Since the beginning of time, there has always been a tenacious struggle between good and evil. In a particular famous book, The Bible, the continuous clash between good and evil remains evident throughout the work. In Herman Melville's novel, Billy Budd, symbolism, characterization, and irony are put to use to develop the dramatic contrast between good and evil. Billy goes through many obstacles where he has to face good and evil. Only when he is evil is when he does not survive.
Symbolism is used to directly contrast good and evil. The night before Billy's hanging, "through the rose-tan of his complexion no pallor could have shown." Billy portrays a very pure Christ-like character before his demise. His white garb, and natural glowing of light makes his death seem symbolic for good. Claggort "who's brow was of the sort phrenologically associated with more than average intellect" Symbolically manipulated Billy Budd as did the "wisdom of the serpent" manipulate Adam. Evil always tries to antagonize what is good. 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 is very short and appropriate "to his navel grade." In contrast, Billy's death occurs during the dawn where " Billy ascended; and ascending took the full rose of the dawn." Claggort's death completely contrasts with the pure death of Billy Budd. Billy's death is portrayed as good, conquering, and symbolic, which directly foils that of Claggort's. Not only using symbolism, Melville also uses characterization to contrast good and evil.
Characterization is used to contrast the concepts of good and evil. Billy Budd is "like a young horse fresh from the pasture suddenly inhaling a vile whiff from some chemical factory." Billy's innocence and purity is exterminated at the hands of his main enemy, John Claggort, " much such as Adam presumably might have been ere the urbane Serpent wriggled himself into his company.
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. ... Up until Billy kills Claggart, Vere vehemently opposes Claggart's claim that Billy is a mutineer. ...
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. ... The very symbol of the forces standing in opposition to this revolutionary trend is Captain Vere. ... (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 ...
