Librarian+for+Montaigne's+Cannibals

In “Of the Cannibals," Michel de Montaigne shows everyone how his own society can be just as bad as the cannibal society he describes in his essay. Montaigne uses the differences between the two societies to show the reader how flawed his own society is. In the two articles “Moral Barbarism” by Jane Porter and “Comparisons to Europe” by Carolyn Ang, the writers both acknowledge that Montaigne relies heavily on comparing the cannibalistic society and his own society.

Carolyn Ang’s article first tells how Montaigne compares and contrasts Western society with a group of cannibals who have their own society. Throughout this article, the author talks about how Montaigne is constantly criticizing the western world with its treachery and cruelty. The article goes on to suggest that Montaigne contrasts his society and native life. Montaigne says that in the cannibals society, there is no leader, clothes, wine, riches or poverty. The only cultural values the cannibals have are hate for their enemy and love for their families. According to Montaigne, the cannibals believe in honor and devotion to family. The article also talks about how as Montaigne's essay goes on, it gets more confusing. Montaigne debunks his previous argument about how the cannibals are innocent and pure when he talks about how the eating of one another isn’t for nourishment, but for revenge. Montaigne then blasts his own society because of the torture Westerners inflict upon their enemies. The author of this article concludes that Montaigne thinks his own society is way worse than the cannibalistic society.

Jane Porters article opens by pointing out Montaigne’s constant attention to detail and the fact that the purpose of Montaigne's essay is not to tell the people of Europe to start practicing the ways of the cannibals, but it’s rather to use the cannibal society as a way to show the flaws of Europe. According to Porters, Montaigne makes it evident that he thinks that killing ones enemy in torture is worse than eating a man when he is dead. Porter doesn’t think that Montaigne is trying to focus on any specific aspects of the two societies, but he’s trying to convey a big picture message. His message is that there needs to be more honor and bravery in the world and this is evident when Montaigne states “the estimate and value of a man consists in the heart and in the will: there his true honor lies.”

Both authors agree that Montaigne uses the Western world and a society of cannibals to show the flaws of his own world. Carolyn Ang’s article focuses more on the specifics of the essay, where as Jane Porter thinks that Montaigne wasn’t trying to deal with specifics, but rather get his big picture message across. Carolyn Ang painted a much a few small pictures of what Montaigne was trying to say, where as Jane Porter painted one big picture.

Posted by Gulliver