Arthur Gordon Pym, is the son of a Nantucket merchant. Being still very young he befriends the son of a merchant seaman, August Barnard. Impressed by the stories of August and feeling attracted to the marine life by the adventurous and terrible aspects, which fascinate the deep and fiery imagination of the protagonist, Arthur Gordon Pym decides to embark in secret in the whaling ship Grampus, captained by the father of his friend. August himself hides Arthur with some provisions in the stowage, promising that as soon as they are outside the port he will come to free him. But it happens that as soon as the ship reaches the high seas, a rebellion breaks out on board ...