Ishmael is a good example of an American Character because of his drive towards self progression and because of his desire to explore.  He leaves his job as a school teacher because this job lacked meaning or importance to Ishmael, he then chooses a job that is extremely dangerous and socially looked down upon, he is one of the lowest members in the crew of the Pequod but still he has progressed as a person.  He finds that he respects himself more and is less depressed as a rower than as a school teacher.  Just because somebody has drive for progression doesn’t mean that they have ambitions at greatness, they might simply wish to improve themselves and in doing so, improve their self images as well.  Ishmael also chooses a job in which he travels all over the world in unknown waters in search of the largest animals of the planet in order to fight them.  His will to explore and to progress to a point where he is “at the top” (after killing the worlds largest animal) shows how he has a truly American way about him.