At twenty-one, Billy, by nature a man of heart but little intellect, has learned little of evil, for he lacks experience with any behavior other than the frankness common to sailors. Obviously Melville thinks of Claggart, a man of intellect but little heart, as older, less ingenuous, and more sophisticated. In contrast, Billy, his foil, is an old-fashioned sailor and it is through this persona that he perceives and interprets the actions and attitudes of others.
Melville wrote this novel as though it were a play. The players are now in place; the crucial episodes take shape. Even though the Dansker hints at disaster, Billy’s innocence insulates and protects him. He does not think to report the traitorous act to his superiors. By his trusting nature, he sets himself up for the kill. Along with Claggart’s monomania and ambivalence toward Billy, the total scenario forebodes doom.
