Racism and Slavery in Benito Cereno, by Herman Melville

The issue of race is one filled with controversy and passion, even today in the twenty-first centaury. In today’s day and age it is more shuttle and underground then it was in its most recent ‘hay-day’. In our time today we see it as more of a shameful, offensive and intolerant thing, but it was the norm in the early 15th and 16th century. Today those people that are outwardly racist are seen as outcasts. In this essay I will tempt to show how even though it was the norm in Victorian England, Shakespeare already had another mind set, and was trying in this creative way that the mind set of the people was not correct even for that time. How and why did Shakespeare purposely portray Othello the Moor as a tragic hero, like Hamlet or King

Othello, from the onset, is shown to us a play of love and jealousy. There is however more to this play than just love and jealousy; there is underlying racism, hate, deception, pride, and even sexism between these pages. Othello is a transcendent play, one that will survive the perils of time simply because it is still relevant. Even today, over 400 years later, there are still issues of racism and sexism. Hate is as natural as love in humans and Othello gets right to the root of that. We witness this from the very first scene, “…you’ll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse/ you’ll have your nephews neigh to you” (I.i.112-14); to the very last, “Moor she was chaste. She loved thee, cruel Moor” (V.ii.258). Moor however is

Reading opened his eyes to his “wretched condition” (2057) and he longed for independence and freedom. He did not desire this for himself alone, but also for his fellow slaves. He “imbue[d] their minds with thoughts of freedom” and sought to “impress them with the gross fraud and inhumanity of slavery” (2077). Douglass took the lead in devising the plans of escape; his skill in reading and writing was instrumental in his plans. While at Master Hugh’s, Douglass acquired the copy-books of his master’s son, Thomas. He taught himself to write and soon “could write a hand very similar to that of Master Thomas” (2059). This ability helped Douglass to formulate the plan of escape from Mr. Hamilton. He wrote several “protections” for himself and the other runaways under the name of Mr. Hamilton’s. Though this escape attempt was unsuccessful, it is a testimony to the Douglass’ genius which would not have existed without his education. His ability to read and write planted the desire for freedom and enabled him to attempt to achieve it.

In Herman Melville’s “Bartleby, The Scrivener,” Melville uses a range of devices in his writing that makes his style distinguishable. Although he only focuses on one major setting throughout the story, he uses it symbolically to demonstrate a developing theme. The uncommon comparisons he uses to describe the characters provides the reader with interesting imagery to interpret. The narration that he deliberately places throughout the story allows the reader to follow the narrator’s thoughts as they come. Melville’s writing style is distinguished by his limited but symbolic setting, unique comparisons that contribute to characterization, and frequent narration.

Since the release of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in 1885, the way that different races relate to each other (specifically people of European and African descent) has changed astronomically. In some ways it’s improved dramatically, but some aspects of inter-racial relations have changed in ways that are not necessarily positive since the books release.

He was a genuine African, and had inherited some of the so called magical powers, said to be possessed by African and eastern nations.”(158). Douglass alludes to the fact that Sandy possesses some kind of magical capacity, different from his narrative where he rejected such beliefs. Through using David Blight as a lens one may observe a shift of Douglass’ intentions in order to put a greater emphasis his own on African beliefs for the purpose of bringing freedom to his brethren. In Blight’s introduction he makes the observation, “Readers will find many influences of the Garrisonian doctrines, especially the attacks on religious hypocrisy and the remarkable moment in chapter two when Douglass compares trusted slaves who pleased overseers with the slaves of political parties ... the book is as much an abolitionist polemic as it is a revealing autobiography” (10). Blight’s remarks direct one to consider that Douglass was pursuing two causes, the abolitionist cause as well as his own. In pursuing the former, in 1845 Douglass was still associated with Garrison, by later accentuating other slaves as knowledgeable and in touch with their roots, in My Bondage and My Freedom, Douglass elucidates the African race as compassionate men rather than brutes. Such an argument leads to the conclusion Africans are well overdue for their freedom.

North American Slavery vs. Latin American Slavery: A Comparative Look at Frederick Douglass and Juan Francisco Manzano

Early American Literature reflects many conflicting differences in the presentation of slavery during that time period. Through the two chosen texts, the reader is presented with two different perspectives of slavery; Frederick Douglass’s narrative provides a look at a slave’s life through the eyes if a slave while Benito Cereno showcases the tale of a slave uprising from the viewpoint of the slave owner.. Benito Cereno’s work shows the stereotypical attitude towards African-American slaves and the immorality of that outlook according to Douglass’s narrative. Cereno portrays the typical white slave owner of his time, while Douglass’ narrative shows the thoughts of the slaves. The two stories together show that white Americans are oblivious to the ramifications and overall effects of slavery. These texts assist a moralistic purpose in trying to open up America’s eyes to the true nature of slavery by revealing it’s inhumanity and depicting the cruelty that was allowed.

When reading Benito Cereno, by Herman Melville for the first time, it is portrayed as a story of a Spanish slave ship lost at sea until being found by an American ship whose captain, Amasa Delano comes on board to assist, and his strange encounter with the ship’s captain Benito Cereno. The events and conversations that take place during his several hours onboard lead Captain Delano to see Cereno as a capricious man, at times very weak and others almost cruel and because the focalization of the story is only told in a third person narrative and Delano’s thoughts, the reader is likely to see what Delano sees without being able to understand Benito’s motives. When the end of the book reveals the true events of the story, that the slaves had revolted and took control of the ship, it dramatically

The story opens with Captain Delano describing a mysterious ship that looms in the distance. This ship looks as though it is in trouble so Captain Delano decides to take a small boat and go investigate. He boards the ship named The San Dominick and encounters a crew in deplorable condition and the captain, Benito Cereno seems half mad. The crew is extremely depleted and some rolls appear to be filled by the African slaves that are the cargo of the ship. Throughout the day Delano is often suspicious that Benito may be plotting against him.

monarchy under Pedro I (1822-1831) and Pedro II, formation of state institutions, council of state senate.” This revolution did not benefit other races, and it was only beneficial to the white.

In Henry Bibb’s Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Henry Bibb, the author utilizes rhetorical strategies of religion, family, and psychological aspects to create an effective argument that under any circumstances slavery was simply ‘no good’. In his autobiography, Henry Bibb accentuates the slave masters’ avaricious temper and arduous condition for the slaves to gain their freedom in the nineteenth century. Bibb successfully contributes in the progression within the society over the development of gaining equality.

Benito Cereno is a masterpiece of noveling written by Herman Melville in 1855. Babo, the main character, is a black slave on Benito Cereno’s ship, and arguably one of the most complex characters in Benito Cereno. The reader’s perception of Babo changes throughout the reading. In the beginning, Babo is portrayed as Cereno’s loyal companion and supporter; however, Babo attempts to murder Cereno by the end of the book. There is a drastic and dramatic change in Babo from a benevolent and trustworthy friend to a malevolent and powerful leader.

Both the slave era mentality and society as a whole are embodied by Captain Delano, the character that the reader receives the perspective of, in Benito Cereno. By following this character in particular, Melville forces the reader to experience the magnitude of the ignorance that society possesses. A prominent example is the idea that slaves are equal to animals, and the joy that Delano feels as he watches the ‘happy’ slaves. From Delano’s perspective, Babo is, “like a sheperd’s dog” and on his face, “sorrow and affection were equally blended” (Melville

Both the slave era mentality and society as a whole are embodied by Captain Delano in Benito Cereno. By following this character in particular, Melville emphasizes the magnitude of the ignorance that society possesses. A prominent example is the idea that slaves are equal to animals, and the joy that Delano feels as he watches the ‘happy’ slaves. From Delano’s perspective, Babo is, “like a shepherd’s dog” and on his face, “sorrow and affection were equally blended” (Melville 11). In Delano’s eyes, Babo is Benito Cereno’s best friend in the same way a dog would be. Delano even asks Benito at one point if he would sell Babo to him, as Babo is such a perfect slave: well-mannered and content within confinement (40). This is Melville’s way of incorporating the beliefs of the society at the time into the piece,