Montaigne

Michel de Montaigne describes barbarous as "whatever is not his own practice" (1653). Meaning that when you are accustomed to your own culture's practices of course they seem not only normal, but completely natural ways of life. However to the outside, some of your customs could be considered barbarous simply because they are not someone else's. Michel explains, "we should be so blind to our own. I think there is more barbarity in eating a man alive than in eating him dead; and in tearing by tortures and the rack a body still full of feeling, in roasting a man bit by bit, in having him bitten and mangled by dogs and swine than in roasting him and eating him after he is dead" (1656). What Michel is attempting to prove is that while many Europeans would consider any form of Cannibalism barbarous, he is trying to put perspective on what it own how European culture is barbarous. While this "barbarous" culture does eat the flesh of other humans, at least they quickly kill and then eat the person. On the other hand, Europeans commit many heinous acts to their fellow humans, such as burning them alive! Therefore, according to Michel, barbarous is a state of mind, a concept only fueled by what is different from your own accepted acts of barbarianism. 

Even with the current global world, many people fail to recognize their own acts of barbarianism for what they are, only seeing barbarous acts in other cultures, even myself. The idea of an arranged marriage in America is almost unheard of. Yet, in many countries, such as India, this is a very normal practice. The idea of not being able to choose who you make such a commitment to for the rest of your life seems like a very barbarian concept. However, as I have learned more about the deep respect children have for their parents, as well as the good intentions parents have for their children, the whole process begins to seem a little bit more sentimental. In a way, my own parents opinion and values does influence who I choose to marry.

Works Cited

de Montaigne, Michel. “From Essays.” The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Ed. Martin

            Puchner. Vol. 1. New York: W.W. Norton, 2013. 1650-1665. Print.