Benito Cereno
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Benito Cereno
Benito Cereno written by Herman Melville is a story that takes place in the year 1799 when the slave trade remained a thriving enterprise. The story is set at sea on the weather-beaten and decrepit ship, the San Dominick. The story begins as the dawn of day breaks out, and an American ship captain Amasa Delano spots the San Dominick. It is from Captain Delano's point of view the reader must decipher the story. The novella utilizes a third person omniscient narrative style, limiting the reader's access to only the mind and thoughts of Captain Delano. Captain Delano, however, turns out to be a less reliable source of information as the story progresses. Rather than aiding the reader untangle the disorder in Benito Cereno, Captain Delano's indecisiveness adds to the confusion. The reader grows suspicious of both the actions of Benito Cereno and the assumptions of Captain Delano. The reader must rely on his own conjectures and beliefs to interpret the story.
Throughout the story Melville utilizes an abundance of imagery placing much weight on every word written...