Babo in "Benito Cereno" by Herman Melville and the Abolitionist John Brown

Seminar paper from the year 2019 in the subject American Studies - Literature, grade: 1,7, University of Münster, language: English, abstract: Benito Cereno is one of Herman Melville¿s most famous works of all times. The character Babo as the leading black slave is a controversial figure in the novella, which is often criticized and discussed regarding his actions and methods during his revolt on the San Dominick. John Brown on the other hand is one of the most prominent white American anti-slavery abolitionists. This essay compares John Brown and Babo concerning their preparations, actions and methods and the endings of their anti-slavery revolts.

A comparison is interesting because of their apparent differences and the fact that they nevertheless share the same goals. The two characters are compared to examine a potential similarity in their attitude.