English 20
Examine the incident between the Red Whiskers and Billy. What is this incident meant to do? Does it suggest something about Billy’s character or just the Red Whiskers’s?
The incident between Billy and Red Whiskers involved a small scuffle during a dogwatch. I believe that this incident meant to inform the readers that, although Billy looks nice on the outside, he is still able to defend himself. This suggests something on both the Red Whiskers and Billy. It shows Billy has another side to his personality from being a very nice person to one who can fight. The Red Whiskers, who, described as a “big, shaggy chap with the fire-red whiskers” (p. 295) would imply that he was a rough, hostile person, but after the tussle, he changes and takes a liking to him.
What is Billy’s flaw? How important is this flaw in understanding his overall character? Has it altered your original evaluation of him? How?
The character Billy Budd is described as a perfect character in the story. All aspects of this person are liked by all and it seems like this perfect being does not have a defect. Unfortunately, like Achilles and his heel, Billy has weakness that, under pressure will show. The book describe this as “…yet under sudden provocation of strong heart-feeling his voice, otherwise singularly musical, as if expressive of the harmony within, was apt to develop an organic hesitance, in fact more or less of a stutter or even worse” (p. 302). This flaw is important to understanding more of Billy’s character, as it shows that he is hiding something. The book describes this defect causes him “no romance” (p. 302). This fact has not altered my evaluation of Billy Budd. Mainly the cause of this is due to my foreknowledge of this item.
Achilles' Heel, a weakness in the otherwise perfect hero
This is a response to the first question.
ReplyDeleteI think what you are saying is completely accurate. It definitely gives the reader a deeper understanding of Billy's personality and character. Up until that point, we were only aware of Billy's sweet, kind, nice personality, but after that event, we know that there is something under Billy's handsome, innocent exterior. This is also the first time that we see a flaw in Billy's otherwise perfect character.
The picture you chose is also very appropriate for this question. Billy is somewhat of a hero in this novel, and he is definitely a character with very few flaws and weaknesses. Good choice!