Of Cannibals free essay sample

An analysis of the essay Of Cannibals written by sixteenth century writer Michel de Montaigne. The essay Of Cannibals is a narrative prose by 16th Century French writer, Michel de Montaigne, describing the culture of a South American tribe (Native Americans). In it, Montaigne compares the Native American tribes society and culture with that of Western society. This paper discusses and enumerates these comparisons between the two societies, as well as describes in detail the different social customs and lifestyles of the cannibalistic group. A comparison and analysis of the differences between the two societies in Montaignes point of view is made for further understanding of the authors objective, that is, to criticize Western society of its conservative and strict compliance to dogmatic beliefs that continually plague the people from Western societies. Thus, Montaigne analyzes barbarism and civilization in context of the two societies. The act of war and cannibalism in this tribe is one important comparison of Montaigne to the Europeans. We will write a custom essay sample on Of Cannibals or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The author justifies the tribes barbarism and cannibalism through several explanations. According to him, barbarism, or the act of war popular among tribes people, is one of the two important articles taught in their society, that is, valor towards their enemies or resolution in war. Cannibalism is said to be done not for nourishment, because cannibalism for the tribes people is an extreme form of vengeance. Montaigne justifies this barbarous horror of so cruel an action by comparing the tribes cannibalism with that of cannibalism in Western society. For him, the tribes cannibalism is much more honorable and just, since the prisoner is killed first and only eaten when he was already dead. The Western society, on the other hand, practices a more barbarous act of cannibalism because, as Montaigne had described, [I] conceive there is more barbarity in eating a man alive, than when he is dead in tearing a body limb from limb by racks and torments among neighbors and fellow-citizens unde r color of piety and religion