Billy Budd Group

Question:

converse1013
converse1013
Student

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

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Posted by converse1013 on Saturday February 3, 2007 at 11:34 AM and tagged with billy budd, characters.

Answers:


  1. blazedale

    eNotes Editor

    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.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/billy-budd/5243

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    Posted by blazedale on Saturday February 3, 2007 at 3:30 PM

  2. revolution
    revolution Teacher
    Doctorate

    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 grasp, the only one who can knows all of John's actions and understand the motives behind his actions is Dankster himself.

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    Posted by revolution on Wednesday September 2, 2009 at 5:43 AM