August 31, 2003

Easterlings (Yes, Those People at the Black Gate)
Bob Praz

Galadriel has just reminded me of something that I have been long wondering about. To answer her/his question first, however, I believe most of us can tell her (or will have already done so by the time this gets posted) that the host of richly garbed soldiers that pass by Sam and Frodo on their way to the Black Gate are Easterlings from the lands of Rhûn (if not beyond). Like the Haradrim, whom Frodo and Sam behold just before they get caught by Faramir's men, the Easterlings are men from far away lands who have been brought under Sauron's dominion in various ways. Either have an ancient hatred for Gondor, or they were decieved with the promise of great rewards in exchange for their service.

But as for the old question that has bothered me for a few months: I have noticed that there are rather odd resemblances in the garb and gear of the Easterlings and Southrons (I am speaking of in the movie, of course). New Line and all the distributors of the movie products refer to the evil men seen at the Black Gate as Easterlings; supposedly a seperate race from the Haradrim: at least in the books, and according to logic.
However, if you look carefully enough at the armor and axes that the Haradrim wear and carry in the movie, you should notice that much of it is the exact (as far as I can see) same gear that the Easterlings have. Is there any reason for this? Also interesting is that the banner of the Easterlings is the banner of the black serpent on scarlet, which, in the book, is the banner of the Haradrim. Yet another thing is the fact that when we see the Easterlings marching towards the Gate, they are in fact coming up the SOUTH road (actually, if you remember from the book, it was indeed Southrons that came marching up the road and past Sam and Frodo on their way to the Gate).

Therefore all evidence points to the Easterlings in the movie actually being Southrons. So why does New Line (or PJ; although I can't recall any interview where he talks about them) call them Easterlings? Now I don't really expect anyone to have a definite answer on this, but if you could share some thoughts or speculation, it would be interesting to read them. If it wasn't for the fact that these strange people are labeled Easterlings on all products, websites and such, I would have no choice but to conclude that they are simply an elite or more heavily armed legion of Haradrim.

Maybe they'll be some answers in the appendices of the TTT Extended DVD, but we shall see...

P.S: Thank you Sulimo for your appreciation of my articles, it certainly is encouraging. Although I hope my rather LONG posts lately won't change that (hehe).