"Cliff Notes - Billy Budd" - читать интересную книгу автора (Cliff Notes)

name of a noble family that was especially prominent in the
seventeenth-century. A bachelor about 40 years old, Vere is a brave
but not imprudent captain, who has distinguished himself in several
battles and risen to his rank through dedicated service and because
he treats his crew well. He is an intellectual, which is something
of a rarity in the armed forces. He loves to read, especially
history and philosophy books that reinforce his strong and
conservative opinions of the world. Though he is a decisive leader,
he also has a touch of dreaminess in his character and can be seen,
on occasion, staring out to sea, thinking his own private thoughts.
This trait is the real reason the nickname "Starry" Vere stuck with
him, even though his cousin originally gave him the name as a mark
of honor after Vere returned triumphantly from a naval victory. Some
of his fellow officers find him a bit pompous, because he's always
sprinkling his conversation with learned quotations. But they all
agree that even though he can be odd and aloof, he's a good, solid
captain, who does his duty and serves his King well. As a leader,
Vere exercises caution and doesn't take unnecessary risks. He thinks
before he acts and he can make a fast and firm decision when he has
to.

This is the fundamental nature of Vere's character, and everyone
agrees on these basic facts. But when Vere has to deal with the
extremely difficult situation on board his ship caused by Claggart's
accusation, and Billy's striking out at him, his character is thrown
into a whole new light. The way he handles himself in this situation
has provoked endless debate and heated disagreement among critics,
readers, and students. The central dilemma of Billy Budd puts Vere
to the test and forces him to make an excruciating decision. The way
you feel about this decision, and the man who makes it, will form
the backbone of your interpretation of the book. Let's look at some
of the different points of view on Captain Vere.

1. VERE AS STERN BUT JUST JUDGE

No one likes the fact that Billy hangs for killing Claggart, but
many feel that Vere made the only decision possible. As the captain
of the Bellipotent he must look out for the welfare of the whole
ship, not just the fate of one man, and his decision to execute
Billy takes this priority into account. You know how much Vere
suffers because the more he sees of Billy, the more he loves him. By
the end, he feels almost like Billy's father. He knows Billy is
innocent in the ultimate sense, but his duty concerns the here and
now. The law demands that Billy must hang, and Vere knows he must
uphold the law.

2. VERE AS COLD-BLOODED COWARD

Vere argued himself into the death penalty for Billy out of
cowardice and naked fear. He might easily have pardoned Billy, but