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POT 3023 Honors History of Political Thought II Fall 2005 |
Discussion questions for Billy Budd
1. Billy stutters. Why might this be significant?
2. The lieutenant represses a smile in ch. 1 (p. 7). Why might this be significant?
3. What does Melville tell us about the background or origins of Billy and Claggart and what is the importance of what he tells us?
4. Melville refers to Abraham and Isaac (ch. 22). What is Melville's point in making the allusion? What other significant biblical allusions can you find, and what significance have they?
5. Billy Budd was later published with the subtitle 'An Inside Narrative'--why might that be an appropriate subtitle?
6. In the chapter where Vere holds the drumhead court, Melville refers to 'conscience', 'feelings', and 'law' as pointing in different directions. What does he say about this, and what do you think about what he says?
7. Melville associates Billy, and sailors in general, with children; and Vere, with an authority-figure, a father. He notes how Vere sticks to customary usage, and says sailors are the 'greatest sticklers for usage'. After reading Billy Budd, what is your response to Vere's policy of strict adherence to custom: is it good and necessary, or excessively rigid and oppressive?
8. Should Billy have been executed?