Billy Budd Allegory Essay

Herman Melville was an extremely unique author. Although he is most famous for his classic novel, Moby Dick, his shorter and lesser known novella, Billy Budd manages to muster an intense and thought provoking plot. Melville uses the story of an innocent sailor named Billy Budd to formulate an intricate social allegory. Showing firm position, Melville sets up a parallel between the story’s conflict and the moral dilemma for the everyday reader. The story of Billy Budd becomes a fitting example of an allegory, as is becomes a mode of illustration that conveys another meaning that comments on society, not just the literal of a sailor. From the very beginning, Melville begins to set up the allegory. He starts the story by describing the “Handsome Sailor” that turns out to be the character of Billy, a
character that many readers would be able to identify with.
Billy begins the story on a boat named The Rights of Man, where he is loved and revered for his hard work. Yet, this reputation as an outstanding sailor soon made it to the ears of the British Navy. Billy is soon impressed on a ship named The Indomitable. This forced move represents a person who has been stripped of his rights. The name of his first boat, The Rights of Man, is made to symbolize a place where one has rights and the ability to choose, while the shift to The Indomitable signifies a move to silence one’s voice, limit one’s choices, and take away a person’s rights. Melville uses the contrast in names to demonstrate the change in Billy’s rights. On this new Navy ship, Billy is faced with a whole new crew, and a good amount of hatred. The character who harbors the most hatred towards Billy is the aged master-at-arms, John Claggart. Claggart accuses Billy of planning a mutiny, and brings the false information to the captain. Once Billy is faced with this information he reacts violently, and kills Claggart. Billy is then given
a quick and unjust trial, where he is found guilty and sentenced to death. This relates to Billy’s loss of liberties. He is forced into a trial with no real representation and is put to death for a crime that can only be seen as an action of passion and desperation that goes terribly wrong. The death of Billy Budd represents the effects of an environment where the people have no ability to make decisions or hold any kind of civil rights. Melville uses this as a warning to the reader, to say that with out the god-given liberties all should enjoy, one’s life is no longer his/her own. With the loss of rights comes the loss of individuality. Melville’s story is written in a way that respects the rights and choices of the reader. He uses an open writing that allows readers to keep their individual ideas without them being fogged by the opinions of the author. For example, in the scene between the surgeon and the purser where they discuss the difference between science and religion, Melville ends the conversation before any conclusion is reached, allowing the reader to choose his or her own conclusion. Even the end of the novella is kept open so as to preserve the reader’s right to choose what happened. Melville believed that the reader should hold the liberty to imagine any definite ending and hold any opinion throughout the plot. He knew that by taking away choice, one is left with nothing, like Billy Budd