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A review by n_asyikin_
Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A disturbing dystopia where cannibalism is legal that'd likely disturbed you long after you've read it.
Most dystopian novels are often set in a post-racial world, centering primarily white people, hence erasing the existence of others while appropriating minorities' struggles. Bazterrica though created an extension of our current realities, depicting most-likely-scenarios that account for the interplays between different power structures rooted in the interactions between race, gender & economic classes. And that makes this story more eerie.
The symbolisms implemented were brilliant, particularly relating to the significance of language & voice (i.e., speech). Marcos contemplated a lot on how people & society in general use language, especially in terms of legitimizing certain views or when othering certain groups. In other words, language here represented a tool of manipulation yielded by those in power & consumed by blind-followers or those made/chose to fall-in-line. This can be seen through Marcos' own observations on the use of more "comforting" words to represent horrifying realities as the norms were formed & adapted. The comparisons between pre- & post-dystopian changes made this obvious.
Language was also a manifestation of the perception & reality held at either societal- or individual-level. Marcos struggled with his own internal conflict to adapt in, what Bazterrica deemed, the post-Transition society (i.e., cannibalism became legal); this struggle came in the form of dissonance between his thoughts & what he explicitly expressed to others. This struggle is further exacerbated by the memories he has prior to the Transition, reminding him to a world where humanity & compassion used to be celebrated. Furthermore, the casual violence engaged by many also indicated how norms contribute to the "dark side" to humanity.
The silencing of the humans raised to be a food source (i.e., the heads) also indicated the unsettling cruelty they were subjected to while also highlighting the barbaric capacity other humans were capable off. These "heads" did not acquire language due to the environment they were raised in. Our capacity for language has been thought to give us that cognitive advantage that "promotes" us to a sapien species. The removal of the vocal cords not only ripped the heads of their ability to express, but the prevention from acquiring language literally erased their sense of humanity.
I cannot emphasized enough though how disturbing the story is; it is gory, unfathomable, difficult to take as it explicitly described how humans were used as livestock. It didn't escape me that Bazterrica was inherently making commentaries on the injustices faced by our current society induced by capitalism. Parallels can be seen relating to issues about cruelty in the agriculture industry, mass consumerism, trophy hunting. Bazterrica also touched upon how the masses tend to comply due to the difference in power structure. The progression in the story is such that compliance can lead to complete acceptance. Basically, it's adapt or perish; all basing on the structure provided by the powerful few.
Undeniably shocking & disturbing, 'Tender is the Flesh" is insightful & will leave you contemplate on what it means to be the "wise" species.
Most dystopian novels are often set in a post-racial world, centering primarily white people, hence erasing the existence of others while appropriating minorities' struggles. Bazterrica though created an extension of our current realities, depicting most-likely-scenarios that account for the interplays between different power structures rooted in the interactions between race, gender & economic classes. And that makes this story more eerie.
The symbolisms implemented were brilliant, particularly relating to the significance of language & voice (i.e., speech). Marcos contemplated a lot on how people & society in general use language, especially in terms of legitimizing certain views or when othering certain groups. In other words, language here represented a tool of manipulation yielded by those in power & consumed by blind-followers or those made/chose to fall-in-line. This can be seen
Language was also a manifestation of the perception & reality held at either societal- or individual-level. Marcos struggled with his own internal conflict to adapt in, what Bazterrica deemed, the post-Transition society (i.e., cannibalism became legal);
The silencing of the humans raised to be a food source (i.e., the heads) also indicated the unsettling cruelty they were subjected to while also highlighting the barbaric capacity other humans were capable off.
I cannot emphasized enough though how disturbing the story is; it is gory, unfathomable, difficult to take as it explicitly described how humans were used as livestock. It didn't escape me that Bazterrica was inherently making commentaries on the injustices faced by our current society induced by capitalism. Parallels can be seen relating to issues about cruelty in the agriculture industry, mass consumerism, trophy hunting. Bazterrica also touched upon how the masses tend to comply due to the difference in power structure. The progression in the story is such that compliance can lead to complete acceptance. Basically, it's adapt or perish; all basing on the structure provided by the powerful few.
Undeniably shocking & disturbing, 'Tender is the Flesh" is insightful & will leave you contemplate on what it means to be the "wise" species.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Animal death, Death, Blood, Rape, Vomit, and Cannibalism