Billy budd 2
Billy budd 2Billy Budd, a 19th century novel written by Herman Melville, involves three main characters: Billy Budd, John Claggart and Captain Vere. Throughout the first nineteen chapters, Melville portrays each character with distinct personality, in which case Billy Budd is represented as the simple-minded sailor, Claggart is viewed as the villain, and Captain Vere is seen as the honorable superior of the ship. However, chapter twenty contradicts or rather morphs the earlier images of these characters. Though containing only four pages, this chapter is the most important of all, because it revels the unseen traits of each man.
John Claggart represents the epitome of demon-haunted man. In chapter twenty, Melville carefully describes the change in Claggart’s twisted figure as he speaks to Billy with a “hypnotic stare” of his charge against the handsome sailor. His image initially was of “a serpent fascination,” however; his facial expression corrodes as he reveals his anger antipathy toward Billy face to face. First, his eyes change their color from a “wonted rich violet” to a “muddy purple.” Melville even portrays him almost into a non-human being, an “alien eyes of an uncatalogued creature.” Furthermore, as opposed to his initial image, Melville compares the man to a “hungry lurch of the torpedo-fish.” Melville deliberately transforms Claggart’s demonic trait to a more extreme level.
Billy Budd plays a role of a good-hearted and simple peacemaker. His winsome looks and innocent nature wins the loyalty of many sailors except for John Claggart. During Billy’s brief moment of his stay in Captain Vere’s cabin, one can see that his angelic image morphs into an image of a deadly creature. When John Claggart shocks Billy with the accusation of being involved in a rebellious group, Billy becomes “impaled, struck by white leprosy.” He is dumbfounded and tongue-tied as if the hypnosis- Claggart – had actually mesmerized him into blocking his ability to speak. Captain...
To view the complete essay, you be registered.