LITR 4232: American Renaissance
University of Houston-Clear Lake
Student Presentation, spring 2001

Reader: Allison Amaya

Discussion notes: Douglas Goforth

Thursday, 5 April

From the second half of Billy Budd

By Herman Melville

            The objective of my presentation demonstrates how Melville uses literature as a basis for discussing representative problems and subjects of American culture. More specifically, Melville’s "Billy Budd" is an example of the writer’s conflicted presence in an anti-intellectual society. The concept for this idea is derived from a passage in the introduction to Melville which states, "Thereafter, he started experimenting with increasingly elaborate strategies for subverting his readers’ prejudices and conveying unwelcomed truths" (2399). I believe the unwelcome truth Melville is providing in "Billy Budd" is that innocence can lead to serious consequences when people allow themselves to be controlled by those who have more intelligence and experience. Furthermore, I believe Melville is conveying the message that he wants people to abandon their innocent, anti-intellectual ways and become more aware, experienced, and capable of thinking for themselves.

            Several passages in the story use references to the eyes to symbolize how they are a window to the intelligence a person has. For example, Captain Vere is trying to determine what is going on in the mind of Claggart when he uses his "gray eyes impatient and distrustful essaying to fathom to the bottom Claggart’s calm violet ones, Captain Vere again heard him out; then for the moment stood ruminating" (2546). It is as if there is a battle of intelligence occurring in which each man is trying to measure the intelligence of the other. The idea of getting into someone’s mind through looking into their eyes is also evident in the actions between the captain and the surgeon:

            To the gazer’s professional eye it was unmistakably no living man that he        saw. "Is it so, then?" said Captain Vere, intently watching him. "I       thought it. But verify it." Whereupon the customary tests confirmed the       surgeon’s first glance, who now, looking up in unfeigned concern, cast a         look of intense inquisitiveness upon his superior. (2549)

Just as the captain is trying to see into the mind of Claggart, so is the surgeon trying to see into the mind of the captain. Furthermore, the idea of a professional eye is introduced. A professional eye is obtained through knowledge and experience, which both the captain and the surgeon have. Billy, on the other hand does not have this professional eye and is unable to get into the mind of Claggart as a result. Billy’s inability to see into the mind of other’s emphasizes Melville’s idea that people need to be able to think for themselves. When Billy meets Claggart eye to eye he is unable to defend himself due to his lack of experience and knowledge:

            He stood like one impaled and gagged. Meanwhile the accuser’s eyes,          removing not as yet from the blue dilated ones, underwent a phenomenal   change, their wonted rich violet color blurring into a muddy purple.            Those lights of human intelligence, losing human expression, were gelidly       protruding like the alien eyes of certain uncatalogued creatures of the          deep. (2548)

Billy’s reaction upholds Melville’s belief that people must be able to think for themselves or they will lack the capability to defend themselves. Melville also points out the power that intelligence can have when he describes Claggart turning into some sort of monster while Billy remains before him with dilated eyes.

            Melville also points to the fact that when people lack the knowledge to speak for themselves, they often react by using violent actions. These actions can have serious consequences, as it does for Billy. It seems as though Billy is striking out against his inability to defend himself and those who use their knowledge to exercise power over him when he hits Claggart "full upon the forehead, so shapely and intellectual-looking a feature in the master-at-arms; so that the body fell over lengthwise, like a heavy plank tilted from erectness" (2548-2549). Through Billy’s action, Melville seems to support the idea that people must strike out to gain experience and think for themselves, otherwise they will just be followers waiting for the next command. An example of how strongly Melville felt about people thinking for themselves is when Billy looks to the captain for a sign as to how to respond to the court:

This utterance, the full significance of which it was not at all likely that Billy took in, nevertheless caused him to turn a wistful interrogative look       toward the speaker, a look in its dumb expressiveness not unlike that which a dog of generous breed might turn upon his master, seeking in his face some elucidation of a previous gesture ambiguous to the canine intelligence. (2553-2554)

Melville is pointing out that a person who lacks knowledge is often no better than a dog, who is faithful and obeying to those who are superior. Melville shows that if people are unable to think and act for themselves their intelligence could be equated to a "dumbness like that of a seated congregation of believers in hell listening to the clergyman’s announcement of his Calvinistic text" (2559).

            In conclusion, I believe that Melville is showing that he is frustrated by a society that has many people who do not think for themselves and try to gain new experiences. If people did open their minds to such concepts, Melville would no longer feel constrained to be writing for an anti-intellectual society.

            The question given to the class was whether the first passage in chapter 21 (2250) could be applied to the theme of intelligence or did it have some personal meaning to Melville. Melville is accused of being insane, and this passage could be a response to how he felt about it. Sonya said it could be his way of expressing how a genius can overlap with insanity. Joanne felt the rainbow symbolized how everyone is part of the rainbow and we move from dark to light and vice versa. Erin reminded the class that the rainbow is a symbol of God’s promise. Thomas felt the rainbow represents things that are intangible. This is why there is a blur between colors and no definite lines. Dr. White said there is a range of symbols used in this story, like the rainbow and the eyes, that are open to several interpretations.

            The presentation closed with an agreement that Melville requires close reading to grasp the ideas he is trying to convey and by critically considering his writing, people are opening their minds. This is what I believe Melville wants because then he would not have to confine his ideas to the appeal of popular literature.