Hungry This Summer? A Taste for Cannibals in Language, Culture—and English Lessons

Qu’ont en commun Hannibal Lecter, Jeffrey Dahmer et Jane Eyre ? 🧟‍♀️

What do Hannibal Lecter, Jeffrey Dahmer, and Jane Eyre have in common? 🧟‍♂️Believe it or not, they all reflect how the idea of the cannibal has evolved—from a terrifying figure in faraway lands to someone who might be your neighbor. And even our language shows it. Just think: how often have you heard someone say “You’re so cute I could eat you up”? Or “I made a killing”?

As an English teacher in Vincennes, I’ve seen how exploring odd words like cannibal can lead to surprisingly rich vocabulary—and insight. Whether you're taking an English course with CPF, learning through E-learning, or working with me in private tutoring in English, this is the kind of linguistic detour that makes the process memorable.

The Origins of “Cannibal”

The word cannibal comes from Caníbal, a Spanish rendering of the name Carib—an Indigenous group from the Caribbean.

When Spanish colonizers encountered these people, they described them as fierce and man-eating (whether true or not). From there, the word became associated with savagery, wildness, and the so-called “uncivilized other.”

👉 Cannibal was never just about eating people—it was a way to describe people who were “not like us.”

Cannibals and Colonialism

As a Master’s student, I spent a year researching how the idea of the cannibal functioned in literature and cultural history. In the 18th and 19th centuries, European writing often used the cannibal as a symbol of the exotic, the frightening, and the non-European. The image appeared in travel writing, scientific papers, and novels.

One famous example? The “madwoman in the attic” from Jane Eyre. Bertha Mason—Mr. Rochester’s secret wife from the Caribbean—is described using language that evokes both racial stereotypes and cannibalistic danger. She is “wild,” “animal-like,” and dangerous—a reflection of colonial fears of the “other.”

The Cannibal Comes Home

In the 20th and 21st centuries, the image of the cannibal shifted. It wasn’t someone from far away—it was someone like us. Or worse, someone among us.

Enter:

• Hannibal Lecter – cultured, brilliant, and terrifyingly human

• Jeffrey Dahmer – an ordinary man who shocked the world (and inspired a hit Netflix series)

These figures show a modern fear: not of the “savage,” but of the civilized person with a monstrous secret.

If you’re using my E-learning platform or following one of my CPF-eligible English courses, stories like The Silence of the Lambs or Dahmer can be unexpected tools for expanding your English comprehension. They’re rich in cultural references, idiomatic expressions, and advanced vocabulary.

Language That Eats

Even if we don’t realize it, cannibalism pops up in everyday English:

💬 Expression	💡 Meaning
“I could eat you up!”	A way to express extreme affection (especially to children or pets)
“I made a killing”	I earned a lot of money (especially in business)
“Devour a book”	To read something quickly and enthusiastically
“Bite someone’s head off”	To scold someone harshly
“Eat your heart out”	A teasing way to express jealousy or superiority

These metaphors reveal a strange truth: we use violent, even cannibalistic language to express love, success, and passion.

Same in French? You Bet. 🇫🇷

French isn’t much different:

• “Je vais te croquer !” (I’m going to munch you!)

• “Je le dévore des yeux” (I’m devouring him with my eyes)

• “C’est un vrai régal !” (It’s a real feast – said about someone or something delightful)

The cannibal is everywhere—even in compliments.

Cannibalism as a Language Learning Tool?

Strange as it may seem, horror films and thrillers like The Silence of the Lambs or Dahmer can actually be useful tools in E-learning. If you're following one of my English courses with CPF in Vincennes, try watching an episode in English with French subtitles—or vice versa. It’s spooky and educational.

This is exactly the kind of material I often recommend in my private lessons in English, especially for students who enjoy culture and want to learn naturally—without boring textbooks.

Conclusion:

From colonial fiction to urban legends, the cannibal keeps evolving—but always says something about our fears and fascinations. What does it mean that we “devour” what we love? Or “make a killing” in business?

What do our words say about our relationship with violence, desire, and identity? And what can they teach us—if we’re willing to look a little deeper?