Individual vs. Society in Billy Budd

Individual vs. Society in Billy Budd

  • Submitted By: Fluffysgurl
  • Date Submitted: 08/15/2008 1:04 AM
  • Category: English
  • Words: 777
  • Page: 4
  • Views: 3

Indeed, the strict observance of law is more important for a society than the rights or convictions of an individual. The good of society can not be put into jeopardy for an individual’s beliefs or rights. In order to benefit the society, people are required to curtail or limit their individuality. Society is all-powerful and it compels men to perform actions that readily dispense their rights as individuals. For example, the participation of war unhesitatingly deprives individuals of their rights. Although an individual’s rights may be limited, it is beneficial because we are prevented from the evil natures of numerous individuals that surround us everyday.
Herman Melville’s, Billy Budd is subject to the conflict of individual versus society. The values of society or the crew on the Indomitable surpass those of a single individual. The individuals on the Indomitable entrust their lives to each other in battle. However, they can not trust any individual on the warship because evil is omnipresent. Thus, they develop a sense of mistrust. It is impossible to know whether an individual’s intentions are good or evil such as those of Claggart. Subsequently, in order to maintain peace, individuals trust the law rather than the goodness of their fellow sailors.
At the climax of the literary work, Billy Budd unintentionally murdered Claggart, a superior officer. There was no evidence that indicated a pre-existing physical infirmity in Claggart. Clearly, Billy’s blow was the proximate cause of Claggart’s death. Thus, it was evident that Billy committed the capital crime of striking a superior officer and performing manslaughter. According to the naval law, “The crime of striking a superior officer, then in the execution of his duty, was recognized by both the Army and the Navy. The penalty in the Navy was death, without qualification. The Army’s penalty was such a punishment as circumstances warranted, including death.” (Ledhetter, 615) When the crime was committed,...

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