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CRISTOBAL, AYLA MONICCA C. MARCH 4, 2014

3POL1 Prof. Ronald M. Castillo,

MA

The Concept of Power in relation to Game of Thrones

Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely, says Lord John

Dalberg-Acton. The concept of power is, without a doubt, the central yet most problematic

concepts in world politics. Power is also an integral part in political philosophy. It is the field

where one can find the theories and beliefs behind politics and decision making that may be used

to obtain power or to justify its existence. This paper aims to show the existence of power within

states or territories and illustrate the corrupting influence of power, using George R. R. Martins

Game of Thrones as an example, by providing different thematic instances from the last two

episodes of the third season, which are TheRains of Castamere andMhysa.

The concept of power is the most significant part that is dominantly seen within the

episodes of the series. George R. R. Martin supports the idea that both good and evil are existent

within the individuals character. Ones use of social and political power customarily divulges

the restrictions and moral boundaries of one person. Abuse of power ensues when ones

psychological problems emasculate his or her moral principles. This was seen when Theon

Greyjoy tried to conquer and take Winterfellbecause he has always felt like an incompetent

outsider since his father sent him away to become a ward as a castigation for the Greyjoy

rebellion, resulting to his torment in the episode of Mhysa when he was tortured by Ramsay

Snow. The influence of power can also be seen during the Red Wedding in the episode of The

Rains of Castamerewhen Lord Frey unmercifully killed the Starks and the rest of the Stark army

during the wedding feast. This act of treachery to end the war, according to Tywin Lannister,

has given and assured Lord Bolton and Lord Frey rewards from the LannistersLord Bolton as

the new Warden of the North and Lord Frey as the Lord of Riverrun and the Freys as the

replacement of the Tullys as the Lannisters vassals in the Riverlands.

Moreover, by this concept of power arises the idea of Realpolitikor Political Realism.

Political Realism is a theory of political philosophy that aspire to elucidate, model, and prescribe

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political relations (Moseley, n.d.). It takes the notion that power is ought to be the primary goal

and end of political action. This thought avows that a ruler should strive to maximize his power

and that he is ought to pursue power for his own interest and not rule by ideology. Michel

Foucault has increasingly influenced and affected the study of politics. He established a radical

conception of social power as forming schemes exemplifying intentions of their own, above any

individual. For Foucault, individuals are as much products of as participants in games of power

(Kelly, 2009). Additionally, power, for him, is what makes us what we are, functioning in

different levels, hence, power is everywhere.

Show them how it feels to lose what they love.

This line was said by Lady Catelyn Stark to her son, Robb, when he was planning and

strategizing on taking over Casterly Rock. This is another theme that is dominantly perceived in

the two episodeskinship or the essence of family. Aside from that scene, the importance of

family was also shown when Lord Tywin talks about family and Tyrions failure to consummate

his marriage to Sansa. Out of rage, Tyrion demanded to know a single time that his father,

Tywin, had done something that was not in his interest but solely for the benefit of the family.

His father replied:

the day that you were born. I wanted to carry you into the sea and let the waves

wash you away. Instead, I let you live and I brought you up as my son because you

are a Lannister.

The familys honor is also a fundamental part in the essence of kinship. According to Georg W.

F. Hegel, the very identity of family members is arbitrated by relation to others. It is

characterized by love which is, minds feeling of its own unity, (Peddle, 2000) where ones

gist of individuality is within this unity. Hence, familial love denotes an incongruity between not

desiring to be a self-subsistent and liberated person if that means feeling inadequate, and wanting

to be acknowledged in another person. However, as said by Hegel, the family is also a limited

form of ethical life for the reason that individuals cannot completely develop to their fullpotential as long as they remain independent on their parents. The purpose of the family is to

cultivate the individuality of children to the point where they can leave their natural relations and

be sovereign on their own. This is also seen when Nedd Stark, Lady Starks husband, died and

Robb became the heir to the throne as the King of the North.

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Mary Wollstonecrafts political philosophy about women empowerment and equality in

the society can also be seen on the two episodes. Arya Starks strength and courage as a woman

were very much exemplified in both episodes. Though in fiction, she became a living proof that

women can also do such things that men do. Furthermore, In the episode of The Rains of

Castamere, Lady Catelyn Stark embodied the courage and capability of a woman, especially a

mother. She still fought for her sons life, even though she was not certain whether Lord Frey

will let Robb go,to the point that they were both killed by the men of Freys. On the other hand, in

the episode of Mhysa, Daenerys Targaryen exemplified the capabilities of a strong woman, just

as what Wollstonecraft advocates in the society. Despite the fact that Daenerys is a woman, she

still has the power and finesse to lead and rule a force that could possibly seize the Seven

Kingdoms of Westeros and sit on the Iron Throne. These scenes illustrates the empowerment of

women and their equality, and the discrepancy of the dictates of the society to women.

As an abridgment, by using the different political philosophies of different political

thinkers, it help shed light on the given thematic instances on every scene by explaining different

views or philosophies of some of the thinkers in modern era. Given these varied thematic

instances, these themes still comes back to its central thought which is power and how it tends to

corrupt. It is established that even given fictional depiction, namely The Game of Thrones, it is to

be seen that this paper displayed a capacity to surpass an implication that power is not always

about great thingsthat it also has negative impact on both the ruler and the ruled. This paper

ends with a mantra from Uncle Ben that was passed down to Peter Parker in Spiderman:

With great power comes great responsibility.

ReferencesBenioff, D., Weiss, D. (Producers), Martin, G. R. (Writer), & Nutter, D. (Director). (2011). Game of

Thrones[Motion Picture].

Kelly, M. G. (2009). The Political Philosophy of Michel Foucault.New York: Taylor & Francis. Retrieved

March 3, 2014

Moseley, A. (n.d.). Political Realism. Retrieved March 3, 2014, from Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy:

A Peer-Reviewed Academic Resource: http://www.iep.utm.edu/polreal/

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Peddle, D. (2000). Hegel's Political Ideal: Civil Society, History, and Sittlichkeit.Animus, 5, 113-143.

Wollstonecraft, M. (1792). A Vindication of the Rights of Woman with Strictures on Political and Moral

Subjects. The Online Library of Liberty, 7, 78-115.