Billy Budd, Chapter 1 summary
Chapter 1 of 49 · 11 min to read the chapter
In Chapter 1, Billy Budd is forcibly recruited from the Rights-of-Man into the Indomitable, leaving a merchant crew whose quarrels his presence helps settle. Captain Graveling protests the loss, but Lieutenant Ratcliffe takes Billy away, and Billy’s cheerful acceptance contrasts with the sadness of other impressed sailors.
What happens
- The narrator describes the admired Handsome Sailor type and recalls a striking black sailor in Liverpool.
- Lieutenant Ratcliffe selects twenty-one-year-old Billy Budd alone from a merchant ship for compulsory naval service.
- Captain Graveling explains that Billy brings peace among his sailors and wins over Red Whiskers after beating him in a fight.
- Ratcliffe dismisses Graveling’s distress and requires Billy to transfer his belongings from a chest into a bag.
- Billy warmly salutes the Rights-of-Man, and Ratcliffe mistakes the innocent farewell for a criticism of impressment.
- Billy joins the Indomitable’s foretop and settles happily into service, unlike several other forcibly recruited sailors.
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In this chapter
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Why does Captain Graveling especially regret losing Billy?
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