Cannibalism

“Hansel and Gretel” is a Grimm Brothers’ fairy tale about a brother and sister abandoned in the woods by their evil stepmother. Eventually they came upon a magnificent gingerbread house with windows made of sugar. The children began to nibble on the house, attracting the attention of the owner, an elderly lady who invites them in and feeds them. Unfortunately the old lady is really a witch, and her culinary tastes include children. Fortunately the children escape, having tricked the witch into her own oven and escaping with her jewellery as the gingerbread house burns down. When they get home they find the stepmother was really the witch in disguise. The jewellery is sold, and Hansel and Gretel live happily ever after with their father.

The very thought of cannibalism fills any normal human being with fear and revulsion. It seems to reduce our species to the most primitive on the planet. It is, however, a common feature among other members of the animal kingdom, including the octopus, bats, toads, monitor lizards, crocodiles and many members of the insect world. I wonder if this is perhaps one of the reasons why these animals feature in many examples of horror fiction – does the cannibalistic trait perhaps contribute towards a sub-conscious fear of these creatures? Jane Goodall recorded cases of infanticide among chimpanzees, some of whom killed and ate their own offspring. Other animals performing this deed include lions; they will kill their predecessor’s offspring when taking over a harem. Stressed female gerbils and hamsters have been known to consume stillborn infants, and pigs raised for the meat industry are renowned for this kind of behaviour…

Genetic studies from all over the world indicate prehistoric man practiced cannibalism. Today scientists suggest a gene has evolved over time as protection against brain diseases thought to be caused by consuming human flesh. Historically cannibalism has been used as a propaganda tool, accusing the enemy of acts of cannibalism to separate them from their humanity.

Society defines three different types of cannibalism:

Ritual cannibalism, sanctioned by tribal law or cultural custom.
Cannibalism by necessity, caused by extreme situations like famine.
Cannibalism by mentally disturbed persons.

A tribe called the Fore from Papua New Guinea has been studied because so many of their members died from a disease called kuru. Similar to the infamous “CJD” (mad cow disease) kuru means “trembling with cold and fever”. The Fore tribe was known to perform ritualistic cannibalism, and over 1,100 members died between 1957 and 1968. The vast majority of deaths were females, although the elderly and many children succumbed to kuru. The main reason for this is because corpses were handled and prepared by the women who were looking after both male and female children as well as the older tribal members. Another reason is the distribution of body parts according to status in the family. A female brain would be prepared for a woman's son's wife or her brother's wife, and as this organ is probably the most significant catalyst for kuru this ritual would explain the spread of the disease amongst females.

Some African traditional healers are known to use body parts in their “medicine”. The victims of this dreadful practice are usually children, because their bodies are considered clean and pure.

“The Custom of the Sea” is a maritime custom carried out by survivors of shipwrecks and other sea accidents draw lots to decide which person will be killed and eaten so others may live. In 1884 a case in England became the first time cannibalism by necessity was used by the defence. Four crew of the yacht “Mignonette” became castaways 1,600 miles from land after a storm. After drifting in the sea for eight days one member collapsed when his desperate thirst forced him to drink sea water. Although one of the three remaining men objected they decided to kill and eat him. Four days later the three were rescued, and returned to London where they were charged with murder. Incredibly the one dissenting vote meant “The Custom of the Sea” had not been “honoured”, because the vote must be unanimous.

Throughout history instances of cannibalism have been reported during times of conflict. Civil wars in the African countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone and the Congo have several references to the practice. Documentary and forensic evidence supports eyewitness accounts of cannibalism by Japanese troops during World War II. When food supplies ran out, the soldiers would kill and eat each other when enemy civilians were not available. In other cases, the more fortunate captured enemy soldiers were killed. The less fortunate suffered cannibalisation-for-sustenance over several days, to keep the meat fresh.

Cannibalism by a mentally disturbed person is perhaps best illustrated by the case of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, who admitted to eating the biceps of one of his victims. He also stored human flesh removed from some of the 17 people he murdered in his refrigerator.

Incredibly, cannibalism has found a prominent place in many works of literature and is a feature of many myths and legends:

The schoolboys in William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies” use their individual heights to decide which of them will be eaten.
Greek mythology tells of how Cronus, on learning he was destined to be overpowered by his son, would swallow his children whole as soon as they were born.
Shakespeare’s “Titus Andronicus” serves a pie filled with the flesh of brothers Chiron and Demetrius to their mother Tamora.
JK Rowling’s death eater character Fenrir Greyback from “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” is a cannibal with a preference for children.
Tennessee Williams’ “Suddenly Last Summer” features the killing of Sebastien by cannibals.
Patrick Bateman, the lead character in Bret Easton Ellis’ “American Psycho”, eats some of his victim’s body parts, particularly their brains.
Thomas Harris’s Hannibal Lector is probably the most famous literary cannibal featuring in four books: “Red Dragon”, “Silence of the Lambs”, “Hannibal” and “Hannibal Rising”.
Stephen King’s short story titled “Survivor Type” is about a man stranded on a desert island who eats his limbs and other body parts…
Investigators unknowingly eat the barbecued ribs of a man whose murder they are investigating in Fannie Flagg’s “Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe.”
Herman Melville’s semi-factual book “Typee” is about his visit to the Pacific Island Nuku Hiva. He lived with a cannibal tribe for a few weeks before fleeing the island, fearful he was destined for the cooking pot.
Cannibalism and drugs are used to gain the memories of the dead in Gene Wolfe’s “The Book of the New Sun”.
Sweeney Todd is a famous fictional barber from the 19th century who used his straight razor on his customers’ throats. The meat was used to fill his friend’s meat pies.
Horror writer Jack Ketchum’s books “off Season” and “Offspring” tell of a group of American cannibals who hunt their prey.
According to Robert A Heinlein’s central characters in his book “Martians” the consumption of one’s dead friends is considered an act of respect.
Author Poppy Z. Brite’s horror novel “Exquisite Corpse” is based on real life serial killer Dennis Nielsen, and is the love story of two cannibalistic serial killers.
Scott Westerfeld’s gruesome book “Peeps” tells of a parasitic disease destroying mankind as it turns its victims into cannibals.

Personally I think writing about cannibalism is a bit of a challenge. The subject is distasteful (please forgive the pun) and for those writers who put a lot of themselves into their stories the very thought of the mindset of a cannibal is extremely disturbing. While researching this subject I came across a photograph of Thomas Harris, and was surprised to find he looks perfectly normal. I immediately wondered how I had expected him to appear; I suppose this means our sub-conscious selves associate cannibalism with horrifying images. I found this quote from Harris’s “Silence of the Lambs”, attributed to Clarice Starling who analysed Hannibal Lector thus:

You see a lot, Dr. Lecter. I won’t deny anything you’ve said. But here’s the question you’re answering for me right now, whether you mean to or not: Are you strong enough to point that high-powered perception at yourself? It’s hard to face. I’ve found that out in the last few minutes. How about it? Look at yourself and write down the truth. What more fit or complex subject could you find? Or maybe you’re afraid of yourself.

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