In the same respect, Billy Budd was innocent in the eyes of Captain Vere until Claggart accused Billy of planning mutiny. This was later refuted. Billy's innocence resembled Adam's before he had eaten of the forbidden tree. Vere's remark shows that Billy was truly as innocent as Adam was before he sinned. Deborah Williams, a professor from Iona College, said that in "comparing Billy to Adam, Melville suggests that the sailor possesses a kind of virtue that predates, and is in fact antithetical to, civ!.
ilization," (21). This suggests that Billy possesses a personality or character that cannot be found any longer, and has not been seen for centuries. The only sin that Billy committed was the fact that he broke naval law. The reason for Billy's reaction to Claggart's accusation was of little significance, the fact that he struck an officer was a violation of the law and led to his eventual execution. .
Another Biblical parallel that critics have noticed is Billy Budd's resemblance to Christ. For instance, Richard Chase writes that Billy Budd is the realization of Melville's "fresh commitment to the infantile Christ," (Chase, Melville 267). Milton Stern claims that Billy's behavior represents an "ideal Christliness" because he accepted "everything with animal insightlessness and the childlike faith of innocence," (216). His innocent and seemingly sinless life parallels to that of Christ. Isaiah states "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace," (Isaiah 9:6). Here Jesus is called the Prince of Peace and when Billy was taken away from the "Rights of Man", its captain said "Ay, Lieutenant, you are going to take the jewel of "em; you are going to take away my peacemaker!" (Bloom 39). .
Beg pardon, but you don't understand, Lieutenant. See here now.