The Hunger Games of Medieval Racism

When the popular book series The Hunger Games was announced to be adapted into a movie series, fans went ballistic. Fans were ecstatic to see the action filled novels come to life along with the accompaniment of its developed characters. However, when the race of the character Rue was leaked, fans were not accepting. Fans started to tweet and blog hateful, derogatory, racist comments directed towards the actress, Amandla Stenburg, who played Rue due to her African American race. They firmly believed “it was a not a role for a n****r.” Although The Hunger Games is not within the medieval category, it is still correlates with the topic of colorism, racism and Helen Young ideology of “Habits of Whiteness” in fictional works.

 Within the numerous tales of medieval fantasy in J.R.R Tolkien’s book, The Silmarillion, he tells the story of Eol, the Dark Elf and Aredhel, the “White Lady of Noldor” (131, The Silmarillion). Aredhel became weary of the Gondolin and departed. She left Gondoli with her guard who was sent by her brother Turgon for her protection; however, she became separated from her guard. She later found her way to the people of Celegorm before leaving once again. Soon after her second leave, she runs into Eol who loved the darkness and refused to interact with the bright rays of the sun. Eol despised the Nordor blaming them for the return of Morgoth. He observed Aredhel lost in the woods. "Very fair she seemed to him, and he desired her; and he set his enchantments about her so that she could not find the ways out, but drew ever nearer to his dim halls, and such servants as he had, silent and secret as their master" (p. 133, The Silmarillion). He later made her his wife. Tolkien made a rather obvious discrepancy between Eol and Aredhel. Eol acquires the characteristics of dark hair and a darker skin tone. In contrast, Aredhel acquires the characteristics of light hair and fair skin and is perceived as beautiful from the written details of Tolkien. Eol is perceived to the audience as man who takes advantage of “a beautiful white woman” and is later punished for his actions. This ideology was prevalent mostly in the early 20th century as men of color were scrutinized for simply glancing or talking to a white woman.

Helen Young’s “Whiteness” study is used immensely in the tale of Eol and Aredhel. Young’s belief is “the spaces of genre-culture have acquired the shape of the White bodies that have habitually occupied them for decades” (11, Race and Popular Culture Fantasy: Habits of Whiteness). The moral regarding this ideology is that “Whiteness” may never demolish in medieval studies let alone in modern day, pop culture. 

The slander of POCs in the medieval community continues to grow. POCs are encouraged to not engage in the contemporary fan communities unless they “pass as white” or do not ask any questions especially regarding race that may cause controversy. “Whiteness” has existed in the medievalism for very long time and still continues to dwell into today’s society.


However, Young’s ideology can change. If we keep repeating the same stories about the Middle Ages and let them unravel into pop culture, then we’ll continue to tell them to the same people not making a change. One way of implementing this change is by providing historical authenticity to creators and consumers of popular culture in a medium that is accessible. The best and most beneficial way is to eliminate the primary evil itself, racism.

-       Kianna Marrs

Comments

  1. UnknownFebruary 21, 2018 at 6:36 PM

    It really comes to show that people really are influenced by what they learn and see around them. Tolkien has a clear separation between what white and black means. This is not a bad thing as most people use the separation of white and black to explain many differences but the idea of categorizing people in this matter is a bit disturbing. As it is explained many people don’t have a clear understanding of what the Middle Ages were. There is much more to fantasy then we allow ourselves to see but just like you said if we follow what we see there will most likely be no change.

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  2. UnknownFebruary 21, 2018 at 11:35 PM

    To the story of Eol, Tolkien did portray him in a negative light through despicable intentions with Aredhel, "the white lady of Noldor" who is perceived as good. The way he was treated by those superior to him made him the person he was until the point his familys life was on the line. His son, Maeglin was also affected by the "darkness" of his father as he later betrays the Noldor by wanting his own desires over the safety of the land of his kin. Perspective over race are really influenced by treatment and portrayal of the individual.

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