I cant remember the characters or the name of the book, it has been so long, late 90s, when I read it. But if I am remembering the plot correctly, it went like this. The superior officer was a giant douche bullying everyone until the "tragic hero" had enough and punched him and killed him. Now I don't remember if it was a merchant ship, or military ship, but if I am remembering correctly the "tragic hero" was forced to walk the plank because, rules/protocol say you cannot strike a superior ever, as implied by the book, even though the crew understood why.

It was not Mutiny On the Bounty.  But the implied era was the 1700s or 1800s. 

Anyone have a clue what that might be?

(April 20, 2020 at 8:48 pm)Brian37 Wrote: I cant remember the characters or the name of the book, it has been so long, late 90s, when I read it. But if I am remembering the plot correctly, it went like this. The superior officer was a giant douche bullying everyone until the "tragic hero" had enough and punched him and killed him. Now I don't remember if it was a merchant ship, or military ship, but if I am remembering correctly the "tragic hero" was forced to walk the plank because, rules/protocol say you cannot strike a superior ever, as implied by the book, even though the crew understood why.

It was not Mutiny On the Bounty.  But the implied era was the 1700s or 1800s. 

Anyone have a clue what that might be?

You know I can’t resist a trivia question.

The novel is ‘Billy Budd’ by Herman Melville. Billy was hanged, he didn’t walk the plank.

Boru

Private Benjamin!

(April 20, 2020 at 9:19 pm)The Valkyrie Wrote: Private Benjamin!

Hardy Har Har.

Loved her in Wildcats though. Not exactly the answer I was lookign for.

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(April 20, 2020 at 9:18 pm)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote:

(April 20, 2020 at 8:48 pm)Brian37 Wrote: I cant remember the characters or the name of the book, it has been so long, late 90s, when I read it. But if I am remembering the plot correctly, it went like this. The superior officer was a giant douche bullying everyone until the "tragic hero" had enough and punched him and killed him. Now I don't remember if it was a merchant ship, or military ship, but if I am remembering correctly the "tragic hero" was forced to walk the plank because, rules/protocol say you cannot strike a superior ever, as implied by the book, even though the crew understood why.

It was not Mutiny On the Bounty.  But the implied era was the 1700s or 1800s. 

Anyone have a clue what that might be?

You know I can’t resist a trivia question.

The novel is ‘Billy Budd’ by Herman Melville. Billy was hanged, he didn’t walk the plank.

Boru

THANK YOU! I didn't ask that as a Trivia question though, I was really asking because I forgot.

THAT WAS IT! 

I only remember it now because I can remember being the only person in the class defending him.

Looking back at it now though, in reality, legally he'd still be punished because nobody has the right to take the law in their own hands. But based on the plot, he certainly didn't deserve a death sentence.  Shit, I didn't get it all right in my memory, for some stupid reason I thought he was made to walk the plank. 

YOU DA MAN... That was bugging me all day!

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Holy shit I totally forgot about his stutter.