A Song of Ice and Fire: Stark family, igniting the unending process of repeated loop
A Song of Ice and Fire is a novel series written by famous R.R. George Martin which consists of seven books. The recently completed Game of Thrones series broadcasted on entertainment channel HBO was based on the same novel. It is not rare for people to get inspired by TV series and then switch their watching medium preference to reading as vice-versa has been a devastating experience, for the majority of course. The uniqueness which this book series carries is the trajectory of the story. The unexpectedness coupled with great humor and wicked characters is USP of Martin’s books. Character development is as fast as one is watching a motion picture, but how it is presented takes the reader into another dimension which even the HBO web series failed to. Starting with the introduction of Others, a or many mysterious creatures beyond The Wall is a gripping technique that made its mark till the end of the second installment, A Clash of Kings.
Each chapter is dedicated to a character, showing their POV. E.g. the Lord of Winterfell, Eddard Stark’s chapter begins with a situation where he is executing his duties along with teaching his sons, Robb, Jon and Bran, a lesson. Eddard is both proud and feared for his children who are about to hold the kingdom’s North seat. Bran’s POV exemplifies his curiosity in a very lucrative manner where he faces the dilemma of becoming the lord of Winterfell or get succumbed to his ‘child-like’ fears. Bran witnesses fear in eyes of culprit and questions his father, “Can a man be both brave and frightened at the same time?”. “It is the only time when a man can be brave” replies Eddard. This memory has a far-reaching effect on Bran’s decision making, even until the last moment of the story. Robb, with his talents, always seems to be ready for taking his father’s place. Jon, the bastard of Eddard, seems to be perplexed with his uneven and unknown history and faces the unexpected destiny. Confronted by Eddard’s wife Catelyn since childhood makes him a stiff-nature character where one time it seems he is ready to face anything but on the other occasion, he seems to be broken. The relation of brothers somehow keeps the reader in the grip as the story further unfolds in a very relatable manner, a tough task when one writes fiction and above all, an ancient-fiction.
Arya and Sansa, Eddard’s daughter, are fighting for their destiny where the elder one, Sansa seems to be easy going. Arya, reluctant to submit herself into customs meant for royal ladies, wants to explore every corner of her father’s lordship until she marches for the rest is known the world. Sansa, who has manufactured her dream of becoming a queen, prepares herself for the imagined destiny where she is bound to marry Prince Jeoffrey, son of the King of Seven Worlds, Robert Baratheon. Feminism taking shape in child Arya and the acceptance of society made rules by Sansa take center stage when both switch their position, for a while.
Books always cause readers to become a visual thinker and it applies more when you read the imaginary story. A fearful father, the reality of incest, King’s aspiration and the Gods, all are depicted in a parabolic structure wherein the end, everything is merged into a single entity, Throne. The visually imagining reader tends to place him/herself in place of characters and forces to make a strategy to acquire the highest place of kingdom. When the reader is made to justify the character’s decision and destiny is where the writer wins. It is very easy to fall for Arya and Jon and acquire their place instead of others. The reality of men wants to defy socially constructed ideas and need of realizing self-identity makes this two-character the most favorite of Stark family members. Ned’s conversation with Catelyn holds prima facie an interaction of a responsible husband and dutiful wife if seen through the prism of ancient culture. Though their concern about their children is somewhat unattractive and causes readers to escape from Catelyn’s POV. But later, Catelyn proves to be the only character whose prophesy becomes all relevant and makes a stand out a position among all characters even subjugating her children. This shows the writer’s wider emphasis on showing a feminine-oriented version of the story where a ‘mother knows all’ philosophy is carried.
The gripping read tightens when Bran is hit by a so-called accident and the story further unfolds as if compression of time has applied to all characters. Eddard leaves his son in charge of Winterfell, Catelyn readies her daughter to leave for South as if they have a grown-up for taking their duties as wives, Bran becomes more understanding with all his aspirations and fear keeping aside and trying to embrace the upcoming future shaped by the accident which makes his legs and dream of becoming lord, paralyzed. The point of involving dire wolves and stories of Others hold prime importance as the dreams of the three-eyed raven of Bran show the reader a glimpse of beyond The Wall.
The powerhouse of unexpectedness and story development, all are carried around the Stark family throughout the read. Martin has emphasized almost every aspect of royal as well as bastard life and gives the reader the choice to adopt and justify the character’s deeds. Altogether the Stark family holds three of four pillars on which the whole series is established. A Song of Ice and Fire is a read where the reader wants an unending process to go on in a repeated loop.
