Slave and Slavery in Herman Melville’s Benito Cereno

Abstract

Melville is critical of theall-pervasive slavery during his time. His tilt towards abolitionist movement, however, sidelines blacks’ lethal means of resistance while abolishing slavery which, in his view, is a deep-rooted social evil, and must be uprooted from the face of every society. Melville presents Babo as an oppressed slave attempting to overturn what his white oppressors see as a natural social hierarchy. But he also foregrounds White’s view of slavery. Melville’s attitude seems to be mixed. On the one hand, he voices for the abolition of slavery system. On the other hand, he opposes the use of violent means of resistance by showing the consequences.