Billy Budd - Convictions Shaken Essay -- essays research papers

In Herman Melvilles billy goat Budd, Sailor, readers are introduced to the fight of good and evil between he-goat Budd and Claggart. However, there is other conflict, which, in ways is to a greater extent significant than the epic clash of good and evil. Veres cope between commerce and moral sense is more significant because it occurs in the mind. Whereas Billy Budd was clearly the portentous sacrificed hero and Claggart was the vindictive villain, commerce is just as portentous as conscience and conscience is just as noble as duty. Melville sets up this conflict by placing a man with the intuition and innocence of a child, in the hands of a captain amidst war. In a description of maitre d Vere it can be anticipated that Vere, who values peace and common good, would be in conflict with his job, which requires him to be a militaristic authoritarian. senior pilot Vere learns important lessons when innocent hands bring about destruction of life. Vere was moved by his beckoni ng duty as captain, to convince the drumhead court to convict Billy Budd. However, the paternal emotions towards Billy Budd and his rational thinking did invoke indecision. Captain Vere realizes, when he has to act, he does not stool the strength of conviction he had thought. Veres slip is written to be a medium between Billy Budd and Claggart. Vere, like Claggart, has experience that makes him a salted sailor. However, like Billy Budd, Vere has been able to hold on to his natural intelligence. Along with his intelligence, Vere has an innocent quality to him he believes when a crisis between duty and conscience calls, he will be able to hold unfluctuating to duty as called for on the seas during war. Captain Vere learns that in the face of conflict between duty and conscience, he does not have the strength of conviction he thought he had. Captain Vere learns that to balance conscience and duty is a very with child(p) task even for a man as assured of his actions as he is. Capta in Vere, despite having paternal feelings towards Billy Budd, soon realizes the decision liner him. After Claggarts last breathe, Fated boy, breathed Captain Vere in t unmatched so low as to be almost a whisper, what have you done (350). Veres paternal feelings can be seen when he says Fated boy. The fact Captain Vere whispers this implies the emotions he is feeling. He realizes the severity of Billys actions and reproaches him as a father would a child... ...d conscience. The manifestation of cut opposites in the characters of Billy Budd and Claggart give readers a very clear sense of the enemy, and which character to emulate. However, Billy Budd and Claggart are very exaggerated views of balancing opposite interests. Melville, more subtly, uses the murder of Claggart by Billy Budd, to show the readers the balance needing to be achieved within Captain Vere. His exertion between duty and conscience are representative of unalike interests. These different interests might not b e clearly right and wrong. Duty is just as noble as emotion and vice versa. Despite what pile think of themselves, it is very hard to strike that balance in which both interests can be achieved. Veres actions when wavering between emotion and duty hypothesise how actions counteract one another. One minute Vere was calm and the next he was passionately exclaiming. The clement condition is always shifting, always looking for that balance of interests. heap believe strongly in many things, but when the strong beliefs are pitted against one another balance must be found. As Vere learned, in the face of conflict between two rights, he finds his convictions shaken. Billy Budd - Convictions Shaken Essay -- essays research papers In Herman Melvilles Billy Budd, Sailor, readers are introduced to the conflict of good and evil between Billy Budd and Claggart. However, there is another conflict, which, in ways is more significant than the epic clash of good and evil. Veres struggle between duty and conscience is more significant because it occurs in the mind. Whereas Billy Budd was clearly the noble sacrificed hero and Claggart was the vindictive villain, duty is just as noble as conscience and conscience is just as noble as duty. Melville sets up this conflict by placing a man with the intuition and innocence of a child, in the hands of a captain amidst war. In a description of Captain Vere it can be anticipated that Vere, who values peace and common good, would be in conflict with his job, which requires him to be a militaristic authoritarian. Captain Vere learns important lessons when innocent hands bring about destruction of life. Vere was moved by his beckoning duty as captain, to convince the drumhead court to convict Billy Budd. However, the paternal emotions towards Billy Budd and his rational thinking did invoke indecision. Captain Vere realizes, when he has to act, he does not have the strength of conviction he had thought. Veres character i s written to be a medium between Billy Budd and Claggart. Vere, like Claggart, has experience that makes him a salted sailor. However, like Billy Budd, Vere has been able to hold on to his natural intelligence. Along with his intelligence, Vere has an innocent quality to him he believes when a crisis between duty and conscience calls, he will be able to hold fast to duty as called for on the seas during war. Captain Vere learns that in the face of conflict between duty and conscience, he does not have the strength of conviction he thought he had. Captain Vere learns that to balance conscience and duty is a very hard task even for a man as conscious of his actions as he is. Captain Vere, despite having paternal feelings towards Billy Budd, soon realizes the decision facing him. After Claggarts last breathe, Fated boy, breathed Captain Vere in tone so low as to be almost a whisper, what have you done (350). Veres paternal feelings can be seen when he says Fated boy. The fact Captain Vere whispers this implies the emotions he is feeling. He realizes the severity of Billys actions and reproaches him as a father would a child... ...d conscience. The manifestation of complete opposites in the characters of Billy Budd and Claggart give readers a very clear sense of the enemy, and which character to emulate. However, Billy Budd and Claggart are very exaggerated views of balancing opposite interests. Melville, more subtly, uses the murder of Claggart by Billy Budd, to show the readers the balance needing to be achieved within Captain Vere. His struggle between duty and conscience are representative of different interests. These different interests might not be clearly right and wrong. Duty is just as noble as emotion and vice versa. Despite what people think of themselves, it is very hard to strike that balance in which both interests can be achieved. Veres actions when wavering between emotion and duty reflect how actions counteract one another. One minute Vere was calm and the next he was passionately exclaiming. The human condition is always shifting, always looking for that balance of interests. People believe strongly in many things, but when the strong beliefs are pitted against one another balance must be found. As Vere learned, in the face of conflict between two rights, he finds his convictions shaken.