Captian Veres reactions to Billy Budd in Billy Budd :: Vere Billy Budd Essays

Captian Veres re encounterions to billy club Budd in he-goat BuddWhen Captain Vere says Struck dead by an nonesuch of idol Yet the ideal must hang his attitude towards baton Budd changes from one of paternal concern and personal respect to one in which he has set aside his personal thoughts and feelings for the sake of his nation. Each destine represents this dichotomy by indicating his sentiment towards Billy. In the first of all, Billy is an angel of God who has struck Claggart dead, in a righteous manner. In the second sentence, the angel must hang, indicates that no matter Billys intentions or nature, his act is a crime against his country. Vere, between Billys outburst and his avouch divided exclamation, acts maniacally, only methodically. He follows procedure for confirming Claggarts condition, but does not refer to the event in terms of its secular implications. Instead, he calls it the divine judgment on Ananias. His behavior throughout this passage, wh ich extends for only just about a page, is frantic and disturbed. He acts as a military disciplinarian towards the disturbed Billy, ordering him to stay in his stateroom, but when the prudent sawbones enters the room, he acts with haste, interrupting his salute. Yet, when the baffled surgeon confirms Veres worst fears, he becomes motionless, rest absorbed in thought. He then convulsively compares Billy to the ideal of Death. Here, Vere is beginning to recognize the consequences of this event, and the necessary actions he must take as captain. Captain Vere returns to his intellectual, patriotic nature, as he becomes again the man whose settled convictions were as a dike against those invading waters of novel assurance social, political, and otherwise. Vere is not one given easily to fits of discomfiture or honourable dilemma. He believes strongly in the right of his nation and military, and disciplines himself and his men accordingly. Yet, for the first time we a re aware of, Vere becomes torn between his father-like love for Billy and his son-like love for his country.