Billy Budd Group at eNotes

what is billy budd's family background?

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:56:31 PST

what is billy budd's family background?

In Bill Budd written by Melville explain why Melville seems have...

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:15:14 PST

In Bill Budd written by Melville explain why Melville seems have presented conflict in terms tied to place.

How was Billy tempted in the chain locker? Why did the British...

Mon, 7 Sep 2009 09:24:01 PST

How was Billy tempted in the chain locker? Why did the British associate Napoleon with the Apocalypse?

Yes, John Claggart is the main culprit for the death of Billy Budd as he...

Wed, 2 Sep 2009 05:43:44 PST

Yes, John Claggart is the main culprit for the death of Billy Budd as he is the one who had accused Billy of being a mutineer, which Billy was unable to defend the charge that was thrown against him, so that was led to his execution and death later on. It was John who had been always against Billy and Billy simply doesn't know why and the readers also don't know. John Claggart is the most complex character in the book and a difficult one to...

Explain the concepts about innocence and the "noble savage" (Billy) in...

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 07:45:00 PST

Explain the concepts about innocence and the "noble savage" (Billy) in the novel.

The martial court is charged with determining the legal question of...

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:15:01 PST

The martial court is charged with determining the legal question of whether or not Billy killed Claggart. They face the moral question of whether to execute a good man who was provoked into a deadly reaction by the lie perpetrated by Claggart, or whether to permit the question of whether Billy actually did foment mutiny to linger in the minds of the rest of the crew. They decide that the good of setting a severe example and preventing...

What is the main moral question the Martial Court faces?

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:16:07 PST

What is the main moral question the Martial Court faces?

Grammardog Guide to Billy Budd

Depending on context, a Danish woman, or a Danish person in general.

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 10:47:19 PST

Depending on context, a Danish woman, or a Danish person in general.

What is a Dansker?

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 10:45:25 PST

What is a Dansker?

Billy is definitely seen by many critics as a Christ-like figure....

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 18:03:24 PST

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....

Is Billy an Allegorical Christ Figure?

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:57:03 PST

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

The point of view is first person limited omniscient - it is told from...

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 09:01:37 PST

The point of view is first person limited omniscient - it is told from the perspective of an unnamed narrator.

Although this novella's underlying theme is predominantly religious, it...

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 18:30:43 PST

Although this novella's underlying theme is predominantly religious, it can also be said that Herman Melville is making a poignant case in favor of the individual's rights. The relationship between the individual and the state as portrayed in Billy Budd is that the individual's rights should come before that of the state's. It is evident in the name of the ship, Rights-of-Man, from which Billy is taken. Furthermore, Melville makes it a point...

What does the novella Billy Budd say about the relation between the...

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:40:31 PST

What does the novella Billy Budd say about the relation between the individual and the state?

What is the point of view of Herman Melville in Billy Budd?

Sat, 4 Aug 2007 23:31:07 PST

What is the point of view of Herman Melville in Billy Budd?

John Claggart is the one who accused Billy of mutiny and sets in motion...

Sat, 3 Feb 2007 15:30:52 PST

John Claggart is the one who accused Billy of mutiny and sets in motion the events that lead to his execution. Why he does this is complex, but the narrator often mentions both Claggart's essential evil nature, and his envy of Billy.

In the novel, Billy Budd, who bears the most responsibility for Billy's...

Sat, 3 Feb 2007 11:34:14 PST

In the novel, Billy Budd, who bears the most responsibility for Billy's death and why?