2. Do you have the stomach?
Cannibalism as a metaphor for love, obsession, and sexuality; A critical analysis
Love has been a topic of public media since the dawn of time. For as far back as we can go, there have been great stories of lovers and loves lost. It is one of the people's favorite genres to consume. When you think of love stories, you probably think of stories like The Notebook or Romeo and Juliette or even your favorite rom-com. However, these are not the love stories that will be discussed in this essay. Every genre of media has two sides of the spectrum. I like to think of them as the whimsical and the macabre, the light vs. dark, if you will. On the more macabre end of the spectrum lies a subgenre often referred to as Romantic Cannibalism. Cannibalism has been a topic of conversation since the beginning of time. Cannibalism was once used medicinally, ritualistically, and even symbolically. Stories containing cannibalism date back to even before ancient Greece. Cannibalism is often viewed as grotesque and even horrific for obvious reasons; however, there is a softer, more intimate side to the act. The act of cannibalism is in many cases the front for underlying love, obsession, or even sex. Cannibalism in and of itself is an intimate and sometimes even erotic act in which the barriers between your body and another are broken down.
The act of consuming another person in any capacity is considered an intimate gesture. Think kissing, the act of pressing lips to lips or lips to another person's body. In doing so you are allowing a part of them, even if undetectable, to pass into your body via your mouth. And is kissing not one of the most common intimate acts among humans? Mothers kiss children, lovers kiss lovers, sometimes even friends kiss. And to what extent is a kiss just a kiss? When souls get hungry and bodies excited, how often does a tongue slip out to taste the passion or a quick bite of the lip send a jolt through their body? While it is not an unheard-of experience, I'm sure many of you have let out a quick nibble of your lover's lips or a taste of their skin as you press yourselves together in an intimate show of affection. I then ask you, what about these acts makes you feel as you do? And to what extent can one participate in such acts of bodily hunger before it crosses into something else entirely?
One of the earliest uses of cannibalism in written media is Titus Andronicus by William Shakespeare. In this play the main character, Titus, bakes a pie and feeds it to Tamora. Only after she has eaten part of the pie does Titus tell her it contains the “flesh, blood, and bones” of her two sons. It is important to note that at the time (1500s Italy), it was not uncommon for flesh, blood, or bone to be included in household medicinal recipes. That being said, the act of cannibalism as food was a fairly new and taboo subject among the masses. This leads us to then understand that the shock factor lies not in the inclusion of human remains as an ingredient but simply the consumption of said ingredients.
The lack of stage direction included makes it impossible to know the original intended response from Tamora; however, in most if not all modern stage productions of the play Tamora responds to this news by frantically continuing to eat the rest of the pie. Now with this being accidental cannibalism, that raises the question of why she would continue eating. There are a multitude of possible reasons for Tamora's response. While there is no explicit reason stated in the play it is often interpreted as a mother's last efforts to protect her children. That by consuming what is left of them they become one with her and therefore no more harm can befall them. Then that poses an interesting perspective in which the act of cannibalism is simply a means to encompass that of which you love most.
At surface level the act of cannibalism is the act of consuming parts of another human into yourself. This alone breaks the boundaries between yourself and another, making bodies intertwine in a way that is not otherwise possible. It is, however, possible for about 50% of the population to hold another person inside of them. Pregnancy is as common as the common cold and almost never seen as gruesome or disturbing. When expecting parents are carrying their baby, they are keeping it warm, healthy, and protected. The fetus is a part of them until it is delivered. That then brings into question what happens when one person willingly consumes the flesh of another? Two bodies that could never intersect finally becoming one. Is it an act of protection? an act of love? Or is it simply hunger being fulfilled?
Cannibalism is not often portrayed as a tender and loving act. It is more frequently seen as an obsessive and animalistic desire that is then acted out in an aggressive manner. In the act of cannibalism itself, the person doing the act is then taking parts of the other for themself. The concept of “having someone” is taken literally in this case, being that they have actually consumed part of the other's body. Can it not then stand to say that being willingly cannibalized is an act of surrendering yourself? And by giving yourself to your chosen person, they will have you in a way that no one else ever can, thereby solidifying your love as “forever.” This concept can apply to any kind of love: romantic, familial, platonic. However, it is ever present in romantic love and sexual desire.
We’ve talked about how cannibalism blurs the boundaries between bodies, but what we haven't touched on is why specifically eat the person we love? Eating and food have had romantic and sexual connotations long before cannibalism became involved. Think about Valentine's Day. What do people give their lovers? Chocolate, dipped strawberries, candy, pastries, the list goes on. This is because feeding a person in and of itself is an act of love. You are saying by eating this you are consuming my love for you. You are filling yourself up with my love, admiration, and in many cases, desire.
When looking at cannibalism as a metaphor, it is almost impossible to not at least touch on the religious connotations behind it. The Christian Eucharist, the symbolic eating and drinking of Christ's body and blood, has been around since the first century. This is an example of symbolic cannibalism, as those who attend the Catholic Church do not literally consume the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ. However, it is still relevant due to its cannibalistic connotations. By taking communion, those who participate are symbolically consuming bread and wine in place of flesh and blood.
“For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.” (John 6:54-58)
In this line Jesus Christ is instructing his followers to eat and drink his “flesh” and “blood.” This obviously being in a metaphorical sense; however, it is important to touch on the symbolic nature of this act. By taking holy communion the participants are agreeing to a merging of “souls—“dwelleth in me, and I in ”him”—that spiritually nourishes them. With this being an example of religious cannibalism, it is veering slightly off topic; however, in the religious context does that change the meaning of the act?
While there is an argument for religious and ritualistic cannibalism to be an entirely separate entity from romantic cannibalism, there is also reason to believe they are linked. The use of food in romantic and erotic spaces has already been a topic of discussion; however, I failed to express its underlying religious connotation.
For centuries humans have used food as a way of honoring the gods of our various religions. In nearly every religion there is some version of edible offerings made to the gods with the intention of honoring and worshiping them. Food is more than a means to survive. Every time you eat your favorite snack you are making the choice to enjoy that flavor. A human being can just as easily survive off of bland, unappetizing foods as they can hearty, seasoned meals and decadent desserts. Every time we eat, we are making a decision on what we will offer our taste buds, our throat, our stomach. This offering to ourselves is a form of self-worship.
The act of eating another is another form of worship. You are deciding not only that they are worthy of entering into your body but also that you will taste and savor them in a way that cannot otherwise be experienced. In other words, you will “have them in a way no one else ever will.”
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