Benito Cereno

A detailed Summary of Benito Cereno

Is the central theme in Benito Cereno supposed to be based on slavery? The main theme of the novel, good vs. evil is really the conflict of the plot. Much of the story revolves on the destructive force of evil. The initial evil of the story, and the one that causes all the action is the instituation of slavery. Melville clearly believes that it is wrong for one human being to own another. And as this inhuman action takes place, the natural reaction would be to rebel, as done on board the San Dominick. The main theme being good verses evil, it is very possible that the central issue in Benito Cereno is slavery.

The central connection to the evil of the story is the excessive violnce of the slaves during their revolt. The role playing of the slaves are quite controversial. To some, the slaves give a negative impression and to others a positive impression. The novel deeply emphasizing the evil of slavery, plays on the fears of the southerners. And perhaps this was the puspose of Melville writing this anti-slavery story.

Kaplan seems to believe that Melville was very much racist in writing this particular book. The slaves were portrayed in such an evil manner, convincing Kaplan that the slaves were portrayed as a negative group

odd occurance. It is not just the threat of death-but that Betsy Witherspoon's death was, however clumsily, designed to make it look as though she had died naturally (Swann 173)." Swann also confirms that idea that the idea of rebellion from the slaves were natural. As Swann quotes "Yet I'd hazard that a woman would read Benito Cereno as a Southern patriarch would:the more she identifies herself as a slave, as a powerless possession, the less likely she is to conceive of a general insurrection but the more likely to think in terms of indiviual acts of (however violent) domestic rebellion. And there is always the comfort of 'it wouldn't happen to me' (Swann 173)."

"ultimate defect of many other readings of Melville's story (Vanderbilt 66)."

As Zagarell believes that the issue of the book was meant to revolve around the issue of slavery, she also explores the idea that Melville meant to write this book to perhaps intentionally speak to the readers, and hope for a change in society. "Focusing on three characters who have all been victors and victims in the social structure framed by the sternpiece, "Benito Cereno" also faintly but clearly sounds the possibly for change (Zagarell 142)."

In Vanderbilt's critical analysis on Benito Cereno, he makes it obvious that the story was based on slavery and the violence portrayed by them, but he also has a different idea as to what slaves can be represented as. Being very much invol

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Approximate Word count = 967
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History