Benito Cereno †Reader Response Criticism Essay

Most refs of Benito Cereno will be surprised when the African conspiracy is fin in ally revealed. Although Melville begins the novella with ominous imagery, the text is designed to lead the reader away from the true events of the San Dominick. The point of view of Benito Cereno is the major tool Melville uses to trick the reader. The story is written in the third person, but expresses Delanos thoughts and observations. Most readers will trust Delanos judgement, and his observations of Don Benito and his crew qualify the reader up to be surprised.Firstly, Delanos mistrust of Don Benito caused me to suspect the Spanish captain of winning part in a conspiracy against Delano. Benito asks him strange questions about The Bachelors Delight with a guilty shuffle (188). When Delano becomes nervous while watching Benito conversing privately with Babo, I was also alarmed. The image that I was most struck by was Benito Cereno standing with his face downcast, as Babo, who is kneeling down, loo ks upward at his contain Delano noted this contrast, and I projected the scene as symbolic of Cerenos guilt.Secondly, I believed Babo to be a devoted and loyal servant. Delano was impressed by Babos concern for Don Benito, as was I. I never interpreted Babos constant service as anything but well-intentioned in fact, all of the slaves on the ship appeared to be good-natured. Delano even reflected on the ability of the African race to mix work with sport after observing the negroes onboard performing what he thought were the orders of Cereno. He was completely unaware of the slaves true intentions.I, the like most readers of Benito Cereno, was completely unaware of the mutiny of the slaves until Delano realized upon his departure that Don Benito had been terrorize all on of Babo however, upon rereading the text, there are many clues as to what was going on. In this new context, the image of Don Benito tone down while Babo looked up at him pick ups on an entirely new meaning. T his clearly represents Babos causation contrasted with Cerenos helplessness. The same dynamic is shown when Babo is shaving Don Benito and cuts him.Delano notes that nothing could have produced a more terrified aspect than was now presented by Don Benito (215). During a second reading, I was also able to strike out several other assertions of the Africans power. The two Africans who pushed aside the Spanish seaman, and the African boy who attacked the Spanish boy were demonstrating their construe over the ship and its passengers. Also, when a Spanish seaman tries to answer Delanos questions about the San Dominicks troubles, the Africans take over as they became talkative, he by degrees became mute, and at length quite glum (197).These are all important details that illustrate the underlying events of the ship, but the reader is not able to correctly interpret them during the first reading. These events are only significant to the reader once the conspiracy has been revealed. The text of Benito Cereno is designed to misaddress the reader. Delanos point of view caused me to misinterpret the events onboard the San Dominick. The typical reader is only able to uncover the enigmatical clues of the story once Delano himself becomes aware of the real conspiracy.