World Literature - Essay Example

The Heptameron story shows a similar view towards mankind, although it is not quite as pragmatic but more tragic. It shows how mankind when placed in situations that are difficult, or that don't let them get exactly what they want, will do all sorts of things regardless of their professed intentions or their supposed interest in things like chivalry. That is seen in how the tale of Florida and Amador ends up, and how both characters are seen to have made up ideals which do not match reality. Of Cannibals is an essay arguing for how to convert non-European people to act more "civilized" in the manner of the times.

It is very explicitly about how the European culture should push its own ways of living off on other people, which would give them a lot of power over them culturally as well as just by military might. These three pieces of work taken together give us a clear glimpse of some of the diverse ways people at the time thought about their fellow human beings and power.