The primary thematic objective of Benito Cereno is to dismantle naive American optimism, expose the moral blindness of institutionalized racism, and explore the terrifying ambiguities of human perception. Through the oblivious perspective of Captain Delano, Melville illustrates how preconceived racial biases and cultural hubris can blind an observer to reality, creating a haunting exploration of guilt, deception, freedom, and the hidden undercurrents of racial conflict in the Atlantic world.