Paper Dreams

Game of Thrones is a series (both book and TV) filled with fascinating characters. One of my favorite elements of this series is the way the characters change over time. I greatly admire the way George R.R. Martin is able to make readers change how they feel about these people.

Warning: This post does contain spoilers up to A Feast for Crows!

Characters I Love

Daenerys Stormborn

Dany is the reason I began watching Game of Thrones. I remember watching videos on Youtube, and after seeing Dany rise from the ashes with her dragons, I was fascinated. My respect for Dany has only grown as I read the books and watched the series. Dany begins as a rather obedient, pliable character, but as she grows up and comes into her own as khaleesi, Dany becomes an admirable character. I loved watching her go from a trapped victim at her brother’s hands to a strong leader in her own right. Dany also is not a perfect character. She makes mistakes, including trusting the woman who is – in some ways- responsible for Drogo’s death, but she learns from her mistakes and she does not allow them to make her bitter. Dany has also proven herself to be a clever leader. This is probably best evidenced in A Storm of Swords when Dany faces the slavers and ultimately triumphs repeatedly.

Brienne of Tarth

Ah, Brienne. I wasn’t sure about this character when she first appeared in season 2, but after reading A Storm of Swords and A Feast for Crows, I find her to be one of the most honorable, intriguing, and sympathetic characters of the series. Brienne’s back-story is quite sad. She is very much aware of the fact that she is not “pretty” and this has caused much distress throughout her life. She has been rejected by suitors, and mocked for her appearance. Plus, the fact that she has always seemed to prefer a sword rather than a needle has caused her even more difficulty in life. Brienne was in love with Renley, and his death nearly destroys her. However, she is convinced by Catelyn to escape Renley’s men. Brienne vows to Catelyn that she will deliver Jaime to King’s Landing and safely return Sansa and Arya to their mother. This journey begins a fascinating to new chapter in Brienne’s life as she and Jaime form an unlikely but heartfelt friendship. The bond between the two of them is utterly intriguing, and I think it brings out the best in both characters. Despite men repeatedly telling Brienne to give up her quest to save the Stark daughters, Brienne refuses, and she ends up journeying with Podrick Payne (Tyrion’s former squire) and one of Renley’s former knights. At the end of A Feast for Crows, Brienne’s fate is hanging in the balance, and if she does not survive, I will certainly be heartbroken. Brienne is one of the most original characters of the series.

Sansa Stark

Sansa is another reason I began to watch Game of Thrones. Watching her reaction to Ned’s death broke my heart, and, although I despised Sansa when I began watching season 1 and in the beginning of the first book, I have come to greatly respect her as a character. I was quite furious when I saw Sansa listed as one of the “Least Empowered Women” on this list. That may have been true at the start of the series, but I disagree with its truth as the series goes on. After Ned’s death, Sansa is forced to grow up, and she does so. Sansa proves adept at keeping herself alive, despite remaining as a virtual prisoner in King’s Landing. However, she is not completely compliant as evidenced by this moment. Sansa also proves to be intelligent and a capable leader. I have no doubt if Arya had been in Sansa’s place, she would certainly have provoked Joffrey to kill her. Sansa may not be as physically tough and capable as Arya, but she has her own form of quiet strength. I will admit that some of Sansa’s actions as “Alayne” disappointed me, but I still love Sansa and I have great hopes for her future.

Jaime Lannister

I struggle with this one….a lot. This is the man who threw Bran out a window. He ambushed Ned and his men in King’s Landing. He has not been known to be a good guy. I mean he loves Cersei, who is kind of evil and just a little bit insane and his sister. So how can I love him?! Well, it has to do with the journey he takes with Brienne. The way she changes him and in some ways inspires him. Ultimately, I think it has to do with the loss of his hand, and how that forces him to become a different man. And I truly believe he has changed from the man he was when he threw Bran out the window. Jaime has begun to care about people beyond Cersei. This is the man who jumped in a bear pit without a sword hand to rescue Brienne, and the man who does everything in his power to keep the vow he made to Catelyn Stark. In Jaime, Martin has created a brilliant character, and I’m falling in love with him.

Honorable Mentions 
Osha (more the TV version)
Ygritte
Sam
Margaery

Characters I Like

Arya Stark 

Arya was a character  I loved in the beginning of the series, and I still like her. However, I am not a huge fan of her storyline from A Clash of Kings and onward. While it is often interesting, I find myself having a hard time becoming engaged in her story. I admire her determination though, and if you’re looking for the definition of a survivor, look no further.

Tyrion Lannister

Before I read A Storm of Swords, Tyrion would certainly have been placed upon my “Characters I Love” list. However, I still have not been able to reconcile myself to the actions he takes at the end of that book. I understand why he does what he does, but I do admit that it does make me think somewhat less of him. Although, I do think Tywin’s death is certainly necessary to move the plot forward, and I could probably forgive him of that. I struggle with him murdering Shae as I do not think we have ever been shown that she was completely guilty. Shae’s actions were not good, but I do not believe that she deserved to die.

Honorable Mentions 
Robb Stark
Jorah Mormont
Jon Snow
Jaqen

Characters I Despise

Lysa (Tully) Arryn

Ach. I despise her so, so much. I know she has a sad background, but sympathy for that will only get her so far. I even tried to reason that she is just rather crazy and driven mad by her grief, but I still cannot agree with her actions. Lysa could definitely be diagnosed for something. She is extremely paranoid, although there is some justification for that, and she is exceedingly overprotective of her son. Then there is, of course, her obsession with Petyr Baelish. I think Lysa’s actions are understandable, but ultimately, unforgivable. She refuses to support Riverrun and Winterfell, which could have completely changed the course of the war. Also, there is her attempt to murder Sansa out of jealousy. Yes, I will admit I will not miss her.

Cersei (Lannister) Baratheon

Cersei is not a perfect fit as a character I despise. I certainly despise most of the actions Cersei takes, but I also find her to be absolutely fascinating. Cersei and Lysa actually have a few things in common. The biggest reason is certainly the way both women make poor decisions in the name of protecting their children. Also, Cersei, like Lysa, suffers from extreme paranoia. Cersei’s paranoia is rooted in her fear of Tyrion, which is ironic. I hate many of the things Cersei does. She is a schemer, a liar, a murderer, and a manipulator. I abhor the way she threatens Tommen into submission, but Cersei often amuses me. She repeatedly considers herself to be a lioness and Tywin’s best heir. However, her attempts to rule and to gain and keep power have consistently proven to be follies. For example, when she tries to destroy Margaery’s reputation, Cersei begins her own downfall.

Honorable Mentions
Stannis
Edmund Tully

Characters I Abhor

Petyr Baelish

I hate him. Hate. Hate. Hate. Petyr Baelish is a deplorable human being. He is a conniver, a manipulator, and a murderer. He played a crucial role in Ned’s downfall. He seduces Lysa and later murders her. He also has a creepy relationship with Sansa (probably because she reminds him of her mother who he was “in love with”). Supposedly, Petyr’s motivated by his love for Catelyn Stark. However, I do not believe he ever truly loved  Catelyn. If he had loved her he would have wanted her to be happy, and nothing he does ever works towards that idea. Petyr is a bitter man trapped by his jealousy and the grudge he has held because of Catelyn’s rejection.

Joffrey Baratheon

If there is a more despicable character than Petyr Baelish it is Joffrey. Joffrey is mindlessly cruel and only gains pleasure from the pain of other people. Joffrey is a horrible character before becoming king (sending the assassin after Bran, for example), but once he becomes king, the power certainly goes to his head. Joffrey thrives on suffering which is evidenced by his treatment not only of Sansa, but of anyone who annoys him, disappoints him, or perhaps just sees him on a bad day. Joffrey, had he lived, would certainly have followed in the mad king’s footsteps.

Honorable Mentions
Melisandre
Gregor Clegane
The Freys

Warning: This post does contain spoilers up to A Feast for Crows!

Game of Thrones is filled with marvelous and horrendous characters, and I could probably have written dozens of posts discussing the amazing cast Martin has created. Because I want people to continue to visit this blog, however, I decided to try to keep my ranting and fangirling short. 

What is a strong heroine? 

Many feminists have been thrilled with the recent surge of strong heroines in young adult fiction, such as Katniss in The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins or Tris from the bestselling Divergent series by Veronica Roth, but others have taken a closer look at the current trends and realized an important fact. These strong heroines are not necessarily a celebration of feminine traits and abilities. Carina Chocano acknowledged this in an article in The New York Times saying, “The insistence on “strong female character” is not bad because it aspires to engender respect, it’s bad because it tries to compensate for an existing imbalance by stacking the deck in favor of the female character, by making her better, more deserving, higher-toned, more virtuous and deserving of respect, somehow.” The term strong heroine, unfortunately, seems to now be synonymous with a girl who can also be described as a “kick-ass heroine” and embodies traits that typically have belonged to male heroes. The message is that a heroine’s strength is directly related to her ability to take down twenty full-grown men or something of the sort. However, a strong heroine should not be considered as such simply because she has physical strength and prowess. The definition of a strong heroine needs to broaden in order to represent the many other ways there are for a heroine to be strong. A heroine’s strength needs to also be based on traits like intelligence, empathy, sacrificial love, and the ability to build relationships.

Young adult literature surged in popularity following the success of the Twilight novels by Stephenie Meyer, and the heroines of young adult literature have become common names in American households. Also, the heroines of these books have become role models for millions of teen girls. Unsurprisingly, comparisons are commonly made about the popular heroines who inhabit these fictitious worlds. Recently, these comparisons have been simplified into a debate that strives to determine which heroine is the strongest heroine.

The heroine of the Twilight series, Bella Swan, has continued to be a source of contention amongst both fans and critics of the books. Very rarely does one see the name Bella Swan alongside the phrase strong heroine. In fact, many people consider her to be a whiny, pathetic excuse for a heroine. Writer and illustrator Jared Axelrod, however, has a very different opinion. He considers clumsy, quiet Bella to be a strong heroine. His reasoning is simple, “Because [she] controls her own destiny. She makes her own choices, and deals with the obstacles of those choices until she gets what she wants. She does not take no for an answer, she does not submit to authority, and she does not accept the life she’s been handed.” He also notes that she is an example of a “Demeter heroine.” Young adult author Gail Carriger explains this particular type of heroine as follows, “Women in ancient myths often accomplish their quests through the building and maintaining of friendships and family groups. They use networks to complete tasks and engage in their version of the hero’s journey. I think it’s a problem that we often view this type of behavior as weak. We are obsessed with the idea that in order to succeed a hero/heroine must be strong and independent and act alone.”

Her theory, named for the Greek goddess, relies on the idea that classic feminine roles and ideals, such as building relationships and using these relationships to complete tasks, can also be considered heroic. Gail Carriger condemns the idea that a heroine must be someone who stands alone isolated from the people around her; she believes that a woman who uses her relationships to better her situation is just as effective as a strong woman who fights physically for a better situation.

Jared Axelrod also relates Bella to this type of heroine, “Bella’s strength comes from her relationships, especially the members of her adopted family.” He believes that Bella’s dedication to traditionally feminine roles is also the reason for much of the dislike regarding her as a character. “Bella is not a traditionally masculine character, like Buffy, who reaches her goals through violence and physical power…Because of this, she often placed in the only other role we have for women, that of the princess who must be saved. But Bella isn’t that character, anymore than she’s a fighter.” Much of the hatred directed at Bella seems to stem from the idea that she is weak. However, if one were to closely examine the decisions that she makes throughout the Twilight series, it would be evident that Bella often makes strong choices. She continually puts the lives of the people she loves above her own, and she repeatedly goes against what others tell her is the right thing to do. Bella is not alone in making decisions like these. Thankfully, there have been young adult writers who have successfully created heroines whose strength is not rooted simply in their physical prowess.

J.K. Rowling has created one of the best examples of this type of heroine. Hermione Granger may be adept with a wand, but her strength ultimately lies in her intelligence and her compassion. Hermione is a strong heroine because she is able to find solutions and answers that others cannot. She is also a compassionate and empathetic person which is best illustrated by her fervor to right the injustices of the society she lives in. Also, like Bella, Hermione understands that sacrifice is often an essential element of a heroine and that the relationships one forms are often crucial to success. Writer Sarah Seltzer described one example where Hermione is forced to make a sacrifice in an article for RH Reality Check, “She’s become an orphan by choice, sacrificing her family for the safety of her friends and the world. And that’s the kind of thing that heroes have to do.” Because of the love she feels for her parents, Hermione sacrifices her own relationship with them in order to save their lives. This small act requires no great physical strength, but it exhibits the enormous amount of emotional strength that Hermione has.

However, Hermione’s intelligence is likely her greatest asset as a heroine. Throughout the Harry Potter series, it is her quick thinking and knowledge that saves the lives of those around her. Laura Hibbard, in an article for The Huffington Post, acknowledged this fact, “In the later books, that [Hermione’s] unapologetic intelligence very obviously saves Harry Potter’s life on more than one occasion.” It could be argued that it is Hermione’s strong magic which gives her strength, but it must be acknowledged that magic, in the world of Harry Potter, is only useful if one has the knowledge of how to use it.

Both Bella and Hermione are important role models for young adult readers. Bella is a prime example of a strong heroine in the vein of a Demeter heroine. She continually uses her relationships to quench her needs, but, at the same time, she does not allow the people around her to control her decisions. Hermione, meanwhile, uses intelligence and empathy to sway the decisions of the people around her, and also to combat the problems that she faces. Both of these characters are shining examples that a woman does not have to be skilled with a sword or a bow in order to be strong.

A recent meme popular with book bloggers asked the bloggers to list and rank who they believed were the strongest young adult heroines. If one was to read these lists, there are several names that appear repeatedly. The first is Katniss, The Hunger Games. Following her are Tris, Divergent, and Rose, Vampire Academy. Calla, Nightshade, and Katsa, Graceling, also make more than one appearance. All of these heroines have three things in common; they are strong physically, adept fighters, and spurn many of the common feminine niceties. In a blog post simply titled “Young Adult Heroines” blogger Foz Meadows stated that many young adult writers seem to fear making their heroines too domestic because it will send an anti-feminist message to teen girls. This is a logical reason which could explain the propensity writers have to make their characters so physically assertive, and it is important to note that all of these physically assertive characters are certainly strong heroines. However, it is time for the definition of a strong heroine to change. A heroine’s strength needs to take into account important traits such as intelligence, empathy, sacrificial love, or the ability to build relationships.

More Related Articles:

-In Which I Talk About Why Kick-Butt Heroines Annoy Me
-“The Hunger Games” vs. “Twilight”
-Hollywood’s Year of Heroine Worship