멜빌의 미국 사회 비판:『베니토 세리노』를 중심으로

Abstract

This article is to examine Herman Melville's "Benito Cereno,"focusing on the criticism against the Nineteenth-century Americansociety. "Benito Cereno," written in 1855，the mid-point of the hottestdecade of the anti-slavery struggle prior to the Civil War, criticizesslavery by delving into the prejudiced mind of Delano. His inability tosee beyond this stereotype and failure to recognize the real state ofSan Dominick makes him a target of satire and irony. Thecharacterization of Delano as Northerner proves this prejudice isgenerally shared by whites. Delano does not recognize his myopticview of the Negro till the end and returns to his white-centeredreality unchanged. Don Benito's tortured recognition of the evil ofslavery gets much more important in contrast with Delano'sinsensitivity. Don Benito's experience has its meaning in relation withthe readers. "Benito Cereno" earnestly asks the readers to reexaminethe story and be awakened from their delusion into self-knowledgeand broader perspective.