Girau, Loss and Deception

Herman Melville illustrates most of his stories with the theme of the loss of innocence. For example, in “The Encantadas”, sketch 8, the story of Norfolk Isle is a tragic one. The death of the brother and husband before Hunilla’s eyes is the evidence of the loss of innocence. She watches them drown as “vanishing shapes” in the water after they went out on a simple fishing trip to celebrate obtaining the tortoise oils. Another example of loss of innocence is in “Benito Cerano”. Throughout the story Delano is depicted as a naïve, but kindhearted man. He questions some actions done by Cerano’s men, but brushes it off similarly like Cerano. In this story, it is not exactly a loss of innocence, but a realization of naiveness. Once Delano gets into his boat and Cerano jumps in after him, the truth comes out about the mutiny. Babo is put on trial and Delano understands that him questioning his surroundings was justified, because there was something strange about the situation he encountered i.e. the realization of naiveness.