Cannibalism In Jamestown Colony And The Donner Party
Cannibalism is something that has been countlessly embedded in historical and cultural context as something performed or expressed with ritual means(“Cannibalism”);
Although it has also been seen generally as an act of utmost desperation, and at its utmost extent it is the human consumption of one another whether out of extreme situations, or a mentally unstable rationale.(“Dictionary”) Throughout history there have always been textbook example of such occurrences; Such as in the Jamestown
Colony and the Donner Party. Both were horrific accounts of occurrences due to lack of hindsight and a hint of both ignorance and arrogance. Furthermore they were very preventable. Regardless of that there was still legal measures that had to be taken …show more content…
topunish such crimes against humanity. If not what would happen to the survivors of both crimes? Although that also leads to a big question; Which occurrence was more excusable? It is within my personal belief that with the occurrence at Jamestown being completely preventable the actions of the Donner party are more exculpable.
With cannibalism being a relatively sensitive topic one must discuss the basics. First off, to even begin to understand both situations one must first analyze the general background of both occurrences happened. Questions such as who, what, when , or more importantly why have to be answered thoroughly. Not only that but to comprehend which one was more excusable both situations must be viewed as if within their respective timeframes. That also brings up the point of what laws were used (if at all) to perpetrate the crime of cannibalism. Although generally to see the rationale behind which one could even possibly be viewed as ‘better’ it must be viewed from not just a moral but a social and legal standpoint.
To commence Jamestown was established as a virginian colony in 1607 and it was the 1st permanent english colony. Colonial Jamestown was founded by multipleinvestors seeking profit and then backed by King James I. Upon the colonists arrival there was an obvious struggle to thrive ahead of them. The colonist where upper class english gentleman whom lacked any sufficient laboring skills. Eventually the unfamiliar climate, tainted water supply, and lack of food seemed to prove a great adversary.It wasn’t long before some colonist resorted to stealing food from the natives and or raiding their lands for it. Plus that certainly wasn 't helpful since it turned their already poor relations with the native Powhatan indians even worse and eventually lead them into warfare.
What little will the englishman had to for survival, was something their leader John Smith attempted to salvage with his “no work, no food” slogan. All of these factors of course lead to disease, starvation, and death of the colonists. Quickly following these obvious signs of desperation came cannibalism. The colony was rapidly failing and it wasn 't until the first two women came in 1609 that any changes occurred. More specifically the winter of 1809-1810 starvation was setting in and unavoidable. Settlers ate dogs, cats horses, vermins, and leather before resorting to cannibalism. There was even a recorded instance of a man attacking and consuminghis thoroughly pregnant wife before chopping her and salting her to be used as a meal.
Of course the gruesome event lead to a public lynching. (“Gardiner”) “When spring came it became apparent that out of the 500 colonists recorded in the fall of 1609 only
60 remained when spring came.” Nothing really changed until september 1610 truly ended when new settlers came, and along with them came the fundamental leadership and skills needed to have a fully functioning colony thus ending the three years of chaos. (“History …show more content…
Is”)
Following that theres the Donner party occurrence. The donner party was a group of emigrants from springfield illinois that dreamt of migrating to california. In april of 1846 they were led by Jacob and George Donner on the Californian trail. They followed the trail until Fort Bridger where their trail guide Lansford Hastings mentioned a shorter route to California. The group of 89 decided to go, and of course it ended up being the worst decision they could make since it ended up with them losing precious time which was crucial since winter was quickly approaching in the mountainous area. Eventually getting lost the donner party became trapped in a snow storm that buried and strandedthem until spring. After exhausting their already decimating level of food and water they began to eat their cattle, followed by their pets, than their leather, than after exhausting all other options, each other. Due to the lack of communication they didn 't receive a swift rescue. It wasn 't until later on when actually being rescued was it revealed that out of the 89 only 45 remained. The tragic event led to even more adversity and bias that followed the survivors. It wasn 't long until this controversial event became known as the legendary tale of the Donner Party. (“History”)
While knowing the background of both occurrences is crucial another key component is knowing the laws that were being upheld during both occurrences. Yet here is where the trouble lies since cannibalism is something said to exist outside the bounds of the law, and justly so due to the nature of the act. It is something not commonly done that someone can be so easily persecuted in the eyes of the law due to the controversy that comes with it. In the instance of Jamestown legal enforcement wasn’t really sustained until the new settlers arrived in 1810. It was then that many were persecuted and punished, but it is unclear how such punishments were carriedout.
(“Mcneese”) Yet one can imagine that torturous methods -often used at the time- were used.(“Nicolles”) Although greatly contrasting those events the events that occurred within the Donner party were dealt in a very different manner. In this instance the survivors of the event were generally forgiven for their acts. The only one whom went through legal adversity was Lewis Keseberg, that of whom was accused with the murder of Tamsen Donner. But even in this case after the charges were relinquished he lived the rest of his life in exile as a pariah.
Another crucial point to look at is how societies views were on both events.
Generally public opinion was not even remotely great considering the controversy the taboo act of cannibalism is. After the Jamestown incident it was apparent that is was not viewed kindly by a social standpoint. Especially considering the thoroughly harsh punishments carried out. Similarly in the Donner party occurrence just the social media’s take on the situation made it obvious that the event was something no one would forget. It even ended up making most of them social parais. Consequently it’sextremely obvious that from a social standpoint there is a negative view
on cannibalism, even if the extremity of it variates.
While it’s understandable that both occurrences can be seen as equally horrible it’s likely that some would argue that the actions that occurred in Jamestown were more excusable. Some would even go as far to say that the choices the Donner party were highly illogical and the truth is you can’t fully negate that. Also that they should’ve been better prepared for the harsh conditions expected of the area they were in. The Donner party should have understood their limitations and not have attempted to even undergo an unreliable ‘shortcut.’ On the point of Jamestown the fact that they couldn’t have known what would be waiting for them in the americas could be added to the argument.
Or even that there was no way they could have been prepared to fight of the native americans. Plus it technically wasn 't their fault that the elements caused travesty such as severe drought. Regardless of that there are still various undeniable actions they could have taken to prevent and or survive such things.To commence, it really wasn’t a bright idea to have inexperienced english
‘gentlemen’ successfully settle a colony. Someone should applaud the man that entertained the notion that they would actually thrive without any guidance as to how to maintain a colony. Furthermore it really wasn 't shocking but rather something to be expected that no one wanted to work. The upper middle class citizens probably thought it would be easy and that everything would be laid out for them, but apparently they must 've been dead wrong. Regardless of any of that no one had the hindsight to realize that none of these british gents had any training in the farming field. Did someone truly believe that they had enough food to last them forever? They couldn’t even maintain a clean water supply for gods sake.
Now on the topic of the native americans it was truly their own fault for instigating war from them. I’m sure most of them had heard tales of the explorers having gone there before them that simply just being in the Americas was no picnic. Most knew that with going to settle in virginia there would be very apparent dangers lurking around every corner. So it must 've been very clear to them that the natives saw them as athreat to their society so to even have stolen food from them so blatantly was a ludicrous notion. The actions of the Jamestown settlers were entirely avoidable and as such didn’t have to lead to cannibalism.
Accordingly the Donner party occurrence wasn 't really avoidable.They truly believed that the trail was legitimate. Prior to taking the route they were countlessly assured that it was safe by a reliable trail guide. No one could have really known that they would become stranded within the mountains at such a horrid timing. No one could have even expected such weather to have occurred. Even today weather can’t be a hundred percent predicted because there is always margin for error. Furthermore all members of the party had exhausted every possible solution before resorting to cannibalism; some even chose to starve to death. Them participating in the heinous act of taboo was truly something defined as an unnegatable act of desperation.
As previously mentioned Cannibalism is a recurring factor in history, and it is something that generally is done as an extreme act of despondency. The Donner Party in particular being a more excusable act when compared to the instances in colonialJamestown. Appalling acts such as these truly are lamentable part of history. In modern day it still happens, even if rarely. For instance the Rudy Eugene and Ronald
Poppo case that fell into pop culture(“West”), or the even more recently the horrific details of the concealed cannibalism occurring in the highly reserved country of North
Korea where some have even gotten executed for being caught eating and or selling human flesh. There was also an instance when a farmer killed his children and ate them while his wife was away on a trip than offered ‘meat’ to her before she reported him to the authorities..(“Nelson”) In summation, cannibalism is a truly vile act of taboo and “nothing more strongly arouses our disgust than cannibalism...”(“Brainy”)
Works Cited
Brainy Quotes. Book Rags Media, n.d. Web. 13 May 2013.
. Nothing more strongly arouses our disgust than cannibalism, yet we make the same impression on
Buddhists and vegetarians, for we feed on babies, though not our own.Cannibalism and the Colonial World. Ed. Francis Barker, Peter Hulme, and Margaret
Iversen. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1998. Print.
Dictionary. Random House, n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2013.
.
Gardiner, Tyler Lyon. Accounts of Virginia’s Starving Time. 1907. Facts on File. Web.
24 Apr. 2013.
.
History. http://www.history.com/topics/donner-party, n.d. Web. 14 May 2013.
.History Is Fun. Jamestown-Yorktown Settlement, n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2013.
.
Mcneese, Tim. “The Starving Time.” 7. Colonial Settlements in America. New York:
Chelsea HP, 2007. N. pag. Facts on File. Web. 24 Apr. 2013.
.
Nelson, Sarah C. “North Korea Cannibalism Fears Amid Reports Famine-Stricken
Citizens ‘Forced To Dig Up Corpses & Eat Their Children.’” Huffington Post. HPMG
News, 28 Jan. 2013. Web. 13 May 2013.
.Nicholles, Mark. “Cannibalism in Early Jamestown.” History. Colonial Williamsburg
Journal, 2007. Web. 22 Apr. 2013.
.
West, Alex. “Zombie drug warning as four ‘cannibals’ strike.” The Sun. News Group
Newspapers, 8 June 2012. Web. 13 May 2013.
.
Although it has also been seen generally as an act of utmost desperation, and at its utmost extent it is the human consumption of one another whether out of extreme situations, or a mentally unstable rationale.(“Dictionary”) Throughout history there have always been textbook example of such occurrences; Such as in the Jamestown
Colony and the Donner Party. Both were horrific accounts of occurrences due to lack of hindsight and a hint of both ignorance and arrogance. Furthermore they were very preventable. Regardless of that there was still legal measures that had to be taken …show more content…
topunish such crimes against humanity. If not what would happen to the survivors of both crimes? Although that also leads to a big question; Which occurrence was more excusable? It is within my personal belief that with the occurrence at Jamestown being completely preventable the actions of the Donner party are more exculpable.
With cannibalism being a relatively sensitive topic one must discuss the basics. First off, to even begin to understand both situations one must first analyze the general background of both occurrences happened. Questions such as who, what, when , or more importantly why have to be answered thoroughly. Not only that but to comprehend which one was more excusable both situations must be viewed as if within their respective timeframes. That also brings up the point of what laws were used (if at all) to perpetrate the crime of cannibalism. Although generally to see the rationale behind which one could even possibly be viewed as ‘better’ it must be viewed from not just a moral but a social and legal standpoint.
To commence Jamestown was established as a virginian colony in 1607 and it was the 1st permanent english colony. Colonial Jamestown was founded by multipleinvestors seeking profit and then backed by King James I. Upon the colonists arrival there was an obvious struggle to thrive ahead of them. The colonist where upper class english gentleman whom lacked any sufficient laboring skills. Eventually the unfamiliar climate, tainted water supply, and lack of food seemed to prove a great adversary.It wasn’t long before some colonist resorted to stealing food from the natives and or raiding their lands for it. Plus that certainly wasn 't helpful since it turned their already poor relations with the native Powhatan indians even worse and eventually lead them into warfare.
What little will the englishman had to for survival, was something their leader John Smith attempted to salvage with his “no work, no food” slogan. All of these factors of course lead to disease, starvation, and death of the colonists. Quickly following these obvious signs of desperation came cannibalism. The colony was rapidly failing and it wasn 't until the first two women came in 1609 that any changes occurred. More specifically the winter of 1809-1810 starvation was setting in and unavoidable. Settlers ate dogs, cats horses, vermins, and leather before resorting to cannibalism. There was even a recorded instance of a man attacking and consuminghis thoroughly pregnant wife before chopping her and salting her to be used as a meal.
Of course the gruesome event lead to a public lynching. (“Gardiner”) “When spring came it became apparent that out of the 500 colonists recorded in the fall of 1609 only
60 remained when spring came.” Nothing really changed until september 1610 truly ended when new settlers came, and along with them came the fundamental leadership and skills needed to have a fully functioning colony thus ending the three years of chaos. (“History …show more content…
Is”)
Following that theres the Donner party occurrence. The donner party was a group of emigrants from springfield illinois that dreamt of migrating to california. In april of 1846 they were led by Jacob and George Donner on the Californian trail. They followed the trail until Fort Bridger where their trail guide Lansford Hastings mentioned a shorter route to California. The group of 89 decided to go, and of course it ended up being the worst decision they could make since it ended up with them losing precious time which was crucial since winter was quickly approaching in the mountainous area. Eventually getting lost the donner party became trapped in a snow storm that buried and strandedthem until spring. After exhausting their already decimating level of food and water they began to eat their cattle, followed by their pets, than their leather, than after exhausting all other options, each other. Due to the lack of communication they didn 't receive a swift rescue. It wasn 't until later on when actually being rescued was it revealed that out of the 89 only 45 remained. The tragic event led to even more adversity and bias that followed the survivors. It wasn 't long until this controversial event became known as the legendary tale of the Donner Party. (“History”)
While knowing the background of both occurrences is crucial another key component is knowing the laws that were being upheld during both occurrences. Yet here is where the trouble lies since cannibalism is something said to exist outside the bounds of the law, and justly so due to the nature of the act. It is something not commonly done that someone can be so easily persecuted in the eyes of the law due to the controversy that comes with it. In the instance of Jamestown legal enforcement wasn’t really sustained until the new settlers arrived in 1810. It was then that many were persecuted and punished, but it is unclear how such punishments were carriedout.
(“Mcneese”) Yet one can imagine that torturous methods -often used at the time- were used.(“Nicolles”) Although greatly contrasting those events the events that occurred within the Donner party were dealt in a very different manner. In this instance the survivors of the event were generally forgiven for their acts. The only one whom went through legal adversity was Lewis Keseberg, that of whom was accused with the murder of Tamsen Donner. But even in this case after the charges were relinquished he lived the rest of his life in exile as a pariah.
Another crucial point to look at is how societies views were on both events.
Generally public opinion was not even remotely great considering the controversy the taboo act of cannibalism is. After the Jamestown incident it was apparent that is was not viewed kindly by a social standpoint. Especially considering the thoroughly harsh punishments carried out. Similarly in the Donner party occurrence just the social media’s take on the situation made it obvious that the event was something no one would forget. It even ended up making most of them social parais. Consequently it’sextremely obvious that from a social standpoint there is a negative view
on cannibalism, even if the extremity of it variates.
While it’s understandable that both occurrences can be seen as equally horrible it’s likely that some would argue that the actions that occurred in Jamestown were more excusable. Some would even go as far to say that the choices the Donner party were highly illogical and the truth is you can’t fully negate that. Also that they should’ve been better prepared for the harsh conditions expected of the area they were in. The Donner party should have understood their limitations and not have attempted to even undergo an unreliable ‘shortcut.’ On the point of Jamestown the fact that they couldn’t have known what would be waiting for them in the americas could be added to the argument.
Or even that there was no way they could have been prepared to fight of the native americans. Plus it technically wasn 't their fault that the elements caused travesty such as severe drought. Regardless of that there are still various undeniable actions they could have taken to prevent and or survive such things.To commence, it really wasn’t a bright idea to have inexperienced english
‘gentlemen’ successfully settle a colony. Someone should applaud the man that entertained the notion that they would actually thrive without any guidance as to how to maintain a colony. Furthermore it really wasn 't shocking but rather something to be expected that no one wanted to work. The upper middle class citizens probably thought it would be easy and that everything would be laid out for them, but apparently they must 've been dead wrong. Regardless of any of that no one had the hindsight to realize that none of these british gents had any training in the farming field. Did someone truly believe that they had enough food to last them forever? They couldn’t even maintain a clean water supply for gods sake.
Now on the topic of the native americans it was truly their own fault for instigating war from them. I’m sure most of them had heard tales of the explorers having gone there before them that simply just being in the Americas was no picnic. Most knew that with going to settle in virginia there would be very apparent dangers lurking around every corner. So it must 've been very clear to them that the natives saw them as athreat to their society so to even have stolen food from them so blatantly was a ludicrous notion. The actions of the Jamestown settlers were entirely avoidable and as such didn’t have to lead to cannibalism.
Accordingly the Donner party occurrence wasn 't really avoidable.They truly believed that the trail was legitimate. Prior to taking the route they were countlessly assured that it was safe by a reliable trail guide. No one could have really known that they would become stranded within the mountains at such a horrid timing. No one could have even expected such weather to have occurred. Even today weather can’t be a hundred percent predicted because there is always margin for error. Furthermore all members of the party had exhausted every possible solution before resorting to cannibalism; some even chose to starve to death. Them participating in the heinous act of taboo was truly something defined as an unnegatable act of desperation.
As previously mentioned Cannibalism is a recurring factor in history, and it is something that generally is done as an extreme act of despondency. The Donner Party in particular being a more excusable act when compared to the instances in colonialJamestown. Appalling acts such as these truly are lamentable part of history. In modern day it still happens, even if rarely. For instance the Rudy Eugene and Ronald
Poppo case that fell into pop culture(“West”), or the even more recently the horrific details of the concealed cannibalism occurring in the highly reserved country of North
Korea where some have even gotten executed for being caught eating and or selling human flesh. There was also an instance when a farmer killed his children and ate them while his wife was away on a trip than offered ‘meat’ to her before she reported him to the authorities..(“Nelson”) In summation, cannibalism is a truly vile act of taboo and “nothing more strongly arouses our disgust than cannibalism...”(“Brainy”)
Works Cited
Brainy Quotes. Book Rags Media, n.d. Web. 13 May 2013.
. Nothing more strongly arouses our disgust than cannibalism, yet we make the same impression on
Buddhists and vegetarians, for we feed on babies, though not our own.Cannibalism and the Colonial World. Ed. Francis Barker, Peter Hulme, and Margaret
Iversen. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1998. Print.
Dictionary. Random House, n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2013.
.
Gardiner, Tyler Lyon. Accounts of Virginia’s Starving Time. 1907. Facts on File. Web.
24 Apr. 2013.
.
History. http://www.history.com/topics/donner-party, n.d. Web. 14 May 2013.
.History Is Fun. Jamestown-Yorktown Settlement, n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2013.
.
Mcneese, Tim. “The Starving Time.” 7. Colonial Settlements in America. New York:
Chelsea HP, 2007. N. pag. Facts on File. Web. 24 Apr. 2013.
.
Nelson, Sarah C. “North Korea Cannibalism Fears Amid Reports Famine-Stricken
Citizens ‘Forced To Dig Up Corpses & Eat Their Children.’” Huffington Post. HPMG
News, 28 Jan. 2013. Web. 13 May 2013.
.Nicholles, Mark. “Cannibalism in Early Jamestown.” History. Colonial Williamsburg
Journal, 2007. Web. 22 Apr. 2013.
.
West, Alex. “Zombie drug warning as four ‘cannibals’ strike.” The Sun. News Group
Newspapers, 8 June 2012. Web. 13 May 2013.
.