BILLY BUDD, SAILOR

Billy Budd, Sailor is a novel written by the writer Herman Menville. Herman Budd is a handsome sailor who inadvertently kills and strikes Joh the false accuser, in Claggart. Edward Vere the captain of the ship, recognized the innocence of his intent but the law requires him to sentence Billy Budd to be hanged. Melville started working in November 1886 but left the manuscript in chaos and disarray. Elizabeth edited the manuscript to publish but was unable to decide her husband's intentions and his intended title. Billy Budd has been adapted into a stage play, film, and an opera.

The story is set in the last decade of the 18th century where the British naval warship Bellipotent impressed, and recruited, Billy Budd the young sailor, and extracted him from duty aboard a merchant ship named Rights-of-Man. Captain Graveling had a little choice in the face of superior ship’s demands. Billy packed up and followed Lieutenant Ratcliffe, the boarding officer of the Bellipotent, across the gangway for his new assignment. After a final good-bye to his mates, Billy settled among the company of the warship Bellipotent. He proved himself to be hardworking and was curious about his role as a foretopman. He soon earned the affection from his experienced fellow sailors.

Billy was saddened by a violent lashing that is given to one of the crew members on the ship. Billy attempted to fulfil his duties in a model fashion hoping to avoid a similar punishment but was under constant scrutiny due to few minor infractions. Billy was puzzled by this persecution so he took advice from Dansker who was an experienced and aged sailor. Dansker concluded that Claggart begrudged Billy. But Billy dismissed Dansker’s opinion but continued to wonder about this situation.

An anonymous figure roused Billy one night from sleep and asked him to meet in an isolated quarter of the ship. Billy was confused but obeyed. Billy was puzzled when, after a vague discourse, the man flashed two guinea pigs in exchange for a promise. Billy recognized that something was amiss, and raised his voice and threatened the man with uncharacteristic violence. The conspirator slinked into darkness quickly, and Billy found himself confronting with inquiries about two fellow sailors and explained that Billy happened upon the sailor who was wrongly positioned in the ship and was chasing the man back to his station with a rebuke.

 Claggart approaches Captain Vere after a brief skirmish with an enemy, with the news of rumours of Billy Budd being the ringleader of the rebellion. Vere summoned Billy to his cabin and instructed Claggart to repeat the accusation. Upon hearing of this, Billy was speechless. Vere commanded Billy to defend himself but in a softened approach. Billy struck out in fury and gave Claggart a smooth punch on the forehead.

The blow was forceful and knocked Claggart unconscious, and he lied bleeding from the ears and nose as Billy and Vere attempted to revive him. Vere dismissed Billy to a stateroom until further notice and the ship’s surgeon pronounced Claggart dead after examining him. Vere functioned as the main witness and gave a testimony of facts to the jury. Billy remained silent during his time of questioning and admitted to the blow but maintained the innocence of intention and was dismissed Billy to the stateroom again by the court.

Captain Vere communicated the news of fate to Billy and discussing with him he withdrew to leave the prison by himself. Billy spent his final hours chained on board guarded by a sentry. The ship’s chaplain spiritually prepared Billy for his death, but he seems to be in a state of peace and resignation. Billy was hanged in the mainyard of the ship and Billy expired with a surprising calm as dawn broken over the horizon.

The novel is a must-read as you get to witness Captain Vere’s dilemma in dealing with Billy that illustrated society’s requirements of the separation of inner feelings from one’s social obligations. Laws govern the society and not the dictates of individual conscience to fill a social role, as it may be necessary to act against one’s impulses. To be a “good” captain, Vere did something that he interpreted as morally wrong by condemning an innocent soul. Being a good captain required Vere to be bad to Billy, just as being good would have required him to be a bad captain. Billy Budd, Sailor represents innocence much more than good, and the conflict in this novel is innocence versus evil which is different from goodness versus evil.