Essay On Billy Budd

Herman Melville presents the question of moral and political justice in his story, Billy Budd. Billy Budd is an innocent, handsome, and popular young sailor whom almost everyone loves. In recent history, “the Great Mutiny” occurred before Billy is impressed upon the ship Bellipotent. The only person who despises Billy on the ship is the master-at-arms named John Claggart. In a confrontation with Claggart, Billy stands up for himself by punching Claggart. The punch that Billy threw immediately kills Claggart. On the ship, the punishment for killing another person is death. Although Billy and the Captain are close friends, Captain Vere faces the decision to sentence Billy to death. Melville portrays Billy as an innocent and likable person and this makes Vere’s decision difficult. Vere comes to the conclusion that enforcing the law fairly and hanging Billy is what he has to do, though he does not want to. By making the decision to hang Billy, Vere thinks this will stop …show more content…
Vere is described as one who reads books that already confirm his beliefs. His judgments are based on the general welfare of mankind and the obligation of maintaining the order on his ship. Melville portrays Vere as a smart and honorable man. When describing the type of captain that Vere is, Melville says, “He had seen much service, been in various engagements, always acquitting himself as an officer mindful of the welfare of his men, but never toleration an infraction of discipline…” (309). From this we can gather that Vere makes all of his decisions with the rest of his crew in mind and has no sympathy for those who break the rules. His attitude toward these matters guide him in making the decision that will put Billy, someone whom he is close to, to death. Although he does not want to sentence Billy, He chooses the military political law over his natural and moral