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The Savage Male - Four Levels and Question Answers | Mero Solution

                 THE SAVAGE MALE
                               -Marvin Harris (1927-2001)


1.LITERAL COMPREHENSION :
This is an Anthropology written by Marvin Harris. It Shows the connection between war-fares and male chauvinism by examining the life style of Yanomamo people. Yanomamo, a group of 10000 American Indian tribes men who in habit Brazil venezuela border are the fierce people according to their principal ethnographer Napoleon Chagnon of pennsylvania state university. They are most aggressive, war like and male oriented people In the world.
By the Time of typical Yonomamo male reaches maturity, he is covered with scars and wounds due to innumerable quarrels, duels and military raids .Yanomamo women are also full of bruises and scars caused by the violent encounter with the Rapists, seducers and their husbands. No Yanomamo women scapes the brutal tutelage of the hot-tempered, drug taking, warrior husband. All Yanomamo men physically abused their wives. kind husband merely bruise whereas fierce wants wound and kill.
One of the popular means of bullying one's wife is to Yank on the stick that women wear through pierced earlobes and irritated husband may yank so hard that the earlobes tear apart. wherever a husband suspects his wife of adultery or if the wife doesn't serve him and his guest properly, he bits wife with long fire wood, put the glowing firewood on her arm and swing and machete around her.

Like other male dominated societies, Yanomamo, societies take menstrual blood as evil and dangerous so when girl has her first menses, she is kept in a specially Constructed bamboo cage without giving food.Women are victimised since their childhood on. If a girl's little brother hits her, she is punished if she hits him back. The boys however are never punished for hitting anyone.

Professor Judith Shapiro of the university of Chicago emphasizes the passive role of women in Yanomamo society .According to her as far as marriage is concerned. men are the exchangers where as women are the exchanged. Even 8 or 9 years old girls prepare meal for their husbands, serve them, sleep near them and follow them about. A husband may attempt to have intercourse with his 8 years old bride. She witnessed a terrifying seen in which little girls were requesting their relatives to take them away from their assigned husband.

Dr. shapiro mentions that yanomamo women also expect to be man handled by their husbands. They measure their status by the no. of minor beatings their husband, give them. They endure the physical violence. In fact, the unbruised and unscarred body is the matter of concerned thinking that she might not have been getting proper attention from her husband.
Chagnon reports that male supremacy can be seen in the use of hallucinogenic drug which males only can use. They experience supernatural vision by inhaling ebene. They can visit with demon, Control evil process, endure the extremes of pain and overcome fear during duels. males get involved  in different duels. Chest pounding is one of the favourite game for mutual punishment in which one hits in another chest as hard as possible to the limit of his endurance. The men from the same village as well as from neighbouring villages are divided into host guest groups and involved in various duels such as side slapping, clup fight and the spear fight. In side slapping, opponent group strikes on the side just below the ribs with open hand. In Club fight, one strikes with 8-10 feet long pole on opponent's head and in the spear fight long, 6 feet long sharpened and designed sapling is used which can easily inflict wound.
Ambushes, treacherous feasts and stealthy raids at dawn are the popular models of Yanomamo warfare. once they get over boasting and dueling phase, their objective is too kill as many enemy man and capture women as possible. Thus, there is a completely unproved threat and violence against women in Yanomamo Society. Therefore, Yanomamo men are taken as the most savage males in the world.
2.INTERPRETATION :
This is a ‘true’ picture of the Yanomamo people given by an anthropologist. It shows that people have to struggle for existence. Those who are fit can survive and those who are weak cannot live freely. It also throws some light on the male supremacy in the society. The powerful always ruled over the weak. It also justifies the fact that human beings are basically savage. It also proves that the meaning of life to a man is to satisfy his ego.
3.CRITICAL THINKING :
This is an amazing research paper called ‘The Savage Male’ that highlights the fierce tribe of this world. But, there are some questions that arise in my mind.
1)Is it possible to beat your own son, wife and even your father without any merely?
2)Will there be no emotional attachment with people even after living with them for several years?
3)Is it possible to get supernatural powder by taking a hallucinogenic powder?
4.ASSIMILATION :
After reading this essay I came to know many things about male-oriented society. In such society, women and girls are always abused. They have to do what the male want. They make myths to prove males superior. But, on the other hand, males are more precocious and warlike. I become sad when I imagine the life of the Yanomamo people who always fighting and never at peace.


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SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERS :

Q.1.What is male chauvinism ?

ANSWER : Male chauvinism is practice of domination by males over females on the basis of genders.

Q.2.Why do Yanomamo women like to be beaten by their husbands ?
ANSWER : Yanomamo women expect to be manhandled by their husbands and that they measure their status as wives by the frequency of minor beatings their husbands give them. If husbands beats their wives they feel that they are really cared enough by their husbands. Therefore Yanomamo women like to be beaten by their husbands.

Q.3.How do you characterize the Yanomamo people on the basis of "the savage male"?
ANSWER : Yanomamo people are warriors. They are brutal and cruel, but they can also be delicate sensitive and loving.  The Yanomamo is one of the most aggressive ,warlike and male -oriented societies in the world. The body of adult males or females is covered with wounds and scars. Wife has to obey their husbands immediately. Otherwise they are punished .The fight against relatives and enemies is quite common. They pass most of the time by fighting .

Q.4.Why are the Yanomamo males called the most savage among existing human race ?
ANSWER : The Yanomamo is one of the most aggressive, war loving and male oriented societies in the world.The body of adult males or females are covered with the wounds and scars. Wives have to obey their husbands without any question . They pass most of time by fighting. The fight against the relatives and enemies is quite common.

Like other male dominated societies, Yanomamo societies take menstrual blood as evil and dangerous So when a girl has her first menses ,she is kept in a bamboo cage without giving food .women are victimise since their childhood on.
Professor Judith Shapiro of the university of Chicago emphasizes the passive role of women in yanomamo society. According  to her as far as marriage is concerned men are the exchangers whereas women are the exchanged. Even 8 or 9 years old girls prepare meal for their husbands, sleep near them and follow them about . Dr. Shapiro mentions that Yanamamo women also expect to be manhandled by their husbands. They measure their status as wives by the frequency of minor beating their husbands give them. If husbands beats their wives they feel that they are really cared enough.
Chagnon reports that male Supremacy can be seen in the use of hallucinogenic drug which males only can use named "ebene" which reliefs from pain and supposedly allows them to invisible demons. They can control evil process, endure the extremes of pain and overcome fear during duels. males get involved in different duels .Chest pounding is one of the favourite games for mutual punishment in which one hits in another chest as hard as possible to limit of his endurance.
Ambushes treacherous feasts and stealthy raids at dawn are the popular modes of Yanomamo warfare. Once they get boasting and dueling phase, their objective is too kill as many enemy man and capture as many enemy women as possible. Thus, there is a Completely unproved threat and violence against women in Yanomamo society.Therefore Yanomamo males are called the most savage among existing human race.

Q.5.On the basis of your reading of "The savage male" discuss few of the customs of the yanomamo people.
ANSWER : The Yanomamo is one of the most aggressive, war loving and male oriented societies in the world.The body of adult males or females are covered with the wounds and scars. Wives have to obey their husbands without any question . They pass most of time by fighting. The fight against the relatives and enemies is quite common.
Like other male dominated societies, Yanomamo societies take menstrual blood as evil and dangerous So when a girl has her first menses ,she is kept in a bamboo cage without giving food .women are victimise since their childhood on.
Professor Judith Shapiro of the university of Chicago emphasizes the passive role of women in yanomamo society. According  to her as far as marriage is concerned men are the exchangers whereas women are the exchanged. Even 8 or 9 years old girls prepare meal for their husbands, sleep near them and follow them about . Dr. Shapiro mentions that Yanamamo women also expect to be manhandled by their husbands. They measure their status as wives by the frequency of minor beating their husbands give them. If husbands beats their wives they feel that they are really cared enough.
Chagnon reports that male Supremacy can be seen in the use of hallucinogenic drug which males only can use named "ebene" which reliefs from pain and supposedly allows them to invisible demons. They can control evil process, endure the extremes of pain and overcome fear during duels. males get involved in different duels .Chest pounding is one of the favourite games for mutual punishment in which one hits in another chest as hard as possible to limit of his endurance.
Ambushes treacherous feasts and stealthy raids at dawn are the popular modes of Yanomamo warfare. Once they get boasting and dueling phase, their objective is too kill as many enemy man and capture as many enemy women as possible. Thus, there is a Completely unproved threat and violence against women in Yanomamo society.


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