Billy Budd

            In the novel, Billy Budd by Herman Melville, emotions, and the actions based on them, play a considerable role in the fate of Billy Budd, Claggart and Captain Vere. Although the emotions vary depending on the individual, their actions all lead to their involuntary demise. The destiny of these individuals is notably intertwined with each other, either through physical relation or mental. Envy, fright, confusion and guilt are three of the major factors that influence this outcome.
             Many times in a persons life they begin to feel a resentful awareness of an advantage of another and desires to possess the same advantage. This is called envy, which Melville uses as one of the reasoning's behind Claggart's motives. "And handsome is as handsome did it too," (35 Melville) says Claggart when Billy accidentally spills soup on the newly scrubbed deck of the mess hall. By this the narrator (Melville) implies Claggart's obsession over Billy's eloquent personal beauty. This jealousy leads Claggart into accusing Billy of fermenting a mutiny conspiracy. Since he cannot have the same advantages, he must destroy them. .
             Claggart's accusation shocks Billy, so strikingly that he looses all words. " amazement at such an accusation so suddenly sprung on inexperienced nonage; this, and, it may be horror of the accuser, serving to bring out his lurking defect and in this instance for the time intensifying it into a convulsed tongue-tie-(61 Melville) This sudden consternation makes him unable to formulate his emotions properly. This inability allows him to act inappropriately and impulsively. " quick as a flame from a discharged cannon at night, his right arm shot out, and Claggart dropped to the deck." (62 Melville) This act of violence unintentionally leads to Claggart's death, and marks the onset of the domino effect.
             As Billy secured Claggart's fate, because of his incapability to express fear and confusion adequately, Captain Vere ensured his.