INTRODUCTION
"Benito Cereno" has been certified by one learned commentator as one of Herman Melville's "most superb achievements" 1, and it would seem that this judgement is well made. Simultaneously an exercise in ensnaring the reader in a tangled web of intrigue and a biting satire on the all too prevelant "passive" (and even "benign") racism of his time, the author uses one character above all
others in this narrative to achieve his ends: the skipper of the "Bachelor's Delight," Captain Amasa Delano. The story is, for the most part, narrated via Captain Delano, and, although the question of "multi-perspective narrative," as one commentator has termed it, could pose one or two interesting problems, it seems reasonable to assume here that much - if not all - of the association of
events in the story and the plentiful imagery and reference to symbolic figures occurs in Delano's own mind. Indeed, excluding – obviously – Benito Cereno's own deposition, Delano's is the only clear-cut point of view the reader is offered, and thus it would seem difficult to argue that we can see any more than the American Captain; although, crucially, we are able to "notice" more than he
does. In other words, we are compelled to see through Delano's eyes, though we need not necessarily agree with the associational processes of his mind.
Furthermore, it is often the case that, throughout the story, we find
ourselves at odds with the American's conjectures – we do not travel with him during his occasional journies into the depths of paranoia, nor do we share his frequently blithe optimism. In short, even before the true state of affairs is made clear to us in the denouement, we do not trust Delano's view of events aboard the "San Dominick."
[...]
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Part One – Delano's Character
- Part Two - "Double Narrative" - The Seeing/Unseeing Delano
- Part Three The Gordian Knot
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper examines the character of Captain Amasa Delano in Herman Melville’s short story “Benito Cereno,” analyzing his role as an unreliable narrator. The paper aims to explore why and how Delano’s perspective contributes to the story’s intricate web of intrigue and satire.
- Delano's character and his limited perception.
- The "double narrative" structure and the role of the reader in deciphering the truth.
- The significance of symbolic imagery and its interpretation by Delano.
- The "Gordian Knot" as a metaphor for the complex realities of slavery and perception.
- Delano's inability to fully grasp the true state of affairs aboard the "San Dominick."
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The "Introduction" establishes the premise of the paper, highlighting the complex narrative structure of "Benito Cereno" and its reliance on Delano's unreliable perspective. The "Part One – Delano's Character" analyzes Delano's education and background, suggesting a certain level of knowledge and intellectual capability. It also highlights how his interpretation of events is shaped by his own biases and preconceptions. "Part Two - "Double Narrative" - The Seeing/Unseeing Delano" examines the dynamic between Delano's limited perception and the reader's ability to discern more than he does. It explores how the story's narrative structure compels the reader to see through Delano's eyes while simultaneously questioning his interpretations. "Part Three The Gordian Knot" dives into the symbolic imagery of the "Gordian Knot," emphasizing its role in representing the complex and seemingly unsolvable issues surrounding slavery and perception. The paper concludes by exploring how all these elements contribute to Delano's unreliability as a narrator, leaving the reader with a nuanced understanding of the story's themes.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This paper explores the themes of unreliable narration, perception, and the complexities of slavery through the analysis of Captain Amasa Delano's character in Herman Melville's "Benito Cereno." The paper delves into the "double narrative" structure, symbolic imagery, and the "Gordian Knot" metaphor, highlighting the intricacies of Delano's limited perception and the reader's role in deciphering the truth. The paper further examines Delano's background, his interpretation of events, and the significance of his perspective in understanding the story's complex themes.
- Quote paper
- Barbara Lier (Author), 1998, Benito Cereno: Delano -The Unreliable Narrator, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/3040
