Delano proclaims, “’You are saved: what has cast such a shadow upon you?’” (257) and Cereno answers, “’The negro’” (257). The ambiguity of this dialogue between Delano and Cereno puts the institution of slavery in question to Cereno and to humanity. Cereno has always believed that African Americans were inferior and loyal to their subordination, but he has been proven wrong. He has underestimated the intelligence and ability of enslaved African Americans and what they would do to earn their freedom. The knot, that has been woven and wound so tightly, is now put into question by European whites who experienced the enslaved advance through their revolt without suspicion and discovery until the end. Not only has their intelligence fooled the men on the ship, and Delano, but it goes to show how misleading they can be in order to earn justice and equality for their people. “Benito Cereno” is an argument against slavery because it exposes a deserved ending for those European whites, who have imprisoned and seized the freedom of African American humans. Through Cereno’s discovery of the reality of slavery, Delano and humanity can follow their leader, Babo, to figure out how to undo the traditions of slavery that have been wound up so tightly into one difficult
Delano proclaims, “’You are saved: what has cast such a shadow upon you?’” (257) and Cereno answers, “’The negro’” (257). The ambiguity of this dialogue between Delano and Cereno puts the institution of slavery in question to Cereno and to humanity. Cereno has always believed that African Americans were inferior and loyal to their subordination, but he has been proven wrong. He has underestimated the intelligence and ability of enslaved African Americans and what they would do to earn their freedom. The knot, that has been woven and wound so tightly, is now put into question by European whites who experienced the enslaved advance through their revolt without suspicion and discovery until the end. Not only has their intelligence fooled the men on the ship, and Delano, but it goes to show how misleading they can be in order to earn justice and equality for their people. “Benito Cereno” is an argument against slavery because it exposes a deserved ending for those European whites, who have imprisoned and seized the freedom of African American humans. Through Cereno’s discovery of the reality of slavery, Delano and humanity can follow their leader, Babo, to figure out how to undo the traditions of slavery that have been wound up so tightly into one difficult