Preview

Use Of Marshal Law In Billy Budd

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
576 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Use Of Marshal Law In Billy Budd
Marshal Law in Billy Budd

The story “Billy Budd” by Herman Melville takes place in 1797 on a British navel warship. A man named Billy Budd was recruited into the ranks as a naval sailor for the British ranks. Britain was at war with France during the time so on the warships marshal law was used. Billy Budd is a young sailor newly recruited into the ranks, he is liked by many of his crew.
Munity on a lot of British warships has occurred and many officers are scared of their crew turning on them. John Claggart is the master at arms of the ship, his job is to keep an eye on the crew by making sure everyone is doing their job and not trying to start a mutiny. Claggart believes that Billy Budd is a dangerous man and thinks that Billy Budd is

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The H.M.S. Bellipotent ship is nearing home after a long voyage, when a British general who is in need of men, stops the ship. Lieutenant Ratcliffe conscripts one sailor and that sailor is, Billy Budd, who is willing to serve his country. As he exits, he hollers for the Rights of Man by name and says his goodbyes. On the Bellipotent, Billy takes over the job of the foretopman. Claggart, who is the master of arms, has a appearance that is calm, but deep down he has evil intentions.…

    • 1140 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Captain Beatty: He is the captain of the firefighters. He has read books and he uses this to confuse people and keep them away from reading them.…

    • 212 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    In the book Billy Budd, Sailor, Herman Melville suggests that justice is the best outcome for society rather than individual people. This is seen through the two characters, Captain Vere and Billy Budd.…

    • 1391 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Billy Budd Ap English Iii

    • 3359 Words
    • 14 Pages

    As divulged to the reader, Billy Budd takes place in 1797 in the midst of the French Revolution. Throughout the mid- 1790s, Britain enacted new quota requirements to enlist 45,000 men in the Royal Navy, which was filled by means of volunteers, the Quota Acts, and most popularly, the impressing of men from merchant ships, as Melville demonstrates. Actual events that occurred in April and May of 1797 were the Spithead and Nore Mutinies, these incidents were offset by the despicable onboard conditions, the severe punishments and increasingly sparse pay while at sea. The pitying British government met the demands of the sailors at the Spithead mutiny; however, the mutinous sailors at the Nore were not so easily won over. Richard Parker was the ringleader behind the plan to not succumb to the government immediately and hold out longer. With this occurrence fresh in mind, it was of Captain Vere’s best intention to prevent mutiny aboard the Bellipotent.…

    • 3359 Words
    • 14 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Determination is an important character trait a hero must possess. Randle McMurphy demonstrates his determination through the efforts McMurphy endured to give his fellow patients their own strength and courage. When fighting the black boys the odds were against his favour, three to one. His perseverance though this unfair and outnumbered fight was admirable. Even though “McMurphy had red marks on the head and shoulder” he “didn’t seem to be hurt. He kept coming, taking ten blows for one” (Kesey 230). Although it was obvious McMurphy could not win this fight, his strong-will kept his aggression intact which inspired all the patients of the ward. McMurphy’s dedication to the patients gave Chief Bromden the courage to fight alongside McMurphy and McMurphy gained the trust and respect of the other men. McMurphy’s determined persona is also shown through his devotion to not succumb to Nurse Ratched. Having the knowledge of Nurse Ratched having the ability to execute punishments as she pleases, McMurphy…

    • 1420 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Menacingly, Claggart consistently harassed Billy. Eerily, Claggart shadowed Billy like a lion stalks his prey. Conniving, Claggart, devised a complex and sophisticated plan that the naïve and transparent Billy Budd could never have detected.…

    • 513 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    1. Prohibition was a way to reduce the use and manufacturing of alcohol in order to reduce people taking advantage of the usage.…

    • 347 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Captain Vere is a man of many qualities and many responsibilities. Just like Vere plays an integral role on the H.M.S Bellipotent, he plays an integral role in the whole story of Billy Budd. Captain Vere is the head of the Bellipotent and is the overseer of all activity that occurs on the ship. Vere is known for his intelligence, truth, virtue, and dedication to his duty. Vere never hesitates to put the betterment of the ship before the betterment of the individual, even if he does care for the individual greatly. The morals that Vere holds dear to himself will cause him great deals of stress and conflict when he is confronted with a situation regarding Billy Budd. It is literally a life or death decision. Vere is the clear cut definition…

    • 968 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Through showing this inner conflict within Captain Vere, Melville demonstrates one the major themes of this work. Throughout Billy Budd, we see the struggle of whether to obey the law. This is hinted upon early in the book when the narrator tells us of the “Great Mutiny” which had recently passed. This conflict was of seamen who revolted against their seniors. We see this again when Billy Budd is visited by an afterguard who asks for Billy to join an uprising. Billy is quick to decline, knowing that it is much better to obey the law than to appose…

    • 345 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “Had the foretopman been conscious of having done or said anything to provoke the ill will of the official, it would have been different with him, and his sight might have been purged if not sharpened. As it was, innocence was his blinder.” (17.4)…

    • 646 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Melville, Herman. “Bartleby, the Scrivener”. The Riverside Anthology of Short Fiction: Conventions and Innovation. Ed. Dean Baldwin. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1998. 191-217.…

    • 1405 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Edward Livingston first compiled American criminal codes, divided into four codes comprising all aspects of penal law. These were the Code of Crimes and Punishments, Code of Procedure, Code of Evidence, and Code of Reform and Prison Discipline. David Dudley Field later modified Livingston’s penal code by simplifying the legal practice by reducing the amount of time going through common law opinions. In 1962 the American Law Institute’s model penal code was published and possibly the most important influence on American criminal law. The various criminal codes enacted by the states with the purpose of improving and clarifying the law was standardized throughout many states now. (The American Model Penal Code)…

    • 645 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    1. After reading about the subject, define the word "Prohibition" as it pertains to the 18th amendment. Prohibition in the United States was a measure designed to reduce drinking by eliminating the businesses that manufactured, distributed, and sold alcoholic beverages. The Eighteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution took away license to do business from the brewers, distillers, vintners, and the wholesale and retail sellers of alcoholic beverages.…

    • 317 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Rise to Rebellion

    • 1269 Words
    • 6 Pages

    * The Gaspee was sailed to seize cargo from any ship without the British flag. The captain Duddington soon came to realize the ship was unlucky when they crashed ashore; Duddington and his first mate were…

    • 1269 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    In theory the doctrine of binding precedent means that judges declare what the existing law is. However many people think that judges actually make law, especially in the High Court of Australia.…

    • 1288 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays