Question

which ailment of mankind is best symbolized by Ahab’s plight? obsession with the past fear of the future respect for nature dependency on others

Answer 1

I believe the answer is obsession with the past
in the novel, Ahab is depicted as the only character that do not grow throughout the story due to his single-minded obsession.
He stabbed his first whale when he was eighteen years old and yet still obsessed until he's almost 50.