Cannibalism as a metaphor of stuff:
TW: cannibalismâŚMentions of murder, power imbalances and some other stuff Iâll try to label later.
I dunno this a random ramble, cause I remember the cannibalism as a metaphor for love, and then I saw a post of someone saying cannibalism is a better metaphor for obsession.
So I wonder about what cannibalism can be a metaphor for. These are just my thoughts, I might add to them.
Cannibalism as a metaphor for obsession (TW: For the obvious, cannibalism, murder and harm)
This desire to be so connected with a person you want to be consumed by them. To become part of them and to flow through their blood and literally become part of the energy that keeps them alive, or wanting to consume someone so you could keep them to yourself forever and ever, to have them with you at all times and to have them literally become part of your life source.
While some can see this as describing intense love, I personally see it as obsession. An obsession so intense you want to become one with the person, to consume them and take them apart. It can easily be a selfish act, as it results in the death and destruction of yourself or whom you love for your own gain and happiness.
I personally feel cannibalism (especially if you kill the person before you consume themâŚ) as a metaphor for obsession works better. Because love doesnât necessarily result in the death or destruction of one of the parties, but cannibalism does. Obsession can easily take a negative toll on both people, but especially the one whoâs being obsessed over. Cannibalism is hurtful to the one whoâs being consumed.
Cannibalism as a metaphor for hunger for power:
TW: Power imbalance, potential abuse/manipulation mentions
The idea of cannibalism to me, also includes consuming others for energy. When you eat someone, your body will digest and absorb any carbohydrates, fats, proteins, nutrients and minerals they provide you. They become a food source, an energy source. But aside from the literal sense of getting energy, you gain power over the people you consume. You force them into their worst positions for you to take advantage of and consume. You gain power physically (your own body being able to make use of the nutrients and substances the other personâs body provides), and you also gain power over the individual. You become the stronger one when you corner them to cannibalise them. Youâre the stronger person, youâre the one with power. To take from a person till they are weak and vulnerable and continue to take all value from themâŚ
I feel cannibalism does good as a metaphor for hunger of power. to consume people and their âstrengthâ, and to gain power over them in the process. You become feared for what youâve done, and that in turn makes you more powerful too.
Cannibalism as a metaphor of sustaining yourself
TW: Bodily harm, self-harm
Auto-cannibalism. Some people think of it as literally taking parts of your limbs off and eating them to survive in a dire situation, but auto cannibalism can also include consuming your own hair or your nails.
People never consider eating themselves unless it is a form of survival. Similarly, some people chew their nails or eat their own hair to soothe their anxiety.
In a way, cannibalism (specifically auto-cannibalism) can be seen as a metaphor of sustaining yourself. Is it a healthy way to sustain yourself? No. But itâs a way to sustain yourself and keep going. A character could have an obsession with one day needing to eat parts of their own body because they believe that is the only way they can potentially sustain themself one day. An acceptance to resort to auto-cannibalism to survive can be seen as a desire to sustain oneself even at the lost of parts of yourself as well.
Cannibalism as a metaphor for harmful desires
Tw: self-harm, harm towards others, bullying, assault mentions/implications, death, potential implications of suicide, power imbalances.
Cannibalism is always harmful, and will always cause some form of harm to the party being âcannibalisedâ.
So you could also logically say desires to hurt others or do horrible things to others or even yourself could be represented through cannibalism. You gain something through cannibalism, while the other part loses something.
for example, a bully in a story could refer to their victims as âmeatâ or a âmealâ, because the bullies are literally preying and thriving off harming their victims, gaining more power and satisfaction over the people they bully, while the victims lose confidence and receive physical or mental harm, and potentially lose their lives from the bullying.
An abuser could similarly refer or see their victims as meat or food. The symbolism of cannibalism being shown in them preying and thriving off the suffering of their victims.
âeating someoneâ could be loosely seen as eating or thriving off the harm you cause them, or eating at their self confidence or esteem for your own personal gain.
Cannibalism as a metaphor for greed/gluttony
Tw: Single mention of murder
do you ever get so greedy or so gluttonous youâre willing to try anything and everything to chase after more satisfaction? To gain more and more satisfaction and joy to the point you are potentially willing to give a go at consuming someone else to see how it feels?
Cannibalism could be used as such a metaphor, with the craving and desire for more or an endless amount resulting in wanting to consume others around you to gain their material possessions or to keep gaining more and more whether itâs in terms of valuables, a body count (murder wise), or just to simply eat more and eat something no animal flesh or plant life can provide you.
I honestly donât know what Iâm writing, I might add more to thisâŚwill update.