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The Oakum-Pickers
Monks and Monasteries
Instead of reflecting piousness, the monks and monasteries in Benito Cereno most often highlight deception and hidden power dynamics. When Captain Delano first sees the San Dominick, he believes that the people on it…
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The Knot
The convoluted knot that Captain Delano sees a sailor tying aboard the San Dominick highlights the tense and seemingly unsolvable social situation that a slave society engenders. On the ship, Delano sees a Spanish sailor…
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Flags
Although flags can theoretically represent positive values, such national unity and a feeling of community, in Benito Cereno flags (or the absence thereof) symbolize the violent ambitions that can drive groups of people to dominate…
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