Mind Map of Billy Budd, Sailor

Billy Budd, Sailor is an allegory-based novella by American writer Herman Melville. Billy Budd is a "handsome sailor" who strikes and inadvertently kills his false accuser, Master-at-arms John Claggart. The ship's Captain, Edward Vere, recognizes Billy's lack of intent, but claims that the law of mutiny requires him to sentence Billy to be hanged. Melville began work on the novella in November 1886, revising and expanding it from time to time, but he left the manuscript in disarray. Melville's widow Elizabeth began to edit the manuscript for publication, but was not able to discern her husband's intentions The merchant ship Rights-of-Man comes to a halt as the H.M.S. Bellipotent, a British man-of-war in need of men, approaches home after a long cruise. The Lieutenant Ratcliffe impresses only one sailor, Billy Budd, who is delighted to serve his nation and makes no complaints. As he walks away, he addresses the Rights of Man by the name and wishes them well. "Starry" Vere, the ship's captain, is a quiet, upright, and well-read officer. Claggart, the master-of-arms, on the other hand, is malicious and sullen on the inside, despite his outward calm. Captain Vere is killed after the British ship defeats the French ship and guides it to Gibraltar. "Billy Budd, Billy Budd," the captain moans in his final moments.

Edited at 2022-08-23 08:39:39