Good and Evil in Billy Budd Essay Example for Free

Good and Evil in truncheon Budd tasteContrast Between Good and Evil in b grimy Bud Since the beginning of time, there has unendingly been a tenacious struggle between good and evil. In a particular famous book, The Bible, the ceaseless clash between good and evil remains evident throughout the work. In Herman Melvilles novel, billystick Budd, symbolism, characterization, and derision be put to use to develop the dramatic contrast between good and evil. Symbolism is utilise to directly contrast good and evil. The night forrader billysticks hanging, through the rose-tan of his complexion no pallor could permit shown. he-goat submits a very pure Christ- resembling character before his demise. His white garb, and natural glowing of twinkle makes his shoemakers last seem symbolic for good. Claggort whos brow was of the sort phrenologically associated with more than average intellect symbolically manipulated Billy Budd as did the wisdom of the serpent manipulate Adam. E vil always tries to antagonize what is good. Therefore, Claggort was Billys antagonist throughout Billy Budd. Also symbolic to the novel is the actual demise of both Claggort and Billy Budd.Claggorts death is very presently and appropriate to his navel grade. In contrast, Billys death occurs during the dawn where Billy ascended and ascending took the full rose of the dawn. Claggorts death completely contrasts with the pure death of Billy Budd. Billys death is portrayed as good, conquering, and symbolic, which directly foils that of Claggorts. Not unless using symbolism, Melville also uses characterization to contrast good and evil. Characterization is used to contrast the concepts of good and evil.Billy Budd is like a young horse fresh from the pasture suddenly inhaling a vile puff of air from some chemical factory. Billys honour and purity is exterminated at the hands of his main enemy, John Claggort, a good deal such as Adam presumably might have been ere the urbane Serp ent wriggled himself into his company. Claggorts silken rave curls and pallor tinged with a faint shade of amber skin even denote evil. Dark traits are often used to express evil, as light and beauty to express good.In contrast to Claggort, Billy Budds welkin-eyes, blonde hair, and tan complexion ultimately portray good. Besides from the use of characterization and symbolism, Melville uses irony to portray the battle of good versus evil. Irony is used to contrast the concepts of good and evil. Billy, the fighting peacemaker kills John Claggort with a blow quick as the flame from a discharged cannon. It is ironic that Billy, this innocent Christ like character loses his composure and ultimately does something evil. Through out the novel Billy Budd is never aware of Claggorts ill will towards him.Even when warned, Jemmy legs is down on you, Billy still can not hang on the concept that evil can happen to him, so when it does he doesnt know how to react. It is ironic that right b efore Billys hanging, he shouts God Bless Captain Vere even though Vere was the main advocate in the prosecuting of him. It is boilers suit ironic that evil prevails in this novel.Claggort unfortunately got the last laugh. He is able to adulterate Billys purity and innocence in such a way that even the newspapers consider Billy as the criminal who salaried the penalty for his crime In the end Claggort is portrayed as this martyr who is killed by this evil, and bad person, Billy Budd.This assumption is a major mistake. To develop the dramatic contrast between good and evil in the novel, Billy Budd, Herman Melville uses symbolism, characterization, and irony. Good and evil are a flip of a coin, and separated by a very thin line. The innocent martyr, Billy crossed this line once in the novel, to cause his downfall. afterwards reading Billy Budd the reader ultimately realizes good and evil with out a problem.