Benito Cereno (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Herman Melville
- First Published: 1855
- Type of Work: Novella
- Type of Plot: Adventure
- Time of Work: 1799
- Setting: the harbor of St. Maria, off the coast of Chile, and Lima, Peru
- Genres: Long fiction
- Subjects: Murder or homicide
- Locales: Lima, Peru
Characters Discussed
Amasa Delano (ah-MAH-soh deh- LAH-noh), an American sea captain. Off the coast of Chile, he sees a ship in distress and sets out with food and water for its company. He finds a Spanish merchantman carrying slaves. Ship and crew are in deplorable condition, and their captain suffers from what appear to be severe mental disorders. A series of strange and sinister events lead Captain Delano to the knowledge that the Spanish captain is a prisoner of the slaves. He is able to rescue the captive and take him ashore.
Don Benito Cereno (beh-NEE-toh...
[The entire page is 506 words long]
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