American Political Thought - Benito Cereno Analysis
POL 411
March 29, 2012
Benito Cereno in the Context of Slavery Herman Melville’s novella Benito Cereno is a story that helps to express Melville’s view on slavery. Contained within the text is an intricate story that sheds light on the ultimate underlying problems to the existence of slavery. The way that Melville builds the story in the novella through certain situations bring attention to the ideals of slavery, leadership, and American character. It is most often found that Melville is anti-slavery, however, he is not apt to necessarily conform to anyone side. Melville expresses the qualities of the slave and slavery itself throughout Benito Cereno. The story of Benito Cereno is told in a way that the reader is unknown to the various actions taking place throughout the story, just as Captain Amasa Delano was unknowingly dealing with a ship overtaken by slaves. Herman Melville makes a connection to the underlying problems that faced slavery, which can be compared and contrasted to the ideologies of Lincoln and other prominent people during the time of the Civil War era. Lincoln makes clear through his rhetoric that he does not view blacks and whites as being equal. In Lincoln’s fourth debate with Stephen Douglas in Charleston, Illinois he expresses his view that whites and blacks are not of an equal status. Lincoln states in this debate, “I am not, nor have I ever been in favor of bringing about…the social and political equality of the white and black races.” Melville creates a similar notion in his novella with Captain Amasa Delano, a northerner, whom is not a slaveholder yet he carries inside of him some form of inherited racism. Melville details the character of Delano like that of, “…most men of good… Delano took to Negroes, not philanthropically, but genially, just as other men to Newfoundland dogs.” From this expression a picture is painted as to the relationship Delano holds to the black man, as being purely a necessity in life through their
March 29, 2012
Benito Cereno in the Context of Slavery Herman Melville’s novella Benito Cereno is a story that helps to express Melville’s view on slavery. Contained within the text is an intricate story that sheds light on the ultimate underlying problems to the existence of slavery. The way that Melville builds the story in the novella through certain situations bring attention to the ideals of slavery, leadership, and American character. It is most often found that Melville is anti-slavery, however, he is not apt to necessarily conform to anyone side. Melville expresses the qualities of the slave and slavery itself throughout Benito Cereno. The story of Benito Cereno is told in a way that the reader is unknown to the various actions taking place throughout the story, just as Captain Amasa Delano was unknowingly dealing with a ship overtaken by slaves. Herman Melville makes a connection to the underlying problems that faced slavery, which can be compared and contrasted to the ideologies of Lincoln and other prominent people during the time of the Civil War era. Lincoln makes clear through his rhetoric that he does not view blacks and whites as being equal. In Lincoln’s fourth debate with Stephen Douglas in Charleston, Illinois he expresses his view that whites and blacks are not of an equal status. Lincoln states in this debate, “I am not, nor have I ever been in favor of bringing about…the social and political equality of the white and black races.” Melville creates a similar notion in his novella with Captain Amasa Delano, a northerner, whom is not a slaveholder yet he carries inside of him some form of inherited racism. Melville details the character of Delano like that of, “…most men of good… Delano took to Negroes, not philanthropically, but genially, just as other men to Newfoundland dogs.” From this expression a picture is painted as to the relationship Delano holds to the black man, as being purely a necessity in life through their