Billy Budd written by Herman Melville is a great illustration of how many ecosystems can mimic a much larger one. In the novel, Melville writes about a group of sailors on a ship and their encounters. The protagonist, Billy Budd works duteously as a foretopman on the H.M.S. Indomitable. Most of the other sailors found Billy amiable and hardworking. Another main character, the antagonist, John Claggart is a dark, moonstricken master-at-arms on the ship. Claggart develops a strong abhorrence towards Billy due to his jealousy and malice. The ship’s captain, Captain Edward Fairfax Vere known as “Starry Vere” is a very intelligent man that allows his love and faith for his state to force the legal operations onboard the ship. He understands the
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In the first few chapters, Billy accidentally spills soup on the recently washed decks on the ship. Claggart walks by originally not saying anything. However, when he realizes that it was Billy that had spilled it, he remarked loudly about Billy’s mistake sparking laughter within the crew members. Melville clearly shows how evil within Claggart in this scene. In chapters 19, 20, and 21, the mood becomes very intense when Billy kills Claggart during a confrontation with the three main characters. Claggart lies to Vere that Billy was planning a mutiny against the ship, it’s officers and crew. When Billy is confronted by the pair, he is horrified at this false allegation. He could not process how to react to this so he punched Claggart. The narrator writes "Quick as lightning Billy fly his arm. I dare say he never meant to do quite as much as he did, but anyhow he gave the burly fool a terrible drubbing." to show how the narrator believes that Billy had not meant to kill Claggart and not show a genuine act of evil. Melville created Claggart’s character to represent all evil in society. Claggart being evil on the ship is relatable to all the evil crime, and feelings in
In the first few chapters, Billy accidentally spills soup on the recently washed decks on the ship. Claggart walks by originally not saying anything. However, when he realizes that it was Billy that had spilled it, he remarked loudly about Billy’s mistake sparking laughter within the crew members. Melville clearly shows how evil within Claggart in this scene. In chapters 19, 20, and 21, the mood becomes very intense when Billy kills Claggart during a confrontation with the three main characters. Claggart lies to Vere that Billy was planning a mutiny against the ship, it’s officers and crew. When Billy is confronted by the pair, he is horrified at this false allegation. He could not process how to react to this so he punched Claggart. The narrator writes "Quick as lightning Billy fly his arm. I dare say he never meant to do quite as much as he did, but anyhow he gave the burly fool a terrible drubbing." to show how the narrator believes that Billy had not meant to kill Claggart and not show a genuine act of evil. Melville created Claggart’s character to represent all evil in society. Claggart being evil on the ship is relatable to all the evil crime, and feelings in