Babo understood what would happen to him if he failed. So this poses the question, is Babo that willing, or did Babo not think it would go as south as it did? I have been joking about Babo's intellect with myself through reading and analyzing this with myself, just because there's only so many times you can read something without getting bored. And with the way these Proceedings are written, Babo is clearly villainized. Babo is clearly made out to be the bad guy and personally, I feel Babo was needlessly cruel. But this is one of the reasons why I truly believe that Babo is not the sharpest tool in the shed. They are low on all supplies, they are low on men, he got rid of all functioning boats (most likely because he didn't want the white men escaping. But he killed most of them anyway.), he doesn't have an accurate idea, of the sources they have (as shown in the last battle when their cannons fail, and they fail at aiming within the proper spots, or alleged proper spots as described by the narrator), and at the end, before the battle they were almost Scott free. Delano was getting on his ship, and Cereno is weak enough that he's easily restrainable. If they made it this far, they could make it a couple of days. Yet Babo tries to take over the Bachelor's Delight. A ship that's obviously in better condition, better provisioned, with working cannons, with a healthier crew, and more escape boats. Melville wouldn't have the ending he wanted if Babo hadn't decided to take on such a high risk with little regard to loss. But since Babo could've easily snuck around Deleno, and waited it out, I'll never be convinced that Babo acted out of sheer selflessness. Babo's just not that smart. One would expect Atufal to know full well that if they try to commandeer the Bachelor's Delight that the crew of the San Dominik would fail. But Atufal also got the long end of the stick and was planned to get away alive. It's just ironic he died.

This is interesting though. On the part of Cereno. Cereno isn't a reliable source either it seems.

I wonder how many parallels we could draw between Babo and Delano. Delano is the protagonist and Hero of this story. But I would argue Cereno is the antagonist. Babo was always the villain. The one issue I have with that argument is that Cereno was basically Babo's puppet. So wouldn't that make Babo the villain and antagonist? Or am I getting this wrong and Benito Cereno the is protagonist, while Delano the hero, then Babo and Atufal villain and antagonist?

Okay, so Delano is like Babo. Stupid, but not that Stupid. Delano waited until his men were back from fishing to board his boat. ... After practically inviting the crew of the San Dominik to rob it.

We're back towards the beginning of the story here when Delano is basically inviting Babo to rob his ship.

Babo is clearly not an axe, but he ain't a hammer either.

My man :)

Atufal and Benito Cereno are the only two people in this story with half a hemisphere in their heads.

I'M SURE THEY WERE. THEY DON'T SEEM TO KNOW WHAT THEIR DOING.

I'm sure navigation was perplexing. Don't mind them. Just a ship full of people who don't know where they are. With little food. And water. In mid revolt. And a leader that would apparently rather die then resort to cannibalism. Why be resourceful when you can be paranoid. BABO.

Peace. For like 5 days.

THANK GOD. God forbid they go a week with unseasoned food. Benito's a real one for looking out for the culinary life of the San Dominik.

is this how the crew of the San Dominik found out that bones aren't like, actually white?

Babo, with the true cruelty and half wittedness of a pirate. But this also sort of foreshadows the end, when Babo has his head displayed post-mortem.

Why are you throwing people off the ship alive?

I need to just note that the original Capitan (Alexandro) body wasn't thrown overboard.

Cruel, but crueler things have been done.

This next part's just cruel.

Babo, what are you doing? You don't know where you are my guy.

Well, at least Babo has 2 brain cells.

There's no surprise you had a hand in this bud.

THAT SENAKY BISCUT!

36-18=18. This revolt cut the crew (the white crew) in half. Not counting the wounded.

36 to 160 person ratio.

A list of the Slaves: * Jose (18-19 yrs): servant to the master of the ship (Don Alexandro) of 4 or 5 yrs, spoke Spanish. * Francesco: Mulatto from Buenos Aries about 35 years old. Cabin Steward. Delano comments on his European like features earlier on. * Dago: 46 year old grave digger from Spain. * 4 old Slaves: All 60-70 yrs old 1. Muri: dead. (So is his son Diamelo) 2. Nacta 3. Yola: dead. 4. Ghofan. * 6 grown slaves: all 30-45 years old and among the Ashantees. 1. Matiluqi: Dead 2. Yan: Dead. 3. Leche: Dead. 4. Mapenda: Dead 5. Yambio 6. Akim * Atufal: powerful former chief in Africa. * Babo (30 years old): African from Senegal who spent some time in Spain. * 39 women and children.<br /> * Amongst many others there were in total 160 enslaved peoples.

Fetters: Ankle chains to restrain prisoners.

Melville gives only the account of the white men in power in Benito Cereno. By doing this he pits the concept of the individual and the collective against each other. Benito Cereno and Capitan Delano are blameless. The two of them as individuals have done nothing wrong within the context of their society. However, the enslaved people of color are to blame for the entirety of this story. Babo knew he had what was coming for him, and based solely on his actions, rightfully so. He's a cruel monster. But, we can't blame Babo or Atufal for desiring to be returned home and set free, and willing to die for it. Nor, can we blame their shared thought process of cruelty as a means to reach their ends, because what other mentality would their be to afford the two of them a shot at freedom? So do we hate the dark collective for following a monster birthed from circumstance, or the white innocents who unknowingly (and happily) uphold the same system of oppression that birthed the monster that is Babo?

Context for these court proceedings: * These proceedings are placed after the revolt and capture of the San Dominik. * The narrative is a close third person with Capitan Delano. Even though the story isn't told by Delano himself, readers grasp the important thoughts and feelings of Captain Delano. * These Proceedings do the exact same thing with Benito Cereno. But instead of the present, they are told in the past. * These proceedings address all of Delano's doubts

Well look at that, it all makes sense now. :)