Literary lenses:Game of Thrones

Introduction 

Game of Thrones offers a rich landscape for literary analysis, blending complex themes, characters, and storytelling techniques.

1. The Hero’s Journey

The Hero’s Journey is a narrative arc identified by Joseph Campbell that follows a character as they go through stages of adventure, transformation, and ultimately return changed.

• Jon Snow: Jon’s journey starts with him as an outsider, the illegitimate son of Eddard Stark. At the Wall, he begins as a lowly recruit but rises through the ranks to Lord Commander. His journey is filled with trials: he fights White Walkers, allies with the wildlings, and even dies and is resurrected, embodying a "death and rebirth" motif central to the Hero’s Journey. Jon’s ultimate transformation occurs when he reluctantly kills Daenerys to protect the realm, sacrificing his love and personal desires for a greater good. His journey’s end sees him exiled to the North, suggesting a “return” to his origins, but as a changed man.

• Arya Stark: Arya’s arc is another example, starting as a young girl with little power who loses her family and home. She learns survival and combat skills from mentors, joins the Faceless Men, and ultimately returns to Westeros with deadly skills and independence. Her journey from innocence to empowerment culminates in her killing the Night King, the ultimate test and triumph of her abilities. Arya’s end is unique; she chooses to leave Westeros to explore unknown lands, symbolizing her final transformation and independence.

The Hero’s Journey lens emphasizes how these characters evolve not just physically or socially but internally, transforming in a way that’s essential to the story’s moral complexity.

2. Power and Corruption (The Machiavellian Lens)

Niccolò Machiavelli’s philosophy, from his work The Prince, argues that leaders sometimes need to prioritize pragmatism and self-interest over moral integrity. This lens highlights how power can corrupt and distort noble ideals.

• Cersei Lannister: Cersei epitomizes a Machiavellian ruler. She will do anything to protect her family’s power, from plotting murders to manipulating allies. Her ruthlessness peaks when she blows up the Sept of Baelor, killing her political enemies in one explosive act. While this secures her position, it isolates her further and deepens her tyranny. Cersei’s rule demonstrates how power, when pursued without moral restraint, breeds fear and ultimately destruction.

• Daenerys Targaryen: Initially presented as a liberator who fights for justice, Daenerys’s gradual descent into tyranny embodies the corrupting influence of power. She begins with noble intentions, freeing slaves in Essos and advocating for the oppressed. However, as she gains more power and followers, she starts to equate her vision with justice, refusing any dissent. In the end, she destroys King’s Landing and kills thousands, showing that unchecked power, even with good intentions, can lead to devastating consequences.

The Machiavellian lens underscores that in Game of Thrones, power is a dangerous force that can corrupt even those with the best intentions.

3. Feminist Lens

Through a feminist lens, Game of Thrones explores how women challenge and redefine traditional gender roles. Many female characters resist patriarchal limitations, asserting independence and strength in unique ways.

• Daenerys Targaryen: Daenerys begins as a pawn in her brother’s schemes but grows into a powerful leader, rejecting the role society assigns to her. She declares herself not just a ruler but a “Breaker of Chains,” symbolizing her determination to dismantle oppressive systems. Her journey represents a woman claiming power and autonomy, although it ultimately raises questions about whether she was allowed to succeed within the narrative’s patriarchal framework.

• Sansa Stark: Sansa’s character arc shows her growth from a naive girl to a politically savvy ruler. Initially, she is controlled and manipulated by powerful men (Joffrey, Littlefinger, Ramsay), but she learns from each of these experiences. By the end, she becomes Queen in the North, asserting her authority and achieving respect. Sansa’s transformation reflects her journey to empowerment and self-worth in a male-dominated society.

• Brienne of Tarth: Brienne breaks gender norms as a female knight. She challenges perceptions about strength and honor, showing that femininity and valor can coexist. Her loyalty, courage, and prowess in combat redefine what it means to be a “woman” in Westeros, emphasizing that power can be wielded by anyone, regardless of gender.

The feminist lens reveals Game of Thrones as a narrative that challenges and sometimes upholds traditional gender dynamics, creating a complex portrayal of women in power.

4.The Tragic Lens

Using the tragic lens, we can see how Game of Thrones follows the tradition of classic tragedies where characters’ flaws lead to downfall.

• Ned Stark: Ned’s strict adherence to honor becomes his fatal flaw. He refuses to compromise his values, even if it would save his life. By publicly accusing Cersei of treason without strategic backing, he underestimates the Lannisters’ ruthlessness, leading to his execution. His death sets off a chain of events that ultimately destabilizes the realm, showing how noble ideals can result in devastating outcomes.

• Robb Stark: Robb’s loyalty and sense of justice make him a heroic figure, but his decision to marry for love rather than political alliance angers the Freys, leading to his betrayal at the Red Wedding. His downfall demonstrates the tragic consequences of personal choices in a world where honor is often a luxury.

• Daenerys Targaryen: Daenerys’s desire for the throne, mixed with her sense of destiny, turns into a tragic flaw as she becomes increasingly ruthless. Her transformation into the “Mad Queen” embodies the tragic hero’s fall from grace, with her once-noble vision eclipsed by her ambition.

The tragic lens shows that even the most virtuous qualities can be destructive when taken to extremes, reinforcing the harsh realities of Westeros.

5. Social and Political Lens

Examining Game of Thrones through a social and political lens reveals the series as a commentary on power structures and class inequalities.

• Class Division: The story’s rigid class hierarchy is evident in how commoners, like Gendry and Davos, struggle to gain recognition despite their skills. This inequality is challenged, however, by characters like Jon Snow and Daenerys, who advocate for marginalized people (the wildlings and slaves, respectively). Yet, the power dynamics remain deeply embedded in Westeros, and real social change proves elusive.

• Self-Determination and Independence: The North’s desire for independence reflects a push against centralized power. Sansa’s decision to declare the North a separate kingdom after the war underscores themes of autonomy and resistance to tyranny, showing how oppressed groups strive for self-determination.

The social and political lens brings out the tension between the status quo and the desire for change, mirroring historical struggles for freedom and justice.

6. The Postmodern Lens

With a postmodern approach, Game of Thrones challenges traditional storytelling tropes, particularly the concept of absolute “good” and “evil.”

• Moral Ambiguity: Characters like Jaime Lannister blur the lines between hero and villain. While Jaime starts off as an antagonist, his journey toward redemption, including his love for Brienne and his efforts to save innocent lives, complicate his character. This complexity forces viewers to reconsider initial judgments, questioning the simplistic “good vs. evil” framework.

• Subverting Expectations: The show’s unexpected deaths, such as those of Ned Stark and the Red Wedding, defy conventional storytelling, emphasizing the unpredictable and chaotic nature of life. These twists keep viewers constantly reassessing character arcs and alliances, embodying postmodern storytelling where traditional endings and morals are upended.

The postmodern lens allows us to appreciate Game of Thrones for its subversion of archetypes, making it a narrative that questions certainty and challenges viewers’ assumptions.

7. Existential Lens

An existential reading reveals characters grappling with the meaning of life and death, making choices in a world without clear moral direction.

• Tyrion Lannister: Tyrion’s journey is marked by existential questions as he searches for purpose and respect in a world that scorns him. His wit and intelligence often mask a deep loneliness and struggle with identity, which he confronts throughout the series. His loyalty to Daenerys is an attempt to find meaning by supporting a cause he believes in, only to face the existential crisis of her betrayal.

• The Hound: Sandor Clegane’s story is defined by bitterness and violence, but he gradually seeks redemption. His journey with Arya, where he teaches her resilience while questioning his own beliefs, captures the existential battle between self-hatred and the desire for something more meaningful.

An existential lens highlights that, in the bleak landscape of Westeros, characters must confront their own beliefs and mortality, making choices that define who they are, even in the face of an indifferent world.

In sum, these literary lenses help us see Game of Thrones as more than a fantasy tale—it’s a complex exploration of power, morality, identity, and resilience that resonates on multiple levels. The story’s depth is amplified by its characters’ journeys and the challenging choices they face, making it a rich text for literary analysis.