed, the sperm whale is an organism composed of cells containing a nucleus as well as other structures surrounded by the cell membrane. The kingdom he belongs to is Animalia. This is because they are multicellular organisms. These animals contain other distinct characteristics, including: "Inner digestion of f...... middle of paper ......whale rats are still used in some industries today. These parts of the whale have many applications in biotechnology. Some of these include, but are not limited to: candles, oil lamps, soaps and lubricants. Although their oils are important in some applications, the sperm whale is considered an endangered species. This is mainly due to overhunting. They are also known to get caught in fishing nets, prone to pollution, and can also be seriously affected by ocean debris. Many creatures live in the sea. The sperm whale is one of the many creatures that have a huge impact on the ocean. They are very unique creators, who most people tend to forget about. The sperm whale has created a huge conflict for Essex, leaving the reader wondering what will ultimately happen. This book inspired the book Moby Dick.