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Amasa Delano
The focalizer of Benito Cereno. He is the captain of the Bachelor's Delight, a whaling ship from Massachusetts, who attempts to help the San Dominick after noticing the ship struggling off the coast of Chile.
Read an in-depth analysis of Amasa Delano.
Benito Cereno
The character after whom the story is named. Don Benito Cereno is the captain of the San Dominick who is forced to go along with Babo’s ruse after the slaves take control of the ship.
Read an in-depth analysis of Benito Cereno.
Babo
The leader of the slaves. Babo leads the slave revolt against the Spanish sailors and takes over the San Dominick. For most of the story, Babo masquerades as Cereno's servant, and Delano comments on how devoted the man is to his “master.” However, it is later revealed that Babo is actually there to keep an eye on Cereno and ensure that he does not betray Babo and the rest of the slaves to Delano.
Read an in-depth analysis of Babo.
Atufal
Babo's main co-conspirator. He is large and muscular and he uses his size and strength to intimidate and threaten Cereno throughout the story. Delano comments that Atufal “has the royal spirit in him,” and Cereno and Babo explain that Atufal was a “king” back in Africa.
Alexandro Aranda
The owner of the slaves on the San Dominick and a longtime friend of Benito Cereno’s. Before the story begins, Aranda’s death is ordered by Babo to quell any rebellion from the Spanish sailors who survived the revolt, and his corpse is left hanging from the masthead of the San Dominick as a warning.
