Answer:
Step-by-step explanation:
In the novella "Benito Cereno" by Herman Melville, Captain Delano is portrayed as a well-meaning but naive character who is unable to see the true nature of the situation on the ship. There are several factors that contribute to his blindness and prevent him from recognizing the reality of the situation.
Firstly, Captain Delano is from a different cultural background than the Spanish crew of the ship. He is a white American, while the crew is primarily made up of Spanish and African individuals. Delano's cultural assumptions and expectations make it difficult for him to understand the actions and motivations of the crew. He does not speak Spanish and relies on an interpreter, which creates a barrier to communication and understanding.
Secondly, Captain Delano is characterized as being overly trusting and optimistic. He believes in the goodness of human nature and assumes that the people he meets are honest and trustworthy. He is also eager to make friends and establish connections with others. These traits make him vulnerable to deception and manipulation by others, as he is unable to see when someone is lying or hiding something from him.
Thirdly, Captain Delano is influenced by his own prejudices and biases. He holds racist views about African people and assumes that they are naturally inferior to white people. This prejudice leads him to underestimate the intelligence and capabilities of the enslaved Africans on the ship, who are actually the ones in control of the situation.
Overall, Captain Delano's blindness to the true nature of the situation on the ship is due to a combination of cultural, psychological, and social factors. His inability to see what is happening is not necessarily due to any inherent character flaw, but rather a product of his environment and experiences.