Blog # 1 (Chapters 1-7)

Discuss the possible significance of moving from a merchant ship (Rights of Man) to a war ship (Bellipotent).  What might Melville be suggesting with this transition?

  

The fact that Billy Budd relocated ships is important because it sets the tone for the rest of the story. Melville establishes the potential for overwhelming hostility through the building up of events that eventually lead to his departure. An example would be Billy Budd’s former captain’s silent, yet bold form of disapproval of him leaving, indicates Billy’s persona relative to the others may be not as aggressive but, more passive as well as him playing more of a follower role then a leader. Also, the fact that Billy is practically being forced to transfer ships is ironic because Herman Melville states that the Rights-of-Man ship was named after a book, which supports the rights of personal freedoms. So this event implicitly suggests through the medium of dramatic irony that, although Billy Budd may think that he is fighting with his life to create individual rights for others, he himself is in a sense being deprived of his own for the sake of collective freedom from the French. However, Melville could also be suggesting that the fact that Billy Budd has to relocate may have something to do with his previous experiences with his peers at the ship whether they be extremely good, or bad. But the transition could also symbolize the fact that Billy Budd hasn’t quite sacrificed enough in his life yet and seems to have it to easy, therefore he is due for an ethical defeat of some sort. 

I chose to use this image because it shows the concept BIlly Budd metaphorically being cornered by reality, which in turn, consists of his own past experiences... which have lead him to this point.


Awesome Signing Out.