Billy Budd, Sailor

“The moral nature was seldom out of keeping with the physical make. Indeed, except as toned by the former, the comeliness and power, always attractive in masculine conjunction, hardly could have drawn the sort of honest homage the Handsome Sailor in some examples received from his less gifted associates.”

Melville associates Billy’s appearance—that of the archetypal Handsome Sailor—with his character. However, he makes it clear that this is often irrational, and can be damaging. Billy may look the part of the resourceful, swaggering sailor, but his temperament and emotional sophistication do not match his appearance.

“Billy made no demur. But, indeed, any demur would have been as idle as the protest of a goldfinch popped into a cage.”

This quote foreshadows Billy’s ineffectiveness at defending himself. After a bird is put in a cage, it is too late for it to protest effectively—it can merely make noise. The narrator suggests that Billy goes along with the order to change ships cheerfully because he is subconsciously aware that nothing he could say would change the matter.

“He had much prudence, much conscientiousness, and there were occasions when these virtues were the cause of overmuch disquietude in him.”

Melville describes Captain Graveling and Graveling’s reservations toward Billy. Graveling pays attention to his duty and his men. When he sees that Billy doesn’t complain about transferring to another crew, it makes Graveling uneasy, as if he knows that Billy’s cheerful acquiescence will cause trouble for him on a less peaceful ship. Prudence and conscientiousness are the two qualities that make Graveling’s life more difficult. They have elevated him to his command, but also require him to observe methodically anyone who is subordinate to him.