Which stuttering title character was executed for fatally punching his ship's master-at-arms, John Claggart?

Which stuttering title character was executed for fatally punching his ship's master-at-arms, John Claggart?

• A. Billy Budd
• B. Captain Vere
• C. John Claggart
• D. The Admiral

Answer: (A)

This question tests knowledge of Billy Budd, the stuttering sailor at the center of Melville’s story and the moment when his simple, good-natured nature clashes with harsh naval justice. Billy Budd is the sailor who, in response to John Claggart’s deceitful accusation of mutiny, strikes and fatally harms Claggart. Because of Admiralty Law, Captain Vere must condemn him, and Billy Budd is executed by hanging. The other names don’t fit this description: Captain Vere is the ship’s captain who delivers the sentence, John Claggart is the master-at-arms who is killed, and The Admiral isn’t a character in the tale. So the character described is Billy Budd.

This question tests knowledge of Billy Budd, the stuttering sailor at the center of Melville’s story and the moment when his simple, good-natured nature clashes with harsh naval justice. Billy Budd is the sailor who, in response to John Claggart’s deceitful accusation of mutiny, strikes and fatally harms Claggart. Because of Admiralty Law, Captain Vere must condemn him, and Billy Budd is executed by hanging. The other names don’t fit this description: Captain Vere is the ship’s captain who delivers the sentence, John Claggart is the master-at-arms who is killed, and The Admiral isn’t a character in the tale. So the character described is Billy Budd.