Kim, Lee 1

Heejee Kim, Sue Lee

Mr. Whitehead

AP Language and Composition Period 9

January 20th, 2015

Abstract on “The Topicality of Depravity in ‘Benito Cereno’”

The purpose of Melville’s “Benito Cereno” is not to illustrate the racist ideals or

stereotypes of his day, but to refute them through the use of the primary example of the

inherent depravity in all races. Melville supports the claim that “depravity is an essential

attribute of all men rather than the private failing of an individual race,” by illustrating the

tendencies of all humans, whether they be whites or blacks, men or women, to be morally

corrupt and evil. He challenges the status quo of the 1850s in which blacks are

considered“more ‘docile,’ ‘cheerful,’ and ‘harmonious’ than other men” by inserting the all-

revealing plot twist in which the unexpectedly cunning plans of the blacks are made known.

The vicious sailors of Delano’s crew violently treating the captured slaves exemplifies the

innate capability of doing evil in even what is considered the superior race. The animal

imagery used to describe both whites and blacks further bolsters his idea that humans may be

intellectually smarter, but equal to or lower than animals in terms of morals. Readers

acknowledge Melville’s incorporation of universal, global themes in his novel, due to

humans’ innate qualities of unscrupulousness, explaining why Melville sees black depravity

as of topical, or important, concern that should be discussed in his novel.

Emery, Allan M. "The Topicality of Depravity in "Benito Cereno"" American Literature 55.3

(1983): 316-31. JSTOR. Web. 16 Jan. 2015.