What Do the Skaven Represent? A Deep Dive into the Ratmen of Warhammer
The Skaven, the rat-like humanoids of the Warhammer Fantasy universe, represent a potent allegory for the darkest aspects of humanity and the corrosive nature of unchecked ambition. They are not merely monstrous creatures; they are a distorted reflection of societal ills and primal fears. Fundamentally, the Skaven embody selfishness, paranoia, cowardice, treachery, greed, and hatred—lacking any redeeming qualities like love, loyalty, or honor. They exist as a civilization perpetually on the brink of collapse, held together only by the ruthless pursuit of self-interest and the fear of their equally cruel brethren.
The Unflattering Mirror of Humanity
The Skaven’s depiction is a grim satire. Their relentless scheming and backstabbing are a hyperbole of political corruption. Their insatiable hunger and willingness to consume anything, including their own dead, illustrates the dangers of unchecked consumption and degradation. Their vast numbers and plague-ridden existence serves as a dark commentary on overpopulation, poverty, and disease. Even their technological prowess, fueled by the volatile warpstone, highlights the potential for technology to become a tool of destruction rather than progress when not guided by morality.
An Underworld of Chaos and Deception
Skaven society is not a hierarchy of strength but a web of constant betrayals and shifting alliances. This chaotic social structure mirrors the fragility of any society built solely on self-preservation and where power is valued above all else. They do not unite under shared ideals or morals; they unite under fear of a worse fate and a lust for resources. Their sprawling Under-Empire, a labyrinth of tunnels and warrens beneath the world’s surface, is a metaphor for the hidden dangers lurking beneath the veneer of civilization, always ready to erupt. They thrive in the shadows, undermining and corrupting the surface world, symbolizing the insidious nature of unchecked evil.
A Reflection of Social Anxieties
The Skaven’s appearance, behavior, and societal structure also evoke primal fears. They tap into our fear of rodents, our anxiety about swarming hordes, and our deep unease about things hidden in the dark. They embody the fear of being overrun, not by a powerful enemy, but by a relentless, insidious plague, a wave of relentless vermin. Their constant plotting and scheming create a sense of paranoia and mistrust that resonates with the anxieties of a world beset by uncertainty.
The Horned Rat: A God of Chaos and Destruction
The Skaven are driven by the worship of the Horned Rat, a lesser Chaos God. He is not a god of order but of chaos and destruction. This god reflects the Skaven perfectly: capricious, cunning, and devoted to undermining all order and stability. The Skaven’s religious zealotry is not rooted in genuine faith but in a desire to gain power, to be among the ‘chosen’ of their malevolent deity. Their faith is a vehicle for their ambition, adding another layer to their corrupt nature.
Why the Skaven Remain a Secret
The Skaven’s existence is largely a secret to the wider world, adding to their terrifying mystique. The idea that a vast, hostile civilization exists beneath their feet is simply too terrifying and unbelievable for most. This denial represents a willful ignorance to the dangers lurking around. Those who have witnessed the Skaven are often dismissed as delusional or mistaken, mirroring the human tendency to deny uncomfortable truths. This secrecy is an advantage to the Skaven, allowing them to operate freely, growing their numbers and influence without a coordinated defense from the surface dwellers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What culture are the Skaven based on?
While the Skaven are not based on any one specific culture, their design draws from various sources. Some of their themes, such as the Black Death and its association with rats, are prominent. Other inspirations include Japanese ninja for Clan Eshin, World War One tactics and weaponry, and German Sturmtruppen for the Stormvermin.
2. What is the symbol of the Skaven?
The primary symbol of the Skaven is the Horned Rat, their unholy god and the embodiment of their nature. A secondary symbol is the rough equilateral triangle.
3. What does the fur color of Skaven mean?
Fur color is a significant indicator of rank within Skaven society. Most Skaven have brown or piebald fur. Stormvermin and Rat Ogres often have darker fur, signifying their superior size or deadliness. White or grey fur denotes leadership, intelligence, or potentially sorcerous abilities.
4. Why are Skaven kept a secret?
Skaven are kept a secret due to widespread disbelief and the fear that acknowledging their existence would cause widespread panic and potentially destabilize society. Their actions are often attributed to beastmen or mutants, rather than recognized as the work of a cunning, sophisticated enemy.
5. Why do people not believe in the Skaven?
People generally do not believe in Skaven because their existence is too horrifying to contemplate. The scale of the threat they represent is overwhelming, and the idea that a vast, rat-like civilization exists beneath them is often dismissed as a bizarre fantasy.
6. Why does the Empire ignore the Skaven?
The Empire’s ignorance of the Skaven is partly a result of denial, but also because revealing the truth to the populace would cause mass panic. This helps the Skaven, as it ensures no unified response against them.
7. Do Skaven have red eyes?
Yes, Skaven have glowing red eyes, which are visible even in the dark. This feature adds to their sinister and unsettling appearance.
8. How evil are the Skaven?
Skaven are fundamentally evil, characterized by their selfishness, cowardice, treachery, and ruthlessness. They pose one of the most significant threats to the Old World due to their sheer numbers and inherent wickedness.
9. Can Skaven fall to Chaos?
Skaven are inherently corrupted by Chaos; this is the very source of their being. Their connection to warpstone is a manifestation of pure Chaos energy.
10. Why do Skaven worship bells?
The Screaming Bell is a sacred symbol to the Skaven and refers to their creation myth. It is used as an unholy altar for their religious leaders, the Grey Seers.
11. Why do some Skaven have horns?
Skaven with horns are usually the Grey Seers, the spiritual leaders of the Skaven Under-Empire. Their horns, along with their grey, white, or albino fur, mark them as chosen by the Horned Rat.
12. Do Skaven worship Nurgle?
While the Horned Rat is the primary deity of the Skaven, some Skaven see Nurgle as a kindred spirit due to his association with filth and decay and may secretly worship him.
13. Why do Skaven repeat words?
Skaven often repeat words in their language, Queekish, as a way to add emphasis and break up complex sentences into manageable parts. This, combined with rapid squeaks and trills, forms their distinctive communication style.
14. Is Skaven a furry?
Despite their bipedal form and fur, Skaven are categorically NOT furries. They are monstrous representations of human vice, not anthropomorphic figures for affection or admiration.
15. Do Skaven have genders?
Female Skaven do exist but their sole purpose is breeding. They are kept in the deepest parts of the Under-Empire and possess limited consciousness, existing solely to propagate the species.