On first glance, Billy Budd is little more than a sea story involving a sailor wrongly accused of mutiny. However, upon closer examination, one observes that Melville’s novel possesses a deeper significance. Melville presents the protagonist, Billy as a handsome, young sailor. Nonetheless, Billy Budd can be seen as a Christ-figure through his experiences with Captain Vere, Claggert and his crewmembers aboard the Bellipotent. As the novel begins, Melville characterizes Billy as Christ-like figure. …showed first 75 words of 902 total…

…showed last 75 words of 902 total…like a normal sailor at first. However, In Herman Melville’s story, Billy Budd, Billy Budd becomes a great symbol to his captain and his crewmembers aboard the ship. He is not an ordinary figure but he becomes a Christ-like figure who is as pure as any man could be. These Christ-like attributes are seen throughout the novel and even as Billy Budd dies upon the yardarm he encompasses all the symbols of Jesus Christ.