Irony In Herman Melville's Billy Budd
Herman Melville wrote the novel “Billy Budd” during the 19th century. Melville had several experiences at sea taking part in whaling voyages and also joined a crew while trying to get back home. On this voyage home, he and the rest of the ship’s crew were accused of mutiny and thrown in jail for several months. Some of Melville’s personal experiences as a sailor described in the background makes his story more interesting to the reader. In the novel “Billy Budd”, Melville’s usage of foreshadowing keeps the reader intrigued by the words he uses to portray Billy Budd, multiple details surrounding mutiny, and the reference to a serpent. The representation of Billy Budd in the beginning of the story foreshadows that even a faultless man can
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Melville reports of the great mutiny as an “irruption of contagious fever” because it was a popular topic of this time having occurred recently (Melville 17). On the other hand, Claggart went to the captain’s quarters to have a meeting with Captain Vere. During this meeting, Claggart falsely accused Billy of taking part in mutinous acts. Standing face to face with his accuser, Billy became outraged when Claggart spoke of this crime in front of Captain Vere. “The next instance, quick as the flame from a discharged cannon at night, his right arm shot out, and Claggart dropped to the deck” (Melville 58). Billy Budd had committed the murder of a commanding officer. The captain with his officers held a trail and not a single one of them wanted to hang Billy. “ In a legal view the apparent victim of the tragedy was he who had sought to victimize a man blameless; and the indisputable deed of the latter, navally regarded, constituted the most heinous of military crimes” (Melville 62). As they pondered upon a verdict, the thought of mutiny filled the captain’s head. The captain wanted to overlook this crime and punish Budd with lighter circumstances. But if Vere did not go by the Articles of War, he believed the rest of the crew would rebel and cause and mutinous
Melville reports of the great mutiny as an “irruption of contagious fever” because it was a popular topic of this time having occurred recently (Melville 17). On the other hand, Claggart went to the captain’s quarters to have a meeting with Captain Vere. During this meeting, Claggart falsely accused Billy of taking part in mutinous acts. Standing face to face with his accuser, Billy became outraged when Claggart spoke of this crime in front of Captain Vere. “The next instance, quick as the flame from a discharged cannon at night, his right arm shot out, and Claggart dropped to the deck” (Melville 58). Billy Budd had committed the murder of a commanding officer. The captain with his officers held a trail and not a single one of them wanted to hang Billy. “ In a legal view the apparent victim of the tragedy was he who had sought to victimize a man blameless; and the indisputable deed of the latter, navally regarded, constituted the most heinous of military crimes” (Melville 62). As they pondered upon a verdict, the thought of mutiny filled the captain’s head. The captain wanted to overlook this crime and punish Budd with lighter circumstances. But if Vere did not go by the Articles of War, he believed the rest of the crew would rebel and cause and mutinous