Herman Melville's Billy Budd exemplifies the classic tale of good versus evil. This thought provoking and depressing story takes place in 1797 during a war in Great Britain and France. During this sea faring story a young and innocent boy is drafted from a merchant ship to a war ship where he proves most industrious and eager in his role as foretop man and soon earns affection of his more experienced fellow sailors. Billy finds himself under constant inspection by the master-at-arms, Claggart.

Refusing to accept his theory that claggart holds a grudge against him, Billy continues to wonder musingly about his situation. Billy is innocent in his doings, but I think that captain Vere's decision was right because he was just following the law.

The plot centers on a young sailor, Billy Budd, who is drafted from a merchant ship, The Rights of Men. to a warship, The...