Critical Essay On Billy Budd
Beginning of paper
Charles Reich's assessment of the conflict in Billy Budd focuses on
the distinction between the laws of society and the laws of nature. Human
law says that men are "the sum total of their actions, and no more." Reich
uses this as a basis for his assertion that Billy is innocent in what he is,
not w ....
Middle of paper
.... other words, necessity is not
a justification for killing, even when this necessity is beyond human
control. Since Billy is unable to defend himself verbally, he "responds to
pure nature, and the dictates of necessity" by lashing out at Claggart. I
agree with Reich's notion that Vere was correct in hanging Billy, and that
it is society, not Vere, who should be criticized for this judgement; for
Vere is forced to reject the urgings of his own heart and his values to
comply with the binding la ....
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Word count: 521
Page count: 2 (approximately 250 words per page)
