Billy Budd Superego

John Claggart examined the foretopman from the main deck of the Indomitable. Envy and abhorrence took possession of his mind as he watched the handsome sailor at work. The ship had just made her escape from an enemy frigate, and the entirety of the ship’s crew was apprehensive. It was the ideal moment for his vengeance, Claggart felt it in his heart. He made his way to the quarter deck. He would have to convince the Captain, and he was sure he would be successful, for the foretopman was not as innocent as he appeared. Such was John Claggart’s mindset within Herman Melville’s novella, “Billy Budd,” as he confronted Captain Vere with the intention of accusing Billy Budd of mutiny. Leon Howard articulated that through his novella, Herman Melville emphasizes the significance of maintaining the balance between the id and the superego in relation to surviving in a world where
The effects of having an imbalance between the two different aspects of one’s personality are highlighted through John Claggart, Captain Vere, and Billy Budd. Claggart’s envy of Billy Budd causes his id and superego to remain out of balance and leads him to falsely accuse Billy. This accusation simultaneously results in Claggart’s death and reveals the manner in which Captain Vere’s psyche is dominated by his superego. Moreover, Claggart’s allegation is the basis for the events that result in Billy Budd’s submission to his impulses. In surrendering to his id, Billy’s perfection and purity is tainted, and he is no longer capable of thriving in a world where psychological imbalance is prevalent. Although Captain Vere contributes largely to Billy’s demise, it is the shift in Billy Budd’s psyche that leads to his ascension upon the hull, indicating that, without equilibrium between one’s sentiments and conscience, survival in the “fallen world” is