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Billy Budd HM 201 Billy J Billingsley Billy Budd is one of three forces of good and evil in this book, probably more good than evil. Billy is a young man who seems to have everything going for him. “Giving no cause of offense to anybody, he was always alert at a call”(1268). He is big, strong, handsome, and he has a personality and charisma that draws everyone to him. Everywhere he went he charmed people, gaining the respect of those around him, especially Captain Vere. When Captain Vere made reference to Billy it was always good and positive. “Ay Lieutenant you are going to take away the jewel of ‘em; you are going to take away my peacemaker”(1253). Not only is Billy a well-liked person, he is also a very accomplished sailor. After short arrival to his ship, he is placed in the position of foretop man. This is a crewman assigned to the top of the foremast. This position was given to the best of the best and Billy definitely fit the bill. The crew liked Billy so much that they even did his laundry, sewing and the ships carpenter was making a chester drawer for him. “Though our handsome sailor has as much of masculine beauty as one can expect anywhere to see; nevertheless, like the beautiful woman in one of Hawthorne’s minor tales, there was just one thing amiss in him. No visible blemish indeed, as with the lady; no, but an occasional liability to vocal defect”(1257). Billy stuttered when he was frightened or nervous. Now being compared to a woman leaves me to think that Billy might have been playing another roll on this ship as well. You would think Billy a very passive man up to now but when approached by the ships bully, Billy did not hesitate to defend himself by taking down the bully with one blow to the ribs.
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