Duty Over Rights in Leadership
Lieutenant Seymour:
Aye sir, that is your right.
Captain Vere:
It's no right. Which one of us here have rights? It's my duty and I must perform it.
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The Conflict Between Law and Justice
Lieutenant Seymour:
Wyatt, we do not deal with justice here, but with the law.
Lieutenant Wyatt:
Was not the one conceived to serve the other?
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The Challenge of Defense in Accusation
Captain Vere:
Give the lad his chance. You've made your accusation, master at arms. it is up to him to defend himself.
Claggert:
With all due respect sir —
Captain Vere:
Mr, Claggert!
Claggert:
I don't think he can. It is not that he can't find the words — as that there are no words to find.
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Conflicting Feelings About Claggert
Squeak:
I hate Claggert, for what, you don't realize — I hate him.
Billy Budd:
You hate him?
Squeak:
Yes, I do. Don't you?
Billy Budd:
No.
Squeak:
You don't? You must do!
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Accusations and Allegiances Among Shipmates
Squeak:
Hey, you know when you kept finding yourself on report? That was my doing — but I was only obeying orders — his orders — Claggerts.
Billy Budd:
Claggerts? I thought it was you — out of spite.
Squeak:
Me? I got no spite in me!
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Imminent Storm Discussed by Two Characters
Dansker:
There's a storm somewhere.
Claggert:
Aye, old man. There's a storm somewhere.
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Truth and Fear on the Sea
Billy Budd:
In my ignorance, I could not guess the reason. I only knew the truth, and told it.
Claggert:
The sea is calm you said. Peaceful. Calm above, but below a world of gliding monsters preying on their fellows. Murderers, all of them. Only the strongest teeth survive. And who's to tell me it's any different here on board, or yonder — on dry land? You knew my reputation, and yet you dared to speak what you called the truth. Why?
Billy Budd:
I know some of the men are fearful of you, hate you. But I told them — you can't be as they think you are.
Claggert:
Why not, pray?
Billy Budd:
No man can take pleasure in cruelty.
Claggert:
No? Tell me, do you fear the lash?
Billy Budd: [nods]
Aye.
Claggert:
And will you speak the truth again?
Billy Budd:
I'm on my honor, sir. If the captain asks—
Claggert: [laughs grimly — and Budd joins in laughing]
Why are you laughing boy?
Billy Budd:
Laughter's good, sir. And it's good to hear you laugh.
Claggert:
Laughter's good? Even the laughter of fools aimed at nothing?
Billy Budd:
No, sir, you wouldn't laugh at nothing.
Claggert:
What was I laughing at then?
Billy Budd:
I don't know sir, but I think you were laughing at yourself.
Claggert: [puzzled and disturbed]
Why would I laugh at myself?
Billy Budd:
There's time when all men do — men as you would call men. They make mistakes and behave like fools.
Claggert:
They do. Tell me in all ignorance do you dare understand me, then?
Billy Budd: [nods]
I think so, sir.
Claggert:
Why did Jenkins die?
Billy Budd:
You did not wish his death.
Claggert:
No, I did not.
Billy Budd:
You didn't even hate him. I think that sometimes you hate yourself. I was thinking, sir, the nights are lonely. Perhaps I could talk with you between watches when you've nothing else to do.
Claggert:
Lonely. What do you know of loneliness?
Billy Budd:
Them's alone that want to be.
Claggert:
Nights are long — conversation helps pass the time.
Billy Budd:
Can I talk to you again, then? It would mean a lot to me.
Claggert: [his expression suddenly turns suspicious and sours]
Perhaps to me, too. Oh, no. You would charm me too, huh? Get away.
Billy Budd:
Sir?
Claggert:
Get — away!
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Calm Waters and Impressions Aboard Ship
Billy Budd:
Would it be alright if I stayed topside a little bit to watch the water?
Claggert:
I suppose a handsome sailor may do many things forbidden to his mess-mates.
Billy Budd:
Sea's calm tonight, i'nt it? Calm and peaceful.
Claggert:
You've made a good impression on the captain, Billy Budd. You have a pleasant way with you.
Billy Budd:
Oh, thank you sir.
Claggert:
If you wish to make a good impression with me too however, you will need to curb your tongue.
Billy Budd:
Now, sir?
Claggert:
Not now. Can it be that you really don't understand my words? Is it ignorance or irony that makes you speak so simply?
Billy Budd:
It must be ignorance, sir — because I don't understand the other word.
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Navigating Justice and Leadership at Sea
Captain Vere:
In the question of Jenkins, Budd was telling the truth.
Lieutenant Seymour:
I know, sir. What are you going to do about Claggart?
Captain Vere:
What can I do but watch and wait? No court martial would do more than strip him of his rank for such misconduct. And then what? As a rating, he'd be slaughtered by the other men. And who would replace him? And would the French refrain from attacking us while we settled our petty differences? No, I must give him his head until some act puts him squarely counter to the law and then let the law consume him. What would you do if you were captain of this ship?
Lieutenant Seymour:
I'm not captain of the ship, sir.
Captain Vere:
One day you may be, Philip. Then, remember.
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The Burden of Law and Discretion
Claggert:
We must serve the law sir, or give up the right and privilege of service. it is only within that law that we may use our discretion according to our rank.
Captain Vere:
Your so lucid and so intelligent for the rank you hold, Master-at-Arms.
Claggert:
I thank you, Sir.
Captain Vere:
Yes. That's no flattery, Mr. Claggert — it's a melancholy fact. It's sad to see such qualities of mind bent to such a sorry purpose. What's the reason for it?
Claggert:
I am what I am, sir — and what the world has made me.
Captain Vere:
The world? The world demands that behind every peacemaker there be the gun, the gallows, the jail. Do you think it will always be so?
Claggert:
I have no reason not to, sir.
Captain Vere:
You live without hope?
Claggert:
I live.
Captain Vere:
Then remember, Mr. Claggert, that even the man who wields the whip cannot defy the code we must obey — and not be broken by it. That will be all.
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Reflections on Death and Friendship at Sea
William O'Daniel: [After Jenkins' burial at sea]
Well, that's the end of Enoch Jenkins. Over the side he goes and his mates soon forget him.
Alan Payne:
They'll not forget him so soon, I'm thinking.
Dansker:
Ah, whatever happened to Jenkins, he ain't worried now. He got a hundred fathoms between him and the troubles of his life.
Billy Budd:
I'd rather be buried at sea than on the shore when I come to die. Will you stand by the plank, mates, so I can shake a friendly hand before I sink?
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The Nature of Order and Perfection
Captain Vere:
A man of war does not come to life until it's in action. Will we acquit ourselves well? Or badly? What kind of a weapon have we forged? And when the time comes, will I know how to use it? Claggert is a force for order, Mr. Seymour — a force for order I must have.
Lieutenant Seymour:
Sir, if he should be opposed to Budd's promotion?
Captain Vere:
You know Seymour, there are some men who cannot stand too much perfection. They see it as a … as a disease, thus which must be stamped out at it's first rash showing.
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Strength and Friendship in Challenging Times
Claggert: [coming in after a "friendly fight" between Jenkins and Budd]
None of you have anything to say?
Dansker:
It was nothing master-at-arms — a test of strength.
Claggert:
You'll need your strength for the fighting to come, boy. Aye Budd, you do indeed make friends quickly. That's a good quality to have.
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Struggling to Express Deep Convictions
Billy Budd: [pauses to hold back from stuttering]
It's wrong to flog a man. I … d…d… … It's against his being a man.
Jenkins:
Aye! Aye, lad — it is that!
Dansker:
Why do you stammer boy?
Billy Budd:
Because I sometimes can't find the words … for what I feel.
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A Mixed Review of a Meal
Jenkins: [as Billy eats his first shipboard meal]
Like it Billy? Taste good?
Billy Budd:
It's hot and there's a lot of it. I like everything about it except the flavor.
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The Ineffectiveness of Punishment and Understanding
Billy Budd: [after witnessing a flogging]
What was his crime?
Dansker:
God only knows young man.
Billy Budd:
You mean you don't know what he did?
Dansker:
Flogging. Its the only solution to every problem. I warrant even the culprit himself doesn't know. It was just his turn.
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Farewell and Faith in God
Captain Nathaniel Graveling: [[God]
] go with you, Billy Budd, for it's a fact that you go with God!
Billy Budd: [being pressed into service aboard the H.M.S. Avenger]
: Right you are! Good-bye to you too ol Rights of Man!
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Delayed Reforms in the House of Commons
Lieutenant Seymour:
They're talking about reform in the House of Commons.
Captain Nathaniel Graveling: [of Rights of Man]
You know what that means — it means their reforms are nearly a century overdue.
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Observations on a Cheerful Character
Squeak: [[jokes]
Aye! He's quite a hand for ]. Always cheerful, too. Always smiling, waving at people. Lovely little character.
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A Man's Struggle with Duty and Worth
Captain Vere: [[work; [God; [Devil]
I am just a man, not fit to do the ] of ]... or the ].
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The Consequences of False Witness
Captain Vere: [[peace; [war]
Weigh what you speak, master-at-arms, there is the rope and the yardarm for false witness in ] as in ].
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Duties of Fight and Obey
Captain Vere:
You have only two duties here — to fight and to obey.
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Captain Vere Reflects on Jenkins' Death
Captain Vere:
* After the death of Jenkins
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Captain Vere mandates officers to wear swords.
Captain Vere:
Mr. Seymour, officers are to wear swords all the time from now on.
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The Nature of Truth and Deception
Billy Budd: [[truth]
There are many ways to lie, Mr. Claggert, but there is only one way to tell the ].
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