In this entry I wanted to play around with the idea of the slaves constant presentation of power over Don Benito. Also How Delano id so oblivious to the idea that slaves could have overtaken the Spanish and how that might correlate to stereotypes and or racism.

            One encounter we have with this that we discussed in class is the significance of Atufal, a mountainous man brought out every two hours or so to beg for pardon. However, Atufal just remains silent in the scene and is then dismissed. What is most intriguing about this scene is Don Benito’s body language and tone of voice. When Atufal begins approaching Don Benito, “At the first glimpse of his approach, Don Benito had started, a resentful shadow swept over his face; and, as with the sudden memory of bootless rage, his white lips glued together.” (pg. 182).  When I read this it came off as completely submissive almost like a puppy that knows it did something wrong. Not till his servant in my eyes almost cued Don Bonito to say his line as if they were scripted. This seemed even more evident when Delano tells the reader, “Thus reminded, Don Benito, nervously adverting his response, in a disconcerted voice” (pg. 182). When Delano tells us that Don Benito was “thus reminded” it displayed for me how Don Benito is almost completely under the “servants” control. Atufal is brought out as a reminder to Don Benito to submissively tell him that if he gives word that the slaves have taken over, then they will release this monstrous man on him. Another major scene where I believe the slave’s power is physically displayed in the story is when Don Benito is telling “his story

            Even though this seems obvious to the reader, Delano refuses to believe any notion of slaves taking over a Spanish ship. Whenever he sees any sort of sign that there may be a shift in power he almost immediately brushes it off and just assumes that that is how things are run on this ship. After all it is not his ship and who is he to step in and tell another person of the same rank that he is doing everything wrong. Or could it be his assumption that blacks are always inferior to the white man? So Melville begins to play with this idea on an anti-slavery theme in the story. Where the black slave is overpowering the white man in many ways however Delano (society) doesn’t always see it or just blows it off. So is this Melville’s attempt to rectify this problem in society? Personally I believe it is and he does a great job at it through the interactions between characters in the story.