Herman Melville wrote a sad tale about the Handsome Sailor - which also inspired a movie (directed by Peter Ustinov), as well as an opera by Benjamin Britten. And it's full of tropes. * A Father to His Men: Vere. * Angrish: Budd is very prone to stammer under stress, and that is why he cannot defend himself in front of Captain Vere and resort to violence. * The Bad Guy Wins: It costs him his own life. * Beauty Equals Goodness: Billy * Beware the Nice Ones: Claggart apparently doesn't know this rule. * Bishonen: Billy. * The Captain: Vere. * Card-Carrying Villain: It's enough to see Claggart to know he's The Epic Bad Guy. * The Chessmaster: Claggart. * Crucified Hero Shot: Billy's hanging is pretty much described like an ascending to Heaven. * Downe