Billy Budd, Sailor

Different warships in the text symbolize the power struggles that Melville explores. One of the ships in Billy Budd is called the Rights-of-Man, which connotes a peaceful environment of equality and brotherhood among its crew and officers. This is contrasted with the name of the ship the Bellipotent, which refers to the ship’s formidable abilities as a vessel of warfare. The Bellipotent is eventually conquered by a ship named the Athée, which is French for atheist. The Athée is able to defeat the Bellipotent, even though the Bellipotent is filled with dutiful Christians. The ship the Rights-of-Man is an obvious symbol of Billy’s exit from a ship governed by reason and camaraderie onto the claustrophobic, sinister Bellipotent, upon which he forfeits his rights.

A mutiny refers to a group of subordinates who rebel against their leader, whom they may overthrow and even kill. It becomes a motif in the text. There is no mutiny on board Vere’s ship, but Claggart uses the rumor of Billy’s conspiracy to undermine him. This is particularly effective, given the Nore Mutiny, an infamous event that happened not long before the events of the story. Various mutinies led to the Mutiny Act, which is the law that Vere upholds when he sentences Billy to death.