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Benito Cerreno Moral

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Benito Cerreno Moral
But Melville wasn't just busting out a hot take on a timely story. He published "Benito Cereno" in 1855—fifty years after the news story made headlines. Was he bored? Did he get lost in the library and find an interesting scrap of history. Probably not: Melville was vehemently anti-slavery. The characters in "Benito Cereno" might not get that slavery is hugely and absurdly evil, but Melville himself sure did. He uses this story as a platform to rail against it. Plus, both "Benito Cereno" and the real-life story that inspired it have all the hallmarks of a Melville yarn: ships, masculinity, and grim ambition.

Hungry for more? Don't blame us for keeping our lips zipped, but this is one story that has to unfold on its own. If there's anything
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