46 pages • 1 hour read
Herman MelvilleBenito Cereno
Fiction | Novella | Adult | Published in 1855A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Pages 77-91Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Pages 77-80 Summary
Francesco, a young servant of multiracial heritage, approaches Delano, Cereno, and Babo and announces lunch in the cabin. Delano notices the boy’s elegance, grace, and pleasant voice, contrasting sharply with Babo’s small frame. Impressed, he asks Cereno if Francesco has proven himself to be a worthy individual. Cereno reluctantly answers that he has. Delano then expresses his belief that mixing white blood with African blood enhances the latter’s quality. Cereno agrees and adds that similar comments are made about the blending of Spanish and Indigenous American blood.
Delano and Cereno make their way into the cabin, taking their seats on opposite sides of the table. The meal is frugal, made from Delano’s provisions. Delano notices that Babo is standing behind him rather than behind Cereno and presumes this position allows him to better anticipate his master’s needs. Delano praises Babo’s intelligence for such foresight. Intrigued by the San Dominick’s voyage, Delano queries Cereno about the disproportionate deaths from scurvy and fever among the white sailors compared to the Black passengers. This question unsettles Cereno, who appears shaken and terrified. Cereno then explains that the constitution of Black people is stronger than that of white people, rendering them more resistant to disease. Delano wishes for a private conversation with Cereno regarding financial matters and shares his concern with the Spanish captain. However, Cereno insists that Babo remain by his side. He explains that the man was originally captain of the enslaved passengers, and since Cereno lost his officers, Babo is now Cereno’s “constant attendant and companion, but in all things confidant” (79). Although irritated, Delano proceeds to discuss topics like the cost of sails. As they engage in conversation, he observes Cereno’s apathy and indifference and is frustrated by this behavior. Soon, Cereno withdraws into a quiet and reserved mood.
Pages 80-84 Summary
The ship’s bell sounds two o’clock. Captain Delano, peering out of the cabin window, is excited to see a slight rippling of the sea—a sign that a breeze has returned, providing a much-needed boost for navigating the ship. Despite this positive development, Cereno appears indifferent. Filled with pity for his poor mental state, Delano urges Cereno to stay put while he takes charge of piloting the ship. Making his way to the deck, he unexpectedly encounters Atufal, who stands like a marble statue guarding the porches of Egyptian tombs. Delano reaches the poop deck and begins giving navigation orders to both enslaved passengers and sailors in his best Spanish, with Babo echoing his commands. He is delighted to see that Babo is fulfilling his role as “captain,” and he appreciates his valuable assistance. He is impressed by the efficiency of the Black passengers, who are all, including the women, diligently engaging in their tasks. Delano is confident that with the approach of evening, the breeze will further increase.
Having completed his duties, Delano decides to return to Cereno’s cabin for a private conversation while Babo is occupied on the deck. To his surprise, he encounters Atufal stationed outside the cabin. As Delano enters the cabin, he hears approaching footsteps and realizes that Babo has followed him. Delano feels uneasy and mentally associates Babo’s presence with Atufal’s. However, he is eager to share the positive news with Cereno and assures him of the favorable conditions and the expected increase in wind. Curious about Atufal’s positioning, he asks Cereno if he ordered him to stand by the door. Cereno hesitates before admitting that it was indeed his decision. Delano jokes that he is a “bitter hard master” (84), a remark that causes Cereno to shrink, as if grappling with a pang of conscience. After this exchange, Cereno becomes more reserved, speaking only a few words.
Pages 84-91 Summary
As time goes by, the wind steadily increases, and the Bachelor’s Delight comes into view. Delano, who had returned to the deck, decides to visit Captain Cereno’s cabin once more to share the positive news and lift his spirits. With enthusiasm, Delano informs Cereno about the ship coming into view and assures him that his worries will soon be over. Delano extends an invitation for Cereno to join him on the Bachelor’s Delight for a cup of coffee that evening. Initially, Cereno seems enthusiastic, his eyes lingering on Delano’s ship, while Babo regards him with concern. However, Cereno’s excitement quickly fades, and he becomes silent. When Delano encourages him again, Cereno states that he cannot go. Perplexed, Delano insists that Cereno “must not refuse [him]” (86), assuring him that the visit will not be taxing. Despite the insistence, Cereno stands firm on his decision, nervously biting his nails.
Upset by Cereno’s impolite behavior, Delano returns to the deck. He cannot fathom why Cereno’s joy was so short-lived and why he refused to accompany him to the ship. Still, he resolves to maintain politeness and decides to bid farewell to the captain. He descends to the cabin once again, where he finds Cereno looking distressed and struggling to speak. Delano offers a respectful bow and departs. As he is walking down the narrow corridor, the cloud of suspicion returns. He wonders why the Spanish captain wouldn’t accompany his departing guest and compares Cereno to a Jewish person sharing meals with those he plans to betray. He contemplates the presence of Atufal, whom he views as a “pretend rebel, but punctual shadow” (89), and wonders who has stationed him there. However, as he steps into the light and catches sight of his ship with familiar faces aboard, he is reassured. Scolding himself for doubting Providence, he resolves to take pride in his benevolent actions toward a stranger.
As he prepares to descend into the waiting boat to reach his ship, Delano hears his name being called. He turns to see Cereno approaching. Cereno takes Delano’s hand, too overwhelmed to speak. Witnessing this sincere display, Delano reproaches himself for ever doubting Cereno and concludes that there was never any intention to cause offense. Babo, seemingly anxious to conclude their farewells, watches as Cereno continues to hold Delano’s hand. Finally, the two bid each other farewell, and Delano descends into his boat, ordering it to be shoved off.
Pages 77-91 Analysis
The peculiar behaviors of those aboard the San Dominick—particularly Cereno, Babo, and Atufal—continue to create an ominous and foreboding atmosphere, underscoring the theme of The Unreliability of Appearances. Positioned outside the door of Cereno’s cabin, Atufal stands “monumentally fixed,” triggering a sense of unease in Delano, who compares him to the “sculptured porters of black marble guarding the porches of Egyptian tombs” (81). The portrayal of Atufal as impassive and powerful intensifies the eerie atmosphere, evoking a visceral reaction of fear in Delano. Though not physically imposing, Babo also continues to act suspiciously, hinting at the concealed realities aboard the ship. He follows Delano around, opting for an alternate route to reach Captain Cereno’s cabin when Delano attempts to talk to Cereno privately. Delano’s intuitive connection between Babo and Atufal is a testament to the accuracy of his gut feelings; if he heeded them, his instincts could guide him toward the truth.
The motif of leadership takes center stage as Captain Cereno reveals that Babo once held the position of “captain” among the enslaved passengers. This disclosure foreshadows Babo’s position as the ship’s true captain. Babo subtly asserts his leadership during lunch by positioning himself behind Delano, wielding power over him. Moreover, he echoes Delano’s navigation orders, reassuring the other rebels that he remains in command. In stark contrast, Captain Cereno remains passive and apathetic, showing a complete lack of leadership; he remains seated in his cabin, physically inert, with Atufal guarding his door. Despite letting slip an initial spark of joy when Delano asks him to join him on the Bachelor’s Delight, Cereno quickly composes himself, as he knows Babo would not allow it. His nervousness is evident in his anxious gesture of biting his nails. Although Cereno holds the title of ship captain, he is ultimately a pawn manipulated by Babo, emphasizing the deceptive nature of appearances.
Despite the numerous ominous signs and the palpable sense of unease on the ship, Captain Delano continues to exhibit naïve behavior, remaining oblivious to the subverted power dynamics on the San Dominick. He interprets Babo’s presence behind him at the lunch table as a display of attentiveness to Cereno’s needs, unable to fathom the possibility that Babo might have ulterior motives. Even when Cereno insists on Babo’s presence during their financial discussions, Delano remains unsuspecting of Babo, lacking the inclination or the ability to challenge his preconceived ideas and assumptions. With the arrival of a breeze, Delano cheerfully steers the San Dominick back toward his own vessel, never entertaining suspicions for long and remaining unaware that Babo is not only in control but intends to seize command of the Bachelor’s Delight as well.
Delano also continues to exhibit a racist and prejudiced behavior, conveying the theme of Slavery and Racial Bias as Dehumanizing. This is evident in his remarks about the biracial servant, Francesco; he juxtaposes Francesco’s beauty and grace with the “insignificance of the bare-headed Babo” (77), and, when Cereno acknowledges Francesco’s worthiness, Delano interprets this as confirmation of his racist belief that whiteness enhances whatever it touches. This reveals Delano’s inclination to seek confirmation of preconceived notions rather than open-mindedly questioning them. Moreover, Delano’s racism extends to his comparison of Cereno to a Jewish person plotting to betray someone with whom he is dining; the allusion is to Judas’s betrayal of Jesus, but the identification of Judas alone as Jewish displays Delano’s antisemitism. These instances also exemplify The Ambiguity of Morality. As he prepares to board his boat, Delano reflects on his good deeds and congratulates himself on his virtuousness. He remains blissfully ignorant of his prejudices residing within him and chooses to distance himself from a mystery that would require that he confront his preconceptions, instead returning to his own ship—a symbolic retreat to the comfort and shelter of his familiar world. This choice showcases cowardice as an integral part of Delano’s character.
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By Herman Melville
