Irony in Billy Budd
Billy Budd is a story filled with irony. This literary aspect can be seen through the plot and characters of the work. As defined in The American Heritage Dictionary, irony is the use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning. After a casual reading of the story' the many ironic aspects may have been igonred, but after analyzing the story it becomes obvious that they are of great importance.
"...The fate of each character is the direct reverse of what one is led to expect from his nature" (Johnson, 185). The character of Billy Budd is portrayed as a peacemaker, a young, innocent, likable, sweet man. However, halfway through the story, he becomes a murderer. Billy Budd was first introduced to the reader as a good looking young man in good health who was honest and sincerely innocent. He does not believe that Claggart could dislike him, since he is so nice to his face. When Billy finds out about Claggart's lies, he strikes him and kills him. This is not an action that was expected by readers due to the persona he exemplified throughout the first half of the story. Billy then became a murderer. John Claggart, the master-at-arms, is perceived to be evil and dark, yet ends up the victim. Claggart is not a popular character from the start of the story. By trying to prove that Billy is a traitor, he shows his evil. He wishes to harm the most popular and well liked character. Despite his evil acts, Claggart ends up being perceived as a victim and deserving of pity, when it was his own cruel actions that caused his own death. Captain Vere is a responsible, respected and level-headed man, but he allows Billy Budd to be executed for a crime he is innocent of When he is introduced into the story, he is seen as an honorable man. When he hears of Claggart's accusations against Billy, he is taken aback. He ponders over the best way to solve this problem; he knows Billy Budd wouldn't do such a thing. After Billy strikes Claggart, Vere quickly regains his professional attitude and begins the proper procedures. Vere sentences Billy to death, even though he knew he didn't do anything wrong. It is ironic that such an honorable man would go against his true beliefs and condemn an innocent man.
The plot and actions of the characters throughout the story also contain a great deal of irony. For example, Billy was previously thought of as a peaceful man and was viewed as a completely harmless and innocent man, and he ends up being confined to surveillance by a shipmate between two guns. It is also ironic that the place Billy Budd was executed was converted into a monument. "Though hanged as a criminal, Billy is lovingly remembered for his martyrdom ... Billy dies in helpless defeat only to become ironically reincamated as a living symbol for all sailors" (Schiffman' 48). Finally, the fact that Claggart is seen as a hero because of the story written about the incident is ironic. Claggart was not a well liked man, was never held in high esteem, and was a liar. It seems contradictory to hold a man of such dishonorable qualities in such high esteem.
Bibliography
1) Johnson, Barbara. "Melville's Fist: The Execution of Billy Budd. " Critical Essays on Melville's Billy Budd, Sailor. Boston, Mass. G.K. Hall & Co., 1989, pp. 185-198.
2) Schiffman, Joseph. "Melville's Final Stage, Irony: A Re-examination of Billy Budd Criticism." Critical Essays on Melville's Billy Budd, Sailor. Boston, Mass, G.K. Hall & Co., 1989, pp. 46-49.Partner sites: Labrador Retriever, Study Spanish in Costa Rica, and Free Essays and Term Papers