Abstract The paper offers an analysis of the conflict between the individual and society as it is portrayed in Melville's story, "Billy Budd." The paper explains the story of an innocent sailor who is condemned to death due to his vulnerability to the forces of evil.
From the Paper "The idealism in Melville's "Billy Budd" revolves around the conflict between the individual and society and the vulnerability of innocence. Billy Budd is a twenty-one-year-old sailor who is idealistic, innocent and incapable of perceiving evil intentions in others. Good looking and emitting a virtue of character sugaring the sour of his nature, Billy is vulnerable to the evil on board the H M S Bellipotent in the form of the Master-at-Arms Claggart."
Tags: law, order, liberties, death, naivety, control, war, Melville, Billy Budd
Abstract The debate raging about whether or not Billy Bishop is a war hero or a war fraud has driven deep divisions into the historical field. This paper explores the enduring controversy and argues that while the arguments against Bishop appear compelling at first they are met by thoughtful opposition by respected scholars who are quick to note that Bishop's critics hardly have the sort of unambiguous information they need to make sweeping denunciations about the man and his legacy.
Abstract This paper takes a look at the book "Billy Bud" by Herman Melville. Melville makes many allusions to Christianity and Jesus in his book. The paper examines the main characters Claggart and Captain Vere and how they connect to these analogies.
From the paper:
"In many ways, Melville's ?Billy Bud? lends itself to a religious or biblical interpretation. For example, the life and death of the main character, Billy Bud, shows striking parallels to the life and death of Jesus Christ. As well, Claggart and Captain Vere further implicate ?Billy Bud? in the story of Christ. But Melville, in interesting ways, moves beyond a strict re-telling of the story or mythology surrounding Christ. Melville sets in motion a certain expectation in the minds of his audience through the obvious parallels between the story of ?Billy Bud? and that of Christ, but then, at key moments, the author turns away from the traditional story, disrupting our expectations, in order to critically comment on Christianity and the legacy of Christ in the minds of humanity."
Abstract The paper attempts to determine who was responsible for Billy Budd's death in Melville's short story of the same name. The paper shows how the characters of Captain Vere and Claggart, the rigidity of the naval system of justice, and Billy himself, all contributed to Billy's downfall.
From the Paper "Herman Melville's 1891 seafaring novella Billy Budd is a Christian allegory, transposed into the relatively contemporary setting of a British naval vessel. The Christian Bible details the death of Christ as a series of betrayals and injustices. The popular leader and teacher Christ is betrayed by one of his own followers, Judas, and is handed over by the leadership of his own nation to the Roman judge Pontius Pilate. Pilate washes his hands of his responsibility for a man whom he believes is innocent, because Christ will not verbally defend himself, and because the Roman authorities have charged him with preserving order amongst the populace. Pilate acquiesces, going against his better moral instincts."
This paper touches on the theme of good versus evil in "Billy Budd" by Herman Melville. It explains how Billy is the symbol of ultimate good and Claggart is the symbol of ultimate evil.
1,225 words (approx. 4.9 pages), 5 sources, 2001, $ 41.95
Abstract This paper discusses the age-old concept of good versus evil in the book, "Billy Budd", by Herman Melville. The author provides an overview of the characters of the protagonist and antagonist, who respectively personify good and evil. Biblical parallels as drawn as well.
From the Paper "Good versus evil is a very common theme in many different types of literature. One literary work which portrays the battle between good and evil very affectively is Billy Budd by Herman Melville. In this novel, good is portrayed through the character of Billy, while the character of Claggart portrays evil. The battle between good and evil is personified through the characters of Claggart and Billy."
Abstract This paper discusses the contrasts between the three central characters in the story, Billy Budd, Claggert, and Captain Vere. It explores the development in the plot and how each character's true traits come out through their ultimate actions. It focuses on Captain Vere's character as one that is seemingly noble and good, but his final decision proves him to be otherwise.
From the paper:
"A closer examination of the novel brings to light certain aspects of each character that are quite opposite to the ones that they symbolize. Billy Budd symbolizes Good. His character is not without fault. The aspects of simplicity and blind faith in the goodness of the world, in his personality lead to his demise. His immaturity breeds curiosity and lacks the far sightedness to listen to the good advice given by the Dansker. Hence, despite the Dansker's warnings he is unable to see Claggert as his nemesis. His stuttering is also portrayed as a fault that caused his death instead of accepting it as a handicap."
Abstract The most striking feature of the collective body of critical response to "Billy Budd" is the sheer volume of differing interpretations of the piece's symbolism. Despite the profusion of differing opinions regarding "Billy Budd", there are two main schools of thought that most scholarly responses tend to represent. In this paper, I will briefly outline both of these critical theories and the principal symbols that support each.
Abstract This essay will argue that it is possible to read "Billy Budd" on a number of levels. Of course, it is an interesting tale of shipboard life at the end of the eighteenth century. As well, it may be seen as an allegory for the life of Christ, with the virtuous, innocent and inarticulate Billy Budd standing in for Christ. On yet another level it may be seen as a story of innocent virtue versus experienced corruption and impotence. In this respect, Melville's intended American audience may have read the story as tale of the corruption of the Old World and its decaying cosmopolitan civilization.
Abstract This paper discusses whether Herman Melville's novel "Billy Budd" was allegorical. The novel did have religious connotations, however, Billy was not really like Christ, Vere was not God-like, and Claggart was not as bad as Satan. The author explores this notion and asserts that the novel was not an allegorical one.
Abstract This paper argues that the writing style used in "Billy Budd" was chosen by Melville so he could best address those aspects of the story structure that required a strong degree of comprehension on the part of the reader. This paper demonstrates that Melville's writing style in "Billy Budd" was used in such a manner to denote a greater sense of significance within specific parts of the story.
Abstract This paper provides a review of the book "Billy Dead" by the author Lisa Reardon. "Billy Dead" is a fairly extreme example of child abuse in novel form. This paper gives a coherent review of the novel, as well as a discussion of the themes present within the novel and the writer's personal response to those themes.
Abstract This paper discusses the theme of justice as observed in Herman Melville's book, "Billy Budd" and Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel, "The Scarlet Letter". The paper examines what can be learned from these two novels, explaining that justice for the sake of justice can often be cruel and unusual punishment. The paper explores the characters of the protagonists of the two novels, Billy and Hester. The paper contends that both the authors' aim is to make a social commentary on the price of justice in an imperfect world.
From the Paper "Herman Melville's novel, Billy Budd, and Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel, The Scarlet Letter focus on justice by forcing us to consider the differences between the laws of society and the moral laws man imposes upon himself. Both stories illustrate that there is a definite distinction between social and moral laws. In addition, each author differentiates between an individual's character and his or her actions. Billy's act of murder is not so much the issue in Billy Budd as much as his innocence is. At the end of the story, we must ask if the punishment fir the crime in this case. In The Scarlet Letter, Hester is no doubt guilty of her so-called crime but we ask the same of her punishment as well. Their circumstances demonstrate how complicated the issue of justice can be in a society that must sometimes choose between the social right and the moral right."
Abstract The paper discusses how the film "Billy Elliot," directed by Stephen Daldry and released by Universal Focus in 2000, is deceptively simple. On a superficial level, it is the oft-repeated tale of a boy pursuing his dreams. However, there is more to Billy Elliot than just this - the film has many layers, layers that are worth peeling. In particular, the paper points out that the film has much to say about labour. This is a weighty theme, yet, the paper maintains that this apparently simple film has important things to say about it.
Abstract This paper explains that the plot of Herman Melville's "Billy Budd" revolves around the central axis of the war between good and evil by using Biblical and mythical allusions. The author relates that, although Billy Budd seems to be the innocent character, from a religious point of view he becomes guilty after committing an involuntary crime. The paper concludes that the central message of the story is that natural innocence is to be preferred instead of moral truth.
From the Paper "The character of Billy Budd is drafted on an opposition between the natural and the religious truth. He is at once portrayed as a noble savage, with a natural charm and a baffling innocence. Billy attracts everyone through his natural and pure character, but at the same time, he inspires some of the others with sinful feelings of either desire or envy. His shipmates and the captain also are irresistibly drawn towards Billy as to something incredibly pure and innocent. His beauty also emphasizes the idea that he represents natural perfection. He represents nature in its pristine form, untouched by the usual tinges of civilization. In shape, he seems to be descended from the "unadulterated blood of Ham", an ideal representation of nature and savageness, with an intensely black skin:"[He was] so intensely black that he must needs have been a native African of the unadulterated blood of Ham. A symmetric figure much above the average height."(Melville, 2) His shipmates swarm around him, attracted irresistibly by his natural virtue and sweetness: "Not that he preached to them or said or did anything in particular; but a virtue went out of him
Abstract The paper introduces, discusses, and analyzes the novel "Billy Budd, Sailor" by Herman Melville. Specifically it contains a persuasive essay regarding sacrifice and the possibility of redemption in the novel. The paper states that in the novel, Billy dies as a result of miscommunication, hatred, and lies, yet, he accepts his fate and sacrifices his life for the rest of the crew. The paper relates that civilization should not require sacrifice, but for the sake of peace and freedom, most often, civilization does require sacrifice by one or many to remain free of anarchy and chaos. The paper concludes that the author questions what this says about our civilization.
From the Paper "He compares other characters to ferrets, horses, and other creatures, and he does this again to separate the characters and indicate Billy's innocence and Claggart's evil. As noted, this also indicates just how closely aligned the characters are to the animal world, a world where the fittest survive, and chaos ensues if there is not order and dominance. Clearly, this applies to life on the ship, as well, and so, the society on board ship is somewhat animal-like and inhuman, which is why society demands for the execution of Billy. He is far too innocent and good to survive in this alien world, and Claggart, the most evil of all the characters, understands this far too well. "
