Outline for evaluation of the Novel Billy Budd – Term Paper

Primary source quote:  Lee, B. “‘Billy Budd’ The American ‘Hard Times'”. English 32.142 (1983): 35-54. Web

Secondary source quote: Melville, Herman. Billy Budd. Raleigh, N.C.: Alex Catalogue, 1924. Print.

           I. Thesis: Billy Budd is a novel written in eighteenth century by Herman Melvin. It talks about young sailor, Billy Budd with a ship called the Bellipotent. The setting of this novel occurs during a decade characterized with war, injustices on innocent people and also homosexuality in 18th century. Due to injustices committed, it results to establishment of drumhead courts for those seeking justice following advice from the senior official. The novel is therefore an evaluation of man and his relationship with the past.

        II. Topic sentence:

A. British marine warship, Bellipotent excitement with the merchant ship carrying Billy.

B. Bellipotent exclaimed, what a huge merchant ship?

C. The size of the merchant ship astonishes the British marine warship since in that period it was not easy to come across such a merchant sheep.

D. The british marine demands a sailor for their warship

E. Herman Quotes, what this marine warship demand for Billy is not easy?

F. Billy is a young and ambitious man whose presence is highly needed in the merchant ship despite of the demand from the marines.

G. This statement is significant since, Bellipotent excitement comes about with the important people boarding the merchant ship such as Billy and he goes ahead to hire him.

H. Billy packs and joins the Bellipotent, ship as the new sailor

I. Herman reports that, I have no choice on the demand of the superior ship but accept the appointment

J. Being that the period was characterized with wars it was very hard for Billy to just accept his new job as a sailor of warship bearing in mind the results of the war.

K. In conclusion Billy joins the Warship has a new sailor and takes up his new role. He proves to be useful and with no time he joins ranks with other experienced sailors.

III. Topic sentence2:

A. Change comes up with rebellion

B. Melville 12 claims, failure of the crewmember to abide by rules must be punished.

C. John Claggart is provoked by Billys popularity and therefore punishes every crewmember by lashing them.

D. Billy performance as a sailor deteriorates

E. Melville 351 What was the matter with the master-at-arms?

F. John Claggart the master at arm is very arrogant and inhuman since he punishes crewmember without any reason.

G. Punishment comes as a result of Billys popularity in the new ship which provokes the resentment of the Master-at-arm.

H. The behavior of John Claggart is evil

I. Herman reported that, these men are madmen, and of the most dangerous sort, for their lunacy is not continuous, but occasional

J. The change in the warship with Billy joining the crew proves the character of John Claggart who is very dangerous and evil

K. Billy faces serious evil as he joins the new ship as a sailor due to the evil nature of Master-at-Arm who punishes them by lashing.

IV. Topic sentence 3:

A. During problematic time, seeking advice is the best

B. Danker explains, Baby Budd, Jemmy Legs is down on you

C. The current situation of persecution bewilders Billy and thus he goes ahead to seek for advice from Danker, a superior sailor who is reluctant to advise him on what to do.

D. Innocence plays a vital role in times of trouble.

E. Melville claims, As it was, innocence was his blinder.

F. Billy had nothing to cling no despite seeking advice from other sailor like Danker who was reluctant to advice. Therefore he resorted to be innocent in every situation.

G. This quote is significant since it demonstrates the character of Billy Budd from seeking advice in the problematic warship to just being innocent so as to endure the journey.

H. Billy is very handsome young man

I. Melville reports that, the captain describes, Billy the handsome sailor

J. Captain is in love with Billy since he describes him as very handsome. These also illustrate homosexuality nature in the captain.

K. In conclusion Billy seeking advice from Danker is futile since Danker does not advice him on the problem but tells him about the homosexual feeling of the captain.

   V. Topic sentence 4:

A. Love is blind even when one makes a mistake.

B. Claggart states that, “Handsomely done, my lad! And handsome is as handsome did it too

C. Besides, Billy spilling his soup during lunch meal he is not punished by the captain since Claggart has feelings for him. He goes on to praise Billy as handsome.

D. Words deceive inward feelings of people.

E. Claggart  implies that, For what can more partake of the mysterious than an antipathy spontaneous and profound such as is evoked in certain exceptional mortals by the mere aspect of some other mortal, however harmless he may be, if not called forth by this very harmlessness itself

F. This quote illustrates the evil nature of Claggart who hates Billy due to his harmlessness.

G. Yes Billys handsomeness is not taken lightly by Claggart who outwardly impresses the crewmembers by supporting Billys look but inwardly he is so furious of Billys harmlessness.

H. Good character outshines the evil character.

I. Melville claims, like Aldebaran among the lesser lights of his constellation

J. The character of Billy is superior than other sailors because he humbleness and being harmless in the midst of arrogant sailors.

K. In conclusion the Billy character of harmless is taken as weakness by the evil Claggart who tries to provoke him by lashing Billy all the time.

   VI. Topic sentence 5:

A. The good do not survive in evil.

B. Melville say, He is the Serpent

C. The Claggart evil character is compared to the serpent or the devil.

D. Billy is innocent despite the allegations

E. Captain Vere reports, “How can we adjudge to summary and shameful death a fellow creature innocent before God, and whom we feel to be so?

F. Billy is innocent despite of the allegation by Claggart even after being taken to court for questioning.

G. This quote is significant since it demonstrates that the Claggart intention was to do away with innocent Billy.

H. Good people remain good even in event of death.

I. Billy says, God bless Captain Vere!

J. Billy demonstrates character of Jesus in spite of being hanged.

K. In conclusion Billy dies hero.

  VII. Conclusion:

In conclusion, the novel Billy Budd by Herman Melville defines the history of the past by making incidences that relate to past behavior and circumstances. The novel underwent several evaluations by different generations of evaluators who perceive it differently while some making arguments on differing opinions on the same subject. They all have different opinions about the book and all understood the book differently. The main aim of Herman Melville is not to present Billy as a hypocrite character who acts out of rage but as a Christian figure and an innocent person whose actions are unjustified