Herman Melville's Billy Budd defies simple categorization, as Melville incorporates various genre elements, making Billy Budd a complex and unique work of literature. First and foremost, Billy Budd is a novella, meaning that it is a work of fiction that is shorter than a novel but longer than a short story. It is considered a work of historical fiction, as its setting and events are rooted in real-life historical events, particularly the British naval environment in the late 18th century. Melville explores the life and culture of sailors during this period.
Billy Budd could also be considered a work of psychological fiction. The novella delves deeply into the psychological and emotional aspects of its characters, particularly the inner conflicts that characters like Captain Vere face. The narrator provides insight into the thoughts, emotions, and moral struggles of the novella's characters, which adds a rich psychological dimension to the narrative.
The novella also engages with profound philosophical questions, such as the nature of good and evil, the conflict between duty and one's conscience, and the complexities of human morality. For this reason, it could be argued that Billy Budd could also be categorized as a work of philosophical fiction. Through introspective passages and character reflections, Melville delves into complex philosophical ideas.
