Billy was totally unaware of Claggart's deep
antagonism towards him. Even when he observed something strange at times in
Claggart's behaviour, he felt soon reassured when Claggart spoke a few pleasing
words to him.
This is what Melville says in this connection:
He (Billy) thought the master-at-arms acted in a
manner rather queer at times. That was all. But the occasional frank air and
pleasant word a went for what they purported to be, the young Sailor never
having heard as yet of the "too fair spokesman."
Had the foretopman been conscious of
having done or said anything to provoke the ill will of the official, it would
have been different with him, and his sight might have been purged if not
sharpened, as it was, innocence was his blinder (BBS 49)
In this chapter we know that because of his ignorance
and his innocence rendered him totally incapable of perceiving any evil in the
man. We are also told that the after guardsman, after having received a rebuff
from Billy, did not much bother him again except for nodding to him as a mark
of recognition or speaking to him a pleasant word or two. The after guardsman
had surely realized that the very simplicity of the Handsome Sailor had
rendered him formidable enough to resist all evil. Furthermore we know the
psychoanalysis of Claggart.
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