Law and Innocence: Melville
After reading Herman Melville’s novella, Billy Budd…
Write a well-organized, grammatical essay of approximately five
hundred words in which you discuss the topic. Refer to specific
characters, scenes, and/or events to support your views.
Billy Budd poses the time-honored question of which reigns
supreme: the individual or the group society? Aligned with that
question is a second one: are there any circumstances under which
an individual, innocent or not, should be sacrificed for the security
of society?
The warship is a world in microcosm. It is society, and Vere is its
indisputable ruler. His allegiance is to the monarch. He is in effect
the King’s Law while aboard ship. He must also safeguard the ship,
for England is at war with France, and he must be ready for
combat. To meet all of these conditions and demands, he sacrifices
Billy.
A good piece of fiction speaks to every age that reads it. What
about this age? Was Vere right to do what he did? Should the
individual be sacrificed? Should Vere risk his world, his ship, by
not dealing with someone accused of mutiny?
All right, you are now the Chief Justice of the Court of Naval
Review and all nine judges have gone over this case. You must
decide whether Vere was right or wrong.
The question is posed: Was Vere correct in hanging Billy Budd?
The others vote.
A tie—4 to 4.
You vote last. In effect, you will render the verdict.
In your essay, cast your vote—and then explain why you voted as
you did.
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