Billy Budd Essay

Submitted By KelRuiz00
Words: 695
Pages: 3
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Kelsey Ruiz
Professor Rosenfeld
Critical Writing
4/8/14
Billy Budd Essay Herman Melville’s Billy Budd paints the picture of the novel’s protagonist, Billy, who is portrayed as an innocent man whom is admired for his pure heart, but also pitied as his innocence is the very trait that yields his downfall. Billy’s last words prior to death were “God Bless Captain Vere,” the friend and role model of the naive man. The themes that are portrayed throughout Melville’s novel coincide with Billy’s words: man versus society, and consciousness versus law. In addition, Captain Vere’s own last words, “Billy Budd, Billy Budd,” are parallel to Billy’s due to the form of guilt that Vere carried on his shoulder after facing the decision that killed his friend: carrying out the law, or saving his friend. Man versus society is a constant struggle throughout the novel, particularly for Captain Vere. Society can cause people to change how they act, feel, or even the person they are. On the war ship Billy punches Claggart on the forehead, which in turn leads to Claggart’s death. Although Billy’s intentions were not to cause the death of Claggart, he still must be punished for his actions in order to maintain the balance aboard the ship rather than total anarchy. Captain Vere struggles in dealing with this situation due to the fact society and law requires an individual to separate their feelings from obligations and duties that must be completed. Captain Vere decides to follow through with the law regardless of his friendship with Billy and his innocence intent, seeing as his position in executing the law requires him to treat every shipmate equally. This decision to carry out the law on Vere’s friend causes more hardships, as Billy was genuinely a good person with a pure heart. Captain Vere finally declares, “The prisoner’s deed-with that alone we have to do,” revealing that they all must follow the law or face the consequences, and kill Billy for the murder of Claggart. Society became a struggle because of the people that were responsible for Billy’s death. Consciousness versus law is portrayed in many ways in Melville’s novel, because many characters hold strong-willed personalities, leading to dishonesty towards one another aboard the ship due to feelings of distrust with fellow crewmates. Life on the warship was difficult and contained many rules; this was where crew feelings were irrelevant, the atmosphere shifting to an emotionless, business-focused cloud. Billy Budd’s last words, “God Bless Captain Vere” were spoken because the man held much respect for the Captain carrying out his duties to the ship and crew, and not
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