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.
The poem is ironic because Billy Budd did not drown, he was hung. ... This quote is ironic because the "criminal" was not a criminal, Billy Budd was a hero in the story. Melville again tries to accuse Billy Budd of being an evil character. ... The context, however, does show a hint of accusation towards Billy Budd. ... The tendency of Melville presenting Billy Budd as evil, strikes an outrageous idea. ...
Therefore, Claggort was Billy's antagonist throughout Billy Budd. Also symbolic to the novel is the actual demise of both Claggort and Billy Budd. ... Claggort's death completely contrasts with the pure death of Billy Budd. ... In contrast to Claggort, Billy Budd's "welkin-eyes", blonde hair, and tan complexion ultimately portray good. ... Through out the novel Billy Budd is never aware of Claggort's ill will towards him. ...
There are three main characters in Herman Melville's Billy Budd, Sailor: Billy Budd, John Claggart, and Captain Vere. ... Different from Billy Budd, John Claggart is characterized as intelligent and sophisticated. ... He appreciates Billy Budd's innocent charm, but he despairs of sharing it. ... His high-sounding reasons for hanging Billy Budd is just the disguise of his fear. ... Billy Budd, Sailor has a simple plot, but meanwhile contains a variety of meanings. ...
Billy Budd - Individualism There is much to be said about individualism. ... Billy Budd and Ignatius Reilly were both prime examples of individuals. ... Billy Budd has remarkable looks. ... Billy Budd shows the positive side of individualism. ... Billy Budd brought out all the high aspects of it by being a leader and peacemaker to all of his shipmates. ...
In Herman Melville's Billy Budd, Melville uses the literary device of foreshadowing to allow the audience to be aware of Billy's inevitable fate before the characters in the novel, thus creating a feeling of suspense within the novel. Melville begins using foreshadowing early in the novel when he describes Billy Budd as a tall handsome sailor that was well adored by mostly all who knew him. ... At this point all the elements of foreshadowing within the novel have finally come together resulting in the climax and resolution within Billy Budd. Without the element of foreshad...
Billy Budd and Jesus Christ After reading the story Billy Budd, I could see how the story of Billy Budd is very similar to the story of crucifixion of Christ. ... Billy Budd was an almost perfect guy with looks and charm and that everyone liked. ... He was really jealous of Billy and secretly thought that 2 Billy was plotting against him and tried to belittle Billy whenever he could yet hid it well from Billy even though everyone had warned Billy that the master of arms really didn't like him. ... Billy didn't know what to think of this. .....
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. ...
Herman Melville's novel, Billy Budd, tells the story of a young man who is recruited by the British Navy to the H.M.S. ... He is received well by most of his fellow sailors who like Billy Budd are often alluded to people and stories from the Bible. ... These biblical allusions in Billy Budd provide the reader with a better understanding of many of the main characters and events including Billy Budd's comparison with Jesus Christ. ... Claggart lies to Captain Vere that Billy Budd is conspiring to commit mutiny on board the H.M.S. ... The allusions to the adult Jesus concerning B...
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...
