Budd Good Vs Evil

While Herman Melville’s novella, Billy Budd, Sailor, may initially appear to depict the triumph of good over evil, it, in actuality, describes the opposite. Melville’s story acts as a microcosm for the greater human struggle of good versus evil, and in the end, evil triumphs. To illustrate this, Melville utilizes his characters to personify various distinct human natures. While Billy Budd embodies pure innocence, Claggart embodies pure evil, and additionally, Captain Vere represents goodness, righteousness, and justice. Melville’s story remains cynical, rather than optimistic like many believe, and through examining his various characters and what they represent, evil’s victory becomes certain. The story’s main protagonist, the eponymous Billy

His innocence derives from his ignorance of the battle between good and evil. Although the young sailor himself can be considered a good man, he does not actively stand up or fight for the greater good. After all, how can a man defend the realm of all that is held sacred and virtuous if he cannot even recognize the face of true malevolence? Billy Budd learns from his early conversation with his shipmate and confidante, the Danskers, that there can exist a discrepancy between an individual’s words, actions, and intentions. Billy appears puzzled by this, and his response to the Dansker’s advice demonstrates the depth of his innocence. Most people possess a habitual and healthy distrust of one another, but Billy Budd remains incapable of not trusting Claggart. The innocent foretopman simply cannot comprehend how anyone could wish him well and wish him harm at the same time. As a result, Billy Budd is rendered blind by his openhearted nature, and thus he mistakens the wicked Claggart as his friend. “By his original constitution aided by the co-operating influences of

This foreshadows the arrival of Claggart, the wicked master-at-arms, whose refined manner, understanding of good and evil, and crafty masking of his intentions allow him to take up the mantle as Billy Budd’s very own satanic serpent. In fact, following Claggart’s death at the hands of Billy Budd, his corpse feels like “a dead snake” (1623). “With no power to annul the elemental evil in him, though readily enough he could hide it; apprehending the good, but powerless to be it; a nature like Claggart’s, surcharged with energy as such natures almost invariably are, what recourse is left to it but to recoil upon itself and, like the scorpion for which the Creator alone is responsible, act out to the end the part allotted it” (1610). Here, Melville describes Claggart’s quality and nature. He describes it as innately evil—a sort of “Natural Depravity” (1608). It remains an intrinsic part of Claggart’s very nature. Most villains in literature become evil through corrupting events and choices. In other words, evil natures usually result from painful backgrounds or conscious decisions to betray good. This is how Claggart differs from most antagonists. He simply embodies and personifies evil itself. Billy Budd cannot recognize the discrepancies between human action and human intention, and therefore, the young sailor always takes words and actions at face value.