Apollo was the god of the Sun, and a very prominent god. Budd can therefore be compared to him because all of the shipmates looked toward Billy for guidance, and others looked toward Apollo. Billy Budd’s history is a mystery and he doesn’t know anything about his parents, yet he does know that he was found in a basket lain with silk. While Budd couldn’t read, he could sing. He also wrote his own songs which he sang regularly on the ship.

What is so unique about Billy Budd?

Unlike the “common sailor,” Billy Budd is a very friendly and powerful person. He has all of the characteristics of a very friendly, dependable person, but can still make his voice heard. He is not afraid to rough people up to get a point across, but in the end he makes peace. He is considered a handsome man, and is stronger than most of the other sailors. Even though he has no idea where he was born, it is believed that he is of noble ancestry.

The use of “organic” and “nature” throughout the novel

Throughout the first few pages of Billy Budd, Melville uses the word “nature” to describe the behavioral demeanor of Billy Budd and other characters. On page 14, Melville writes,

“To any stray inheritor of these primitive qualities found, like Kaspar Hauser, wandering dazed in any Christian capital of our time, the good natured poet’s famous invocation, near two thousand years ago…” (Melville, 14).

The phrase “good natured” is explaining the “primitive qualities” found in a person such as Kaspar Hauser. The word “natured” is used in place of, for example, good mannered, well behaved, etc.

The “Rights of Man”

The Rights of Man is a merchant ship, named after writing by Paine. The name is important because it makes the ship a place where individuality and human rights can be kept.

The Indomitable is a navy ship which is able to control and order the other ships. The name, indomitable, is significant because it accurately depicts the attitude of the members on board the ship. When the officer boards the Rights of Man to take Billy Budd, he acts as if he is untouchable, like he is so much higher than any other man.

The Significance of Paine, Voltaire, Diderot

The writings of Paine, Voltaire, and Diderot were of great significance in their time periods, and helped shape the ideas of future generations. Melville includes references to these texts through the ship names and other ways to show how those ideas play out in the real world, and which idea he favors.

Comparing Billy Budd to Adam and the Serpent

Billy Budd has similar characteristics to Adam, such as the idea of being “natural.” However, he is also able to become like the snake, and can make people follow him and pay attention to his words. Therefore, he is representative of the serpent and Adam together. The “doctrine of man’s fall” can be considered indicative of the mood thus far because it agrees that people are unable to transcend moral, social, and authoritative pressures.

Billy Budd and Western Civilization

I think that Melville includes many illusions and metaphors from Western civilization to put the reader in a state of mind that criticizes all of the character’s actions against the socially accepted ways of doing this in a Western civilization. This allows the reader to analyze each action, and compare it to how someone may have acted in today’s society, bringing out the flaws in life today. As readers we see how there is no jealousy or hatred for such a perfect person as Billy Budd. He is good looking, strong and intimidating, yet friendly and loved. And yet even though he does have all those characteristics nobody on the same ship has any hint of disrespect for him. In today’s society most people would admire a person with such characteristics, but there would also be a handful of people who would be full of disrespect and jealousy.

Fearing Mutiny

“It was the summer of 1797,” (Melville, 15) when the Great Mutiny occurred. There was rebellion against the entire British Empire, and caused fear to spread throughout the British Navy. Members of the Navy were constantly suspicious, and paranoid that more rebellion would occur. This fear of mutiny caused the British Navy to become stricter, but also more loyal to the country.

Lord Admiral Nelson

Lord Admiral Nelson was a captain in the British Navy, and commanded the fleet during the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar. While poets are considered more reserved and shy, Nelson instead wanted everyone to see what he accomplished. Nelson had an “ornate publication of his person in battle [that] was not only unnecessary” (Melville, 18), but also not in line with military standards.

Nelson’s Treatment

Nelson was the kind of leader who led with a sense of respect and admiration for his own men. In turn, his men had full respect for Nelson and they followed his every order. As a very enthusiastic figure, Nelson helped to motivate men to become loyal to the Navy, leading them to become dedicated fighters.

Characterize Captain Vere:

Captain Vere is a forty year old (or somewhere around forty), who was a “sailor of distinction” and a bachelor. Vere is a well spoken sailor who thinks very highly of himself. He does not have the looks of a common sailor, but posses the behavior and attitude of what a common sailor strives to be. Compared to Lord Admiral Nelson, Vere is extremely reserved and humble. Vere does not have the need to display his victories and achievements for everyone to see, unlike Admiral Nelson. The poem by Andrew Marvel tells us that Vere is from a “domestic heaven.” Therefore, he is not an angel, but from a family of nobility and kindness. Vere is a very disciplined man, but also very intelligent.

The crew’s perception of Vere

The crew views Captain Vere as a very honorable intellectual. He understood to be a man who looks out for his own men, but also a man who will not tolerate any slacking off on part of the crew. Most of the crew looks up to Vere, and he is always seen carrying or reading a book.

Characterization of John Claggart

John Claggart is the master-at-arms on board the ship. Claggart is a 35 year old man who is tall, thin, and good looking. There are many rumors about Claggart because he is such a mysterious man.

The role of the Dansker

Dansker is an older sailor who is used to juxtapose young inexperience with old experience. Melville refers to him as an Agamemnon name because he was a hero on board a ship names the Agamemnon.

Definition of Innocence

Innocence is the absence of knowledge of any flaws to the behavior of a society. This theme will be meaningful throughout Billy Budd because innocence, while it can be an ideal, can also bring the downfall of characters.

Spilled Soup

Billy spilt soup on the clean deck of the ship, and Claggart noticed. Instead of getting angry with Billy Budd, Claggart talked to him sarcastically mentioning how handsome a job he had done, spilling the soup, and what a handsome person he was. Billy Budd thought that Claggart was mad, but didn’t realize that he had begun to smirk after he had spoken to Billy.

Sociocultural Terms that are Reflected in “Billy Budd”

Ability
Actor
Assumption
Communication
Discourse
Ideology
Identity
Message
Nature
Normal
Persuasion
Power
Society
Truth