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The Snake Warriors Sons Of The Tiger's Teeth Analysis

Decent Essays

In his 1990 literary article “The Snake Warriors-Sons of the Tiger’s Teeth” Neil Whitehead criticizes the shallow methods of data collection and analysis used to understand the mainland Carib people of what is now Venezuela and Guyana. To correct this he provides a more detailed look into the tactics and social significance of war in these cultures as well as the impact European intrusion had on the stablished practices.
Due to consistent foreign harassment and aggression Whitehead notes that the culture and customs in relation to war of the Caribs became “exaggerated and altered” (P.148) as a defensive necessity. The perpetual encroachment and atrocious conduct forced the Carib people to be in a constant cycle of warfare and violence. This circle created a means of “justifying military action” (P.149) against them where the European powers could give one-sided accounts of a constantly violent population while omitting the actions that caused such behaviour. If the perception of these people was of bloodthirsty cannibalistic savages instead of …show more content…

Slave trading and eventually settlement nearly forced them to complete annihilation and in defence they had to evolve long lasting traditions. When viewed without carefully contextualizing European impact these people can be misrepresented as aggressors who lived for war and carnage. An image Spain was happy to circulate. Actions the Europeans deemed deplorable such as cannibalism were entrenched rituals with highly respected significance and meaning. Whitehead wishes to analyse these customs as the local populations saw them and not what became of them when faced with the onslaught of gun powder. It is easy to dehumanize people beyond ones understanding but it is impossible to truly analyse the conflict and social upheaval the Carib population faced when viewed through the simplistic lens of barbaric

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