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

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He also

Lee pg 3

believes that Melville’s purpose in portraying the slaves as such a dark black mystery is an

“ultimate defect of many other readings of Melville’s story (Vanderbilt 66). Kaplan’s view on what the central theme was supposed to be, is that Melville’s purpose in writing this book was to write elaborately on his position as an abolitionist and what he wanted.

Lee pg 2

“Melville as subtle abolitionist in Benito Cereno may be a construction of generous wish rather than hard fact(Kaplan 37). “The story that Mary Chesnut broods over has representative significance for her and helps us to see that Benito Cereno is more than a narrative of a unique,

odd occurance. And that itself raises many controversial questions. ” Swann also confirms that idea that the idea of rebellion from the slaves were natural. ” And so is it possible that Melville meant his book to have as little or hardly anything to do with slavery or even the violence portrayed by them?

In Swann’s critical analysis, he makes it clear that story revolves around the ideology of slavery. ”

In Zagarell’s Reenvisioning America:Melville’s “Benito Cereno”, she as well believes that the main issue/theme in Benito Cereno was supposed to be based on slavery and the natural reaction to it. ”

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. It can be questioned whether the main theme was based on slavery or not. But it is clear that Melville when writing his paper was not thinking within the framework of the cultural concerns of his time. “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). “The novella demostrates that the hierarchy and the characteristics of both race and gender, though to be natural by antebellum Americans, are merely conventions; it also implies that all culture is a human creation, subject to change and frequently unstable. “Melville agrees with Norton’s view that the evils of slavery lie beyond any progressive reform through the codes of human law.

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