Billy Budd is a novel by Herman Melville, first published in 1924 The novel is based around a sailor, Billy Budd, who is pressed into serving on a British Man-of-War ship, the Bellipotent. He is a "handsome sailor" who is beloved by the crew of the ship, and he comes to be seen as a symbol of innocence and goodness, as opposed to the dark, chaotic forces that Captain Vere represents. Melville's novel explores themes of justice and morality, and the idea of a corrupt sailor pitted against a symbol of innocence.
The five best essay topics related to Billy Budd are:
1. A discussion of morality in the novel: What moral lessons does Billy Budd teach? Is his innocence and goodness corrupted by his experiences onboard the Bellipotent?
2. An examination of justice in Billy Budd: How does justice play out throughout the novel? How do the differing opinion of justice between Captain Vere and Billy Budd eventually lead to tragedy?
3. A comparison of Billy Budd and Moby Dick: How do the two works of literature by Melville compare and contrast when it comes to themes of morality, justice, and the human condition?
4. The symbolic significance of the sea in Billy Budd: What does the sea symbolize in the novel? How does the imagery of the sea reflect themes of innocence, morality, and the transition from one state of being to another?
5. An analysis of Captain Vere’s character: Is Captain Vere a villain or a hero? How is his character developed throughout the novel and how do his decisions reflect a certain moral code?