Deceit in Billy Budd
In Herman Melville’s novel, Billy Budd (New York: Signet Classic, 1969), a villainous character, John Claggart, is established in order to represent the differences between good and evil that appear throughout the novel. ... Billy Budd is a sailor on the Bellipotent who is youthful and goodlooking who also through his hard work and effort ends up impressing Captain Vere. ... Claggart is jealous of the way that Billy Budd has raised through the ranks so quickly and he is also jealous that Billy Budd has so much admiration towards him. Claggart being displeased by what he sees plans to destroy Billy Budd by corrupting him. From the get go, Claggart found many reasons to dislike Billy Budd. Billy Budd is quickly moving up the ranks and has been having an influence on Captiain Vere, so Claggart sees him as a threat.