The True Character Usually, one would judge others at first sight by their appearance and first impressions then make an initial inference about them. Through the interaction and conversation one had with people, they might not be able to decipher between what was the truth and what was untrue. Herman Melville, through his novel Billy Budd conveyed the theme of appearance versus reality in the novel's three main characters. In the beginning of the novel, …showed first 75 words of 1000 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1000 total…his appearance to blind Billy. Billy Budd therefore, "Struck dead by an angel of God! Yet the angel must hang." despite his good deeds, was blinded by his innocence and ended in a tragic death. As for the ship's Captain Vere, he placed greater faith in reason and rational philosophy than he did in the dictates of his own heart. Among all these characters, a simple first impression would not tell their true inner selves.