Power And Resistance In A Disciplinary Society: Research On Melville's Billy Budd, Sailor

Herman Melville is one of the most outstanding writers of American Romantic period. In the 19th century, he was once neglected by the art circle. The revival of interest in Moby-Dick in the 1920's brought him back in view. Although his last work Billy Budd, Sailor was published thirty years after his death, it has aroused enthusiastic discussion and criticism. Critics have analyzed the novella by using different theories from different perspectives, and their views and ideas have become the important sources for academic research.Based on Foucault's notions of disciplinary society and mechanism of power, this thesis is to explore the disciplinary society embodied in Billy Budd, Sailor. Explanations of the tragedy, of the situation of the Good, and of its influence on the disciplinary society are provided by analyzing the disciplinary techniques and mechanism of power. In the disciplinary society, everyone is locked in the imperceptible network of surveillance and discipline. After longtime surveillance, control and training, people are accustomed to obey the existing order, regulation, laws, conventions, etc. However, the Good can inspire people to perceive the defects of the modern society and the operation of power.Through the analysis, we can get a better understanding of the novella and the nature of the disciplinary society it embodied. What is more important is that it inspires us to probe the nature and influence of the disciplinary society, and to try to find ways to transform the modern capitalist society.