Benito Cereno Slavery Quotes

An iron collar was around his neck, from which depended a chain thrice wound round his body […] (52.75)

Since Atufal was royalty in his former life, the fact that he's chained up seems particularly insulting.

"Answer," said Don Benito, still averting his glance, "say but the one word, pardon, and your chains shall be off." (52.81)

Cereno rarely tries to assert power, but he clashes with Atufal. Why do you think this is?

[…] but poor Babo here, in his own land, was only a poor slave; a black man's slave was Babo's, who now is the white's. (53.89)

There's a major class difference between Babo and Atufal, but Babo seems to be more in power aboard the San Dominick. Why do you think this is?