Billy Budd: Was Captain Vere Right? Essay

Of all literary works regarding dystopian societies, Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 is perhaps one of the most bluntly shocking, insightful, and relatable of them. Set in a United States of the future, this novel contains a government that has banned books and a society that constantly watches television. However, Guy Montag, a fireman (one who burns books as opposed to actually putting out fires) discovers books and a spark of desire for knowledge is ignited within him. Unfortunately his boss, the belligerent Captain Beatty, catches on to his newfound thirst for literature. A man of great duplicity, Beatty sets up Montag to ultimately have his home destroyed and to be expulsed from the city. On the other hand, Beatty is a much rounder

Once all the evidence is gathered up, he or she will decide whether or not to legally pursue

Have you ever had to make an example of someone through punishment? In the book “Billy Budd the Sailor” Captain Vere did just that. Everyone agrees that Captain Vere faced a potential mutiny, but some people believe that he should have executed Billy Bud to prevent a mutiny while others think he should not have executed Billy Bud. Billy Budd should have been executed for three reasons. He killed Claggart, his death would prevent a mutiny, and it was the captain’s duty.

The men in coats had not come for Hans, but for the golden boy. Rudy. due to Rudy's good grades and athletic ability he was to be enrolled in a "special" school, however his parents worrying for his safety refused. Alex would receive his punishment later as would Hans. After waiting in his grief Hans finally received a letter, however it was not one he had expected, the NSDAP had approved his membership. The true punishment came in the mail two days later informing Hans that he was being drafted into the military. After a tearful goodbye Hans was shipped off to duty, Alex was to follow in his footsteps four days later.

Punching John would sway the guilt from John to Billy, and if Billy were to kill John with the blow, he would be placed on trial for murder. Employing his words rather than his fists would prove Billy’s irrevocable innocence, for to talk is innocent, but to punch is guilty.

“What a piece of work is man . . . in action how like an angel! And the old man, grinning, had scratched his head and then said stiffly “Well, boy, if he’s an angel, he’s sure a murderin’ angel.” p.126

1. If anyone accuses another person of crime and it can not be proven they will be put to death.

      In his decision making, Vere reminded himself he was under the oath of the King, not human inclinations. If Vere had not done this Billy might have lived. This was not, however, the real reason for changing his mind. The real reason was because others would have followed in Billy’s alleged footsteps if he were not punished. Billy Budd’s life was sacrificed for an unjust reason, and the circumstances surrounding his death were definitely questionable. However, Vere made the decision that he had to although it wasn't morally right for Captain Vere it was the only fair decision he could have made to hang him. The consequences of what might have happened if his life had been spared were far greater that those of grief for Billy's death. Billy’s death was truly necessary for things to remain in order on the ship, especially without crew members entertaining the idea of killing another or starting a mutiny. The hanging of Billy Budd shows the need for punishment to occur for justice to

Billy Budd is responsible for his own death. There are times when taking someone’s life is necessary such as a time of war, but not in a heating argument. Captain Vere, said it best that the crime is what they were worried about, not the case between right and wrong. The crime was murder. Billy was a hard worker who would do his best to help anyone out. However, Billy was not judged on the type of man he was he was judged by the action that had taken place.

These countries may consider negotiating with one another to resolve any and all jurisdictional disputes. This is particularly handled by diplomatic agents sent abroad. This negotiation between Hwat Nau and the United States might consist of an extradition treaty. This would mean that the United States may request the extradition of Sergeant Bully for jurisdiction in the US and the court will consider if the extradition is valid in the case.

They have the right to set any punishment but they are not allowed to ban them

It’s very easy to just simply state that the ones housed in this military facility should be tried in a court of law, but finding a place to actually do this is not possible without causing extreme amounts of turmoil and

Yet morality is not the prime issue, for all that is required here is that the decision to hang Billy is justified. Justification is looking at every aspect of a situation and resolving what is the best option. It is a choice brought on by a set of circumstances, the end result of which is a selection between all of the probable outcomes of one decision or another. In this case, a possible outcome was the mutiny of the crew. As he was hanged, no mutiny occurred. Had he been acquitted, or his sentence reduced, the crew could have seen it as a slip in the rigid discipline of the ship. As Vere pointed out:

Herman Mellville's Billy Budd is and extremely divisive novel when one considers the dissension it has generated. The criticism has essentially focused around the argument of acceptance vs. resistance. On the one hand we can read the story as accepting the hanging of Billy Budd as the necessary ends of justice. We can read Vere's condemnation as a necessary military action performed in the name of preserving order aboard the Indomitable. On the other hand, we can argue that Billy's execution as the greatest example of injustice.

Captain Vere's name is a symbol of many things and demonstrates his battle between his individuality versus society's expectations. The name Vere is associated with fights and quarrels, relating to society. The symbolic meaning within the story indicate that one with the name Vere will lack peace and happiness because of mental pressure and instability. The more direct meaning is stated by Chandler here, “Those who still think of Vere as a heroic figure seem to have taken as proved that the name either suggests veritas (truth) or vir (man in the ideal. As Richard Chase suggests)” (Chandler 86). The Captain's name could mean the truth, the truth of what society really is or it could be the man that people see in their ideal. Melville states, “Captain Vere was an exceptional character… While other members of that aristocracy to which by birth he belonged were incensed at the innovators mainly because their