Billy Budd – Close, But No Christ FigureBilly Budd, the bow toilet in Billy Budd, Sailor, looks similar to Jesus Christ because of his relative appearance of purity and simplicity and innocence. He possesses human virtues which cannot be explained by any other method than by comparing them to Christ. However, although Budd may seem like a "Christ figure" at first glance, he is far from the Christ of the Holy Bible. Budd is human and his flaws - his natural flaws and apathy towards others and his work - make it impossible for him to be a Christ figure, someone who is blameless from birth until death, continually has the purpose of humanity's redemption and is totally selfless despite possessing enormous power. Because he is human, Budd lives a very human life, and his actions during his life and eventual death, while unusually heroic, are always limited to those of humanity. Christ, possessing unfathomable power, lives a godly life and lays down that life to save humanity in fulfillment of prophecy. Furthermore, the method and meaning of Budd's death are completely different, actually not even related to those of Christ's death, burial and resurrection. has still more or less to do with every human delivery to this plant of the Earth" (1879). Budd, although created in the image of God, suffers imperfection and sin like every human being on Earth. His most visible imperfection , what makes the presentation most striking, is his tendency to stutter in situations of emotional pressure. However, although it is his most visible flaw, it is not his only flaw as a human being of the sheet ......f Grace and Redemption. This mission of Christ determines the life he leads and the death he suffers, as well as the reason for his resurrection. Budd, having no reason to be where he is, leads a simple life and apathetic. His death, therefore, has little or no consequence for those living in the larger world. Although Budd's simplicity and human virtue make him seem Christ-like on the surface, he lacks that connection with God that determines the very soul of a man. William Budd, bow cabinet, is not a "Christ figure" because he is not, and could never be, the Lamb of God. Works Cited Melville, Herman. Billy Budd, sailor. The American tradition in literature. Ed. George Perkins, et al. New York: McGraw Hill Publishing Company, 1990. 1872-1924. The Holy Bible. Ed. David R. Veerman, et al. New King James Version. Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1994.