Billy Budd Group

Question:

krauchunae
krauchunae
Student
Community / Jr. College

What is the main moral question the Martial Court faces?

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Posted by krauchunae on Monday July 13, 2009 at 12:16 PM and tagged with billy budd.

Answers:

  1. mbomengen
    mrsmonica Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    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 further unrest outweighs the evil of executing a man who may not have actually fomented mutiny because he did in fact kill Claggart, however unintentionally and deservedly.

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    Posted by mrsmonica on Wednesday July 15, 2009 at 9:15 AM