The Character of Captain Delano

Captain Amasa Delano, who comes from Massachusetts, is our only American character in the

novella and is portrayed in a stereotypical and often negative manner. It is through Captain Delano that

the reader is given Melville's negative interpretation of who or what an American is. Delano is gullible,

devoutly Protestant, trusting, rash and most importantly, proud. Delano is incredibly naïve and gullible

(lakoveran), and this is repeatedly shown throughout the story.

When he first sees the ship, he thinks it strange that it "showed no colors", a peaceful and common

tradition of all seamen-however, he still goes to the ship to see if help is needed in a vulnerable little

whaling boat. This not only shows his trust in unknown and possibly dangerous people but also his

charitable nature which is a good Christian trait.

In first part of the story the reader can be quite confused by the way Captain Delano is dealing with the

whole situation because he goes on this ship where he sees slaves running around on the ship and for

him that is very strange and he thinks that Benito is a very bad captain, he blames the whole situation

on Benito. He blames him for not being capable of keeping order and he never things about the fact that

maybe the slaves rebelled. So we can see in action the opinion of the U.S. towards Europe. While

slavery serves as an example for racism, inter-white racism is portrayed through the relationship of

Benito and Delano because they hate and despise each other because they come from two very different

countries, continents, cultures and religions. Benito does not like Delano that he thinks that Delano is

too arrogant Melville would want to display to the reader that Americans trust other countries too often

because they overestimate their safety in the situation. This helps show how overly proud the

Americans are and how this may eventually be detrimental to the safety of the country. And if pride is a

sin, don't tell the Americans. Though the overall book is not heavy with the stench of American pride,

Delano does let loose his occasionally. When Cereno is questioning Delano about his cargo and ship,

trusting Delano tells all and does so "with satisfaction" . He is so proud of his men and his control over

them that he is certain they are all on board and accounted for. And he delays not at all in letting

Cereno know of his prowess in contrast to the ineptness of Cereno to control his ship. Again, this

relates Melville's point about the fallacy of being too proud. This pride invites danger because America

will not be cautious with information and might reveal too much like Delano does.

The Americans are also rash, according to Melville. Not only does Delano decide quickly to go and

mount a strange ship in order to help, but he is also quick to want to go after the ship of rebels. Only

after the Spaniard captain is able to restrain him, does Delano allow the crew to go without him as he is

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needed to head his ship. This quick action without contemplative thought is often a mistake of naïve

and proud peoples, and Melville is cautioning America that it is better to think before reacting. This

leads us to the interference of Americans described in the book. Delano sees the ship and crew of

Cereno are in desperate need of aid and being the charitable Christian, he gives them what they need

and more. But once he is there, he can't help but criticize the way things are run in comparison to his

own tidy fleet. Also when the wind finally picks up, he sees that Cereno is in no shape to take charge

and decides to take action himself and bring the ship into the safe harbor. He yells orders to men of

whom he is not the boss and is pleased to see those orders so readily obeyed. This displays the

readiness of Americans to interfere and strive for leadership in the situation. They are too proud to be

inferiors to anyone else, so when they do interfere the Americans must be either the leader, here the

captain, or be equals in partnership. And of course, instead of discussing the change of power with the

supposed Captain Cereno, the proud American Delano just assumes his superiority to the others around

him, even the Spaniard sailors. Americans are also portrayed as preoccupied with courtesy systems that

include reciprocity for deeds done. There are several mentions of Cereno not being very courteous

when Delano has been polite or, at the least, expects courtesy. The most glaring example is towards the

end of Delano's stay on Cereno's ship and the two ships are finally side by side. Delano approaches

Cereno to invite him upon his ship in return for having hosted him all day. Cereno declines in an

unceremonious manner and this is the last straw for Delano. He has been nice and polite all day while

Cereno has been distant, awkward and sometimes even rude. Finally, this is when Delano wants no

longer to be of any further assistance and can't wait to be back on his own ship, amongst his own men.

Melville's American then is seen as having his pride hurt. So, Americans are sensitive, not only proud,

and as they are already portrayed as rash and interfering, this hurt pride could possibly lead to

dangerous political situations.

Melville presents his American, Captain Amasa Delano, as rash, gullible and very proud. He may

have been trying to show the Americans as a new culture with budding powers and that's why they are

so gullible and naïve. However, I think that this short story, "Benito Cereno," is Melville's critique of

the proud American culture that thinks itself superior. The society of the United States is represented in

this book as a very naïve, rash, proud and Christian culture, which Melville critiques heavily.

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