INTRODUCTION
"Benito Cereno" has been certified by one learned commentator as one of Herman Melville's "most superb achievements" 1, and it would seem that this judgement is well made. Simultaneously an exercise in ensnaring the reader in a tangled web of intrigue and a biting satire on the all too prevelant "passive" (and even "benign") racism of his time, the author uses one character above all
others in this narrative to achieve his ends: the skipper of the "Bachelor's Delight," Captain Amasa Delano. The story is, for the most part, narrated via Captain Delano, and, although the question of "multi-perspective narrative," as one commentator has termed it, could pose one or two interesting problems, it seems reasonable to assume here that much - if not all - of the association of
events in the story and the plentiful imagery and reference to symbolic figures occurs in Delano's own mind. Indeed, excluding – obviously – Benito Cereno's own deposition, Delano's is the only clear-cut point of view the reader is offered, and thus it would seem difficult to argue that we can see any more than the American Captain; although, crucially, we are able to "notice" more than he
does. In other words, we are compelled to see through Delano's eyes, though we need not necessarily agree with the associational processes of his mind.
Furthermore, it is often the case that, throughout the story, we find
ourselves at odds with the American's conjectures – we do not travel with him during his occasional journies into the depths of paranoia, nor do we share his frequently blithe optimism. In short, even before the true state of affairs is made clear to us in the denouement, we do not trust Delano's view of events aboard the "San Dominick."
[...]
Table of Contents
1, Introduction
2, Part One – Delano's Character
3, Part Two – "Double Narrative"- The Seeing/Unseeing Delano
4, Part Three – The Gordian Knot
5, Conclusion
6, List of Literature
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines Herman Melville's short story "Benito Cereno" through the perspective of its primary narrator, Captain Amasa Delano. The central research question investigates how and why Captain Delano functions as an "unreliable narrator" and how this narrative strategy serves Melville's social commentary on race and slavery.
- Analysis of Captain Amasa Delano's psychological character and personal background.
- Exploration of the "double narrative" technique and the irony inherent in Delano's perception.
- Deconstruction of the "Gordian Knot" as a central symbolic element of the narrative.
- Examination of the author's use of satire to critique 19th-century "benign" racism.
Excerpt from the Book
PART ONE – DELANO'S CHARACTER
It is important to recognise that Delano is not an uneducated man. As mentioned above, we can assume that the associations between the "real" appearance of the characters and circumstances, and the imagery used to describe them takes place in Delano's own mind. With this in mind, it is the American that sees that the San Dominick's "keel seemed laid, her ribs put together, and she is launched from Ezekiel's Valley of Dry Bones" 2; it is Delano who asks himself whether "the Spaniard [was] less hardened than the Jew, who refrained not from supping at the board of him whom the same night he meant to betray"3. Likewise, he makes the connection between the light of the "screened sun", and a (somewhat distorted) recollection of the "mild light from Abraham's tent"4.
Quite apart from at least a basic knowledge of the Bible, Delano has, it seems, read (or certainly heard of) the writings of the traveller and explorer John Ledyard5; he is familiar with the legends concerning Alexander the Great6; notwithstanding the fact that the entirity (excepting the one utterance made by the "aged sailor" in "broken English" 7) of the dialogue conducted by Delano aboard the San Dominick takes place, we are told, in Spanish, which is not the American's native tongue. Moreover, the Captain sees a connection between a razor wielded by Babo and a "sword drawn before James the First of England" 8, signifying some insight into British history. It is also possible, perhaps, that the reference to "second childhood" during Delano's self-chastising for his suspicions9 is to Shakespeare's "Seven Stages of Man", although this, of course, is unclear and largely speculative.
Chapter Summary
1, Introduction: This chapter introduces the primary narrator, Captain Amasa Delano, and outlines the central thesis regarding his unreliability as a witness to the events aboard the "San Dominick."
2, Part One – Delano's Character: This section details Delano's background, education, and psychological tendencies, illustrating how his subjective perceptions and stereotypes influence his interpretation of reality.
3, Part Two – "Double Narrative"- The Seeing/Unseeing Delano: This chapter analyzes Melville's narrative technique, which allows the reader to observe more than the protagonist, thereby creating a gap between what is seen and what is understood.
4, Part Three – The Gordian Knot: This section explores the "Gordian Knot" as a pivotal symbol for Delano's failure to grasp the true nature of the slave revolt, cementing his status as an instrument of the author's racial satire.
5, Conclusion: The final chapter summarizes the ironic function of Delano as a narrator, highlighting how his inability to see the truth serves to ridicule his own prejudiced worldview.
6, List of Literature: A compilation of the scholarly works and critical essays used to support the analysis of Melville's narrative strategies.
Keywords
Herman Melville, Benito Cereno, Amasa Delano, Unreliable Narrator, Narrative Strategy, Racism, Slavery, Irony, Symbolism, Double Narrative, Gordian Knot, Literary Analysis, 19th-century American Literature, Perspective, Satire
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this academic paper?
The paper focuses on the narrative perspective of Captain Amasa Delano in Herman Melville's "Benito Cereno," arguing that his specific personality traits and racial prejudices make him an unreliable narrator.
What are the primary themes discussed in the analysis?
The primary themes include the nature of unreliable narration, the impact of racial bias on perception, the use of religious and literary allusions, and the power of irony in social satire.
What is the author's central argument regarding the protagonist?
The author argues that Delano's "benign" racism and his reliance on stereotypes prevent him from recognizing the reality of the slave revolt, which in turn allows Melville to use him as a vehicle for biting social criticism.
Which methodology is employed in this study?
The study employs a close textual analysis of "Benito Cereno," supported by critical theories regarding narrative structure and historical perspectives on American slavery.
How is the main body of the paper structured?
The body is divided into three parts: an analysis of Delano's character, a study of the "double narrative" technique, and an exploration of the "Gordian Knot" as a central symbol.
What key terms characterize the narrative style of this work?
Key terms include unreliable narration, narrative dualism, associational imagery, and ironic perspective.
What is the significance of the "Gordian Knot" incident?
The "Gordian Knot" incident highlights Delano's inability to think beyond his racial stereotypes; he is presented with a clear puzzle that he fails to solve because he cannot conceive of the intelligence and agency of the enslaved people.
How does Melville's use of "double narrative" affect the reader?
Melville's "double narrative" forces the reader to acknowledge the disparity between Delano's distorted interpretation of events and the more accurate, "noticed" reality that the author subtly reveals through imagery and dialogue.
- Quote paper
- Barbara Lier (Author), 1998, Benito Cereno: Delano -The Unreliable Narrator, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/3040
