mbrace the word of God" (p. 26). With this, he shows his confidence that the Indians have the potential to equal the Europeans.Montaigne has a very different opinion of the natives. He shares the Shakespeares belief that language and culture are synonymous, but he differs in that he lauds the Indian tongue. Montaigne even goes so far as to compare Indian language with the most "civilized" language when he describes it as "a soft language, with an agreeable sound, somewhat like Greek in its endings" (Of Cannibals, p. 64). Montaigne also makes a point of describing the poetry and song of the Indians. The ability to create beautiful poetry certainly connotes civilization. Montaigne comments that "not only is there nothing barbarous in this fancy, but it is altogether Anacreontic" (Of Cannibals, p.64). Though the primary focus of Montaignes essays and In Defense of the Indians is to vouch for the humanity of the Indians, the works also share a second purpose. As chronicles of European action in the New World they proof that Shakespeare was not unique in his belief of the inequality between European and native. Like Prospero and his peers, the Europeans in Montaigne and de Las Casas never consider the fact that the natives have the right to self-determination. The Europeans take over the land, imposing a new religion, a new language, and a new status on the natives. It is not even as if the Europeans choose to ignore indigenous society; they do not entertain the possibility that a society can exist. Much like Prosperos treatment of Caliban, Montaigne and de Las Casas Europeans believe that the Indians are no more intelligent than animals, and just about as capable of organizing a society. This perceived inferiority justifies the natives enslavement. Shakespeare, Montaigne, and de Las Casas all describe the usurpation of land from the Indians. De Las Casas discourages taking land with force, claiming that it is wrong to wag...
