Abstract This is a paper on the moral dilemma faced by Captain Vere is Melville's "Billy Budd". The author examines the events and the plot in the novel as well as the major themes and focuses on one of the main characters in the novel, Captain Vere and the moral dilemma he faces when Claggart arrives and the captain has to decide whether Claggart is lying.
From the Paper "Melville in Billy Budd introduces his characters through an introductory sketch after which they enter into the narrative. These descriptive sketches provide the necessary background for each character and prepare the reader for the part each is to play in the narrative. The characters are further developed by means of words or phrases, which are repeatedly used to describe them, or by means of characteristic phrases, which they repeatedly utter. For example, Captain Vere by his nickname of "Starry" Vere. Then the characters are described through repeated references to their appearance. The 'aristocratic' Captain Vere is a reflection of the real character. (Mumford, 1929)."
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."
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."
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 provides a brief summary of Herman Melville's classic novel, "Billy Budd". The author discusses one of the main themes of the tale- an individual's need to choose between following orders and following the heart.
From the Paper "Often a person is torn between doing his duty, and doing what is right. This is a common problem to many people in everyday life, a problem that can have terrible results, such as death. Many authors have had to deal with making a tough choice, and so they try to capture the struggle between duty and heart in their books. A prime example of this is Billy Budd by Herman Melvill e. In this novel, Captain Vere was the man who found himself in a difficult position, where he had a hard decision to make. Billy had murdered the master-at-arms on board the ship, and so his punishment in military law was for Billy to be hung. It was the captain's duty to see this sentence carried out. On the other hand, Captain Vere cared a great deal for 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 This paper discusses Herman Melville's story "Billy Budd" which took him 3 years to complete. It analyzes the two main characters of the story, Budd and Claggart, as well as dwells upon some of the many symbols and themes found throughout the book.
From the Paper "Although Billy Budd is portrayed as the epitome of innocence, he is not na?ve. He is a popular man, who has no problems dealing with other men. He is ??illiterate and ignorant even of whom his father was, since he is a foundling, in whom, nevertheless, "noble descent" is as evident as ?in a blood horse.?? (Chase, 157) Budd does not seem to be aware of this however, as Melville portrays him as an instinctively "upright barbarian" and an image ?of young Adam before the Fall.? It is apparent that Melville is thinking in Biblical terms when he comments that a person of such untainted innocence seems to have been ?exceptionally transmitted from a period prior to Cain's city and citified man.? (Chase, 157)".
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 The paper reviews the themes, conflicts, symbols and characterization in Melville's novel "Billy Budd" that relates the different elements in the novel to ideas of the Enlightenment.
From the Paper "During the Age of the Enlightenment, Gay maintains that the men of the Enlightenment united on a vastly ambitious program, a program of secularism, humanity, cosmopolitanism and freedom. From a growing reliance on science and reason over faith and emotion to formation of political philosophies that asserted a balance between individual and State rights, many of the ideas associated with the Enlightenment can be found in a reading of Herman Melville's "Billy Budd.""
Tags: individual rights, state rights, law and order, Captain Vere, John Claggart, chaos, anarchy, Social Contract, Rousseau, reason
