Billy Budd, by Herman Melville is an allegory; because the characters represent abstract qualities. Billy Budd represents Jesus Christ, Captain Vere represents God, and John Claggart represents Lucifer. ... Billy Budd was an innocent man physically and mentally. ... Billy Budd suffers a similar demise. ... The classic battle between innocence and evil comes alive with symbolism in Herman Melville's allegory, Billy Budd, with Billy Budd, Captain Vere, and Claggart being portrayed as Jesus Christ, God, and Lucifer. ...

• Word Count: 995
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

Many themes relating to the conflict between Good and Evil can be found in Herman Melville's novella Billy Budd, Foretopman. ... Perhaps one of the most widely recognized themes in Billy Budd is the corruption of innocence by society (Gilmore 18). Society in Billy Budd is represented by an eighteenth century English man-of-war, the H.M.S. ... Most critics agree that Vere had to punish Billy, whether he was innocent or not, to assure the obedient well-being of society ("Billy Budd"). ... When broken down into its simplest parts, Billy Budd deals with Billy, the representative...

• Word Count: 1646
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

In Herman Melville's Billy Budd, Sailor, readers are introduced to the conflict of good and evil between Billy Budd and Claggart. ... Vere's character is written to be a medium between Billy Budd and Claggart. ... Captain Vere was murmuring Billy Budd. ... Instead he is murmuring, acknowledging what the innocent Billy Budd meant to him and what Billy Budd taught him. Billy Budd taught him that there is a balance between conscience and duty. ...

• Word Count: 1960
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

He doesn't know if Billy Budd is capable of treason; with his cheerful, innocent, friendly spirit, how could he be? Every man on the ship seems to be infatuated with Billy. Any imperfections seem to be hidden, and in that assumption, Billy is perfection. ... The Captain is put in a very difficult position, yet must make the decision to put Billy to death or set him free. With just a mere accusation, Captain Vere doesn't necessarily believe that Billy Budd is guilty of planning a mutiny aboard the Bellipotent. ...

• Word Count: 337
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: High School

In the short novel "Billy Budd" written by Herman Melville, Captain Vere's choice of whether or not a single character such as Billy Budd possesses a higher importance than that of the general public is debated. ... While contemplating on the fate of Billy Budd, Captain Vere who is "prompted by duty and the law," (Melville 69) responds and declares that this state of affairs must be dealt with in "a practical manner." ...

• Word Count: 381
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Why Voltaire and his Ideas are Critical to the Development of Major Themes in Billy Budd In describing Billy Budd's transfer to the Indomitable from the Rights of Man, Melville writes in regards to the latter vessel: That was the merchant ship's name; tho' by her master and crew abbreviated in sailor fashion into The Rights. ... (Foley, p. 163) Thus, what is of significance in Billy Budd is not so much the work of Voltaire the thinker as the role which that work had in unleashing events to which Voltaire would personally have been opposed. Voltaire in this regard could ...

• Word Count: 1389
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: Undergraduate