Cannibal Quote by Joyce Cary
““The Professor looked like a Protestant saint when the cannibal offered him the choice of taking six wives or being boiled alive. He wanted to mortify some flesh, but he didn't know which.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Horse's Mouth by Joyce Cary, 1946
A professor faces a grotesque moral dilemma, highlighting absurdity of extreme choices and the desire for self‑discipline.
In simple terms: A scholar confronts a bizarre choice about wives or death.
Key Takeaway
Question the value of extreme sacrifices.
Themes
absurdity
morality
religion
Mood
ironic
darkly humorous
Type
literary
satirical
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- ethical decision making
- literary analysis
Key Concepts
existentialism
satire
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the choice reveal about societal values?
- How does satire expose moral contradictions?
A Different Perspective
The humor may mask deeper critique of religious hypocrisy.
