Contemplative, Brooding, Introspective, And Somber.

Starbuck internally struggles with his loyalty to Ahab, his duty, and his moral compass, feeling tied to the mad quest for the white whale.

As dusk settles on the Pequod, Starbuck leans against the mainmast, mired in a deep internal conflict. He feels as if his sanity and reason have been undermined by Ahab's mania. Despite recognizing the madness of Ahab's vendetta against the white whale, Starbuck knows he is bound to follow, powerless to sever his connection. He loathes the despotism he recognizes in Ahab but possesses a touch of pity, which he resents. Starbuck contrasts the revelry of the crew with Ahab's solitary brooding, drawing a parallel between the division on the ship and the dichotomy within his own soul. He feels a latent horror and acknowledges that, despite his humaneness, he is compelled to face menacing futures with the help of the 'blessed influences', which stands as a subtle cry for divine aid or internal strength.