That guy might be onto something. Ahab's obsession with the whale is a lot like the crushing focus debt puts on your life. The book becomes a manual for a pointless, self-destructive chase. Melville would probably laugh at the comparison, but it fits.
Totally! It's like how people get stuck chasing promotions or perfect homes too. That same tunnel vision ruins everything else, just leaves you empty. Melville was low-key writing about modern burnout.