Billy Budd

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appearance. In the following text, Billy is appropriately named for his attributes by the narrator: "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" (6). When the text of is read through a Christian interpretation these attributes of purity and perfection point towards another person in Christian tradition who was also both pure and perfect. Jesus Christ of Nazareth was considered by the New Testament texts and early Christians as being spiritually perfect which accounted for and lead to his total purity. In their eyes, Jesus never did anything wrong and spoke of love and understanding. Similarly, Billy united and calmed people with his presence. According to the following text: "…Billy came, and it was like a Catholic ...

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aboard the Indomitable did not like Billy as is evident in this text: "Claggart's envy struck deeper. If askance he eyed the good looks, cheery health, and frank enjoyment of young life in …" (38). Interpreting this through a Christian perspective, the enemy had in Claggart was symbolic of the enemies Christ had in either the demonic realm or less supernatural powers like the Jewish leaders who wanted to get rid of him and get him in trouble. Thus, in both stories, the main character is brought to trial. Melville uses this event in his writing to yet again produce striking similarities between Billy and Christ's behavior during their trials. According to New Testament ...

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