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oldstonedjenny · 2 years

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Quora Reshare; What are some examples of food symbolism in ‘A Song of Ice and Fire?’

By Kelsey L. Hayes

Answering my own question to consolidate all of it and have the link handy if I ever need to reference it.

GRRM is often ribbed for his often-extensive descriptions of food. I know a lot of people slog through the food stuff, but if you read them, you can detect patterns. Those patterns can show how the author uses food (and drink) to tell you what's really going on in a situation, or tell you what may happen next. It's not always literal food; sometimes it can be a color or something related to the food in another way.

Peaches refer to idealism and misplaced ideas of invincibility Think of Renly eating a peach when he meets with Stannis. He's at the top of his power, with a huge army and powerful allies. He has no idea that he's going to die soon.

Asha and Qarl the Maid have peaches at Deepwood Motte, thinking they're safe, shortly before Stannis comes to liberate the keep.

Robert mentions eating peaches when talking about the "fleeing" summer; it evokes a feeling of nostalgia and youthfulness.

Bran, right before he gets tossed off the tower, remarks that the air up high tastes like "a winter peach."

Jorah brings Dany a peach in Vaes Tolloro, and later she remarks that the Astapori slavemaster smells like a peach; she later has a moment of invincibility with "Dracarys," but it's fleeting.

Arya arrives at the Peach Inn in the Riverlands when she's with the Brotherhood. It's here that she learns that they've captured the Hound. She thinks everything is going to be all right now, but it's not.

Blood oranges refer to family Arya is eating a blood orange during dinner when she's still sore about Sansa lying about Nymeria and Joffrey. Arya squeezing the juice from orange during the exchange shows that Sansa's lies are affecting their sisterly bond. Arya throws the orange at Sansa, staining the white dress Cersei gave her. Sansa's family ties will ultimately strain her relationship with the queen.

Doran's blood oranges are "way past ripe," suggesting that the plots he's been working with regarding his family have gone on for too long and are no longer viable. Three oranges fall from the tree; three family deaths: Elia, Oberyn and Quentyn. It's the last orange that falls that causes Doran to react, almost as if he's in pain.

Cersei and Tommen eat blood oranges for breakfast one morning, and this is accompanied by Cersei thinking she's in control of her son.

When Sansa is in the Vale with Littlefinger, he offers her a variety of fruit. One of the pieces of fruit is a blood orange, which she eats. This could mean that Sansa will choose to support her family in the Vale (Sweetrobin).

Pomegranates refer to duplicity Littlefinger offers Sansa a pomegranate along with the other fruit (sad grapes: Olenna Redwyne losing custody of Sansa). Sansa refuses it, suggesting that in the end she will not remain Littlefinger's protege entirely. This is the opposite of the Hades-Persephone story, where the pomegranate is offered and accepted.

When Dany is in Qarth, she drinks pomegranate wine when speaking to Xaro Xhoan Daxos. During this time, he's trying to convince her that he's her friend and that he can help her, but in the end all he wants is access to her dragons.

Bowen Marsh, the Night's Watch steward who eventually betrays Jon, is called the Old Pomegranate.

And so do plums Brown Ben Plumm betrays Dany.

Theon refers to Winterfell as a "ripe and undefended plum" before he successfully takes it, betraying Robb.

Illyrio eats suckling pig in plum sauce, hinting that he's not being honest to Tyrion about his real motivations. He also gives Dany a plum-colored dress to wear when she meets Drogo.

The distrustful Leo Tyrell asks for suckling pig in plum sauce, along with another food item yet to be mentioned.

Littlefinger wears a plum-colored doublet when he talks with Ned, whom he later betrays.

When Ned confronts Cersei about Jaime being her children's father, the bruise Robert left her is described as once plum-colored but now fading. During this exchange, Cersei drops the charade and tells Ned the truth.

Boar means the regime is changing or power is shifting I love this one especially because it, to my knowledge, is the only one name-checked in the show: Tyrion and Jaime eat boar for a meal in the episode of the Purple Wedding, foreshadowing that the regime will change with Joffrey's death. A black boar's head was supposedly also served at the Black Dinner, the historical event that inspired the Red Wedding. It could be that that's where the idea came from.

Robert is killed by a boar while hunting; this shifts the regime from him to Joffrey.

Boar is served at the Purple Wedding.

Roose Bolton eats boar while at Harrenhal, and soon after the northerners abandon it to the Bloody Mummers. It is also at Harrenhal where Roose decides to switch allegiances from Robb to the Lannisters.

Sansa eats boar with Olenna and Margaery when she tells them he's evil. The Tyrells will, of course, go on to assassinate Joffrey. Offering boar to Sansa is the Tyrell family "recruiting" her.

Cersei eats boar when plotting with the Stokeworths, only for Bronn to outsmart her and seize control of the family and its property.

The Frey men use boar-baiting at Riverrun to pass time. Soon, the Blackfish escapes the castle and Ryman Frey and his men are hanged.

There's boar all over Dany's final moments in Meereen before she flies off on Drogon. Barsena fights a boar in the pit. You see guards in boar-head helmets.

Interestingly, there is no boar served at the Red Wedding, perhaps suggesting that the Stark regime will live on somehow.

Arbor gold wine? Lies Hizdahr starts drinking it after he marries Dany; their marriage is a political sham.

Manderly suggests that the Freys and Boltons wash down their pork pie with Arbor gold. The pies actually contain meat from three executed Freys.

Varys says he bought the double for baby Aegon with Arbor gold. This can suggest that Varys is lying and a switch never took place.

Cersei and Taena stay up drinking Arbor gold; Taena is informing on Cersei to someone, probably Doran Martell.

Littlefinger serves Arbor gold to the Vale lords when trying to convince them to let him maintain his position there after Lysa's death. The phrase is even repeated there: "Lies and Arbor gold."

Tyrion asks Sansa for Arbor gold on their wedding night. The marriage is a farce and Sansa is trying to keep her feelings about the Lannisters from him.

Leo Tyrell drinks Arbor gold in Oldtown, and stands out as a distrustful figure to Pate and Alleras.

During a council meeting, they toast Joffrey's "wise and benevolent" reign with Arbor gold.

A candidate for high septon is said to curry the votes of the wealthy by giving them Arbor gold, then turning around and trying to pass himself off as an ascetic by mingling with the poor.

Arbor red wine? Poison The wine seller offers Dany dry red wine from the Arbor when he tries to poison her.

Cressen tries to poison Melisandre with red wine.

Joffrey is poisoned with red wine.

Tyrion poisons Cersei (not fatally, just enough to make her sick) when they drink red wine and toast Stannis for killing Renly.

Oberyn calls Arbor red wine "red water" and asks Tyrion, "Did you poison him?" in reference to Tyrion being on trial for killing Joffrey.

Lemons refer to genuine innocence and purity Lemoncakes are Sansa's favorite food. She grew up thinking life was the way it was in songs and children's stories.

Dany regularly looks back on the lemon tree at the house in Braavos where she lived with Willem Darry.

Stannis drinks lemon water and he has the express aim of purifying the realm and ridding it of elements that he deems corrupt.

Cersei drinks lemon water to freshen her breath; purity in a more literal sense.

Olive trees represent peace This one is straight from our world, actually.

The masters of Meereen destroy the city's grove of olive trees to prevent Dany from exploiting the resource when she takes the city. Dany later replants some olive trees, but they need years in order to bear fruit. Harry Strickland of the Golden Company remarks that Dany would rather plant olive trees than take Westeros. Later, at the end of the fifth book, Dany has an epiphany and realizes that dragons don't plant trees.

The interpretation: The masters kept Dany from having any early, easily won peace. It will take years for peace and stability to return to the region, if it ever does. And by the end, Dany realizes that she is not meant to be peaceful, but to be more like a dragon: destructive. It's actually that line that makes so many people think she's headed down the path of antagonism.

#a song of ice and fire #meta #food #food symbolism #my post

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jackoshadows · 4 years

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This is a write-up regarding the situation in the North as of the last book A Dance with Dragons regarding the Starks and their claim to WF and the North. It’s a rather long post with book quotes that looks at why each character has a claim to the North/WF and how much support they have for that claim going from the character with the strongest claim/support to the weakest.

Contenders currently in the North:

Bran Stark: Currently in the lands beyond the wall with the 3ER. Prince Bran Stark was the Prince of Winterfell and the Stark in Winterfell when King Robb Stark was campaigning in the South. He ruled over the North until Theon’s betrayal and attack wherein Theon became the Prince of Winterfell with his father Balon Greyjoy as King. Ramsay then sacked Winterfell and Roose Bolton took over as Warden of the North with Ramsay Bolton as the Lord of Winterfell, by way of marriage to ‘Arya Stark’.

Rickon Stark: Currently in Skagos. Next in line to Bran Stark. Has the support of the powerful Wyman Manderly to become the Lord of Winterfell/Warden of the North under King Stannis Baratheon as per the deal made with Stannis’ envoy Davos seaworth. Robett Glover also agrees to join Stannis’ campaign if Davos brings back Rickon safely from Skagos and sends weapons and hunters to Stannis to help in his march on Winterfell against the Boltons. Davos is currently headed to Skagos to bring Rickon back.

Characters that know that Bran and Rickon are alive: Theon Greyjoy, Wex, Wyman Manderly, Robett Glover, Stannis Baratheon, Davos Seaworth, Samwell Tarly, Gilly, Osha, Hodor, the Reeds and the Liddle of the mountain clans.

Additionally, Bran is communicating with Jon, Arya and possibly Rickon through their wolf dreams and in Theon’s case through the WF Godswood. Jon sees Shaggydog eating a unicorn in Skagos through Ghost. He sort of ‘knows’ that Bran and Rickon are alive through the direwolves communicating with each other.

Jon Snow: Ned’s bastard son only comes into the picture through Robb Stark’s will. So let’s take a look at this will. Before his death, Robb Stark creates a will to ensure that the Northern kingdom does not die with him. At this point, Robb thinks that Bran, Rickon and Arya are dead. First, he needs to make sure that the Lannisters don’t get the North:

By law Sansa is next in line of succession, so Winterfell and the north would pass to her.” His mouth tightened. “To her, and her lord husband. Tyrion Lannister. I cannot allow that. I will not allow that. That dwarf must never have the north.”

“No,” Catelyn agreed. “You must name another heir, until such time as Jeyne gives you a son.”

Robb and Cat seem pretty determined that Sansa, her husband and any children they have will never get the North/WF. This indicates that there is a provision in the will where Sansa is explicitly debarred/disinherited from getting the North. This seems to be a pretty popular idea as, up North, Stannis is of a similar mind –

"Lady Lannister, you mean? Are you so eager to see the Imp perched on your father's seat? I promise you, that will not happen whilst I live, Lord Snow."

So anyways, Sansa is out. Next, Robb decides to legitimize Jon Snow and he trusts Jon so much that he decides to do this before even knowing whether his wife Jeyne Westerling is pregnant or not. Catelyn is so distressed over this, that she would rather Robb select some cousin from the Vale to be Lord of WF/KITN than Jon Snow because she thinks that Jon will steal Robb’s child’s birthright. And that once Jon is legitimized it cannot be taken back. They argue over this:

He is set on this. Catelyn knew how stubborn her son could be. “A bastard cannot inherit.”

“Not unless he’s legitimized by a royal decree,” said Robb. “There is more precedent for that than for releasing a Sworn Brother from his oath.”

“If you make Jon legitimate, there is no way to turn him bastard again. Should he wed and breed, any sons you may have by Jeyne will never be safe.”

“Have you considered your sisters? What of their rights? I agree that the north must not be permitted to pass to the Imp, but what of Arya? By law, she comes after Sansa . . . your own sister, trueborn . . . ”

“ . . . and dead. No one has seen or heard of Arya since they cut Father’s head off. Why do you lie to yourself? Arya’s gone, the same as Bran and Rickon, and they’ll kill Sansa too once the dwarf gets a child from her. Jon is the only brother that remains to me. Should I die without issue, I want him to succeed me as King in the North. I had hoped you would support my choice.”

From all this we can speculate that the Robb’s will has provisions that disinherits Sansa, legitimizes Jon and makes him KITN if Jeyne does not have a child – since the only uncertainty at the time the will is written up is whether Robb will have a child or not.

The following lords are signatories and witnesses to this will: Jason Mallister, Raynald Westerling, Greatjon Umber, Galbart Glover, Maege Mormont and Edmure Tully. We don’t know where this will is – it’s speculated that Galbart Glover and Maege Mormont are in possession of the will and were last headed for Greywater watch, the residence of Howland Reed.

If Robb’s will comes into play, then Jon goes from Jon Snow to Jon Stark and that automatically pushes him to the head of the queue as the eldest Stark, even if Bran and Rickon are alive. Of course, ultimately it all depends on which houses will support Jon Stark and which houses will support Bran, Rickon or Arya stark.

Contenders currently outside the North:

Because much of the North and house Stark is patriarchal, the girls come further down the line when it comes to their claims to WF and the North.

Arya Stark: Currently in Braavos. She is involved in the Northern plot in the book through Jeyne Poole – who marries Ramsay Bolton as ‘Arya Stark’ to help the Boltons hold the North. With Jon’s help, Stannis engages with the Mountain clans and they agree to fight under him to defeat the Boltons and free Arya. As Big Bucket Wull explains:

Winter is almost upon us, boy. And winter is death. I would sooner my men die fighting for the Ned’s little girl than alone and hungry in the snow, weeping tears that freeze upon their cheeks. No one sings songs of men who die like that. As for me, I am old. This will be my last winter. Let me bathe in Bolton blood before I die. I want to feel it spatter across my face when my axe bites deep into a Bolton skull. I want to lick it off my lips and die with the taste of it on my tongue.

So the clans and Stannis are fighting to save Arya. While Stannis himself is not interested in Arya as a heir to WF (he wants to rescue Arya for Jon’s sake and send her to him), the clans and some of the Northern houses in the game – who don’t know about Bran and Rickon being alive – could be plotting to get rid of house Bolton and restore WF/North to Arya as Queen in the North. Even Roose’s so called Northern allies are not pleased with the way ‘Arya’ is being treated.

Barbrey: The bride weeps ... Dressing her in grey and white serves no good if the girl is left to sob. The Freys might not care, but the northmen ... they fear the Dreadfort, but they love the Starks.

Theon: Not you.

Barbrey: Not me, but the rest, yes. Old Whoresbane is only here because the Freys hold the Greatjon captive. And do you imagine the Hornwood men have forgotten the Bastard's last marriage, and how his lady wife was left to starve, chewing her own fingers? What do you think passes through their heads when they hear the new bride weeping? Valiant Ned's precious little girl. Lady Arya's sobs do us more harm than all of Lord Stannis's swords and spears.

“Night work is not knight’s work,” Lady Dustin said. “And Lord Wyman is not the only man who lost kin at your Red Wedding, Frey. Do you imagine Whoresbane loves you any better? If you did not hold the Greatjon, he would pull out your entrails and make you eat them, as Lady Hornwood ate her fingers. Flints, Cerwyns, Tallharts, Slates … they all had men with the Young Wolf.”

“House Ryswell too,” said Roger Ryswell. “Even Dustins out of Barrowton.” Lady Dustin parted her lips in a thin, feral smile. “The north remembers, Frey.”

Meanwhile, Lord Commander Jon Snow at the Wall has send Mance Raydar – the King beyond the wall – to rescue his sister. After he receives a letter from Ramsay Bolton informing him that Stannis has failed and that Mance is dead, Jon rallies the Wildlings to go attack the Boltons and save Arya. He is assassinated at this point.

So while all this is happening in the North, the real Arya is in Braavos. How would she connect to this plot? Well, if Jon is dead at the wall, fake Arya/Jeyne Poole may end up going with Justin Massey to Braavos – where Stannis has send him to get more mercenary soldiers and men to fight against the Boltons. Imagine Arya’s surprise when she comes across Jeyne masquerading as Arya in Braavos while Arya is walking around with someone else’s face?! This could very well be the spur that pushes her to make a trip to the Wall or the North. The only obstacle is of course that Winter has come in the books and the snowstorms are so bad that Stannis and his army is stranded unable to march even to WF. It’s not going to be easy for Arya to get North at this point. It’s possible that Arya therefore travels to the Riverlands or even the Vale since weather wise that’s easier to do.

Sansa Stark: Currently in the Vale. She is LF’s nominee for the North/WF. The major obstacle for her getting the North is her marriage to Tyrion. Currently she is still married to Tyrion as of the last book. This marriage can only be annulled by the high Septon in KL – which means there should be a regime friendly to Sansa in KL before this can happen. Or Tyrion should die. This is what LF is hoping for - that Cersei somehow manages to kill Tyrion. LF’s plans depends on both Tyrion and SweetRobin dying. Hence why Sweetrobin is being given dangerous levels of sweetsleep, despite the Maester’s warnings. LF also thinks that Bran and Rickon are dead.

So according to LF’s plans, Cersei kills Tyrion, SweetRobin dies, Sansa marries Harry the heir and is unveiled as Queen in the North/Lady of Winterfell.She gets the North and the Vale in one swoop.

But unfortunately for Littlefinger, the North is moving full speed ahead with their own plots and games. Bran and Rickon are still alive, some Northern houses are pushing for Rickon, others support Arya and Robb’s will basically disinherits Sansa Lannister. LF does not know any of this. There’s also the fact that with winter coming to Westeros and the snow storms, no army is going to be able go North any time soon. No single person would be able to do the same. Alys Karstark nearly died riding from Karhold to the Wall. So Sansa is going to be stuck in the south for a while yet.

So with Sansa in the vale, Arya in Braavos and Bran beyond the wall, the closest contenders for WF and the North location-wise are going to be Rickon and Jon. And Jon is still lying dead in the snow. So it’s very likely that we will get either Lord of Winterfell Rickon Stark if Stannis wins or KITN Rickon Stark if Stannis dies in the next book.

#ASoIaF #Bran Stark #Rickon Stark #Jon Snow #Arya stark #Sansa Stark #Robb Stark #Northern lords #Winterfell #And the North

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empiregalaxy · 7 years

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Why Sansa would make a great Queen In The North

A huge misconception is that the supporters of 'QITN' Sansa Stark only support her due to reasons such as 'inheritance', etc. I personally think it is much more deeper and complex than that. So here I list some reasons why I'm pro-queen Sansa.

1. She's kind I have written in depth about Sansa's kindness. Her saving Dontos, telling Sandor that his brother was 'no true knight', praying for Margaery, helping Sweetrobin cross the bridge, helping the Stokeworths during the Battle Of Blackwater and even helped Lancel, who is a Lannister. I don't know about everyone else, but I would want the rulers to be kind. Although being kind doesn't necessarily guarantee a good ruler, it certainly is a start. Hence why Sansa's kindness is my first point.

Another reason why I love Sansa’s kindness- is that she is kind when other characters fail to be. In A Game Of Thrones, there is this moment:

They all laughed then, Joffrey on his throne, and the lords standing attendance, Janos Slynt and Queen Cersei and Sandor Clegane and even the other men of the Kingsguard, the five who had been his brothers until a moment ago. Surely that must have hurt the most, Sansa thought. Her heart went out to the gallant old man as he stood shamed and red-faced, too angry to speak. Finally he drew his sword.

Sansa’s kindness is not only just goodness, but strength.

2. She's perceptive & (politcally minded!) There are two amazing essays on this which say it much, much better than I possibly could. Sharing them because they are superb.

The first one is by @turtle-paced and can be found here. The other is by @goodqueenaly and can be found here. Well worth a read.

Sansa is a smart person, and that is a huge thing when it comes to monarchs. I'd like to talk about George R.R Martin's comments about Aragorn, who we all know as a key character in Tolkein's Lord Of The Rings

Ruling is hard. This was maybe my answer to Tolkien, whom, as much as I admire him, I do quibble with. Lord of the Rings had a very medieval philosophy: that if the king was a good man, the land would prosper. We look at real history and it’s not that simple. Tolkien can say that Aragorn became king and reigned for a hundred years, and he was wise and good. But Tolkien doesn’t ask the question: What was Aragorn’s tax policy? Did he maintain a standing army? What did he do in times of flood and famine? And what about all these orcs? By the end of the war, Sauron is gone but all of the orcs aren’t gone – they’re in the mountains. Did Aragorn pursue a policy of systematic genocide and kill them? Even the little baby orcs, in their little orc cradles?

As much as I love Tolkein's world, GRRM's insistence on having leaders who are precise in their methods, are good people AND good rulers is absolutely important. What does this have to do with Sansa? Well, I've made it clear I've found her wise and good. I also think she is well equipped to handle hardships the North would face, because of the following traits:

ability to show mercy (for instance, in A Clash Of Kings she shows mercy to Lancel Lannister). Forget the show rubbish of her wanting blood and punishment, Sansa does show mercy in the course of the series

atttentive to detail. She's good with banners, people's houses, statuses, etc- so she would be able to assess how an action would impact on others. I don't think Sansa is oblivious at all. She's grown alot.

willingness to learn. Not only is she engaged in what other people have to say (Sansa rarely interrupts others). Military may not have a huge role in her arc, but it could be. She could learn battle strategies and tactics. Not saying she would necessarily be on Stannis-level, but I truly believe Sansa would not shy away from learning about battles and war.

It's those three traits that are integral to Sansa's personality that she'd make a great, perceptive ruler. And she’s also has a BS detecter: once Cersei shows her true colours, Sansa figures out how she works

She heard the door open as her maids brought the hot water for her bath. They were both new to her service; Tyrion said the women who'd tended to her previously had all been Cersei's spies, just as Sansa had always suspected.

3. There are parallels with some of the strongest leaders in the series

Good Queen Alysanne Targaryen is probably my favourite parallel for Sansa. Alysanne showed generosity, kindness, good will and tactical skills. She is looked on throughout the series with love- after all, she's the 'good queen.'

Sansa also has incredible respect for her father, Eddard and her brother Robb.

I must be brave, like Robb, she told herself, as she took her lord husband stiffly by the arm.

Yes, I do admire Robb and consider a comparison between Sansa / Robb a high compliment. Robb Stark was a military prodigy, someone who whilst flawed acted with integrity and greatness. He inspired his people. The fact Sansa wants to be like Robb, she doesn't want to be like Cersei or Littlefinger does go a long way.

4. To quote show! Varys.....

The Seven Kingdoms need someone stronger than Tommen, but gentler than Stannis. A monarch who can intimidate the high lords and inspire the people. A ruler loved by millions with a powerful army and the right family name.

I think Varys is being unfair on Tommen (he is young), and Stannis (a very complex character who can't be reduced to not being gentle)- but these words really do fit Sansa.

Strong? I don’t think I even have to explain Sansa’s strength. She’s gone through absolute hell. She also shows ability to challenge characters- even the terrifying likes of Joffrey

"It does not please me," Joffrey said. "Mother says I'm still to marry you, so you'll stay here, and you'll obey." "I don't want to marry you," Sansa wailed. "You chopped off my father's head!" "He was a traitor. I never promised to spare him, only that I'd be merciful, and I was. If he hadn't been your father, I would have had him torn or flayed, but I gave him a clean death." Sansa stared at him, seeing him for the first time. He was wearing a padded crimson doublet patterned with lions and a cloth-of-gold cape with a high collar that framed his face. She wondered how she could ever have thought him handsome. His lips were as soft and red as the worms you found after a rain, and his eyes were vain and cruel. "I hate you," she whispered.

Intimidate the high lords?

"Ah, and what a castle it is. Cavernous halls and ruined towers, ghosts and draughts, ruinous to heat, impossible to garrison . . . and there's that small matter of a curse."

"Curses are only in songs and stories."

That seemed to amuse him. "Has someone made a song about Gregor Clegane dying of a poisoned spear thrust? Or about the sellsword before him, whose limbs Ser Gregor removed a joint at a time? That one took the castle from Ser Amory Lorch, who received it from Lord Tywin. A bear killed one, your dwarf the other. Lady Whent's died as well, I hear. Lothstons, Strongs, Harroways, Strongs . . . Harrenhal has withered every hand to touch it."

"Then give it to Lord Frey."

She's also gentle- see what I wrote about kindness in the first section.

Inspiring the people and being loved by millions?

“I will remember, Your Grace,” said Sansa, though she had always heard that love was a surer route to the people’s loyalty than fear. If I am ever a queen, I’ll make them love me.

Right family name? We learn in A Dance With Dragons, that people are willing to wage war for the Stark name. Sansa takes strong pride in being a Stark.

“She wondered where this courage had come from, to speak to him so frankly. From Winterfell, she thought. I am stronger within the walls of Winterfell.”

Powerful army? Of course, this is where I think the marriage between Harry The Heir and "Alayne" will come in. Remember, Houses such as Royce of Runestone (Yohn wanted an alliance with Robb). Sansa could potentially make use of the Vale / North alliance.

Here's more about the power the Vale wields. We get mention from Robb in A Storm Of Swords about their power:

"The knights of the Vale could make all the difference in this war," said Robb.

George R.R Martin is also quoted from "The Citadel" as saying (as a response to a fan):

Quick question - We have seen all of the seven kingdoms in action in one way or another except Dorne and the Vale. I am trying to get an understanding of the various strengths of the different realms. When Robb calls the Northern Banners he gathers a host of about 18 thousand men. How do Dorne and the Vale compare to this (I don't expect numbers, just general feeling)

I'd say these three kingdoms were roughly equal in the force they could assemble... but the north is much bigger, so it takes longer for an army to gather. And life is harsher there as well, so lords and smallfolk both need to think carefully before beating those plowshares into swords.

The image of a 'perfect ruler' that Varys paints does apply to Sansa. I disagree with the show on many, many things yet a ruler does need to be strong, does need an army yet have gentleness and love.

6. Concluding Thoughts

To me, Sansa being Queen used to be about continuing Ned and Robb's legacy and her being the oldest true born sibling. But now, it's more than that. To me, saying Sansa should be Queen is wanting the best for the North. My attachment to 'QITN' does not just stem from my love for Sansa, but taking into account the political atmosphere of the North, and the need for rulers who are both strong, perceptive and kind.

It also makes alot of narrative sense for Sansa to be Queen. She starts off the series with notions of what being a Queen means, only for them to be shattered by seeing the ugly realities of the likes of Cersei. For her to become Queen, would give her much needed agency.

Wanting Sansa to be Queen is not an attack on any other character like Bran, Arya, Rickon & Jon. Otherwise, it's simply ludicrous and unfair on Sansa. Fandom really needs to stop that toxic way of thinking.

Sansa would be a fantastic queen, and I’m willing to stick by that statement.

#asoiaf meta #sansa stark

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