Sumner C Period discussion
Game of Thrones
date
newest »
newest »
“’Direwolves loose in the realm…it is a sign’…[Lord Eddard Stark] knelt and groped under the beast’s head with his hand. He gave a yank and held it up for all to see. A foot of shattered antler, tines snapped off, all wet with blood.”(Again: Spoilers!) After reading the book and watching the television show, it is very clear to me that George R. R. Martin likes to use symbolism to foreshadow… A lot. So, backstory first for your comprehensive needs: The Stark house has a sigil that is a Direwolf; the Baratheons (the house of the current king) have a sigil that is a stag. The fact that they find a dead direwolf with the antler of a dead stag stuck through its head is very much foreshadowing of the events to come. Actually, it’s exactly what happens. The Starks will be taken down by the Baratheons after Lord Stark is beheaded, but then the king, too, dies because of it (or some other reason that is hidden from the truth). Also the fact that there are Direwolves loose in the realm could indicate the oncoming storm from the North. At the beginning of the book (in the introduction) the audience is clued in to the events happening beyond the Wall (which separates civilian from wildling, and all of the magical creatures that were banished with them). We’re shown that what looks to be a horde of zombie like creatures that are encroaching upon the wall and those who watch it. Thus, it would make sense that some of the magical creatures would be fleeing the area in order to escape the oncoming evil.
“[The pup’s] fur was white, where the rest of the litter was grey. His eyes were as red as the blood of the ragged man who had died that morning. Bran thought it was curious that this pup alone would have opened its eyes while the others were still blind.” (Theon Greoyjoy): ‘An albino…this one will die faster than the others.’
(Jon Snow): ‘I think not, Greyjoy….this one belongs to me.’”
This interaction is significant because I believe that the young snow pup mirrors Jon Snow. Along with the one white pup, five other pups were found that coincide with the other five Stark children. However, Jon Snow is Lord Stark’s bastard son who not only looks different from them all, but acts different, as well. Thus, the white fur of the pup could mirror both the “Snow” (which is the last name given to bastards in the North) in Jon Snow’s name and also exemplify the misfit nature of him. It’s like he belongs with the other pups, but at the same time he doesn’t because he is so dissimilar with them all. Additionally, his eyes are opened. I think this could possibly be Martin’s means of clueing the audience to Jon’s wisdom. Or possibly it’s to show that he’s less naïve than the others, maybe even that he will soon experience new things? Basically, compared to how young the pup is, his eyes are opened much too young, basically showing his quick maturity at such a young age. However, I can only wonder what he means when he compares his eyes to the blood of a dead man.
“Every noble house had its words. Family mottoes, touchstones, prayers of sorts, they boasted of honor and glory, promised loyalty and truth, swore faith and courage. All but the Starks. Winter is coming, said the Stark words.”I think this quote is significant because it points out the genuine nature of the Stark family. At least to me, this quote is basically framing every other house as a group of liars that probably don’t really follow their house mottoes and there’s a reason for that. In the show, there is a quote that says something along the lines of “If you have to say that you are king, you are not truly king.” And I’m inspired by that to think that if these houses have to claim that they are loyal, or that they are faithful, etc., then it is not true. Thus, the fact that the Starks do not claim anything about their family speaks volumes about their house. They truly are loyal, and trustworthy and faithful and especially so because their house words are simply a warning to all about the dangers of winter. The Starks live high in the North in Winterfell, where it is always cold and winters are especially harsh when they come. Thus, the fact that their motto is simply a warning about their harsh climate, it can only further exemplify their loyalty to family and trustworthiness etc.
“There was small love between [Lord Eddard Stark] and the queen’s family, Catelyn knew. The Lannisters of Casterly Rock had come late to [the king’s] cause, when victory was all but certain, and he never forgiven them.”This quote is significant because it points out two very important things: the animosity between the Starks and the Lannisters, and the cunning and vile nature of the Lannisters. Basically, this rivalry will highly come into play throughout the story, as many of the actions taken by the Lannisters and Starks are and will be affected by this relationship. Moreover, much of the obstacles and problems throughout the novel come about simply because of the Lannister’s cruel nature. They don’t hesitate to make bold, harsh decisions when the family name is on the line. Thus, problem after problem spring from this and could have easily been avoided had the Lannister’s pride not stepped in the way.
“The [bath] water was scalding hot, but Dany did not flinch or cry out. She liked the heat. It made her feel clean. Besides, her brother had often told her that it was never too hot for a Targaryen. ‘Ours is the house of the dragon,’ he would say. ‘The fire is in our blood.’”This quote is significant because it points out two very important things: first, the abilities of the house Targaryen, specifically Danaerys (or Dany). She cannot be burned by anything that is traditionally considered hot because she and her house are considered “dragons.” But this quote also point out the relationship between Dany and her brother, Viscerys. It is an emotionally abusive relationship in which Viscerys feels the need to control her at all times and she rarely speaks her mind. Here, it is evident through the fact that even if she had thought it was hot, her brother would have said something to the affect of “You’re a Targaryen, we’re dragons. It’s not too hot.” Additionally, it points out the flaws in the way each of them embrace their “dragon” side. Viscerys is prideful about it and flaunts it dangerously, and impulsively. While, as it will later come to show, Dany is resourceful and responsible about it. She is a true dragon.
"I shall kill the Usurper myself,' [Viscerys] promised, who had never killed anyone, 'as he killed my brother Rhaegar. And Lannister, too, the Kingslayer, for what he did to my father.'"This quote is significant because it clearly shows the pride that Viscerys has, though it is unearned. Though he has never killed anyone in combat, nor has he ever really done anything but talk about his future achievements, he claims that he will be capable of being the famed crusader that will avenge the Targaryen name. However, this could act as foreshadowing as this type of pride and arrogance and impulsivity will quickly get someone into trouble, especially in a time in which Game of Thrones is set, which most clearly resembles the 1400s. Viscerys false claims will quickly get on certain character's bad sides as he goes around flaunting his pride on his non-actions and it should quickly foreshadow his imminent doom.
"[The cold] steals up on you...and at first you shiver and your teeth chatter and you stamp your feet and dream of mulled wine and nice hot fires. It burns, it does. Nothing burns like the cold. But only for a while. Then it gets inside you and starts to fill you up, and after awhile you don't have the strength to fight it."I may be completely off on this one, but I think the fact that it says, "Nothing burns like the cold," is pretty significant. I think it relates back to the title of the series of book which is called “A Song of Ice and Fire,” as it points out the dichotomy between something so cold as ice that can still burn your skin like the fire of a dragon. And going off of that, I think it relates to the wilderness of the wintery climate beyond the wall (where the man this quote is talking about is being taken by the cold) and the rest of Westeros, or the world in which this story is set.
This quote is significant because, as someone who watches the TV show based on the book, I can clearly see the foreshadowing that is going on here. (I’m just warning you, that if you ever plan on watching the show or reading the book, I’m about to give some SUPER spoilers!!) By the end of the first book, Lord Eddard Stark, the man who is talking here, will find himself with an accusation of treason and is sentenced to die by the young king Joffrey. However, it is not Joffrey that beheads him, but he has his headsman, Illyn Payne, do the work for him. Actually this is how Joffrey handles everything. And it exemplifies the impulsive and cruel nature by which Joffrey runs his kingdom, as he goes around killing anyone who hurts his feelings. And Ned Stark is definitely a man who did not deserve to die, as he was killed only for revealing a crippling truth about the Queen (Joffrey’s mother) that they refused to acknowledge as truth (though it actually is).