Billy Budd By Herman Melville Herman Melville's, Billy Budd, is set during the 1700's a turbulent time in European History. Rumors of war raging between England and France draw our "handsome sailor," Billy Budd into a web of deceit. Drafted into service for the throne of England, Billy finds himself fighting in a battle of emotions not weapons. A unique specimen, Billy tends to draw the crewmen to him because of his wholesome goodness - …showed first 75 words of 1485 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1485 total…ny and threatened a few. Claggart wanted Billy. The question remains, did he want Billy sexually or did he want dominion over his distinctive goodness? Regardless, the reader cannot help being saddened by the loss of such a docile and wholesome creature, as they are so few and far between. Reference Page 1.)Dryden, Edgar A. Melville's Thematic of Form. Baltimore: The John Hopkins UP, 1968 Barthes, Roland. S/Z: An Essay. Trans. Richard Miller. New York, 1974