Billy Budd - Was he Christ?
In Herman Melville's Billy Budd, Sailor, readers are introduced to the conflict of good and evil between Billy Budd and Claggart. However, there is another conflict, which, in ways is more significant than the epic clash of good and evil. Vere's struggle between duty and conscience is more significant because it occurs in the mind. Whereas Billy Budd was clearly the noble sacrificed hero and Claggart was the vindictive villain, duty is just as noble as conscience and conscience is just as noble as duty. Melville sets up this conflict by placing a man with the intuition and innocence of a child, in the hands of a captain amidst war. In a description of Captain Vere it can be anticipated that Vere, who values peace and common good, would be in conflict with his job, which requires him to be a militaristic authoritarian. Captain Vere learns important lessons when innocent hands bring about destruction of life. Vere was moved by his beckoning duty as captain, to convince the drumhead court to convict Billy Budd. However, the paternal emotions towards Billy Budd and his rational thinking did invoke indecision. Captain Vere realizes, when he has to act, he does not have the strength of conviction he ha
Captain Vere is able to fulfill his duty in convincing the drumhead court to punish Billy by execution. At the execution Captain Vere, "as before, the central figure among the assembled commissioned officers - stood...facing forward" (375). Captain Vere is described as a central figure, because he is the middle ground between all the men on the ship. Vere was characteristically between Billy and Claggart, as he is with the rest of the ship. Vere feels strongly for Billy, but he does not doubt he made the right decision. That is why he is the middle ground between the commissioned officers. Some love Billy and wish him not to be executed. Others believe executing Billy will keep mutineers from acting up. Captain Vere is the only one who feels both. He keeps conscience and duty separate, but does not judge one to be "righter" than the other. Captain Vere is also described as "facing forward". Vere is not regretting his decision and going forth with it. That is why during the execution his position of "facing forward" is significant to understanding Vere's feelings towards Billy. He loves Billy, yet understands that he is doing the right thing. Therefore, Vere is not regretful. Instead he has learned his weakness in suppressing emotion and fulfilling duty. Billy, right before he is executed says " 'God bless Captain Vere!' " (375) With those words "Captain Vere, either through stoic self-control or a sort of momentary paralysis induced by emotional shock, stood erectly rigid" (376). This time when Vere is motionless, his stance is regarded as "either stoic self-control or a sort of momentary paralysis induced by emotional shock". The "stoic self-control" summarizes Vere's duty. As captain he should not express his feeling and emotions. "Emotional shock" describes the momentary feelings that overtake him. Vere's stance being interpreted as both show how conscience and duty are entwined. Vere makes no distinction of either one being more correct. Therefore others observing him cannot tell the reason for his standing "erectly rigid". As Captain Vere lay dying "under the influence of that magical drug which...mysteriously operates on the subtler element in man, he was heard to murmur words... 'Billy Budd, Billy Budd'" (382) The "magical drug" was able to bring forth "the subtler element in man" is bringing out the emotions of the captain. Vere, in what others viewed as an immoral persecution of an innocent in the name of duty, was ruled by his feelings of duty. The "subtler element in man" his emotions, usually suppressed in war, pour forth. Captain Vere was murmuring Billy Budd. Other than Melville stating the murmurs were not remorseful, the fact Vere is murmuring shows Vere is not being tortured by his decision. Murmuring implies that he is acknowledging something. He is not passionately declaring or aguishly crying out. Instead he is murmuring, acknowledging what the innocent Billy Budd meant to
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Approximate Word count = 1964
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)
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