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Choosing what to write about this week was a particularly daunting task. So much happens in the first three episodes of season two. New characters are introduced, old characters continue to act in sketchy manners, plots thicken, etc.
After viewing these episodes twice, I felt overwhelmed when attempting to find some common thread upon which to build this week's blog. There is SO MUCH going on! It was not until stepping away from GoT to enjoy the mid-season premier of another of my television obsessions, The Walking Dead, that I was able to see a natural talking point regarding the first three episodes of season two. It all comes down to children. In times of extreme discord, children are highlighted as being particularly under threat while simultaneously highlighting their ability to cause threats to others.
Children, from a more general perspective (outside of the GoT narrative world) are more often held up as pillars of innocence and, as individuals that represent the future of the world, are often viewed as entities in need of protection. This paradigm seems, to a degree, to be turned on its head in Westeros (and in other narratives that center on destabilization). Here I would like to take a look at the way children are being used in the narrative world of Game of Thrones.
Kids can be so cruel:
Okay, so not ALL children in Westeros lack innocence. Tommen, for example seems to have some redeeming qualities... However, if you have been following along on this re-watch project, we have now seen the degree to which "Joffrey the Terrible" is willing to bend to demonstrate his absolute cruelty. Obviously Joffrey beheaded Ned last season, but his cruelty was particularly pronounced in these first episodes of season two. For example, Joffrey is quite literally out to up his body count; holding death matches atop his castle and wineboarding Ser Dontos purely for his own amusement. He also commands his army to hunt down the illegitimate children of Robert Baratheon to have them killed. Although reprehensible, I, on some levels, can understand Joffrey's stand on Ned Stark and even his murder of Robert's bastard children. Ned and Robert's bastard children posed a real threat to his position on the throne. His roof-top battles and the wine boarding of Ser Dontos, on the other hand, were nothing more than Joffrey exercising power just for the sake of exercising power.
Children who threaten the order of all things:
Children, in the realm of Westeros are viewed as particularly important pawns in determining the outcome of the unrest in Westeros. Laws of primogeniture* rule the land and this has very particular implications regarding the way in which children are able to carry influence over the state of Westeros. Therefore, now that the validity of Joffrey's claim to the throne is being called into question, male children (even those who are illegitimate) of Robert Baratheon are suddenly a threat to Joffrey's position. Even Robert Baratheon's Brothers understand the value of children, which is why both Margaery Tyrell and Melisandre are so intent on extending the Baratheon line through Renly and Stannis respectively. If it is found that Robert has no heirs and one of Robert's brothers usurp Joffrey, they will eventually need an heir to ensure the throne remains in Baratheon hands.
Children as pawns:
Children are being used as leverage quite a bit already this season. We have Craster, who is sacrificing his male children to the White Walkers in exchange for safety. Of course, for Craster, this just means he has less competition for the attention of the ladies within the incestuous family structure he has created.
Choosing what to write about this week was a particularly daunting task. So much happens in the first three episodes of season two. New characters are introduced, old characters continue to act in sketchy manners, plots thicken, etc.
After viewing these episodes twice, I felt overwhelmed when attempting to find some common thread upon which to build this week's blog. There is SO MUCH going on! It was not until stepping away from GoT to enjoy the mid-season premier of another of my television obsessions, The Walking Dead, that I was able to see a natural talking point regarding the first three episodes of season two. It all comes down to children. In times of extreme discord, children are highlighted as being particularly under threat while simultaneously highlighting their ability to cause threats to others.
Children, from a more general perspective (outside of the GoT narrative world) are more often held up as pillars of innocence and, as individuals that represent the future of the world, are often viewed as entities in need of protection. This paradigm seems, to a degree, to be turned on its head in Westeros (and in other narratives that center on destabilization). Here I would like to take a look at the way children are being used in the narrative world of Game of Thrones.
Kids can be so cruel:
Okay, so not ALL children in Westeros lack innocence. Tommen, for example seems to have some redeeming qualities... However, if you have been following along on this re-watch project, we have now seen the degree to which "Joffrey the Terrible" is willing to bend to demonstrate his absolute cruelty. Obviously Joffrey beheaded Ned last season, but his cruelty was particularly pronounced in these first episodes of season two. For example, Joffrey is quite literally out to up his body count; holding death matches atop his castle and wineboarding Ser Dontos purely for his own amusement. He also commands his army to hunt down the illegitimate children of Robert Baratheon to have them killed. Although reprehensible, I, on some levels, can understand Joffrey's stand on Ned Stark and even his murder of Robert's bastard children. Ned and Robert's bastard children posed a real threat to his position on the throne. His roof-top battles and the wine boarding of Ser Dontos, on the other hand, were nothing more than Joffrey exercising power just for the sake of exercising power.
Children who threaten the order of all things:
Children, in the realm of Westeros are viewed as particularly important pawns in determining the outcome of the unrest in Westeros. Laws of primogeniture* rule the land and this has very particular implications regarding the way in which children are able to carry influence over the state of Westeros. Therefore, now that the validity of Joffrey's claim to the throne is being called into question, male children (even those who are illegitimate) of Robert Baratheon are suddenly a threat to Joffrey's position. Even Robert Baratheon's Brothers understand the value of children, which is why both Margaery Tyrell and Melisandre are so intent on extending the Baratheon line through Renly and Stannis respectively. If it is found that Robert has no heirs and one of Robert's brothers usurp Joffrey, they will eventually need an heir to ensure the throne remains in Baratheon hands.
Children as pawns:
Children are being used as leverage quite a bit already this season. We have Craster, who is sacrificing his male children to the White Walkers in exchange for safety. Of course, for Craster, this just means he has less competition for the attention of the ladies within the incestuous family structure he has created.
Tyrion proposes marrying off Myrcella in favor of diplomatic ties. To be fair, Tyrion is merely using this story to smoke out a mole within the court, but nonetheless, he understands the implications of suggesting such a diplomatic pairing.
Additionally, the Stark children (Sansa and Arya) are discussed as potential leverage to negotiate the release of Jamie from Robb's possession. The fact that the Lannisters do not have Arya to trade is spoken of as a significant disadvantage to their ability to barter.
NOTES:
*Primogeniture: The state of being born first (usually used to determine succession rights).
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Children as repeaters of a magical past:
The current generation of children in Game of Thrones are also used to bring about a repetition of a past that many think is only lore. Bran's warg ability (although this has yet to be made explicit as of season 2), Daenerys' control of dragons, and children being turned into wights all indicate that children have the ability to channel (or bring about) mythic forces of yesteryear. With young people bringing about the supernatural, it will be interesting to see how these abilities play a role in the way this game turns out.
NOTES:
*Primogeniture: The state of being born first (usually used to determine succession rights).
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