billy buddwas captain vere right

CaptainVere makes the right decision by executing Billy Budd. If
CaptainVere lets Billylive the rest of the crew might get the impression
that they will not be held accountable fortheir crimes. If the crew feels
that they can get away with what ever they want then thereis a chance
that they might form a rebellion and have a mutiny. A mutiny would
destroythe stability and good name of the ship and the crew. Captain
Vere does not want to seethis happen. There are three main reasons
Captain Vere makes the right decision byexecuting 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
CaptainVere feels sorry for Billy and does not want Billy to suffer with guilt
until a martial courtcould give a decision. If Billy is not executed
then corruption might occur on the ship and cause amutiny. 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 asan example for the rest of the crew. It shows the crew what
will happen to them if theytry to start a mutiny. After Billy's death
CaptainVere obviously feels regret for executingBilly. Captain Vere's last
words are "Billy Budd, Billy Budd" (p. 76) show an example ofthis. Those
last words might symbolize that Captain Vere killed Billy for the
wrongreasons. If CaptainVere uses Billy's death for an example to the
rest of the crew then itmight not necessarily be the wrong reason.
CaptainVere has to decide between one lifeand the lives of the entire
crew. No matter what Captain Vere's reasons are he does makethe right
decision. Another reason CaptainVere might of executed Billy Budd is
because CaptainVerefollows the law to the letter. The law states that
mutiny is punishable to by death. Somereaders might not see this
accidental murder as mutiny, but killing a superior officer in theBritish
navy is considered mutiny. In Captain Vere's decision he shows the crew
that noinfractions of the law will be tolerated. In the story CaptainVere is
described as "nevertolerating an infraction of discipline" (p. 16). This trait

could be the reason for Billy'sdeath. Another reason Captain Vere
might execute Billy Budd is that he does not wantBilly to suffer with his
extreme guilty until a martial court can see his case. Captain
Vereprobably 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 statementimplies Captain Vere's true feelings for
Billy. If Captain Vere had let a martial court trythe case then they would
most likely come to the same conclusion. Because of this factCaptain
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.
Althoughthe decision was controversial it kept stability among the crew.
The crew's fate is moreimportant than any individual sailor's fate. If
Captain Vere had made the oppositedecision than there probably would
be a very horrible fate for the Bellipotent. Billy Buddcould be considered
a tragic hero. In his short life Billy touched more lives than mostpeople
do in there entire lives. Billy is somebody that most readers would agree
is a tragichero. Even though Billy Budd is so great, Captain Vere made
the right decision.