Anatomy of an Interpretive Controversy: The Case of Benito Cereno

Until the mid-1960s, two groups of readings of Melville's Benito Cereno represented the implied author's sympathies in opposite ways. According to one group of readings, the rebelling slaves and their leader Babo symbolize demonic evil. According to the other, the slaves are admirable freedom fighters. In the last generation, new interests and new interpretive methods have made the controversy obsolete. This article uses the controversy as an opportunity to attempt to explain what makes contradictory readings of an implied author's attitude possible and what prevents them reaching a compromise.