Billy Budd Group

Topic: Is Billy an Allegorical Christ Figure?

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1

rdhicks5

Billy is seen by readers as an allegorical Christ figure. Would you agree?

2

Billy is definitely seen by many critics as a Christ-like figure. Melville establishes the foundations for such an interpretation with Billy's innocence, but also with the specific images used to describe him:

 

"..little more than an upright barbarian, much such perhaps as Adam might have been were the urbane Serpent wriggled himself into his company."


Jesus is the new Adam, so anyone who read Billy this way would have reason. However, it is unclear if all readers see him this way; some may simply get caught up with the story, missing allegorical or metaphorical links.

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