There is much to be said about individualism. Feelings of freedom and endless possibilities for individual growth are presented throughout these two novels. Although being an individual has its high points, it is not always the road to take. Billy Budd and Ignatius Reilly were both prime examples of individuals. They both showed individualism in their looks and their actions. Individualism ultimately killed or ran off each of these characters. .
Billy Budd has remarkable looks. He is known as the "Handsome Sailor". He is tall with dark skin and rippling muscles. People admired him for his actions as well as his looks. He was the peacemaker on the ship. He was the individual everyone looked up and turned to. When Billy was going to be taken from his ship Captain Graveling was not happy about it, "Lieutenant, you are going to take away my best man from me, the jewel of 'em" (Melville 46). Billy was then removed from the ship. His goodbye was thought of as rather odd though. He left the Rights-of-Man waving a "genial goodbye". (Melville 49) Many would be devastated if they were forced to serve their country but Billy looked at it as an opportunity to gain new experiences (Ellis), "He rather liked this adventurous turn in affairs, which promised an opening into novel scenes and martial excitements" (Melville 49).
A final way he shows individualism is when the chaplain approached him at the end of the story trying to explain to him how to gain salvation before his death, but Billy stayed true to his beliefs about God (Wood),"?one whom though on the confines of death he felt he could never convert to a dogma; nor for all that did he fear for his future" (Melville 121). An individual sets out to do what they want to do. Here Billy Budd does not conform to the beliefs of others and sticks to what he believes right up to his death.
Billy Budd shows the positive side of individualism. On the opposite side of that, Ignatius showed the negative side.