one of the things i have real appreciation for in kotlc is how the methods of oppression in the elf world aren’t purely allegorical. let me explain. while there’s definitely room to critic the lack of diversity in race and sexuality in kotlc (although id argue it’d be very weird for a society so focused on genetic parings to be LGBT+ friendly), the way they explore this universe’s biases is really fascinating and especially useful for helping children unlearn biases ie: me unlearning my past biases as a child.
for example, the way the matchmaking system is so normalized in the society is honestly such a parallel to the real treatment of LGBT+ people and the treatment of interracial couples, BUT it’s not pure allegory. from my experiences, pure allegories tend to end up a bit problematic with an easy example being zootopia. in zootopia, the allegory revolves around race, but because people of color in the allegory are literal predators who used to eat the “white people,” it’s not really that great of an allegory. i still think it’s an overall good movie with good intentions, but i do think that’s a very important flaw in the writing.
but in kotlc, matchmaking is based off reproduction. it isn’t based on external features, but based off of “biological” success. it’s to ensure they have the most magical children possible. now the aspect of allegory that’s engrained here is that real world discrimination of love is also usually tied with eugenics, just like matchmaking. but shannon isn’t writing a scenario where say an ogre(biologically different species) fell in love with an elf. that’s something some fantasy authors do and while that’s not inherently problematic (although it’s weird when the more animalistic and brutal love interests are supposed to represent people of color), it often undermines the reality that in our world, all humans are the same species. we draw barriers between ourselves. and yes, these barriers are sometimes helpful such as my identity as a bi person, but they can also lead to harm when viewed as objectively immoral. shannon avoids this by having a system that doesn’t directly parallel the queer experience or interracial experience, choosing instead to make a different system of oppression that still manages to raise the same questions about real world minorities.
if for example we went with the cross-species metaphor, to especially young readers, it might come off as, well even tho certain people are biologically bred to be monsters and fundamentally different than humans, they still deserve romantic love.
whereas with matchmaking it’s very clearly shown that kesler and juline aren’t only compatible and healthy (arguably the healthiest couple in the series), but their kids are strong and feel loved.
speaking of their kids, another cool aspect to matchmaking is how being talentless is actually a pretty well executed parallel to being disabled. this comes from someone whose both mentally and physically disabled. now assuming shannon doesn’t cure rex’s, jensie’s, and kesler’s talents in the last book, the treatment of the talentless is so similar to how disabled people are treated irl.
lots of media tries to cover disability and only a few do it well. usually the disability is cancelled out by a magic power and suddenly it’s like “SEE DISABLED PEOPLE CAN OVERCOME INHERENT FLAWS WITHIN THEMSELVES TO FUNCTION AS ABELED BODIED :)” and that’s just not ideal for those of us who can’t.
take for example jensie and his stress about having not manifested yet. to me it reminds me of the experience of young adults trying to go into the work force or college with significant handicaps that are either physical or mental. his friends abandon him. he doesn’t come from a family with any talentless. and now he might not get into the higher levels (ie college) and therefore be regulated to a working class job for the rest of his life.
kesler and rex are both similar but i can do a whole debrief on them later. and i haven’t even touched on the way twins are handled, but this is long enough. i have fed you my little elves. good day!
