Billy Budd - Thoreau and Melville
The story of Billy Budd provides an excellent scenario in which to compare and contrast Thoreau and Melville. The topics of government-inspired injustice and man's own injustice to man can be explored through the story. Thoreau's position is one of lessened government and enhanced individualism, while Melville's is one of group unity and government's role to preserve order. The opinions of Melville and Thoreau outline the paradox of government: Government cannot exist without man, and man cannot exist without government.
One of the downfalls of both man and government is jealousy, and the H.M.S Bellipotent is no exception. Claggart is a jealous, hateful person who has made Billy the object of his anger, most likely because of his popularity and good-naturedness. Throughout the story, Claggart would then take every opportunity he could to single out Billy and eventually put him to death. It began when the grizzled man approached Claggart about Billy's ridiculing him, even though it was well known no one likes the master-at-arms. Then, when Billy spilled his soup infront of Claggart, Claggart was ready to dismiss it as carelessness until he saw it was Billy that spilled it. It became obvious that Claggart was planning Billy's demise, but Billy couldn't understand it yet. After the chase of the French ship, when Billy was confronted and accused for mutinous actions, Claggart put such pressure on him that he lost his composure and killed him. Claggart's jealously became the demise of himself and Billy.
Melville's second point in Billy Bud is about the necessary evil of humans acting as part of the government machine. Even though the captain and the rest of the drumhead were upset by the decision they had reached, they recognized it as their duty to maintain the law and execute Billy. The silence following the execution, the process of burial, and the distance the drumhead then put between themselves and the rest of the crew all showed the regret for commiting their inhumane act at their government's discretion.
The execution itself illustrates how the masses must make sacrifices to preserve a stable way of life. The drumhead resolved to hang Billy to fight the dangers of mutiny and to follow the laws their superiours laid down to keep stability in the navy. They were not comfortable with what they had to do, but they did it for the common good of their navy. Even Billy's final words "God bless Captain Vere!" showed that he understood he committed a crime and would be punished accordingly. He could have fought back, but he chose to accept his punishment for the navy. Even Billy's hanging appeared as if he had stopped his own heart prior to his death, he did not twitch or spasm like most do in a normal hanging. The final symbol of working for the community over ones self comes when the sailors resume their work. They work silently, troubled by what happened, but they do continue to work, knowing that is their role.
Another position Melville takes in the novel is man's nature to instinctively look out for ones self; which can be seen by the heads of the ship sentencing Billy to death for fear of a mutiny. Following his hanging the ship is quiet, no body wants to speak out against the captain or other ranking officers.
Thoreau, an individualist with radical ideas about life and government he takes a stand against all unjust laws. He states that people as a whole give too much respect for the laws, this relates to the execution of Billy Budd since they held the law higher than what they believed was just. The fact that there are unjust laws in practice, Thoreau inquiries about what a good person should do in protest of these law; whether to mindlessly obey them, obey them until they get changed, or to not obey them at all. This too relates back to the execution of Billy Budd; had the drumhead court decided to not follow the unjust law, he would not have been executed. But instead, they followed it mindlessly which brought about the tragic ending of an innocent and just man.
One of the points Thoreau makes is his concept that democracies are only beneficial to the majority, not however the most virtuous. He explains that, "Why does [the majority-led government] always crucify Christ" this points out that though it was a majority decision it certainly was not the wisest. Thoreau then goes on to say how with a majority democracy you have that one majority entrenched, which makes it very difficult for those with true virtues and morals pursue justice. This belief can be associated with Thoreau's view on democracy, he says that participating in it strips you of morals and that compromise, the key to democracy, makes you a moral sellout.
A final controversial stand Thoreau takes against man and government is that it is mans duty to not participate in the injustices created by the government and his fellow man. He made an example out his own thoughts by not paying taxes for six years, and spending the night in jail for them. Thoreau also states that one should not follow the government if it requires you to perform injustices, he in turn suggest you be the `counter-friction' in the political machine in hopes of making it wear away sooner. In addition to that, he comments on the rich and how they continually sellout their virtues to the institution that helped get them to their place of power and wealth. He suggests it is better to live life as if you were poor, for you will retain your morals and virtues. Thoreau's last controversial point is his approach to passively accepting the governments' unjust policies. If you do, he feels that you have become worthless, and you have put things ahead of what should be first.
In an ideal world, a man would be able to govern himself and live by what he believes to be right, as Thoreau suggests. In the real world, especially in the harsh life of the navy, living by what feels right is not always best. The execution of Billy Budd can best be likened to the killing of Lenny in "Of Mice and Men". Both men were killed for murders they did not intend to commit, and both were killed to appease the fears of their governments.
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