Well, opinions on this vary. From a religious perspective, it's often taken as a true account with deep spiritual significance. But from a strictly historical or scientific viewpoint, there's no concrete evidence to prove its literal truth.
No, the whale story is typically a work of fiction. Authors often draw inspiration from various sources to craft such tales, but in this case, it's not rooted in reality. There are no known real-life events or people that directly correspond to the story of the whale.