Billy Budd, a Sailor by Herman Melville - Research Paper Example

Billy Budd, Sailor Plot overview The story is set towards the end of the 18th century. The protagonist of the story is a twenty one year old sailor called Billy Budd who works with the British naval forces. Initially, he works in a merchant ship known as the Rights – of – Man (Melville, 10). He is a simple, innocent, and handsome man with no clear family background. Moreover, he was a foundling at birth, placed in a basket at a stranger’s door. His appealing looks and charm makes him acceptable to his colleagues. Despite his charm and decent looks, his main weakness is that he stutters whenever seized by stress. The timing of the story is at a time when the British Empire is at war with the French revolution, which caused menace in the world. It is during that period when the British and the French were fighting each other, and thus there was the need to recruit as many navy officers as possible to reduce the shortage. Billy is the only member of the Rights of – Man who is recruited by Lieutenant Ratcliffe to join H, M. S. Bellipotent, a warship. He involuntarily accepts the new role despite protest from his old master, Captain Graveling (Melville, 70). At his new job, he becomes a foretopman and loves the position. Even though, he still catches attention of his new colleagues, he does not recognize the difference. Despite making friendship and being liked by his new accomplishes, he draws the attention of John Claggart, who is the master – at – arms. Claggart is obsessed with Billy and thus scorns him due to jealousy (Melville, 49). Billy also accidentally spills some soup in the dining room and which trickles to Claggart’s feet. He makes a discourteous remark because of the soup spill, and this generates laughter from the members of the crew (Melville, 105). Moreover, he uses his corporals to demean Billy condemning him at every slightest mistake he commits. Despite getting warnings from Dansker, a wise old sailor to be wary of Claggart as he harbors ill towards him, Billy does not believe. For instance, Dansker believes that Claggart is responsible for the event that occurred between Billy and the afterguardsman. The afterguardsman asked Billy whether he would be willing to assist whenever a mutiny occurred. Claggart’s dislike for Billy festers until he approaches Captain Edward Fairfax Vere and accuses Billy of plotting a mutiny. Afterwards, Vere calls both Billy and Claggart in his cabin where Billy is overcome with anger, and thus seized by stutter. It is during that time when Billy could not defend himself against the accusation and was helpless (Melville, 167). The blow makes Claggart unconscious and thus lies on the floor as blood oozes from both ears and nose. Eventually, he dies despite being rushed to a surgeon. Claggart’s death makes Billy appear before a drumhead court, which Vere appoints to determine the case. The court, in a rush to comply with Vere’s orders, proves Billy guilty of murder. While, with the jury, Vere insists on following the rule of law to the latter and that it surpasses reservation of conscience (Melville, 181). Despite being sympathetic to Billy, Vere would not save him from execution since as stipulated by the code, when a crewmember kills an officer, the crewmember must die. Vere rushes in making the decision of executing Billy instead of delaying the case and having it referred to the admiral. Claggart is officially buried at the sea while the court passes a death sentence and is to be executed the next morning. In this regard, Billy is hanged at four in the morning as fellow sailors watch. Before he dies, he weeps out ``God bless Captain Vere’’ (Melville, 308). Billy’s death saddens his fellow sailors who make it the subject of various discussions. Later, the Bellipotent ship is attacked by a French warship, and in the melee, captain Vere is wounded. He finally succumbs to the injuries while uttering`` Billy Budd, Billy Budd’’ as his final words (Melville, 345). Billy coming to terms with the world The protagonist of the story, Billy, faces many challenges in life. The story portrays him coming to terms with varied situations at different levels. First, Billy has to come to terms with his intermittent speech impediment. Despite having fair looks and charm, nature did not make him perfect since he was a stutter (Melville, 6). This imperfect nature of Billy makes him unable to express himself whenever faced with strong emotions. In this case, he has to accept the condition, and this makes him come to terms with the world. Moreover, Billy’s has never known of his parents thus, he has to come to terms with the world that he is an orphan with no clear background. Secondly, prior to moving into the H. M S Bellipotent, he works with the Rights of – Man where he is the darling of fellow sailors. His charm and appealing looks earns him popularity and authority in the Rights – of – Man. He comes to terms with a crewmember named ``the Red Whiskers’’ who dislikes him and at times bullies him (Melville, 85). In order to curb the situation, he defends himself whenever necessary even when it calls for use of force. This is evident when he punches back at the Red Whiskers and thus, transforming his hatred into love. Moreover, upon his arrival at the rights – of Man, he comes to terms with the actual quarreling of the sailors. He restored calm and peace among the sailors and thus referred as a Billy the peacekeeper (Melville, 10). Fourth, on board of the Bellipotent, Billy also comes to terms with the world around him. For instance, he quickly settles into the new environment and adapts to the new role as foretopman. His involuntary recruitment reveals his coming to terms with the conflict between him and the society. In this regard, he has no alternative but to join in the war against the French. Therefore, the society or the world has some powers that it exercises over an individual. In the new position, he discovers that he does not attract the attention of colleagues as it was while he was with the merchant ship, the Right –of Man (Melville, 44). Despite lacking battle skills and experience compared to his new crewmembers, Billy is not intimidated and, therefore, focuses on his success and determination. Fifth, Billy comes to terms with the world when he witnesses a thorough punishment for failure to show up at his assigned place of work. Since he is a novice, he received several lashes on the back, which resulted into bloody strains on his back. The incident makes Billy resolve to perform his work diligently to avoid similar punishment (Melville & Milder, 202). Sixth, Billy comes to terms with world in that not everyone who praises you means well for you. For instance, while in the warship, Claggart always talks positive of him yet in the real sense, he dislikes Billy because of jealousy. For instance, when Billy accidentally spills soup in the ship, he remarks, `` handsome is as handsome did it’’. In this remark, Billy thinks that Claggart speak positive of him yet in the real sense, he mocks him (Melville & Milder, 209). According to Claggart, soup spill by Billy is not an accident but a sign of Billy’s hatred for him. He was jealous of Billy’s charming looks and his feeling that he has never experienced any form of malice or envy. Billy’s inexperience and innocence at identifying genuine compliments and malice directed at him by Claggart makes Dansker name him `Baby Budd’ (Melville, 40). Billy, therefore, struggles to come to terms with the difference between appearance and character. In addition, he refuses to accept Dansker’s perception that Claggart is responsible for all the things happening in his life. Furthermore, Captain Vere’s words concerning Billy’s action seem parallel to his liking and feelings that he is innocent. He demands that the law must be followed without delay and thus, denying Billy a chance for his case to be heard and determined by the admiral. At the end, Billy feels that he is going to be executed though he is innocent (Melville, 299). Moreover, Billy Budd comes to terms with world of illicit and corrupt, the dark side of man. This occurs when an afterguardsman approaches him to promise assistance whenever mutiny occurs. However, Billy has never imagined of such a thing in his life. Whenever he thinks about the deal of the afterguardsman, he becomes bewildered. The issue of mutiny was rampant towards the end of 17th century. It created an atmosphere of fear to the officers and, therefore, no officer wanted to be associated or accused of planning it ((Melville, 306). Finally, Billy struggles to come to terms with Claggart’s accusations. Because he stutters whenever faced with a strong emotion, Billy cannot counteract Claggart’s accusations in the presence of Vere. Therefore, his condition leaves him only one option, to strike a blow against Claggart as the only means to defend himself. Furthermore, Billy has to come to terms with the reality that he has unintentionally committed murder. Despite his attempts to defend himself, his action leads to death of Claggart (Melville, 334). Critics of Billy Budd, Sailor According to Short story Criticism, Billy Budd is considered as one of the best-crafted as well as mature works. Moreover, the story has a philosophical insight, has integrated intricate use of allegory and symbol, and application of comprehensive narrative technique (Short Story Criticism, 5). In addition, the story is now considered celebrated play, a fashionable motion picture, highly rated opera, as well as a televised drama. According to the article, Vere comes out as a dictator who just wants things conducted according to his way and perception (Short Story Criticism, 3). For instance, he disregards the views of fellow captains concerning the manner of solving Billy’s case without rushing into quick decisions. His authoritarian nature comes out when he convenes the court, turns as the prosecutor, acts as defense counsel, as well as, the sole witness in Billy’s case. According to Stephen, Billy Budd is an exemplary character who is unfairly accused, convicted and executed (Stephen, 344). Billy’s struggle to come to terms with the world is essential since it helps and teaches him about recognizing evil. Moreover, those who recognize it are in most instances taught, or learnt to keep and shun away from it. Stephen sees Billy has a person who lacks ill feelings towards fellow men although he faces evil plans directed at him. Billy is an innocent person while Claggart is guilty and receives his punishment for character. The author also questions the rationale of human crafted law against principles of justice (Stephen, 346). This is in reference to the manner in which Billy was executed irrespective of the principles of justice, which should prevail over human made laws. According to Lyn, Billy’s purity cannot help him from being executed since his speech plays a role in determining his fate (Lyn, 2). A lot of secretes remain untold in the story, thus leaving Billy with unfinished business, which is uncompleted when he is hanged for murder of Claggart. The author also reveals Billy’s charm and heroic nature even though not elaborative enough. Works cited Calhoun, Byron J. "Captain Vere As Outsider And Insider: Military Leadership In Billy Budd, Sailor." War, Literature & The Arts: An International Journal Of The Humanities 21.1/2 (2009): 1-10. Academic Search Complete. Web. 5 Nov. 2012. Loosemore, Philip. "Revolution, Counter Revolution, And Natural Law In Billy Budd, Sailor." Criticism 53.1 (2011): 99-126. Academic Search Complete. Web. 5 Nov. 2012. Lyn Gardner. The Guardian, Wednesday 18 May 2011. Melville, Herman, and Robert Milder. Billy Budd, Sailor: And Selected Tales. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press, 1998. Print. Melville, Herman. Billy Budd, a Sailor. Focus on the Family Radio Theatre, 2008. Print. Short Story Criticism, Gale Cengage. 2001. Print. Stephen A. Simon, Department of Political Science, University of Richmond, ssimon [at] richmond.edu. Vol. 18 No. 4 (April, 2008) pp.344-347. Read More