Uncivilized Civilization: A Postcolonial Reading of Naufragios and the Indigenous Abstract Rejection of Cannibalism

This study conducts a postcolonial reading of Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca's Naufragios (۱۵۴۲), examining how it subverts European colonial stereotypes of Indigenous cannibalism during the Age of Discovery. The objective is to analyze the narrative's portrayal of European fears, the irony of Spaniards resorting to cannibalism amid dire circumstances, and the Indigenous peoples' horrified rejection of the act, drawing on Edward Said's concept of the "Other" to challenge dominant colonial discourses of superiority and alterity. Through close textual analysis and comparisons with accounts by explorers like Columbus, Vespucci, and Staden, the results reveal that Naufragios blurs the separation between colonizers and the colonized, highlighting Indigenous moral frameworks and exposing European misconceptions rooted in dogma rather than evidence. The narrative's subtle shifts in tone and ethnographic details further underscore natives' agency and humanity, contrasting with typical travelogues that emphasized savagery to justify domination. In conclusion, Naufragios not only critiques colonial representations but also influences decolonial scholarship, advocating for inclusive historical curricula that amplify diverse perspectives and recognize Indigenous voices, as seen in its impact on figures like Bartolomé de las Casas.

کلیدواژه ها:

postcolonial reading ، Naufragios ، cannibalism ، Indigenous rejection ، colonial stereotypes ، European fears ، alterity ، decolonial implications