Billy Budd by Herman Melville - Essay Example

Based on numerous inhuman experiences, which Billy all along had experienced silently while advertently compelled to obey unjust and positive laws, death penalty would not have been drumhead court’s final verdict in this case. In this case, drumhead court erred by failing to study both the context and incidences that prompted Billy inadvertently killing Claggart (Melville 74). This was a retaliation of what a normal person would have done especially in an environment where circumstances including those in authority seem to be against him or her.

This is because Claggart by telling falsehoods to Captain Vere intended to worsen any possible good relations between those from higher ranks and Billy. Billy not only was he likeable by fellow sailors of the same rank whom they used to endure similar hardships together but also those from high ranks. Consequently, this prompted Claggart to do all what he could to tarnish Billy’s reputation besides changing the perception held by those in high ranks about him. This is even evident in Captain Vere’s reaction once Claggart teld him how pretentious Billy was, which at first did not believe but to confirm the related allegations decides to call Billy.

This constitute to the misuse of power on the part of Claggart in his quest to oppress Billy despite the regime through its high officers in this voyage had impressed them to serve it. Therefore, the court could have factored all these false allegations coupled with the conduct of one or their junior officer who due to personal malicious intentions sought to tarnish an innocent oppressed sailor’s reputation. This is regardless of all along Billy having resolved to work hard and give his best after seeing lashing of impressed sailors, which they endured after boarding Bellipotent.

The court ought not to have overlooked and seem impartial in giving its verdict concerning what Billy did because he is at a lower rank compared to that of