ng a cover up for a devil inside him. Melville uses oxymorons such as this throughout the book, not only to show the falseness in all, but also to further emphasize the fake innocence in Billy. He refers to people like Billy as fighting peacemakers (6), showing basically the fraudulence in his purity because in order to attain peace, fighting is needed. Billy is also like the animals (7), giving him an uncivilized sense of nature. Purity and innocence against incivility also enhances the awkward and false feeling. Another approach used by Melville to stress the point of awkward innocence is his references to the Bible. Stated earlier, the Bible showing purity represents perfection, but there are so many instances of sinners and betrayers, that, in essence, the Bible represents the fraudulence in all mankind. Described as Jesus Christ is Billy and the goodness in Christ had the fault that led to his crucifixion, Billys goodness turned sour from those around him. Innocence can be portrayed in many ways, but no matter how blunt, or implying, or hinting one is, the falseness is always talked about as well.Innocence is evident in all in the beginning, but all exist not in pure innocence. The pureness either fades greatly as one matures or the innocence sticks with them for life with a negative outcome. Billy contained innocence his whole life, but ignorance and naivety developed, which led to his downfall. His ignorance and naivety tainted Billys innocence, but all purity is tainted in one way or another. Herman Melville best describes this tainted innocence with his oxymorons and using them on other subjects just sets the feel. Billy never completely lost his innocence, which is evident through his last word God bless Captain Vere! (70), showing he could forgive them for taking advantage of him and taking his life. They took advantage of him because of his innocence, which he could not have without ignorance....
