Billy Budd Outsider

Some people say that Billy should have hit Claggart. They argue that because Billy couldn't speak at moment and he had to take up for himself by some other means. However, the Bible says differently to that logic for it says in Proverbs 29:11”A fool always loses his temper, But a wise man holds it back.”

Throughout the end of Billy Bud, Sailor, Herman Melville uses facts, reasoning, word choice, and emotion to have the drumhead court give in to Captain Vere. Vere only lives by the rules of war and the rules would tell him that Billy was not right and he deserves to be sentenced to death. In order for Vere to get the court on his side, Vere sympathizes with the court about how he knows that this case is very tough and he understands what they are going through. He then discusses how the court's duty is more important than their conscience, and lastly he shows that the action of Billy is what matters, not the intention. Vere states how Billy has a generous nature and that he would feel for the court too, that he would understand that they needed

Similarly to Ethan, Captain Vere expresses concern for the foundation of the ship due to chances of social criticism. The effects of social expectations can be seen through Captain Vere. Captain Vere has to address the turmoil between Billy and Calggart. When he realizes that the

“It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better.” This was stated by Theodore Roosevelt. Some argue that he didn’t care about his crew. Others may say that he wasn’t loyal to his wife. These are both wrong and the books contradict these statements.

One man in his crew, Billy Budd, punches an officer named John Claggart, killing him. After pondering all the details of the case, Vere sentences Billy to death. Everyone can agree Claggart died after Billy punched him. Some believe Captain Vere is justified in sentencing Billy to death.

Billy Budd deals with a sailor who is the titular character of the novella. Billy was impressed on the Bellipotent but he was accepted by the crew of the ship for being kind-hearted and a handsome man many people adored. One day, Billy accidentally spilled his soup and Claggart, who has a hatred towards Billy, decides to plot against him. Late at night, Billy overheard two men talking about a mutiny and was wrongly accused for the rumor (talking about mutiny against the captain is a crime) by Claggart, the ship’s master-at-arms. Billy, filled with animosity, retaliates by striking Claggart and accidentally murders the man. The ship’s captain, Vere, summons a drumhead court-martial in fear of a mutiny bursting in any second. Vere follows the rule and have Billy hanged. In the essays of Charles Reich and Robert Martin, they claim that the decisions of the captain was wrongful. They are in the right mindset to believe that Billy shouldn't had been killed.

      In his decision making, Vere reminded himself he was under the oath of the King, not human inclinations. If Vere had not done this Billy might have lived. This was not, however, the real reason for changing his mind. The real reason was because others would have followed in Billy’s alleged footsteps if he were not punished. Billy Budd’s life was sacrificed for an unjust reason, and the circumstances surrounding his death were definitely questionable. However, Vere made the decision that he had to although it wasn't morally right for Captain Vere it was the only fair decision he could have made to hang him. The consequences of what might have happened if his life had been spared were far greater that those of grief for Billy's death. Billy’s death was truly necessary for things to remain in order on the ship, especially without crew members entertaining the idea of killing another or starting a mutiny. The hanging of Billy Budd shows the need for punishment to occur for justice to

Who is responsible for killing Billy Budd? Is it Claggart, Captain Vere, or Billy Bubb himself? There are many people who will argue all three men are responsible for killing Billy Budd. Their argument is Claggart, also known as Jemmy Leggs, provoked Billy in to striking him, attacking an officer is a serious offense. Captain Vere witnessed Claggart pushing Billy’s buttons by yelling at him, accusing him of mutiny, and saw the frustration in Billy’s face, but did not pull rank and order both men to stand down. However Billy is responsible for his own actions and should never had let anyone control his emotions.

With this description, Vonnegut vastly distances Billy from the ideal, strong and mighty image of a soldier, yet Billy is a soldier nonetheless. Not only is this weak and ungracious character fighting and representing the honour of his country but also he is one of the few soldiers who survive the war; he outlives many of the other soldiers that could be considered better suited for war. Furthermore, Vonnegut compares Billy to a filthy flamingo, highlighting the distance that exists between society's soldier ideal, graceful and admirable, and the soldiers' reality, harsh and rampageous. In short, Billy is so far from what is expected that he “shouldn't even be in the Army” (51). However, Billy is not the only soldier in this ludicrous predicament. Vonnegut describes the entire Army as chaotic, confused and ludicrous:

Herman Melville’s Billy Budd, Sailor consistently plays with the tenets of literary romanticism. The titular character, Billy Budd, is in fact romanticized, but only to an extent. Though presented as exuding senses of virtue and perfection, Billy’s otherwise beautiful character is marred by actions of violence and blatant passivity. However, at the end of the novel during his execution, Billy is ultimately portrayed in an almost divine light, presented as a romantic martyr akin to Jesus Christ. From this, Billy effectively leaves his corporeal form, transcending into a sort of legend for sailors, peculiarly free of his previous vice. After looking at this strange resolution, I believe that the first few paragraphs of this play present a

His experience with educated people and become literacy make him hard to endure the harshness of his masters and hirers. His grandmother, taking care of Captain Anthony from born to death, being found to

In the play Billy Budd, the author, Hermann Melvinne, creates two conflicting character personalities which are portrayed as good and evil. John Claggart (Master-At-Arms) tries to destroy Billy Budd because he is jealous of Billy’s reputation and acceptance among the crew. There is also a conflict involving Captain Vere when he is forced to decide on the fate of Billy Budd after he kills Claggart.

The entire crew knew what kind of person Billy was and he showed that even up until his last seconds where he ultimately became a marty. Newspapers and ship captains attempted to paint him in a bad picture but the true story of Billy and his will to forgive those who might not be so deserving shot all throughout the ocean and into different naval ships where people were able to tell the story of Billy Budd. They carry it on by saying things such as “Yes, Billy Budd was a foundling, a presumable by-blow, and, evidently, no ignoble one.

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

On the off chance that Billy isn't executed then defilement may happen on the ship and cause a rebellion. Captain Vere realizes that a revolt may happen and does not need it to happen. Chief Vere could utilize Billy's execution for his wrongdoing of executing Claggart for instance for whatever remains of the group. It demonstrates the group what will transpire on the off chance that they endeavor to be uprising. After Billy's passing Captain Vere clearly feels lament for executing Billy. Captain Vere's last words are "Billy Budd, Billy Budd" (p. 76) demonstrate a case of this. Those last words may symbolize that Captain Vere executed Billy for the wrong reasons. If Captain Vere utilizes Billy's passing for a case to whatever is left of the team then it might not really be the wrong reason. Captain Vere needs to choose one life and the lives of the whole group. Regardless of what Captain Vere's reasons are he makes the correct choice. Commander Vere had no real option except to convict Billy. As commander of a ship under weight of war and the steady danger of rebellion, Vere needed to act quickly. Likewise, as commander, Vere had the obligation of ensuring the laws were