In Herman Melville's "Benito Cereno" ignorance appears to be an overwhelming theme. Although "Benito Cereno" holds a powerful message about slavery, this is not the major idea of the story. Ignorance is the fire that fuels slavery. During the entire story every main character displays signs of idiocy. Unfortunately, the most important decision-maker in the story, Captain Amasa Delano, falls into this category. Melville's story is told through a narrator. He purposely tries to let the reader slowly learn more about the truth than Delano. By doing this, it is easy for the reader to become frustrated with the Captain. Over the years the word bachelor has been associated with inexperience, cockiness, and ignorance. It is ironic that Captain Delano's ship is called the Bachelor's Delight. In fact, Delano spends the entire story in a puzzled state. From the beginning the captain has good intentions. Delano even admits his dim-wittedness by blaming his over-generous nature on his ignorance. Unfortunately, Delano's faults seem to take advantage of him in every situation. .
Due to the fact this story was written ten years before the Civil War, Melville makes bold statements in "Benito Cereno." Slavery was an emotional subject for every American at this time. Melville implants these thoughts and emotions into his main characters. Perhaps the captain's biggest mistake is underestimating the slaves. Ironically, Delano trusts the slaves more than the Spanish sailors. Delano says to Cereno, the captain of the slave ship, .
"I should think Don Benito, that you would find it advantageous to keep all your blacks employed, especially the younger ones, no matter at what useless task, and no matter what happens to the ship." (Baym, 2382).
Delano shows his ignorance by believing that if the slaves have work to do they will not engage in mutiny. In his mind the fact that they are Negroes leaves them incapable of intelligent thought.
