In the novel, John Claggart is a foil to Billy Budd. He exists largely to contrast Billy's traits, values, and motivations, and vice versa. Note how the narrator describes John Claggart in Chapter 8:
Claggart was a man about five-and-thirty, somewhat spare and tall, yet of no ill figure upon the whole. His hand was too small and shapely to have been accustomed to hard toil. The face was a notable one, the features all except the chin cleanly cut as those on a Greek medallion; yet the chin, beardless as Tecumseh’s, had something of strange protuberant broadness in its make.
The narrator uses multiple similes to describe Claggart. The narrator likens Claggart's facial features to those on a Greek coin, suggesting classical beauty and symmetry. The narrator also compares Claggart to Tecumseh, the famous Shawnee chief and warrior. The distinctive nature of his chin contrasts "classical," "ideal" Greek features. This contrast between a sense of refinement and the "strange" broadness of Claggart's chin creates an unsettling, enigmatic image. This effect is intentional on the part of Melville, as Claggart's physical appearance is meant to reflect aspects of his character. All in all, the narrator's description of Claggart suggests that there are hidden complexities and contradictions to him.
Billy Budd, on the other hand, is often referred to throughout the novella as the "Handsome Sailor." Note the contrast in how the narrator describes Billy's physical features in this passage from Chapter 2:
Cast in a mold peculiar to the finest physical examples of those Englishmen in whom the Saxon strain would seem not at all to partake of any Norman or other admixture, he showed in face that humane look of reposeful good nature which the Greek sculptor in some instances gave to his heroic strong man, Hercules. But this again was subtly modified by another and pervasive quality [...] above all, something in the mobile expression, and every chance attitude and movement, something suggestive of a mother eminently favored by Love and the Graces.
The narrator emphasizes Billy's physique, specifically his English characteristics and heritage. As with Claggart, these physical descriptions are meant to reveal particular character traits. Billy's face is described in a way that implies he has a kind, serene demeanor, and the allusion and comparison to Hercules suggests that Billy has formidable physical strength and is a leader. Moreover, the phrase "suggestive of a mother eminently favored by Love the Graces" implies that Billy's expressions and movements are so tender and graceful it is as if he has been blessed by the gods of love and beauty.
In comparison to Claggart, Billy is portrayed in ideal terms. He is strong and classically handsome, but also exudes a sense of kindness and grace. Claggart is depicted as someone with a malevolent nature, while Budd is depicted to be the epitome of innocence and even purity. This foil pairing reflects the larger religious allegory that frames the story.
In the novel, John Claggart is a foil to Billy Budd. He exists largely to contrast Billy's traits, values, and motivations, and vice versa. Note how the narrator describes John Claggart in Chapter 8:
Claggart was a man about five-and-thirty, somewhat spare and tall, yet of no ill figure upon the whole. His hand was too small and shapely to have been accustomed to hard toil. The face was a notable one, the features all except the chin cleanly cut as those on a Greek medallion; yet the chin, beardless as Tecumseh’s, had something of strange protuberant broadness in its make.
The narrator uses multiple similes to describe Claggart. The narrator likens Claggart's facial features to those on a Greek coin, suggesting classical beauty and symmetry. The narrator also compares Claggart to Tecumseh, the famous Shawnee chief and warrior. The distinctive nature of his chin contrasts "classical," "ideal" Greek features. This contrast between a sense of refinement and the "strange" broadness of Claggart's chin creates an unsettling, enigmatic image. This effect is intentional on the part of Melville, as Claggart's physical appearance is meant to reflect aspects of his character. All in all, the narrator's description of Claggart suggests that there are hidden complexities and contradictions to him.
Billy Budd, on the other hand, is often referred to throughout the novella as the "Handsome Sailor." Note the contrast in how the narrator describes Billy's physical features in this passage from Chapter 2:
Cast in a mold peculiar to the finest physical examples of those Englishmen in whom the Saxon strain would seem not at all to partake of any Norman or other admixture, he showed in face that humane look of reposeful good nature which the Greek sculptor in some instances gave to his heroic strong man, Hercules. But this again was subtly modified by another and pervasive quality [...] above all, something in the mobile expression, and every chance attitude and movement, something suggestive of a mother eminently favored by Love and the Graces.
The narrator emphasizes Billy's physique, specifically his English characteristics and heritage. As with Claggart, these physical descriptions are meant to reveal particular character traits. Billy's face is described in a way that implies he has a kind, serene demeanor, and the allusion and comparison to Hercules suggests that Billy has formidable physical strength and is a leader. Moreover, the phrase "suggestive of a mother eminently favored by Love the Graces" implies that Billy's expressions and movements are so tender and graceful it is as if he has been blessed by the gods of love and beauty.
In comparison to Claggart, Billy is portrayed in ideal terms. He is strong and classically handsome, but also exudes a sense of kindness and grace. Claggart is depicted as someone with a malevolent nature, while Budd is depicted to be the epitome of innocence and even purity. This foil pairing reflects the larger religious allegory that frames the story.
