"Billy Budd" by Herman Melville: Captain Vere In the novella "Billy Budd" by Herman Melville, Captain Vere is the “tragic hero”. he is neither good nor evil, but rather a man whose concept of order, discipline, and legality forces him to obey the codes of an authority higher than himself even though he may be in personal disagreement. Captain Vere is sailor that is distinctive even in a time of renowned sailors. He has noble blood in him, but his advancement through the naval ranks to that of captain is due more to his outstanding service and personal merits than through any connections tha