Billy Bud\'s Duty and Heart

Billy Budd, Sailor

There are many themes to be considered in Herman Melville's story of Billy Budd; individualism verses society, the vulnerability of innocence, and conscience verses law. In this paper we will explore the latter in the context of the time and setting of the story.

There is a scene in chapter 21 where a small drumhead court is assembled by Captain Vere to consider the fate of Billy after he has struck Claggart, a superior aboard the ship, and killed him for lying about his alleged involvement in conspiring to incite a mutiny aboard ship. As the court waivers on what to do about the situation Captain Vere speaks, "But something in your aspect seems to urge that it is not solely the heart that moves in you, but also the conscience, the private conscience. But tell me whether or not, occupying the position we do, private conscience should not yield to that imperial one formulated in the code under which alone we officially proceed?"(p. 1920). Captain Vere understands that his men are struggling with a conflict between their hearts and their duty.

Discussion

Because of these circumstances Vere is reluctant to let the matter of Claggart's death go unpunished. The officer of marines argues that Budd did not intend mutiny or homicide, so the death penalty seems unwarranted. The sailing master inquires if it is not possible to convict and yet mitigate the penalty (p. 1921).

At this point the question of guilt or innocence moves from the personal to the social level. Captain Vere fears that any verdict other than death will send the wrong message to the crew. The Captain contends that the crew, "long molded by arbitrary discipline" (p. 1921) have not the capacity to understand if an exception is made in these circumstances. The crew will see the matter as a homicide committed in a blatant act of mutiny.

Furthermore, any leniency would encourage mutiny and wild behavior among the rest of the crew, who, if given enough freedom, might act as wildly as the king-killing populace of France. Whether or not the murder was intentional or whether Budd did or did not engage in a mutiny is of little consequence. It is the effect of his perceived action on the crew that matters (Hunt).

Conclusion

Captain Vere is dealing with two distinct and sharply opposed perspectives, military duty on the one hand, and moral scruple driven by compassion on the other. Even though Budd cannot really be seen as responsible for a serious offense Captain Vere points out that both they, the English, and their enemies, the French, are killing sailors without regard for whether their participation in the war is voluntary or the result of impressment. It is their military duty.