Sure, I understand Starbuck. He is watching his captain unhinge into madness over his whale vendetta. Ahab is putting the ship and crew in risk and hardship. It is only Starbuck who openly opposes Captain Ahab, believing his quest against the great whale to be an impulsive and suicidal folly. However, despite his open misgivings about Ahab and the open hostility between these two characters that culminates when Ahab points his musket at Starbuck, the conflicted Starbuck remains loyal to his captain even when he has the possibility of vanquishing Ahab.