Abstract Ralph Ellison introduces his 20th century novel, "Invisible Man", with a quotation from Herman Melville's 19th century short story, "Benito Cereno". The paper shows why Ellison chose a white man's story as the first intertextual reference for his novel about the black man's struggle: Ellison chooses Melville specifically to demonstrate the connections between the two stories concerning the racial relations and the concept of freedom. The paper explains that these similar themes reflect the social attitude of the period in which the stories were published. "Benito Cereno", as an abolitionist piece, echoes this movement's social criticism against slavery and racism. The paper shows that Ellison immerses "Invisible Man" in the pre-civil rights Harlem; a period that overflows with racial tensions and strives to define the black man's role in the white America.
From the Paper "In the context of these social scenes, each author, through a different perspective, examines and defines the concept of blackness. Melville employs the point of view of the naive Amasa Delano, a Massachusetts captain of a slave ship in 1799, as he boards a Spanish slave ship taken over by Africans. Ellison, on the other hand, narrators his story with the voice of a young, unnamed black man. Through these two divergent points of view, Melville and Ellison each expose conceptions of blackness concerning blindness and a false sense of sight for both races."
Abstract This paper shows how the author's mind both reflects the cultural preconceptions of his day regarding race and attempts to challenge these preconceptions. In Melville's writings about a slave rebellion - a fictional dramatization of the Amistad mutiny, the way in which the author perceives race and the issues of slavery are examined.
From the Paper "The way in which Melville's tale unfolds at first seems like an example of realistic storytelling. It unfolds in a highly detailed, matter-of-fact fashion through a third person limited narration, then switches to a first person deposition. This initial technique of third-person narration is initially used create a sense of authorial and factual objectivity. However, quite early in the story, the idea that this omniscient narrator is still limited by notions of race becomes clear. ?Negresses, of whom there were not a few, exceeded the others in their dolorous vehemence,? observes the narrator. The reference to "Negresses" suggests women defined primarily by their race, and confirms the common cultural preconception of black women as vehement in a fashion that neither white women nor white men are."
Abstract The paper analyzes what Melville meant by promoting the message of "follow your leader" in his story, "Benito Cereno" in events which took place in 1799. It analyzes literal and figurative interpretations of this saying. The paper also deals with the concept of leadership in general and how it applies to the story.
From the Paper "A skillful author produces great literature by virtue of the fact that his or her writings can be understood and appreciated on many different levels. There is always the most basic level, the surface level in which the straightforward plot details are outlined and the message that is imparted is for the most part clear and non-debatable. A more experienced reader or critic knows that an appreciation for literature requires an expenditure of a certain degree of effort on the part of the reader himself in an attempt to attain the subtler messages that underlie the author's surface intentions. Most meaningful fiction is structured in such a way that with each new discovery or layer that is uncovered, one unearths a new meaning or reading. It is also necessary that the reader be cognizant of the fact that authors do not write in a vacuum. As removed as the author may be from society, society manages to seep in because of its overpowering pervasiveness and influence upon the author's sensibilities and outlook on life. For instance, authors have the ability to utilize their texts as social commentary and satire, and many often do. Herman Melville's Benito Cereno describes an account of a tale that took place in 1799, but certain aspects of the story, particularly the aspects regarding leadership, reflect attitudes of 1855 and the events that occurred during that period of time."
Abstract This paper explains that the story "Benito Cereno" by Herman Melville is a true story, reported in a book by the real Amasa Delano. The paper author feels that the story is interesting for the way Melville shapes it so that the reader is led to see the story in one way until a single moment causes a reversal and everything is seen to be the opposite of what was before. This paper comments that Melville made careful use of language and style, but the critics were not always accepting of his work.
From the Paper "Captain Amasa Delano is the intelligence serving as the focus of the story in "Benito Cereno." The reader learns as the captain learns, and sometimes the reader learns faster than does the captain. The reader can see early that something is wrong on the San Dominick, but Captain Delano accepts what Benito Cereno tells him until the evidence begins to mount that something is wrong. It is not that Delano is foolish but that he is trusting, and he does not understand the nature of evil until after his experience on the San Dominick."
Abstract This paper describes Herman Melville's literary style, his political beliefs that were reflected in his writings, and the circumstances of his life that contributed to his political beliefs. Particular emphasis is placed on Melville's novelette, "Benito Cereno", and how he conveys his feelings about the evils of slavery, as well as the need to correct those evils, in a a way that brings about change in the South at an acceptable pace.
From the Paper "The year Herman Melville's novelette "Benito Cereno" takes place may be 1799, but it represents the conflicting beliefs and actions that were occurring in the United States when the author actually wrote the piece in 1856. Although Melville's stories and novels mostly revolved around the sea, including his masterpiece Moby Dick, one of his sub-themes was the treatment or mistreatment of one person or persons against another. He was continually intrigued by the ambiguities that he perceived in all human experiences, and sought answers as to what caused human behavior?specifically good versus evil, violence against women, racism, and the alienation of the worker."
Abstract This paper explains that, while Herman Melville's "Benito Cereno", published just a few years prior to the Civil War and in the midst of a fierce national debate over slavery, is based on an actual event. Captain Delano's thoughts are embellished by Melville to make the theme of the story the institution of slavery. The author points out that the racism in the novel stands out because the black slaves are portrayed in an excessively evil manner. The paper concludes that Melville's failed attempt at writing an anti-racist novel is simply a result of the inability to see blacks in any other way than inferior because Melville was simply a product of his time.
From the Paper "Race is one of the most significant issues of the twentieth century and when dealing with older texts it is always a tricky issue, and many have argued that the novel is one shown from an abolitionist point of view because it is relaying a message to the whites how blacks can rebel when forced into servitude. Though some passages in the story are to be taken as a mocking towards the way southern whites thought of blacks, there are passages that simply cannot be taken as anything else then an insult because it was the reality of the times."
Abstract This paper examines different essays and criticisms of Herman Melville's "Benito Cereno" in order to try and establish what message Melville was trying to give regarding salvery. It attempts to show how although opinions differ, one thing that all the scholarly works are concerned with is that slavery and race are somehow linked and that Melville's violent tale of revolt on board a slave transport ship will remain one of his most controversial pieces.
From the Paper "Sidney Kaplan's 1956 essay "Herman Melville and the American National Sin" is one of the clearest examples of the first category of understanding Melville and slavery. Kaplan argues that this work is steeped in the atmosphere of the debate over slavery, but, "the image of Melville as subtle abolitionist in Benito Cereno may be a construction of generous wish rather than hard fact" (Kaplan 177). He supports this supposition by analyzing and interpreting each of the main characters. Delano is an unintelligent, naive character who learns about the existence of malign evil in the world. Kaplan profiles Cereno as a good, religious member of the Spanish gentry who is beaten by experience. Babo is the primitive, bestial character who teaches Delano about malign evil."
Abstract The paper portrays how Herman Melville's novels, "Moby Dick," and "Benito Cereno" are rife with vivid images that serve to further illuminate characters, events and places. The paper shows how Melville makes considerable use of color; whiteness and blackness are central to Melville's narrative in both novels. The paper discusses how white symbolizes all that is good, moral, virtuous and yet unattainable in contrast to the black surrounding us that symbolizes evil and death. The paper illustrates how in "Moby Dick" and "Benito Cereno," men are constantly confronted by things and choices that are either black or white, but together merge into a kind of grayness in which we all actually exist.
From the Paper "White was a powerful color in Herman Melville's world. The Victorians were obsessed with morality, with the idea of creating a more perfect world; one that was based on the highest principals, ethical and sacred. The ideas that were popular in Queen Victoria's rapidly industrializing Great Britain were equally fashionable in the growing United States. Whiteness symbolized goodness, purity, and virtue. A writer or artist would choose the color white to represent these and similar qualities. The great British Writer, Alfred Lord Tennyson, used the notion of whiteness to great effect in Idylls of the Kings, perfectly capturing the color's mythic associations."
Abstract This paper explains that Herman Melville's short stories, written during the mid-19th century in America, are examples of non-conformity, which would soon reflect the apex of society in 1861 when the country was drawn into the quintessential revolt of man against himself in the Civil War. The author points out that Melville's "Bartleby the Scrivener," first published in 1853 , contains one of the prime examples of the Melvillian rebel, being Bartleby himself. The paper reviews other tales written by Herman Melville, that also contain rebellious and nonconformist characters: "Benito Cereno", "The Lightning-Rod Man", "The Encantadas", and "The Bell Tower".
From the Paper "Bartleby, the alienated man who lends his name to the story's title, states several times that "I would prefer not to" in regard to doing his job as a scrivener at a law office on Wall Street in New York City. This indicates that his rebellion is passive rather than aggressive, much like the non-violent resistance found in the likes of Henry David Thoreau, one of Melville's contemporaries. The mystery surrounding Bartleby's strange behavior--why he chooses to rebel so completely yet so politely--is never revealed in the story, even though the unnamed, prosperous lawyer/narrator suggests that Bartleby may be the victim of extreme isolation from working in the government's Dead Letter office. Thus, the ambiguity of Bartleby's rebellion makes this tale more complex and leaves it open to many interpretations."
This paper explores the canon distinctions between good and evil (black and white, light and dark), and how, in the darkest times, man's nature can blur to a murky gray.
1,595 words (approx. 6.4 pages), 7 sources, 2000, $ 52.95
Abstract Analysis of Herman Melville's story. Basix in a true story. Difficulties critics faced with the story based on Melville's narrative choices. Theme of innocence and eveil, and spiritual suffering. Role of Captain Delano as central character of the story. Mystery of character of Don Benito. Unfolding of events. Climax. Use of symbols.
From the Paper "In the story "Benito Cereno" by Herman Melville, the author tells a story that had been told before, a true story reported in a book by the real Amasa Delano. The story is interesting for the way the author shapes it so that the reader is led to see the story in one way until a single moment causes a reversal so that everything is seem to be the opposite of what it has seemed until then. Critics have had some difficulty with this story because of this way of telling:
If we take Melville's rendering of it as a fable--of innocence and evil, or of spiritual obtuseness and spiritual suffering--we might indeed have to say that the narrative is awkward and negligent in composition, an that it really does not make its point (Berthoff 151)."
Examines three famous literary texts, Ursula LeGuin's "Left Hand of Darkness", Sophocles's "Antigone", and Herman Melville's "Benito Cereno", and how they deal with the issue of diversity.
Abstract This paper highlights the issue of diversity in three great classics. The paper looks at how LeGuin's work is closely connected to other diversity issues, such as gender and race; how Sophocles shows the connection between gender and class in "Antigone"; and how Melville's work demonstrates that class issues are integrated with race issues.
From the Paper "Inherent in Ismene's words is the inherent difference between Antigone and her sister. Ismene accepts the social paradigm of the world in which they live. She, like Kreon, is extremely aware of class and gender differences, and acts accordingly. This is the same situation that initially occurs in LeGuin's novel. Ai, being made aware of the nearly insurmountable class difference, feels overwhelmed by his sheer inferiority."
A discussion on Herman Melville's strategies to attack the oppressive social codes, stereotypes and values of the America of his times, through four of his texts.
Abstract This paper shows how Herman Melville critiqued the social values of his time. In works such as 'Bartleby', 'Benito Cereno', 'Moby Dick' and 'Redburn,' Melville offers very powerful social critiques in covert ways, as he enjoyed playing around with his readers. The paper shows that sometimes Melville seemed to be in favor of something when in reality he was against it and vice versa. Melville could not be direct on his condemnations of slavery, stereotyping and oppressive social codes. Instead, the paper shows, he opted for a more subtle way to express his opinions; playing with his reader's point of view without them even noticing.
Outline:
Introduction
Resistance against Oppression and its Consequences
Masculinity as a Strong American Value
America's Idyllic Affair with Europe
Racism, Stereotypes and Melville's Condemnation of Slavery
References
From the Paper "Herman Melville critiqued the social values of his time in a very slight and restrained manner. The only work, perhaps, that clearly and directly attacks slavery is "Benito Cereno"; however it is worth to state that "Bartleby", "Moby Dick" and "Redburn" also offer very powerful social critiques in underground ways. In Benito Cereno and Bartleby, for example, Melville presents an alternative to fight oppression: rebellion; as he criticizes the institutions of labor and slavery, Melville shows the pros and consequences of resistance against oppression. Melville also enjoyed playing around with his readers' values and ideals. In "Redburn" and "Moby-Dick," he portrays the American ideal of Masculinity and how hard life is for those who live outside such ideal. He also depicts the relationship between America and its past, Europe, as an idyllic affair. Finally Melville makes a mockery out of the American thoughts on race and attacks slavery in works such as "Benito Cereno," "Moby- Dick" and "Redburn.""
