The idealism in MelvilleÆs Billy Budd revolves around the conflict between the individual and society and the vulnerability of innocence. Billy Budd is a twenty-one-year-old sailor who is idealistic, innocent, and incapable of perceiving evil intentions in others. Good looking and emitting a ôvirtueö of character ôsugaring the sourö of his nature, Billy is vulnerable to the evil on board the H.M.S. Bellipotent in the form of the Master-at-Arms, Claggart (Melville p. 47). Suffering from a speech impediment and unable to comprehend evil in others, Billy is vulnerable to ClaggartÆs lies and allegations against him. When faced with ClaggartÆs evil, Billy can only respond by using brute force. He is condemned to death and hanged on the orders of Captain Vere. BillyÆs idealism, that is his innocence and vulnerability, cause him to act in a way that goes against the rigid law and order of the Bellipotent. Though the evil lies in others, not Billy, his idealism manifests actions in him that must be punished by death.
The H.M.S. Bellipotent stands as a symbol of society. On this microcosm of society, the rule of law and order must supercede the rights of the individual. The Rights-of-Man, in contrast, is a ship whose name symbolizes the greater individual freedoms of its relatively happier crew members than those of the Bellipotent. On the Bellipotent, BillyÆs innocence makes him unable to recognize Claggart as an enemy. Claggart tries to persuade others that Billy is a ômantrap under the daises,ö but no one who knows the nanve sailor believes this, (Melville p. 95). When Billy spills his soup, Claggart maintains it was intentional and not the accident it is. Billy is charged by being a mutineer by Claggart. Because of his speech impediment and his inability to respond to evil, Billy attacks Claggart, inadvertently killing him.
We are told that Billy is convicted of encouraging the crew members to mutiny, bu...