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The Hanging of the Effeminate
Christian Everett Darling
Paper 3, Melville, rough copy
Billy Bud's aptly-named departure from the Rights of Man to the man-of-arm's warship Bellipotent, signaled the metaphorical, as well as the physical end of Billy's freedom. On the England-bound merchant ship Rights of Man, Billy was loved and doted upon by his comrades, as courters might woo a maiden. "...they all love him. Some of 'em do his washing, darn his old trousers for him; the carpenter is at odd times making a pretty little chest of drawers for him."(8) On the Bellipotent, Billy was an impressed sailor, but overall as popular as on the Rights, but the stark contrast between the two lies not only in the ship's purposes, but in the acceptance of the feminine embodied in Billy Bud. The role of femininity plays an integral part in Billy's popularity in a hyper-masculine environment as well as his tragic demise.
Melville regularly alludes to Billy's effeminate nature throughout the story. "As the handsome Sailor, Billy Budd's position...was something analogous to that of a rustic beauty transplanted from the provinces." (Melville, 13) That "rustic beauty" made Billy the top damsel on board the Rights, eliciting a tearful goodbye from her captain, "'you are going to take away the jewel of 'em; you are going to take away my peacemaker!' And with that the good soul had really some ado in checking a rising sob."(Melville, 9) It is quite apparent that Billy embodies the feminine in an otherwise unfeminine environment, less the captain pine for another "Jewel."
On board the Bellipotent, a good summary of Billy's unique role occurs when he meets the mysterious cynic, the Dansker. Upon seeing Billy Bud the Dansker, felt an "internal merriment," because "(he) thought he saw something which in contrast with the warship's environment looked oddly incongruous in the Handsome sailor." Billy's handsome nature no doubt confused the old man. If the Dansker was an indication of the warship's environment, Billy was the antithesis; young and innocent, however doomed he was.
During the scene of deliberation between captain and officers, Billy's fate, inextricably linked to femininity and it's role on the Bellipotent, is sealed. The deliberating officials must either listen to their hearts, the feminine, or their brains, the masculine. Captain Vere subsequently gives his decision, ""Well, the heart here, sometimes the feminine in man, is as that piteous woman, and hard though it be, she must here be ruled out." (Melville, 97)
Where Billy is innocent, Claggart is guilty; where Billy is passive in accepting his fate, his comrades are demur. Innocence and passivity have long been considered feminine in the binary system, as well as sneakiness and cunning, due to the biblical creation tale. Biblical superstition aside, women have long been considered to be bad luck on boats. Thus, one can assume that a man who personifies the feminine might also be vilified as such. "You have but noted his fair cheek. A mantrap may be under the ruddy-tipped daisies." (Melville, 75) Claggart's suspicion of Bud not only lies in the hellish realm of envy, wickedness, and deceit but also the contemptuousness of femininity.
Billy's ensuing hanging is also somewhat of an indication of this contempt. In order to keep the men in order, femininity as employed by the heart, is banished even though the fates feel strongly drawn to it. If they were to give in to femininity they might risk their safety; fearing backlash, copycat offenses, and most of all, mutiny. To the very end of his life does Billy personify passivity. As the hemp pinched 'round his beautiful neck, his final words uttered, "God bless Captain Vere!" Thereby shedding the ship of its femininity, Billy was cast into the ocean.
It is important to remember however, that the ship is considered a female and it is her stability and strength that give a ship its power. Perhaps it was Billy's threat to the traditional order that it demanded his life or perhaps Billy was hated for his likeness to homosexuals, as some homosexuals suffer from other's hatred of the feminine. But Billy Bud certainly suffered at the hands of a system that divorced itself from the feminine, ultimately costing him his freedom and life.
Paper 3, Melville, rough copy
The Hanging of the Effeminate
Billy Bud's aptly-named departure from the Rights of Man to the man-of-arm's warship Bellipotent, signaled the metaphorical, as well as the physical end of Billy's freedom. On the England-bound merchant ship Rights of Man, Billy was loved and doted upon by his comrades, as courters might woo a maiden. "...they all love him. Some of 'em do his washing, darn his old trousers for him; the carpenter is at odd times making a pretty little chest of drawers for him."(8) On the Bellipotent, Billy was an impressed sailor, but overall as popular as on the Rights, but the stark contrast between the two lies not only in the ship's purposes, but in the acceptance of the feminine embodied in Billy Bud. The role of femininity plays an integral part in Billy's popularity in a hyper-masculine environment as well as his tragic demise.
Melville regularly alludes to Billy's effeminate nature throughout the story. "As the handsome Sailor, Billy Budd's position...was something analogous to that of a rustic beauty transplanted from the provinces." (Melville, 13) That "rustic beauty" made Billy the top damsel on board the Rights, eliciting a tearful goodbye from her captain, "'you are going to take away the jewel of 'em; you are going to take away my peacemaker!' And with that the good soul had really some ado in checking a rising sob."(Melville, 9) It is quite apparent that Billy embodies the feminine in an otherwise unfeminine environment, less the captain pine for another "Jewel."
On board the Bellipotent, a good summary of Billy's unique role occurs when he meets the mysterious cynic, the Dansker. Upon seeing Billy Bud the Dansker, felt an "internal merriment," because "(he) thought he saw something which in contrast with the warship's environment looked oddly incongruous in the Handsome sailor." Billy's handsome nature no doubt confused the old man. If the Dansker was an indication of the warship's environment, Billy was the antithesis; young and innocent, however doomed he was.
During the scene of deliberation between captain and officers, Billy's fate, inextricably linked to femininity and it's role on the Bellipotent, is sealed. The deliberating officials must either listen to their hearts, the feminine, or their brains, the masculine. Captain Vere subsequently gives his decision, ""Well, the heart here, sometimes the feminine in man, is as that piteous woman, and hard though it be, she must here be ruled out." (Melville, 97)
Where Billy is innocent, Claggart is guilty; where Billy is passive in accepting his fate, his comrades are demur. Innocence and passivity have long been considered feminine in the binary system, as well as sneakiness and cunning, due to the biblical creation tale. Biblical superstition aside, women have long been considered to be bad luck on boats. Thus, one can assume that a man who personifies the feminine might also be vilified as such. "You have but noted his fair cheek. A mantrap may be under the ruddy-tipped daisies." (Melville, 75) Claggart's suspicion of Bud not only lies in the hellish realm of envy, wickedness, and deceit but also the contemptuousness of femininity.
Billy's ensuing hanging is also somewhat of an indication of this contempt. In order to keep the men in order, femininity as employed by the heart, is banished even though the fates feel strongly drawn to it. If they were to give in to femininity they might risk their safety; fearing backlash, copycat offenses, and most of all, mutiny. To the very end of his life does Billy personify passivity. As the hemp pinched 'round his beautiful neck, his final words uttered, "God bless Captain Vere!" Thereby shedding the ship of its femininity, Billy was cast into the ocean.
It is important to remember however, that the ship is considered a female and it is her stability and strength that give a ship its power. Perhaps it was Billy's threat to the traditional order that it demanded his life or perhaps Billy was hated for his likeness to homosexuals, as some homosexuals suffer from other's hatred of the feminine. But Billy Bud certainly suffered at the hands of a system that divorced itself from the feminine, ultimately costing him his freedom and life.
