Montaigne on Cannibals Essay

Ideally, even the methods used to solve the problems were questionable and would attract criticism if used today. Montaigne attributes this to the knowledge that their reasoning had not been fully exposed to handle every challenge they encountered. The same way customs define nations today, it also directed the barbarians so that they saw nothing wrong in what they did. It was part of their culture and at that point in time, no law of reason had set in. Montaigne blames the customs and opinions of our origins which he says have clouded our judgment about what is true and proper (Montaigne 2). In the Popol Vuh text, the practices of Mayan people can be classified as uncouth and its people termed as savages.

Offering human and blood sacrifices were a common ritual for the Mayan people living on the surface of the earth. Sacrifices were performed to appease the gods so that they can be protected from calamities like diseases. Through sacrifices, the Mayan people believed that the gods would bless them with abundant rain and enough food to feed on. The Lords of Xibalba living in the underground world also performed sacrifices but for completely different reasons. They were acting arrogantly by playing the ball above the surface of the earth. Apart from this, the Lords One Death and Seven Death were also interested in the items used by One Hunahpu and Seven Hunahpu to play ball (Mark 111). They sent their messengers to summon the twins to go to the underworld and play football.

The messengers told the twins that they were expected to carry their arm protectors, face masks, headdresses, leather, and yokes as well. Human beings way of thinking is that there must be a strong motive for an individual to kill another. In the end, the Lords decided to order for their own sacrifice with the thought that they would be revived. This did not happen and all Xibalbans took off in fright. After the defeat of the Lords of Xibalbans, it was declared that they would be reduced to feeding on croton sap as opposed to human blood that they were accustomed to. This is evidenced in the text where Hunahpu and Xbalanque told the lords that “Your offerings also will never again be great.

They will henceforth be reduced to croton sap. They said, “Very well then. Question her about this, and when she doesn’t tell, she will be sacrificed. She will go far away to be sacrificed” (Maestri 118, 119). Her father directed the messengers and said, “Sacrifice her, you war councilors,” “Then bring back her heart inside a bowl so that the lords may examine it this day. ” The tool to be used in the sacrifice was the White Dagger of Xibalba. They were not pardoned when they committed a mistake. Hunahpu and Xbalanque tricked One Death and Seven Death into agreeing to be killed and be revived. The Lords said, “Do it to us! Sacrifice us!” “Sacrifice us in the same way. ”The first Lord to be sacrificed was One Death but he was not revived.