From the story’s
opening description, Herman Melville begins to obscure the binary opposition
between black and white by depicting the entire scene, awash in grey: “The
morning was one peculiar to that coast. Everything was mute and calm;
everything grey […] The sky seemed a grey mantle. Flights of troubled grey
fowl, kith and kin with flights of troubled grey vapours among which they were mixed,
skimmed low and fitfully over the waters, as swallows over meadows before
storms.” This early description notes in particular “shadows present,
foreshadowing deeper shadows to come,” which makes apparent that the scene’s greyness
relates to the ambiguous nature of master and slave played out in the
relationship between Benito Cereno and Babo.
Delano’s
perspective on the master-slave relationship seems completely unambiguous,
however, and as the facts of the scenario transform, Delano fluctuates on his
position, rather than appreciating the truly ambiguous nature of the events.
Initially, Delano believes Babo to be an exemplary slave, ever dedicated to
Cereno despite his apparent incompetence. “As master and man stood before him,
the black upholding the white, Captain Delano could not but bethink him of the
beauty of that relationship which could present such a spectacle of fidelity on
the one hand and confidence on the other.” Delano admires this state of
affairs, fully appreciating the typical role of white man as master, praising
Babo for his honorable service to the master. The situation Delano observes is
truly ambiguous and obscured, as it is actually Cereno that is the slave,
merely “acting then the part of principal owner, and a free captain of the ship.”
Once the hidden state of affairs is revealed to Delano, his judgment of the
situation changes completely, demonstrating that the American character
approves of the typical master-slave relationship, yet strongly disapproves of
the black men revolting against the white men, portraying Babo as the
manifestation of evil.
The
relationship between Babo and Benito Cereno is not as simple as Delano observes
it to be, both in its initial state and its revealed nature. Cereno acts as
master during their first encounter, however he begins on the San Dominick with
more authority, playing the actual role of master. As a result, the slaves
decide to protest this authority which enslaves them. It is at this point that
the roles are complicated beyond the simple binary opposition, proving to reflect Melville's initial atmosphere of ambiguity.
I like what you said about how the grey setting and how it creates a foreshadowing of the muddled relationship between master and slave. I didn’t notice that before. It makes it feel like the author was giving subtle hints throughout the whole story that although there is nothing openly wrong, there is enough mystery around the situation for the reader to be suspicious. With the quote you picked “shadows present, foreshadowing deeper shadows to come,” it’s clear that he didn’t even try to hide the foreshadowing in the text. He just boldly let the reader know that it was there, along with informing the reader that he should be suspicious of the upcoming situation. I agree with the rest of post as well. I had a similar discussion of the presentation of both Babo and Cereno as both master and slave, and how each of them dealt with the power and what the outcome was.
ReplyDeleteMelville's use of ambiguous language in his physical description of the San Dominick definitely contributes to the sense of confusion and perplexity regarding the relationship between Babo and Cerano. I specifically appreciate your remarks about how this sense of grayness seems to cause a lack of color, which represents racial ambiguity.
ReplyDeleteYour quote about "fidelity" on Babo's part as a slave is an interesting foreshadowing because by the end, we see it completely subverted with the revelation that Cerano is really a slave who has essentially been acting this whole time. This also puts into question Cerano's forced fidelity versus Delano's perception of Babo's phlegmatic fidelity. Does this difference account for Cerano's exoneration and Babo's condemnation? In addition to the differences in skin color, I'd say that Babo's brutality rationalizes his condemnation in the end. Babo's dealing with his power, however, can be seen as reactionary whiplash effect. In other words, having been suppressed his entire life could account for his hatred toward whites, and subsequent brutality toward them.
nice article and quote of Herman Melville . Thanks for sharing this with us.
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