Billy BuddWas Captain Vere Right

CaptainVere makes the right decision by executing Billy Budd.  If CaptainVere lets Billy

live the rest of the crew might get the impression that they will not be held accountable for

their crimes.  If the crew feels that they can get away with what ever they want then there

is a chance that they might form a rebellion and have a mutiny.  A mutiny would destroy

the stability and good name of the ship and the crew.  Captain Vere does not want to see

this happen.  There are three main reasons Captain Vere makes the right decision by

executing Billy Budd. 

These reasons are that if Billy lives then a mutiny might occur,

because the law states that a crime as severe as Billy's is punishable by death, and Captain

Vere feels sorry for Billy and does not want Billy to suffer with guilt until a martial court

could give a decision. 

If Billy is not executed then corruption might occur on the ship and cause a

mutiny.  Captain Vere knows that a mutiny might occur and does not want it to happen.

Captain Vere could possibly be using Billy's execution for his crime of  killing Claggart as

an example for the rest of the crew.  It shows the crew what will happen to them if they

try to start a mutiny.  After Billy's death CaptainVere obviously feels regret for executing

Billy.  Captain Vere's last words are "Billy Budd, Billy Budd" (p. 76) show an example of

this.  Those last words might symbolize that Captain Vere killed Billy for the wrong

reasons.  If CaptainVere uses Billy's death for an example to the rest of the crew then it

might not necessarily be the wrong reason.  CaptainVere has to decide between one life

and the lives of the entire crew.  No matter what Captain Vere's reasons are he does make

the right decision.

Another reason CaptainVere might of executed Billy Budd is because CaptainVere

follows the law to the letter.  The law states that mutiny is punishable to by death.  Some

readers might not see this accidental murder as mutiny, but killing a superior officer in the

British navy is considered mutiny.  In Captain Vere's decision he shows the crew that no

infractions of the law will be tolerated.  In the story CaptainVere is described as "never

tolerating an infraction of discipline" (p. 16).  This trait could be the reason for Billy's

death. 

Another reason Captain Vere might execute Billy Budd is that he does not want

Billy to suffer with his extreme guilty until a martial court can see his case.  Captain Vere

probably had a personal attachment to Billy.  This is evident when Captain Vere says,

"struck dead by an angel of God!  Yet the angel must hang!" (p. 51).  This statement

implies Captain Vere's true feelings for Billy.  If Captain Vere had let a martial court try

the case then they would most likely come to the same conclusion.  Because of this fact

Captain Vere did not find it necessary to make Billy wait for a trial.

Captain Vere made the right decision by executing Billy for his crimes.  Although

the decision was controversial it kept stability among the crew.  The crew's fate is more

important than any individual sailor's fate.  If Captain Vere had made the opposite

decision than there probably would be a very horrible fate for the Bellipotent.  Billy Budd

could be considered a tragic hero.  In his short life Billy touched more lives than most

people do in there entire lives.  Billy is somebody that most readers would agree is a tragic

hero.  Even though Billy Budd is so great, Captain Vere made the right decision.