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Summary
Initially skeptical of the long periods of absent winds that Cereno describes, Captain Delano begins to suspect that his poor navigation skills may have actually been the cause of the ship’s drifting. His compassion takes over, however, and he tells Cereno that he will give him some supplies, some sailors, and some rigging to help them reach the nearest port. This momentarily cheers up Cereno, but Babo draws him aside, claiming the excitement is bad for his master. When Cereno returns, he is morose again. He nevertheless invites Captain Delano to an upper deck, insisting that his guest ascend the ladder first. This proposition initially unnerves Captain Delano as he considers the intimidating hatchet-polishers that seem to guard the deck. He soon dismisses his panic, however, and smiles at the group working intently.
From this elevated position, Captain Delano has a better view of the social dynamics playing out on the ship. He notices a small Black boy hit a white cabin boy on the head with a knife, an act which causes the child to bleed. When he criticizes Cereno for allowing this to happen, the Spanish captain acknowledges the incident but makes no effort to punish the attacker. Captain Delano then suggests that Cereno keep all of the Black passengers busy during their journey in order to eliminate the possibility of trouble. When Cereno responds by explaining that he was responsible for appointing each man to his job on board, Captain Delano becomes interested in who actually owns the slaves. He learns that they belonged to Alexandro Aranda, a friend of Cereno’s who died of the fever that plagued the passengers. Mention of this lost friend evokes significant emotion from Cereno and leads Captain Delano to suspect that Aranda’s body may still be on the ship.
Captain Delano’s thoughts are soon interrupted by the arrival of a large Black man, Atufal, with an iron collar around his neck and chains covering his body. Cereno observes him silently until Babo reminds him of his purpose, at which point he asks Atufal if he is willing to ask him for a pardon. When Atufal does not answer, Cereno dismisses him. Captain Delano is impressed by Atufal's honorable refusal to beg for pardon, and he almost chides Cereno for keeping such a noble, well-behaved slave in chains. As he does, Captain Delano muses on the symbolic nature of the padlock that Atufa wears and the key that hangs around Cereno’s neck. Cereno seems to dismiss this comment, becomes even moodier, and begins whispering with Babo. This shift concerns Captain Delano as he believes that he is the subject of their conversation, especially since he watches another Spanish sailor glance at him before shifting his gaze to Cereno and Babo.
Captain Delano continues to speculate about Cereno’s true identity, and although he briefly considers the idea that Cereno is actually a low-born adventurer masquerading as a ship captain, his good-natured instincts take over and convince him otherwise. He does not want Cereno to know that he was ever suspicious of his character or behavior. When Cereno finally acknowledges his guest again, he asks a series of strange questions including how long the Bachelor’s Delight has been at Santa Maria, how many men are on board, and who would be there that night. As he does so, however, his eyes are downcast and he comes across as awkward and uncomfortable. Troubled by this, Delano tries to distract himself and sees an odd sight: a Spanish sailor, wearing the usual clothing of a sailor but with a shirt of the finest linen underneath. He sees another sailor brandishing something shiny before vanishing into the ship's hold. All these signs perplex him, and he turns them over in his mind. Feeling a growing sense of dread, he is beginning to suspect that Benito Cereno may have plans to attack him and capture the Bachelor's Delight.
Analysis
This section of the novel offers both Captain Delano and the reader a closer look at the social dynamics playing out among the men on board the ship as well as the strange nature of Cereno’s character. Melville paces the rising action of the story rather slowly and methodically, a strategy which reflects Captain Delano’s attempts to process the peculiar happenings on board the San Dominick. The key events in this section, including the young Black boy’s attack on a white cabin boy, the arrival of Atufal, and the Spanish sailor’s odd behavior, all hint at the true balance of power between the slaves and the Spanish crew. Contrary to Captain Delano’s earlier assumptions about the peacefulness of the slaves, the violent scene that unfolds between the two boys becomes the first hint that the stereotypical master and servant relationship between whites and Blacks does not exist on the San Dominick. The fact that Cereno refuses to address this abuse also calls attention to his lack of legitimate authority, although Captain Delano attributes this to Cereno’s personality rather than any external factors. Atufal’s appearance in chains, however, counteracts this moment of Black dominance and represents a power dynamic more familiar to Melville’s nineteenth-century readers. This shift adds to the ambiguity of the relationships on board as Cereno literally has the key to free Atufal from bondage. The key and padlock ultimately become ironic symbols, although neither Captain Delano nor the reader are aware of this subversion early in the narrative. Highlighting the odd qualities of the Spanish sailors is yet another way in which Melville complicates the relationships on board, especially since they both seem to be hiding symbols of wealth. Whether it be fine linens or a jewel, their attempts to disguise their presumed authority indicates that their influence is not welcome on the San Dominick.
The nuances of Cereno’s character come into focus throughout this section of the narrative as well, and his unpredictable behavior further exacerbates the question of who is in control of the ship. As Captain Delano spends more time around the moody and distant Spanish captain, he begins to suspect that his host intends to attack him or the Bachelor’s Delight. Melville certainly invites the audience to perceive Cereno as a threat by calling attention to his unwelcoming personality and his private conversations with Babo, but in order to facilitate the story’s surprise ending, he also includes details which hint at the suffering he has endured throughout the ship’s journey. Cereno expresses great relief, for example, when Captain Delano offers supplies but changes his attitude as soon as Babo speaks with him. This brief moment suggests that Babo has a significant degree of influence over him. The scene in which Cereno explains the death of his friend Alexandro Aranda also offers insight into his perspective as he gets especially emotional. While Captain Delano and the reader may first interpret this reaction as a reflection of his devotion to his friend, it actually highlights how fearful he is of losing his life at the hands of the slaves. The dual meanings behind these aspects of Cereno’s character add to the story’s overall emphasis on ambiguity.
Captain Delano’s reactions to the strange scenes on the San Dominick as well as Cereno’s mysterious behavior work to further develop Melville’s depiction of the American consciousness. Although his instincts often lead him to become suspicious of those around him, his sincerity and optimism allow him to convince himself that all is well on board. If Captain Delano were more willing to let his suspicions get the best of him, he might have figured out what was going on before the end of the story. Alternatively, had Captain Delano learned the truth about the slaves and tried to act, he almost certainly would have been caught by Babo and killed on the spot. By being so trusting, he falls for the hastily-arranged scam that Babo concocts, and this allows Cereno to survive until he can leap down into Delano's boat. This series of events ultimately paints Captain Delano as a rather complacent figure who is willing to tolerate situations and behaviors without much questioning. In a pre-Civil War context, this characterization seems to call out Americans’ passive acceptance of institutions like slavery. The fact that Captain Delano does little to intervene with the strange things he encounters further reinforces this dynamic. He accepts Cereno's odd, often rude manners with little reproach, if any. Whenever a Black man strikes a white man, he points it out to Cereno, but he fails do anything about it himself.
