Working the Waters

Through Billy Budd’s shift from the beloved ship the Rights-of-Man, to the Bellipotent or also know as the “powerful in war”, Billy lost something that he would never totally regain. In Herman Melville’s classic tale, Billy Budd, Sailor Billy the main character was stripped of his individuality, and is impressed onto a military ship. This is a story of a handsome young sailor who is simple minded and honest, but due to his child like innocence and vulnerability he was convicted of conspiracy of mutiny and was sentenced to death.
Billy Budd was always recognized as the handsome sailor aboard both the Rights-of-Man and the Bellipotent, he was looked upon as considerably younger then the average sailor, “ He was young; and despite his all but fully developed frame, in aspect looked even younger than he really was, owing to a lingering adolescent expression in the as yet smooth face all but feminine in purity of natural complexion.” (Melville, 12) Billy was not only young in appearance, but he also had a somewhat feminine look to him. He was innocent looking which made him appear weak to the others on board. Billy believed that everyone liked him. He was always on task and did what he was told, “Giving no cause of offense to anybody, he was always alert at a call.” (Melville, 38) With this in mind Billy was astonished to find out that the master-at-arms had it out for him. Billy was deceived by “Jemmy Legs” always has something nice to say, “I seldom pass him but there comes a pleasant word.” (Melville, 42) Billy’s lack of acknowledgment to the warnings presented to him by his shipmates was what led him to his eminent death.
When Billy was approached and presented with the idea of mutiny Billy didn’t fully comprehend what the implications of this would later have on his life. That is not to say that Billy wanted anything to do with a mutiny on board the Bellipotent, actually it was quite the opposite. When the man presented the idea to Billy, he responded with, “ D-d-damme, I don’t know what you are d-d-driving at, or what you mean, but you had better g-g-go where you belong!” (Melville, 58) Billy’s childlike innocence shields him from seeing the truth in this situation, and Billy doesn’t know what to do after he had been approached. “This incident sorely puzzled Billy Budd. It was an entirely new experience, the first time in his life that he had ever been personally approached in underhand intriguing fashion.” (Melville, 60) Billy, having no experience in a situation like this doesn’t know how to react and doesn’t have the capacity to come up with a solution, so he does nothing. Billy’s inability to deal with adult like situations is what eminently leads to his death.
Due to Billy’s childlike innocence, the fact that he never reported the incident to the captain and his inability to comprehend something as complex as mutiny he was eminently accused of conspiring to mutineer the Bellipotent, and was sentenced to death.

I plan on completly re-writing this paper!!! Im embarassed to have to post this thing. But go ahead and take advantage of tearing it up; this is my gift to you!