Hawthorne - Melville Comparitive Essay

Nathaniel Hawthorne and Herman Melville are similar because they both have pessimistic views of humanity. Billy Budd is a story about a young sailor named Billy, who doesn't fit the normal sailor stereotype. Officer Claggart continually picks him on because of his innocence and ignorance. To make matters worse, one of the corporals tells Claggart that Billy Budd was ridiculing him. Claggart takes offense at this lie and begins to watch Billy vigilantly. When Billy finds out from a veteran sailor that Claggart doesn't like him, he doesn't believe it. "The Minister's Black Veil" is a story…