Ever mindful of form and symmetry, the author places the climax of his drama near the middle of the work. The climax of the novel is the point beyond which things can never return to the way they were. In this case, the climax brings into fateful contact two opposing characters in the novel. In the small, crowded, danger-fraught world embodied in the Bellipotent, the captain and chief magistrate, Vere, learns from master-at-arms Claggart that Billy Budd is a traitorous insurrectionist.
With the administrative ability developed through years of managing British warships and their crews, Captain Vere, still recovering from a failed pursuit of the French frigate, quickly perceives a potentially explosive situation. Other crewmen obviously suspect that something significant is taking place. Vere’s solution—an immediate confrontation in the privacy of his cabin—is both discreet and characteristic of a forthright disciplinarian.
In this chapter, Melville demonstrates his mastery of characterization by means of his use of juxtaposition. Claggart’s connivance to eradicate Billy corresponds neatly with Vere’s drive for order and discipline aboard his vessel. Claggart’s compulsive hatred parallels Vere’s compulsion to control. This alliance of emotional needs sets the stage for the unexpected and tragic denouement in the next chapter. Here we see the skilled writer’s superb handling of character and situation.
