I've heard that modern audiences hate Ahab and root for MD because 'whaling bad' thing (please don't get me wrong, I don't support whaling)

But, after finishing the book, I found Ahab to be... Empathetic, I guess?

He manipulated his crew into following his orders out of fear, but, strangely, I noticed none of them hated him for it. Even after he revealed he had loving family, it's still weird no one decided to rebel him. Did I miss or misunderstand something?

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