With an intense blend of ambiguity and power, author Herman Melville offers the short story, Benito Cereno, in which Captain Amasa Delano, a sympathetic American captain notices a ship coming from the distance fades into a gray fog. Deciding to sail and find out what is going on, Captain Delano decides to board the foreign ship. On board the ship, the situation is bizarre and sailors and African slaves try to intercept him to tell him about their suffering. Captain Delano is eventually introduced to Benito Cereno, the leader of the San Dominick. Benito describes what happened and tries to explain why his slaves are no longer chained. The whole scenario is confusing for the naive Captain Delano. Delano finally begins to wonder what is really going on because the situation is strange, especially since two of the main slaves, Babo and Atufal, seem very happy to serve their master. When he finally decides to bail out the ship, Benito tries to escape and Babo jumps after him, revealing that Babo was trying to attack Benito Cereno. Captain Delano had finally foiled the slaves' revolt and their plan to escape to freedom. Herman Melville uses ambiguity and riddles to introduce symbolism, the central theme of grayness, and an allusion to a historical figure to depict the message of slavery and ambiguity throughout the short story. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Melville incorporates essential characteristics that intensify the uncertainty and vagueness of the connection between master and slave. When Captain Delano was aboard the San Dominick, Babo was waiting for Benito Cereno and gestured as if he was waiting for his master to come and sit down. Babo asked Benito to sit down so he could shave. Meanwhile, Captain Delano watches the scene unfold. Even though Benito pretends to be content and unsuspecting of Babo's position, not only the shaving, but also the person who is being held captive, Cereno's body almost betrays him when his body continues to shake uncontrollably. Babo tries to play and makes an endearing comment about its tremor and reliability since he's never cut it before. The whole scene captivates Captain Delano and makes him suspect nothing extraordinary. While shaving Captain Delano, Babo accidentally cuts Benito Cereno. “…just then the razor drew blood, spots of which stained the creamy foam beneath the throat; immediately the black barber withdrew his steel and, remaining in his professional attitude, with his back to Captain Delano and facing Don Benito, he raised the flowing razor, saying with a sort of half-humorous sadness: “See, master, here is the first from Babo. blood” (Melville, 1557). The razor in this scene becomes a symbolic representation of control and power. When evaluating the relationship between Babo and Don Benito. This scene reveals Babo's power since he, the "slave", holds his "master" by the throat. Physically, Babo's power grows with the "accidental" cut on his master's neck while he is shaving it. The central theme of grayness throughout the short story becomes evident. “The sky seemed mostly gray. Flights of troubled gray fowls, friends and relatives, with flights of troubled gray vapors among which they mingled, skimmed low and fitfully over the waters, like swallows over meadows before storms. Shadows present, foreshadowing deeper shadows to come” (Melville, 1526). The setting is described at the beginning, giving a picture of everything being silent, calm and gray. Description.