Benito Cereno

Resumen del Libro

Herman Melville’s controversial 1855 short story retains its power to move the reader over a century and a half after its publication. The story – which ends with a haunting twist – centers on a slave rebellion aboard a Spanish merchant ship in 1799 and because of its ambiguity has been read by some as racist and pro-slavery and by others as anti-racist The novella follows a sea captain, Amasa Delano, and his crew on the Bachelors Delight as it is approached by another, rather battered-looking ship, the San Dominick. Upon boarding the San Dominick, Delano is immediately greeted by white sailors and black slaves begging for supplies. An inquisitive Delano ponders the mysterious social atmosphere aboard the badly bruised ship and notes the figurehead which is mostly concealed by a tarpaulin revealing only the inscription Follow your leader. Delano soon encounters the ships noticeably timid but polite Spanish captain, Don Benito Cereno. Delano believes Cerenos assertion that he and his crew have recently gone through a debilitating series of troubles, having been at sea now for an unsettingly long time. Cereno tells of these tribulations, including horrendous weather patterns and the fate of the slaves master, Alexandro Aranda, who Cereno claims took fever aboard the ship and died. Gradually, however, Delanos suspicions increase, based on his noting Cerenos sudden waves of dizziness and anxiety, the crews awkward movements and whisperings, and the unusual interaction of the ships white and black residents. ‘Benito Cereno’ is presented in stunning E-book format with a selection of vintage illustrations depicting the horrors of the slave trade. Included is a link to a free full-length audio recording of ‘Benito Cereno.’