To Amuse the Mouth: Anthropophagy in Thomas Harris's Tetralogy of Hannibal Lecter Novels

Abstract

The article is divided into two sections, like a two-course meal. The first section begins by defining food before considering some cultural aspects of what constitutes normal/permissible versus abnormal/non-permissible comestibles; it rounds out with a brief subsection devoted to anthropophagy. The second section discusses canni­balism (and some of its associated processes, such as decapitation and eviscera­tion) as themes in Thomas Harris's tetralogy of novels featuring the psychi­atrist/serial killer/cannibal, Hannibal Lecter. Cumulatively, the two sections seek to explore and explain how and why, in Hannibal Lecter's case, "Der Mensch ist was er isst" (Man is what he eats).

Opsomming
Die betrokke artikel word in twee afdelings verdeel, soos 'n tweegangmaaltyd. Die eerste afdeling begin met die definisie van dit wat eetbaar is en oorweeg etlike kulturele aspekte wat normale/toelaatbare teenoor abnormale/ontoelaatbare voedsel uitmaak. Verder word die spesifieke afdeling afgerond met 'n kort onderafdeling wat oor antropofagie handel. Die tweede afdeling bespreek kannibalisme asook enkele prosesse wat daarmee geassosieer word soos onthoofding en oopvlekking (die verwydering van die ingewande), wat as temas in Thomas Harris se tetralogie van romans figureer en wat die psigiater/reeksmoordenaar/kannibaal, Hannibal Lecter, uitbeeld. Die twee afdelings poog om kumulatief ondersoek in te stel en te verduidelik hoe en waarom, soos in Hannibal Lecter se geval, "Der Mensch ist was eri isst "(Die mens is wat hy eet).