Justice Or Loyalty In Herman Melville's Billy Budd
Justice or Loyalty
“I have found always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.” Abraham Lincoln. Captain Vere should not have sentenced Billy Budd to death for three reasons: it was involuntary manslaughter, Captain Vere was under too much pressure to make that kind of decision, and Claggart consistently harassed Billy.
As defined from the Merriam-Webster dictionary online, involuntary manslaughter is, “the unlawful killing of a human being without express or implied malice.” According to this definition, what Billy did was not murder, a capital crime, and therefore they should not have ruled him guilty. This was Billy’s first offense to anyone. Charming, young and sweet, Billy never made any evil action or verbal attack …show more content…
Overwhelmed, Captain Vere couldn’t have made a balanced verdict. In Captain Vere’s hands, he decided Billy’s fate. The thought to harm Claggart never crossed Billy’s mind. Because Billy was so kind, he would never act violently.
Menacingly, Claggart consistently harassed Billy. Eerily, Claggart shadowed Billy like a lion stalks his prey. Conniving, Claggart, devised a complex and sophisticated plan that the naïve and transparent Billy Budd could never have detected.
Although some believe that Captain Vere should have sentenced Billy to death. Although Billy was his friend, he needed to establish justice. Following the code, Captain Vere had to sentence Billy to death for what he had done. By deciding this, it discouraged the chance of mutiny among the sailors. The jury’s verdict was guilty.
Evidently, Billy was convicted of the murder of Claggart. “Teach me to feel another’s woe, to hide the fault I see, that mercy I to others show, that others show to me.” Alexander Pope. Caring Billy should have shown mercy to Claggart. Voluntarily, Billy punched Claggart. Anxiously, Billy became flustered during the trial and couldn’t share his case or defend
“I have found always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.” Abraham Lincoln. Captain Vere should not have sentenced Billy Budd to death for three reasons: it was involuntary manslaughter, Captain Vere was under too much pressure to make that kind of decision, and Claggart consistently harassed Billy.
As defined from the Merriam-Webster dictionary online, involuntary manslaughter is, “the unlawful killing of a human being without express or implied malice.” According to this definition, what Billy did was not murder, a capital crime, and therefore they should not have ruled him guilty. This was Billy’s first offense to anyone. Charming, young and sweet, Billy never made any evil action or verbal attack …show more content…
Overwhelmed, Captain Vere couldn’t have made a balanced verdict. In Captain Vere’s hands, he decided Billy’s fate. The thought to harm Claggart never crossed Billy’s mind. Because Billy was so kind, he would never act violently.
Menacingly, Claggart consistently harassed Billy. Eerily, Claggart shadowed Billy like a lion stalks his prey. Conniving, Claggart, devised a complex and sophisticated plan that the naïve and transparent Billy Budd could never have detected.
Although some believe that Captain Vere should have sentenced Billy to death. Although Billy was his friend, he needed to establish justice. Following the code, Captain Vere had to sentence Billy to death for what he had done. By deciding this, it discouraged the chance of mutiny among the sailors. The jury’s verdict was guilty.
Evidently, Billy was convicted of the murder of Claggart. “Teach me to feel another’s woe, to hide the fault I see, that mercy I to others show, that others show to me.” Alexander Pope. Caring Billy should have shown mercy to Claggart. Voluntarily, Billy punched Claggart. Anxiously, Billy became flustered during the trial and couldn’t share his case or defend