Which best explains why Melville refers to Captain Ahab as “supreme lord and dictator” in the first paragraph of Chapter 28 of Moby-Dick?

“Supreme lord and dictator” describes Ahab as having absolute authority aboard the ship. The phrase suggests that he—not the crew—makes the important decisions. It does not mean he shares power equally or is the only person who works on deck, so C is the best answer.

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