, Research Paper
Ryan Fischer
English III
Okma
19 April 2001
Good Versus Evil in Billy Budd
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.
The first and most influential character in the book is Billy Budd who personifies goodness and innocence. By definition, good and innocence both mean possessing little or no evil or imperfections so the words can be used interchangeably in many circumstances. “By nature, Billy is purely innocent, not quite childlike, but lacking the knowledge of good and evil” (Pink Monkey). This quote is a very accurate description of Billy. Although he is a man and has the physical qualities that are attributed to a grown human being, he lacks what is referred to as “common sense” from a worldly point of view. His childlike attributes include his name. Bill’s full name is William, but the men aboard the ship refer to him as “Billy” and sometimes even Baby Budd. “Commonly, only young innocent men hold the name Billy” (Simms, “Criminal Without a Crime”), so even the hardened men on the ship saw Billy as innocent and unlike the rest of them in terms of morals. Again Billy’s innocence is shown when he first boards the Indomitable and witnesses the whipping of a man who neglected his responsibilities. Billy is outrages and terrified at the sight of this and promises himself that he would never put himself in the same situation. One of the best scenes depicting Billy’s innocence is when Billy spilled some soup and Claggart mocks him by saying, “Handsomely done, my lad! And handsome is as handsome did it too” (Melville 36). Billy fails to recognize this comment as sarcasm because he does not know why someone would deliberately try to hurt him in any way. Because of Billy’s innocence, he is not familiar with violence or punishment and his naivety towards the words of other people makes him the personification of goodness or innocence.
Totally opposite of Billy’s inexperience and innocence is the character of Claggart. Claggart is the ultimate symbol of evil in the novel. He is already on the ship when Billy boards the Indomitable from the Rights of Man so Claggart has experience on the ship and with the crew. Claggart does not like Billy’s innocence or all of the work that Billy does because everyone seems to be taking a very strong liking to him. An early description in the book refers to Claggart as a man “in whom was the mania of an evil nature, not engendered by vicious training or corrupting books or licentious living, but born with him and innate, in short `depravity according to nature?” (Melville 38). This is the most dangerous kind of evil because it was not learned by Claggart, but was instead born with his evil nature so that he has no sense of righteousness. He is constantly giving Billy dirty looks, but Billy sees him as no threat because Billy does not see why Claggart would ever want to hurt him. Even the Dansker warns Billy that he has become entangled in Claggart’s evil web and that Claggart will soon go in for the kill, but Billy does not make anything of it. Claggart even goes as far as trying to convince Captain Vere, who is very close to Billy, that Billy is only putting on an illusion by saying, “a mantrap may be under his ruddy-tipped daisies” (Melville 57). Then comes the ultimate blow and the pinnacle of Claggart’s evil in the novel. Claggart blames Billy for being the leader of a mutinous group of impressed officers. Claggart then goes to Billy’s cabin to let him know of the charges and out of total depravity of right and wrong, Billy kills Claggart. This event shows that Claggart not only possesses a certain amount of evil, but that he himself is evil.
To better relate Billy to good and innocence, there are many ways which he is related to the ultimate symbol of goodness; Jesus Christ. In general, both Billy and Christ struggled with many hardships, temptations, and persecution throughout there lives. The main difference being that Christ recognized them while Billy was too inexperienced to. They were both incapable of holding a grudge because their innocent nature prevented them from such thoughts. An interesting exert from Simms sums up the similarities in their demises. “Christ supposedly said he was the king of the Jews. Then he was tried and convicted of treason, although he was falsely accused in the first place… Billy suffers a similar demise. He was accused of being the leader of a rebellious group planning to mutiny. Billy is found guilty of mutiny and protected the true mutineers” (Simms, “Criminal Without a Crime”). Both Billy and Christ we killed in similar ways on large wooden beams. Billy was hung, while Christ, of course, was nailed to it. When the rope was put around Billy‘s neck, “Billy ascended, and, ascending, took the full rose of the dawn” (Melville 80). This glory can only be achieved by those who are truly ready and without regret just as Billy and Christ were.
Just as Billy shows similarities to the ultimate goodness of Christ, Claggart shows similarities to the ultimate evil which is that of Satan. “Claggart, symbolized as Lucifer, is the antagonist in Melville’s story, and he draws on evil to prevent Billy from reaching glory” (Simms, “Criminal Without a Crime“). Claggart’s evil can be referred to as almost “super-human” because of the fact that no good is ever portrayed through his character just as no good is ever portrayed through Satan. “Claggart is pure evil, not quite explainable except as a flawed element of human nature” (Pink Monkey). Claggart’s evil is beyond that of human nature. Our human nature is to sin, but it also gives us some kind of a choice. Claggart, however, is pure evil. There is no choice because everything he does has some kind of evil motif. He represents a natural evil and the opposition and corruption that we must face everyday. That opposition and corruption comes from Satan himself. In this way, Claggart is the personification of pure evil and that pure evil is portrayed in only one other being. And that being is Satan.
The struggle in Billy Budd is very obviously shown through the confrontations between Billy and Claggart. If Billy chose experience, and in turn worldliness and sinfulness, he might have lived, but true goodness exists after death where experience doesn’t matter. Therefore, goodness ultimately triumphs. This means that “we need to have morality and virtue; we need to be in the world, but not of the world” (Simms, “Billy Budd”). This novel makes it clear that evil still reigns on earth and that good and innocence will always have to struggle against it.
Melville, Herman. Billy Budd. New York: Washington Square, 1972.
Pink Monkey Notes. On Herman Melville’s Billy Budd. 1997. Pink Monkey. 20 Feb 2001. .
Simms, Michael. “Billy Budd.” Essays on CD. New York: Penn, 1998.
Simms, Michael. “Billy Budd- Criminal Without a Crime.” Essays on CD. New York: Penn, 1998.
Bibliography
Melville, Herman. Billy Budd. New York: Washington Square, 1972.
Pink Monkey Notes. On Herman Melville’s Billy Budd. 1997. Pink Monkey. 20 Feb 2001. .
Sedgewick, William Elleny. “Billy Budd is a tale of acceptance.” Readings on Herman Melville. San Diego: Greenhaven, 1997.
Simms, Michael. “Billy Budd.” Essays on CD. New York: Penn, 1998.
Simms, Michael. “Billy Budd- Criminal Without a Crime.” Essays on CD. New York: Penn, 1998.
Другие работы по теме:
Religious Symbolism In The Scarlet Letter And
Billy Budd Essay, Research Paper Herman Melville and Nathaniel Hawthorne were contemporaries of each other. They lived very different lives, one living as a sailor for four years and the other attending an Ivy League school, yet their writing reflects a similar style, as shown in Melville?s Billy Bud and Hawthorne?s The Scarlet Letter.
Billy Budd Thesis Paper Essay Research Paper
When reading the book Billy Budd by, Herman Melville, You use your mind to create the setting, characters and the meaning of one thing to another. When one let s someone else tell you what is happening: who a character is, and what a ship looks like, they then are forfeiting a large part of a story. As one reads a book, you are the director, the staring actor and the producer.
Billy Budd Essay Research Paper In the
Billy Budd Essay, Research Paper In the novel Billy Budd, Herman Melville challenges traditional Romantic values. Melville sets a stage on which the ideals of the Enlightenment and Romantic thinkers clash. His faith in the Romantic ideals is evident in his comparison of the trials of Billy Budd to the trials of Jesus Christ.
Grendel Essay Research Paper Good versus EvilThe
Grendel Essay, Research Paper Good versus Evil The central conflict in this epic is battle brtween good and evil. For years, Hrothan and his men had feared Grendel’s attack. It looks as if evil was being victorious.
Billy Budd Essay Research Paper There is
Billy Budd Essay, Research Paper There is much to be said about innocence. If one is with innocence than one can do no wrong. But that is not all to be said. Innocence is not always a good thing. It could make one naive or blind
Billy Budd
– Individualism Essay, Research Paper There is much to be said about individualism. Feelings of freedom and endless possibilities for individual growth are presented throughout these two novels. Although being an individual has its high points, it is not always the road to take. Billy Budd and Ignatius Reilly were both prime examples of individuals.
Slaughterhouse Five Essay Research Paper SlaughterhouseFiveBy
Slaughterhouse Five Essay, Research Paper Slaughterhouse-Five By: Kurt Vonnegut Slaughterhouse five is a very complex and twisted story about a World War Two veteran. The story is set in three different time periods of his? life. His name is Billy Pilgrim and he lives in Ilium New York. Billy graduated high school in the top third of his class.
Billy Budd Essay Research Paper Joyce Carol
Billy Budd Essay, Research Paper Joyce Carol Oates writes that Herman Melville?s novels have artistic difficulty because he uses fiction writing as a preachy parable. Oates believes that Melville?s writing is annoying for the modern reader to interpret because of contemporary expectations that writing be entertaining and less like a heavy sermon.
Good Or Evil Essay Research Paper Is
Good Or Evil Essay, Research Paper Is Man Inherently Good, Bad, Both? Psychologists often struggle with the question does man have inherently good characteristics, or do they lead to the negative. What makes a man act the way he does? Is it nature, hormone imbalances, or the way he is raised? Man s intrinsic characteristics can be good bad or both.
Cormac McCarthy The Crossing Essay Research Paper
This story contains an almost equal balance of good and evil, though it also raises questions of what is truly good. It blurs the line between good and selfish or thoughtless. Characters? actions sometimes appear impure, but in the long run, are good.
Comparing And Contrasting Characters Essay Research Paper
John Oakhurst and Billy the Kid weren’t really alike. They were very different in fact. They were alike in some ways. Like they were both outlaws, gamblers, and they were both shot by a gun. The difference was that one was a good-hearted man and the other one was a cold-hearted killer. Oakhurst was a man who may give you your money back after he won it in a game, if your were a man that he liked.
Bill Budd Essay Research Paper Herman Melville
Bill Budd Essay, Research Paper Herman Melville s Billy Budd is a story about true goodness. It entails the conflict of good and evil, but more than that it portrays innocence in its most purest form.
Herman Melville Essay Research Paper Portrayed through
Herman Melville Essay, Research Paper Portrayed through the characters of his novella Billy Budd, Herman Melville reveals his feelings on society; he believes justice should prevail over evil, however, evil overcomes goodness and innocence. Each character defines a specific characteristic of society.
The Problem Of Evil Essay Research Paper
The Problem of Evil Evil exists, a plain and simple fact. The argument for the problem of evil (and suffering) proves that fact. The argument for the problem of evil
Angels Essay Research Paper There are many
Angels Essay, Research Paper There are many good interesting things about angels. Many people in the world believe in angels , others do not. Whether you believe in them ornot , they are
Innocence Vs Evil Essay Research Paper Too
Innocence Vs Evil Essay, Research Paper Too much innocence is not always a good thing, but a little helps from doing wrong. In the case of Billy Budd, innocence was not an important factor, therefor it did not save Billy’s life. His ignorance partly reflects his lack of experience. Billy can’t read or write so he knows little about the world except what he has seen out at sea.
Good Vs Evil In King Lear Essay
, Research Paper In the King Lear play, Shakespeare creates many conditions in which humans live in the world. The main characters in the play are used to portray Shakespeare’s ideas. One of these ideas which Shakespeare is trying to portray is evil between the characters and in the world which are emphasized throughout the play.
Billy Budds Innocence Essay Research Paper Billy
Billy Budds Innocence Essay, Research Paper Billy Budd~ There is a lot to be said about innocence. If one is with innocence, than one can so no wrong but that isn?t all. Innocence is not always a good thing. It can make a person na?ve or blind to certain or all evils, which would seem as if they were blind from the world.
BILLY BUDD Essay Research Paper Before the
BILLY BUDD Essay, Research Paper Before the Fall, Adam and Eve were perfect. They were innocent and ignorant, yet perfect, so they were allowed to abide in the presence of God. Once they partook of the fruit of
Slaughter House Five Essay Research Paper In
Slaughter House Five Essay, Research Paper In Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughter House Five, “thoughtful laughter” is presented to the reader to create an entertaining scene but also make the reader meditate on the thought that there is more to the laughter than just a joke. The laughter is presented so the reader will wander if there is a connection between the joke, of Vonnegut’s weak character and the savage war he is in, and the main character of the novel, Billy Pilgrim.
Billy Budd 2 Essay Research Paper Billy
Billy Budd 2 Essay, Research Paper Billy Budd, a 19th century novel written by Herman Melville, involves three main characters: Billy Budd, John Claggart and Captain Vere. Throughout the first nineteen chapters, Melville portrays each character with distinct personality, in which case Billy Budd is represented as the simple-minded sailor, Claggart is viewed as the villain, and Captain Vere is seen as the honorable superior of the ship.
Billy Budd Essay Research Paper Matthew Chisam
Billy Budd Essay, Research Paper Matthew Chisam English III Period 5 10-16-2000 Billy Budd Journal Setting: The story begins on the merchant ship rights-of-man. Billy is impressed by the British navy ship the H.M.S. Belliportent, he goes without confrontation. The story takes place in 1797 around July of that year.
Billy Budd As A Christ Figure Essay
, Research Paper On first glance, Billy Budd is little more than a sea story involving a sailor wrongly accused of mutiny. However, upon closer examination, one observes that Melville s novel possesses a deeper significance. Melville presents the protagonist, Billy as a handsome, young sailor. Nonetheless, Billy Budd can be seen as a Christ-figure through his experiences with Captain Vere, Claggert and his crewmembers aboard the Bellipotent.
Billy Budd Sailor Essay Research Paper
“Billy Budd, Sailor” Herman Melville seems to be an evil person; he has no remorse for any one. In one scene of the story Billy Budd shows his courage by trying to save another sailor’s life. The nasty Lieutenant Ratcliffe sends a sick man up the mast to man his post. This sick sailor was very weak and could barley stand up strait on his own feet, but he was too proud to admit his illness.
Authority Vs Individuality Essay Research Paper Authority
Authority Vs Individuality Essay, Research Paper Authority is defined as a person or group of people who control the society and make major decisions affecting the society. Individual is a person who has no particular influence on the society and neither do his decisions. The term Authority may be applied to any type of people who hold some sort of influence or power on the society such as The Police; Courts from local courts to supreme courts and of course the ruling party of the government.
Herman MelvilleS
“Billy Budd” Essay, Research Paper As portrayed in the Bible, Adam and Eve were the perfect human species. This was only a result because of their complete innocence. God let them remain in his presence because of this reason. After the devil conned them into eating fruit from the Tree of Good and Evil they became unclean.
Society Is Evil Essay Research Paper Humans
Society Is Evil Essay, Research Paper Humans are both good and evil. I heard somebody say that society makes you evil, but I don?t agree. Society labels you as evil. Con-artists are at
Billy Budd Was Captain Vere Right Essay
, Research Paper Billy Budd: Was Captain Vere Right? Captain Vere makes the right decision by executing Billy Budd. If CaptainVere lets Billy live the rest of the crew might get the impression that
Good Vs Evil Essay Research Paper Good
Good Vs Evil Essay, Research Paper Good vs. evil is an important concept. It is a life long struggle inside of you. In life, you are in a constant limbo between good and evil. One day, you might be in a good mood and the other day you might be in an evil, or bad mood. Before history and even in history, good vs. evil has always been a historic struggle.
Billy Budd 2
Billy Budd’s Biblical Connections Essay, Research Paper Billy Budd?s Biblical Connections This book report is about Billy Budd, by Herman Melville. It was Melville?s final novel, and was published in 1924, over 30 years after his death. Billy Budd is a basic battle of good and evil, with evil deceiving good, and good taking the final victory.
Critical Essay On Billy Budd Essay Research
Paper Critical Essay on Billy Budd Charles Reich’s assessment of the conflict in Billy Budd focuses on the distinction between the laws of society and the laws of nature. Human law says
The Hanging Of Billy Budd Essay Research
Paper The Hanging of Billy Budd The hanging of Billy in Melville’s Billy Budd was a questionable and complex decision made by Captain Vere. Captain Vere, or “starry Vere,” chose to coincide with the law rather than spare Billy to make himself happy. The hanging of Billy was necessary for order to remain on the ship and for justice to prevail.
Billy Budd Essay Research Paper In
Billy Budd Essay, Research Paper In Henry Melville s novel Billy Budd, the protagonist, Billy Budd, is a young impressed sailor aboard an English Battleship. Billy shows his actions toward a Christ Figure through his innocence and ignorance, which he shows while interacting with Claggart, the ships Master of Arms.
Billy Budd Essay Research Paper Billy
Billy Budd Essay, Research Paper Billy Budd: Perfect Character In Unjust Microcosm An allegory is a symbolic story. Herman Melville’s Billy Budd is an example of an allegory. The author uses the protagonist Billy Budd to symbolize a superior being who has a perfect appearance and represents goodness. Melville shows the reader that a superior being can be an innocent victim of evil and eventually destroyed.