1. Billy Budd, Sailor By Herman Melville

2. The story takes place in the 1790’s and protagonist Billy Budd is impressed into service on the H.M.S. Bellipotent

3. Although taken involuntarily into service, Billy Budd proves to be a model sailor and earns the respect of more seasoned sailors on the Bellipotent

4. Despite Billy Budd’s excellent seamanship and work ethic, he is continually scrutinized and persecuted. Billy seeks the advice of Dansker, a veteran sailor, who tells him that the Master at Arms, Claggart hates him, Billy however, disregards this explanation.

5. Shortly afterwards, a minor incident involving spilled soup begins the downward spiral of Billy’s demise.

6. A mysterious encounter with another sailor occurs and after a skirmish with an enemy frigate, circumstantial evidence is produced which implicates Billy Budd in a mutiny conspiracy. Claggart goes to Capt. Vere with this accusation. Billy Budd’s tendency to stutter causes him to seem guilty.

7. When Billy is confronted directly by Claggart with this accusation, he lashes out physically and punches Claggart in the forehead. The blow proves fatal and immediate justice is called for in a drumhead court by Capt. Vere

8. Billy’s last words are “God Bless Capt. Vere!” Billy is sentenced to death by hanging for the murder of Claggart

9. Shortly afterward The Bellipotent is involved in another skirmish Capt. Vere is mortally wounded, before dying his last words are “Billy Budd, Billy Budd.” The story of Billy Budd’s martyrdom becomes the stuff of seafaring legend.

10. Characters Billy Budd – the epitome of good, he is physically attractive, young, a model sailor, and has the unwitting inability to conceive of ill will in others; he also stutters Protagonist Capt. Vere aka Starry Vere – the captain of the H.M.S. Bellipotent, somewhat aloof, yet not superior John Claggart – the epitome of evil, cruel, sinister, manipulative, conniving, vindictive; Antagonist

11. Characters Dansker – veteran sailor who Billy seeks out for advice, he is unhelpful in the end Ship’s surgeon – pronounces Claggart dead, surprised by abrupt decision for drumhead court, unconvinced of supernatural calmness of Billy’s death Ship’s purser – believes the death of Billy to have a supernatural element to it Ship’s chaplain – attempts to console Billy on the eve of his execution but finds him already resigned to it

12. Characters Squeak – henchman of Claggart that fuels the hatred for Billy Albert – Capt. Vere’s cabin boy, summons Billy to the Capt.’s cabin to be questioned Lieutenant Ratcliffe – selects Billy from the H.M.S. Rights of Man as the only sailor that is impressed into service on the H.M.S. Bellipotent

13. Characters Capt. Graveling – captain of the H.M.S. Rights of Man, who is sorry to lose Billy Budd to the H.M.S. Bellipotent The Red Whiskers – Billy’s adversary aboard the H.M.S. Rights of Man, whose hatred turns to love for Billy after Billy defends himself and strikes him (contrasting w/striking Claggart) Red Pepper – reproaches Billy for his inaction against encounter with stranger on the H.M.S. Bellipotent

14. Themes Individual versus Society – examples: names of ships; the mutiny of the Nore; feelings for Billy Budd are disregarded Conscience versus Law – mistrust, paranoia abound, those who are aware, Dansker are cynical, evil has a foothold Vulnerability of Innocence – beyond the simplistic good vs. evil; Billy is naïve, innocent, and incapable of seeing evil in others, therefore easily victimized

15. Motifs Christian Allegory – Christ’s willing sacrifice parallels Billy’s; Capt. Vere parallels Pontius Pilate; Claggart parallels Satan (snakelike in death) Suggestive names – the ship’s names; main characters Budd (youthful innocence) and Vere (veering from truth) Animal Imagery – descriptions of characters Mutiny – conscientious objection to war, acting individually rather than collectively, dissension from authority

16. Symbolism The ships – H.M.S. Bellipotent represents the machine, military, warlike tendencies; The Athee translates to the atheist; H.M.S. Rights of Man represents the natural freedoms of the individual The purser and the surgeon – represent the 2 opposing viewpoints in religion: the former feels there is a unique supernatural, spiritual aspect to Billy’s death whereas the latter claims it is purely scientific

17. Works Cited www.sparknotes.com/lit/billybudd