Perspective and Revision: Raping Cirsei
Why did they change this scene?
Warning: Contains Game of Thrones Spoilers
I have written on this blog about how I feel that a fair bit of of the dregs of modern fantasy gets overly gratuitous with the rape scenes, to the point that rape is the norm in the narrative and other forms of sex and consenting relationships are ignored. My feelings are best summed up by this post.
I was reminded of this dislike when hearing about the reactions of fans of the latest Game of Thrones episode. Essentially, after bratty king King Joffrey’s dies, his father, Jaime, rapes his mother, Cirsei, on his corpse. Fans were somewhat surprised, because in the book the scene plays out very differently, with the act being consensual, and some might say initiated by Cirsei. There is an excellent article about fan reaction, and how we view rape and murder differently here. George RR Martin’s response was somewhat coy, but people should leave him be so he can finish his series.
Personally, I started to dislike the series (books) after book three. Martin is a brilliant writer who has changed the genre for the better, and is at least partially responsible for fantasy becoming more mainstream, especially for adult audiences. Nonetheless after book four I moved on, book five still sits at page 115 out of a thousand or so on my Goodreads reading list and will for some time. Still, I dislike hearing about TV producers rewriting this scene. It really changes the dynamic of power presented in the book.
In the books Cirsei, at least until she becomes a perspective character in book four (which I hated), is a dominant figure in the realm. In the relationship between herself and her brother Jaime, she is not presented as a victim but rather as a willing partner, if not the dominant one. Jaime is the one who seems to have doubts, while Cirsei is the one who does what has to be done to preserve her position. At times, I felt Jaime feared his sister. This change in the TV episode turns her into a victim, and removes the sense of agency that permeates her actions within the book. This de-fanging and debasement of the magnificent, malicious queen of Westeros seems to be a bit of a bumble for the show.
Perhaps my interpretation of the books is flawed, but I often saw Cirsei as a dark reflection of an Elizabethan queen: she was a woman who was surrounded by figures who gained power from strength of arms and the patriarchal structure but who transcended these with a pure will to power and ruthless efficiency. Her deeds were dark, but on a certain level I could respect her for playing the hand she was dealt very well. Perhaps this is why I disliked when she became a perspective character, and at times seems petty and almost childishly malignant.
Having Jaime rape Cirsei changes the way I view them both, and thus changes the way I view of one of the seminal relationships of the series here are a few reasons why:
Cirsei seems weaker: In the books at this point Cirsei seems unassailable in many ways. She rules through her sons and does what she wants. This includes banging her brother near Joffrey’s corpse. In the books she seems to be the dominant partner in the relationship at this point. Her power and her hunger are equal, if not greater, than her brother’s. She is no longer as strong in some ways, however…
Victims deserve sympathy: Being raped makes the audience feel more sympathy toward Cirsei. Here she has been victimized and violated, and it is hard to hate her for it. No matter what your view of the act you cannot deny that there is a big difference toward how you view a woman who has consensual intercourse in a chapel containing her dead son and someone who is raped in the same situation. What was an act of mad passion of two powerful people now becomes one with a definite victim. You can’t hate Cirsei or view her as the same sort villain after this, which is very different than the books.
Jaime cannot be redeemed, Cirsei can: In the books Jaime seems to be travelling the road to some sort of redemption, or at least reader sympathy. He wants to escape his sister. With Martin, redemption or growth is rarely certain, or even likely, but it was possible. Now Jaime seems more monstrous than he did even at the start of the series, when he drops a Stark kid out a damn window. Cirsei on the other hand is suddenly more redeemable, with our sympathy for her suffering making us view her actions in a different light. It might just be me, but I would it hard to see her as a villain after living through that kind of indignity. Plus, why wouldn’t she just kill Jaime.
What if this event influences the books? The TV series is popular. I often wonder how hard it would be to write with a series about my books airing, especially one with major differences. If anyone can handle the situation is is Martin, who has extensive knowledge of both mediums, but I do wonder if he will alter plans for Jaime/Cirsei to fit better with the show, where Jaime has turned out to be a real bastard and Cirsei is less fearsome.
In the end I think this is an excellent example of how changing a single act can change the way an entire set of characters is viewed, at least the best one since HanGreedo shot first.
