Institutional Repository | Satya Wacana Christian University: Heteronormativity in J.R.R Tolkien's Return of the King
Heteronormativity in Tolkien’s Return of the King
Abstract
We live in a society with heteronormativity, where one should be heterosexual in order to be
accepted in the society. Analyzing The Return of the King, I want to show how the novel portrays
heteronormative norm in Middle-earth after the war. Matching the actions and images of characters
inside the book with binary opposition, heternormativity and queer theory, I found that the book
is telling about compulsory heterosexuality by giving rewards to the heteronormative characters
and punishments to the non-normative.
Keywords: Heteronormativity, Return of the King, Queer, Tolkien, Lord of the Rings,
Heterosexual, Reward, Punishment, Marginalization
Abstract
We live in a society with heteronormativity, where one should be heterosexual in order to be
accepted in the society. Analyzing The Return of the King, I want to show how the novel portrays
heteronormative norm in Middle-earth after the war. Matching the actions and images of characters
inside the book with binary opposition, heternormativity and queer theory, I found that the book
is telling about compulsory heterosexuality by giving rewards to the heteronormative characters
and punishments to the non-normative.
Keywords: Heteronormativity, Return of the King, Queer, Tolkien, Lord of the Rings,
Heterosexual, Reward, Punishment, Marginalization