The Gender of Cthulhu

Is Cthulhu male, female, or something else?

Cthulhu is a non-gendered extra-dimensional gelatin that exists outside our understanding of the laws of matter and geometry and cannot be fully comprehended by the human mind. Cthulhu's body is depicted as constantly shifting and breaking apart while he sleeps, yet he is able to hold whatever shape he desires through focused will and intention.

The image of Cthulhu as a massive, green-skinned creature with a humanoid body, tentacles for a face, and bat-like wings has become so ubiquitous that it is often assumed to be Cthulhu's true form, despite the fact that it is based on the fevered imaginings of cultists and madmen who have glimpsed only a fraction of the creature's true nature. Cthulhu is a creature that exists outside of our three-dimensional world, in a realm that defies our understanding of space and time. As such, it is practically impossible to accurately depict his true form in any static medium. Lovecraft himself never gave a clear and detailed description of Cthulhu's physical appearance, instead relying on vague descriptions and hints of tentacles, wings, and other amorphous features. While it could be argued that this is how Cthulhu apparently wants us to see him for whatever reason, I highly doubt he actually has any idea of how we see him and doesn’t actually care.

It is unclear why Cthulhu would want humans to see him in this way, or if he even cares at all about how we perceive him. It is possible that this image is a deliberate manipulation on Cthulhu's part, designed to sow fear and chaos among humanity. Alternatively, it could be a side-effect of our limited human understanding of the universe, with our brains interpreting Cthulhu's true form in a way that we can comprehend.

Lovecraft has never explicitly stated the gender of Cthulhu, nor described any mammoth pendulous breasts or a gigantic swinging schlong when Cthulhu stood on the beaches of R'lyeh, and the pronoun “he” is commonly used simply because of the traditional English default. In the absence of clear evidence of gender, people often default to using masculine pronouns. Lovecraft's writing style also reflects this, as he tends to use masculine pronouns for most of his characters, including non-human entities. Overall, while Cthulhu is commonly referred to using masculine pronouns, this is a product of tradition and not a reflection of his actual gender or lack thereof.

While the term “Lord” is a title of nobility or honor, often associated with the male gender, its usage and interpretation are largely cultural and historical and can vary widely across different societies and belief systems. In the context of Lovecraft's Yog-Sothothery, the title “Lord” is given to entities that are considered powerful or influential within the cosmic hierarchy of the universe, and is not necessarily an indicator of gender or sex.

The idea of a male-dominated hierarchy can be traced back to various religious and cultural traditions, including Judeo-Christianity, which has had a significant impact on Western society and its systems of power and authority. However, Lovecraft's Yog-Sothothery is not necessarily bound by these cultural or historical norms, and the use of the title “Lord” may have different connotations within this framework. It may represent power or authority without necessarily implying a gendered hierarchy or system of domination.

In the Yog-Sothothery, Cthulhu is said to have various offspring, however, the exact method of their conception and birth has only ever been a point of speculation. Some stories mention a mate or consort for Cthulhu, such as Shaurash-ho or Idh-yaa, but these are rare and not consistent across the Yog-Sothothery. Other stories suggest that Cthulhu is capable of self-reproduction through a process of fission, where he splits himself into smaller, identical copies of himself. It's important to note that the concept of gender and reproduction as humans understand it may not apply to extra-dimensional beings like Cthulhu. In Lovecraft's stories, these entities often defy traditional notions of biology and physics.

Males can also be said to “have children” without actually giving birth to them, and while the term “having spawn” is often associated with reproduction in female organisms, it does not necessarily imply a female gender. In fact, Lovecraft's stories often blur the line between male and female characteristics in these otherworldly beings.

In conclusion, Cthulhu's non-gendered nature means that the traditional binary gender pronouns of “he” and “she” do not necessarily apply. While Cthulhu is commonly referred to as male, this is more a matter of convention than a reflection of any actual gender.