Ignorance

One of the themes that Melville introduces in the story is that of ignorance. Ignorance is typically thought of as a bad thing in modern society. We see it as an impediment to knowledge and a thing to be eliminated. Other times, we hear that ignorance is bliss and something that is sometimes desirable. This begs the question, which view does Melville subscribe to? I believe that he is of the opinion that ignorance is, in the end, a good thing.

Throughout the story, Captain Delano is described as fairly ignorant. This is due to his having “…been a person of a singularly undistrustful good nature, not liable, except on extraordinary and repeated excitement, and hardly then, to indulge in personal alarms, any way involving the imputation of malign evil in man.” (Melville 162) Because of his trusting nature, he is susceptible to being deceived and remaining ignorant of things that otherwise would be staring him in the face. He repeatedly sees suspicious behavior such as the black boy that hit the white boy with the knife. (179) However, he is so trusting and subsequently so ignorant that he sees little awry with the scene after a minute. The fact that this carries on until he leaves the San Dominick is further proof of his ignorance and seems to indicate that the ignorance is, on the whole, a bad thing because it led to his being unprepared for the following events. However, that is only the surface of Melville’s intent. The question that has to be asked is what would have happened if Delano had not been so ignorant? The answer lies in the brutality of the rebel slaves such as when “…the Negro Babo ordered to be thrown alive into the sea…” (244) referring to the Spanish sailors. Had Captain Delano not remained ignorant of Babo’s control, he would have been killed quickly and likely brutally by the rebel slaves. When it is looked at from the view that ignorance saved not only his life, but likely the life of his crew, it can be seen that Melville in fact believes that ignorance, while maybe not bliss, is certainly a trait to be thankful for in certain circumstances.

Works Cited:

Melville, Herman, and A. Robert Lee. "Benito Cereno." Billy Budd, Sailor: And Other Stories. London: J.M. Dent, 1993. 161-258. Print.