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
Others believe executing Billy will keep mutineers from acting up. Some love Billy and wish him not to be executed. Other than Melville stating the murmurs were not remorseful, the fact Vere is murmuring shows Vere is not being tortured by his decision. Captain Vere is also described as "facing forward". In a complete departure from his dutiful calm, he is "catching the surgeon's arm". Captain Vere learns that in the face of conflict between duty and conscience, he does not have the strength of conviction he thought he had. The fact Captain Vere whispers this implies the emotions he is feeling. First he reacts paternally when Claggart is struck dead; then, calling the surgeon in he is acting out of duty. Captain Vere was murmuring Billy Budd. As Captain Vere lay dying "under the influence of that magical drug which. Therefore others observing him cannot tell the reason for his standing "erectly rigid". People believe strongly in many things, but when the strong beliefs are pitted against one another balance must be found. He keeps conscience and duty separate, but does not judge one to be "righter" than the other. Duty, though, changes Captain Vere, "and the effect was as if the moon emerging from eclipse should reappear with quite another aspect than that which had gone into hiding" (350).
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Acceptance Essays
