The following paper deals with cannibals. A topic which is very unlikely to concern the normal European citizen of today, yet the thought of people consuming other people is fascinating, for it seems to follow mankind throughout its history, in culture and also to a great deal in literature.
Surprisingly, it never seems to occur in front of our eyes, and only very seldom a reliable witness for such practises can be found. It is something that happens on the borders and in the shadows of societies. Nobody can imagine that anyone could openly confess or practise cannibalism, without being persecuted to the fullest extent of the given law. Cannibalism is considered a horrible crime that touches us deeply and which cannot be forgiven. Committing it is not only a huge crime against our moral standards, it often goes hand in hand with other crimes like murder and various pervert behaviour. Whoever commits this crime may not even be considered human anymore and may be treated like an animal, for it seems to be the ultimate borderline between men and beasts. It therefore can also be used as an instrument of defaming others, because unfortunately the basic principle of in dubio pro reo does not work here. Once accused, it is very hard to get rid of the fame of a crime that is generally considered to take place unseen...
Table of Contents
1) Introduction
2) A general survey of the topic
(a) Cannibalism – a definition
(b) Historical facts
(c) Cannibalism in literature tradition
(d) The wandering myth
(3) Cannibalism in Robinson Crusoe
(a) Robinson’s views on the man-eaters
(b) A footprint in the sand
(c) Robinson’s encounters with the cannibals
(4) Cannibalism in Life of Pi
(a) The French cook’s cannibalism
(b) Pi’s cannibalisms
i. Pi’s nutritious cannibalism
ii. Who is Richard Parker?
iii. Pi’s juridical cannibalism
(5) Comparison
(6) Conclusion
Research Objectives and Thematic Focus
This paper investigates the usage of the cannibalism motif in Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe and Yann Martel’s Life of Pi. It seeks to identify how both authors employ the motive, examine the shared characteristics and differences in their representations, and analyze the function of the cannibal as an instrument of horror, tension, and a test of human moral boundaries.
- The historical and literary evolution of the cannibalism myth.
- Defoe’s portrayal of cannibalism as a cultural feature versus its role as a narrative tension device.
- Martel’s exploration of cannibalism in extreme, shipwreck-induced scenarios and its link to the protagonist’s survival.
- The psychological and moral implications of committing the "ultimate crime" and the possibility of forgiveness.
Excerpt from the Book
(c) Robinsons encounters with the cannibals
Two years after his frightening discovery, Robinson finds the first prove, that his fantasies were not unjustified, when he finds “the shore spread with skulls, hands, feet and other bones of human bodies (…) where the wretches had sat down to their inhuman feastings upon the bodies of their fellow-creatures.” He understandably falls sick to his stomach with horror and disgust. Having recovered, he starts to make up plans of how he “might destroy some of these monsters in their bloody entertainment”. On the one hand he has to defend his country from the savages, and on the other hand it would be a pleasant thing to rescue one of their victims and have some company or a way to escape. But in the end he gives up his plan, having considered all the possible factors that such an enterprise would be followed of. First of all, “[t]hese people had done [him] no injury”, and because for him cannibalism is a cultural aspect of these people and he does not want to be put on a par with the “Spaniards in all their barbarities practis’d in America”. So, since he cannot justify killing dozen of savages without his own life being threatened, he dreams about killing “the savages, and of the reasons why [he] might justify the doing of it”. He also finds these reasons in his dream, noting that it would be no moral problem if he did the killing in defence of others. Novak has called this a perfect solution, for Robinson would in that case not be the ruthless murderer of an indigenous people, but the rescuer of a future loyal servant. And this servant, a former savage and man-eater is just about to step onto the stage of the novel and Crusoe will name him Friday.
Summary of Chapters
1) Introduction: Defines the scope of the paper, focusing on the fascinating yet horrific motif of cannibalism in literature and introducing the two primary novels for comparison.
2) A general survey of the topic: Provides a theoretical definition of cannibalism and traces its presence in history and traditional literature, including the development of the "wandering myth."
3) Cannibalism in Robinson Crusoe: Examines how Crusoe’s prejudices shape his worldview and how the discovery of a footprint and the encounter with cannibals act as catalysts for narrative tension.
4) Cannibalism in Life of Pi: Analyzes the brutal and extreme cannibalistic acts in Martel’s novel, focusing on the French cook, Pi’s survival, and the psychological role of Richard Parker.
5) Comparison: Synthesizes the findings, contrasting Defoe’s cultural/colonial perspective with Martel’s exploration of humanity in extreme survival situations.
6) Conclusion: Summarizes the moral implications of cannibalism and asserts that even in the most extreme cases, human regret and the search for forgiveness remain central.
Keywords
Cannibalism, Anthropophagy, Robinson Crusoe, Life of Pi, Yann Martel, Daniel Defoe, Literary Motif, Survival, Colonialism, Morality, Guilt, Forgiveness, Myth, Richard Parker, Human Dignity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this academic paper?
The paper examines the literary motive of the cannibal in two specific novels: Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe and Yann Martel’s Life of Pi.
What is the primary objective of the research?
The objective is to explore how these two authors utilize cannibalism differently—Defoe as a tool for cultural categorization and suspense, and Martel as an existential test of the protagonist’s humanity.
Which scientific methodology is applied here?
The paper employs a literary comparative analysis, integrating historical background research, examination of the "man-eating myth," and close textual analysis of character development and motivation.
What does the main body of the work cover?
It provides a survey of cannibalism in literature, a detailed investigation of Crusoe’s reactions to the cannibalistic threat on his island, and an analysis of Pi’s struggle with cannibalism in the lifeboat.
What are the key thematic pillars of the work?
Key themes include the perception of "the other," the morality of survival, the distinction between civilized man and animal, and the potential for forgiveness after committing extreme acts.
Which keywords best describe this study?
Anthropophagy, survival ethics, literary comparative study, and the cultural construction of the cannibal.
How is the "wandering myth" significant to the analysis?
The wandering myth explains how the fear of cannibals was projected onto the "borders of the world" by explorers and how this persistent fantasy influenced literature from the Homeric Epics to the colonial era.
What is the significance of the "footprint in the sand" in Robinson Crusoe?
The footprint serves as a pivotal symbol of human presence that triggers intense fear and highlights Crusoe’s deep-seated prejudices, forcing him to view his isolation through the lens of potential violent invasion.
How does Pi's "animal fable" reflect his inner state?
Pi uses the animal fable as a psychological defense mechanism; the tiger, Richard Parker, serves as a metaphor for Pi’s "dark side," which performs violent acts that the "peaceful boy" cannot reconcile with his conscience.
What role does the French cook play in the narrative of Life of Pi?
The cook represents the darkest aspect of human nature—a figure of deliberate brutality—providing an extreme moral contrast to Pi and serving as the catalyst for the protagonist’s descent into juridical cannibalism.
- Citar trabajo
- Florian Widmann (Autor), 2008, The motive of the cannibal in Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe and Martel’s Life of Pi, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/126685
