Outcyclopedia - Billy Budd

Billy Budd

An unfinished novel, circa 1891, by Herman Melville, concerning a beautiful young man destroyed by the jealousy of some and the overly strict adherence to duty of others. The novel is partly inspired by Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne, with whom Meliville is known to have been secretly in love, and also by actual mutinies and trials of the period, especially that of the Somers. Billy Budd is replete with both religious symbolism and homoerotic elements, likening Billy to Christ and the beautiful dying gods of myth, all innocent and dying for the deeds of others.

Set during the Napoleonic Wars in 1797, Billy Budd concerns the title character's circumstances after he accepts transfer from a merchant ship to a ship of war, the Bellipotent. This ship is commanded by Captain Vere, an authoritarian and strict disciplinarian. Many on the ship are enraptured by Billy's youthful good looks, enthusiasm, and good-nature. He makes one enemy, however, in the form of shipmate John Claggart, who frames Billy for planning a mutiny. Brought before the Captain, Billy becomes so enraged at his accusser that he strikes Claggart in the head, killing him. Billy is hanged for the murder of Claggart, largely due to Captain Vere's refusal to consider extenuating circumstances of the crime and instead follow the strict letter of the law. Later, the Bellepotent is attacked by a French warship, and Captain Vereis fatally wounded. His dying words are, "Billy Budd, Billy Budd," signifying guilt over the young and promising life he helped to destroy.

Billy Budd was adapted as a film in 1962 by Peter Ustinov, with the title role played by Terrence Stamp, who would go on to play General Zod in the Superman movies and Bernadette (aka "Ralph") in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Prior to that, Benjamin Britten had adapted the story as an opera in 1950, which was itself adapted as a film in 1988. In his version, Captain Vere is still alive and relates the story of Billy Budd in retrospect. In 2000, Beau Travail, an updated version of Billy Budd set in the French Foreign legion, was made by Claire Denis.

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