Billy Budd Character Analysis

Herman Melville’s Billy Budd introduces us to Budd as a young sailor amongst others in the merchant ship, “The Rights Of Man.” Billy is a bright young man whom everyone likes, he represents good and innocence. Soon we see a British naval ship near the merchant ship called “Bellipotent” where Billy is soon to be recruited onto. Here Billy will come face to face with Claggart, the ship's master-at-arms. Claggart represents evil in the world. Herman Melville’s creation of Billy Budd in a world of evil and wickedness shows that innocence cannot exist untouched by evil. Therefore the claim of the whole transcendentalist movement is “wrong” and not possible. Though good, and of best interest, the transcendentalists do not acknowledge the true flaws and evil ways of certain individuals throughout the world/society.

In the novella Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, Lennie and George have both similarities and differences that are revealed throughout the storyline. These comparisons and contrasts are used to explain their unique friendship and dependency on one another. The story begins with the description of their physical and intellectual differences and establishes their roles of who is the dominant one. The story shares the obstacles that have stood in the way of them obtaining their “American Dream” to own land, even if they if they have different motivations. The story concludes with the difficult choice that George makes to end Lennie’s life himself, out of his love for his friend.

Set in the town of Maycomb County, this novel describes the journey of two young kids growing up in a small-minded town, learning about the importance of innocence and the judgement that occurs within. The individuals of Maycomb are very similar, with the exception of Arthur “Boo” Radley, the town’s recluse. Boo Radley has never been seen outside, and as a result of this, the children in the town are frightened of him and make up rumors about the monstrous things he allegedly does. This leaves the individuals in the town curious as to if Boo Radley really is a “malevolent phantom” like everyone assumes that he is or if he is just misunderstood and harmless. In Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, Boo Radley is a saviour. This is

Another very well used literary device in this story is personification. Personification is when an inanimate object is given human attributes. In the specific instance

In “Where Have You Gone, Charming Billy” Tim O'Brien uses indirect characterization to show that Private First Class Paul Berlin is afraid, terrified, and fearful. For example, Paul Berlin “would never let on how frightened he had been…making his father feel proud” (O’Brien 3). This shows that Paul Berlin is afraid of what his father will think about him when he returns home from the war. This also reveals he wants to prove his father that he is brave in the war. Furthermore, Paul Berlin pretends “how he would forget how frightened he had been on his first day at war” (O’Brien 1). This shows that Paul is scared of all the craziness happening in the war. This also reveals how Paul Berlin keeps calm during his time in the war. Finally, when Paul reaches a minefield “he [walks] carefully. He remembered everything he had been taught” (O’Brien 4). This shows that Paul is afraid of being blown up by the mine. This also reveals how Paul would use his training to be less afraid. In conclusion this is how Tim O’Brien uses indirect characterization to show that

Melinda is a first year recruit in secondary school, who is experiencing a great deal of changes managing pre-adulthood and troublesome circumstances. She experiences difficulty fitting in with different associates, she is appalled by her own particular appearance; for instance "I search for shapes in my face, certainly not a dried face", Melinda conveys what needs to be in a frightful route as a result of the way Andy assaulted her and caused a colossal effect on her life . Luckily, she has an instructor who gives exhortation as lessons to enable them to have the capacity to stand up to each other. Mr. Freeman," the coolest craftsmanship educator", is a skilled craftsman, carefully affected. That makes discretionary school less asking for

It is often said that the people one surrounds themselves with can reflect things about themselves, such as their beliefs and ideals. One’s friends and acquaintances can reveal subconscious attractions to people that fulfill their ideals or agree with the things they say, but these relationships can also help one discover their personal philosophies by reinforcing opposing views. Indeed, in J.D. Salinger’s novel, The Catcher in the Rye, the way Holden reacts to and interacts with secondary characters reveal his established philosophies and the values he holds most dear to him.

In Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, the main character, Holden, had many opportunities to learn life lessons but every time his faulty thinking caused him to focus on the problem and not the solution. Whenever Holden looks at situations he negatively overgeneralizes them with a bad attitude rather than learning from it.

Billy Madison is the son of a famous hotel tycoon and spends his days being an idiot in the hotel pool. Billy then finds out that his father, Brian Madison, is having a meeting about retirement. Brian is trying to find a person to run Madison Hotels, and Brian says that he will give the ownership to Eric Gordon because Billy is not responsible enough. Brian tells Billy that he payed Billy's teachers to give him good grades so he could graduate which makes Billy mad and he says he will complete grades 1 through 12 again in 24 weeks, 2 weeks to finish each grade. Brian accepts Billy's offer, but Eric gets mad and becomes offended by this.

Holden Caulfield is a character who has been through rejection and wishes to protect others innocence. He is a teen boy who is the main character in Catcher in The Rye by J.D.Salinger. He has an older brother named DB, a younger sister named Phoebe, and a younger, deceased, brother named Allie. Holden retells his story on him, trying to be the catcher in the rye. Holden has been kicked out of different colleges. He has been rejected by different girls. Holden goes through his life story. He talks about being kicked out of Pencey, his friend Jane, his “acquaintance” Stradlater, and how, when, and where Allie died. Society is to blame for Holden Caulfield's decline in mental stability. Society does not help Holden. Instead, they ignore his

to Garrett, “That’s him!” “Quickly as possible I drew my revolver and fired, threw my body aside, and fired again” claimed Garrett.(p.3) The Kid was dead. Pat Garrett was with John Poe, Thomas McKinney, and Pete Maxwell when he shot Billy the Kid.

Throughout the passage Prose develops her viewpoint using personification. By doing this she gives these inanimate objects human characteristics. Within her passage

William ‘Billy’ Budd has been described as a ‘Christ’ like character. His physical appearance remains to be a focus throughout, and his perfection is, ultimately, what attracts all the sailors to him. Billy has an innocence to him that many on the ship have lost. However, nothing is perfect as it seems, as Billy’s flaws lead to his demise. Billy’s stutter, as well as his childlike mentality when it comes to aggravated situations show that while God can create seemingly ‘perfect’ beings, Satan and evil also have their say and play a crucial part. Billy’s death in the novella can be considered a mirrored image of Christ’s death in the bible. Even their last words bear a sense of forgiveness. Billy’s final “God Bless Captain Vere!”, (page 86), is very similar to Christ’s, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” Billy’s final exclamation results in a lack of wavering faith and, almost, forgiveness for Captain Vere’s condemning William to death. Additionally, as written in chapter 27, Melville compares Billy to

In the story "The Dead" James Joyce gives his protagonist, Gabriel, a characterization through imagery and symbolism. He brings Gabriel into the perspective where the reader can understand him better through techniques and devices.

Herman Melville's Billy Budd is a novel with many biblical allegories ranging from subtle references to quite obvious similarities between characters and Biblical figures.