Abstract
This introductory chapter reflects on the characters that populate the Game of Thrones universe and on violence and warfare in the saga. It presents briefly Martin’s characters as one of the mainstays and inducements of both the novels and the TV series, especially because the author has peopled his universe with complex, three-dimensional individuals. It also assesses the uses and presence of violence and war. This chapter also highlights how modern fantasy, and in particular Martin’s work, has the ability to combine very different aesthetic elements, including the strong influence of Graeco-Roman culture, with a view to creating a surprising product that challenges the preconceptions of readers—and viewers—while including recognisable cultural references.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
- 1.
Business Insider, 21 April 2016. Available at: https://www.businessinsider.com/number-of-characters-in-game-of-thrones-outweighs-those-in-shows-2016-4 (accessed 4 April 2022).
- 2.
“Life After Death”, blog post by G. R. R. Martin, 26 August 2020. Available at: https://georgerrmartin.com/notablog/2020/08/26/life-after-death/ (accessed 4 April 2022).
- 3.
George Stroumboulopoulos, Tonight on CBC, 13 March 2012. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHfip4DefG4 (accessed 4 April 2022).
- 4.
Schubart (2016).
- 5.
Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azr99OfKLxk (accessed 4 April 2022).
- 6.
The Guardian, 16 May 2016. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/may/17/george-rr-martin-game-of-thrones-characters-die-it-has-to-be-done-song-of-ice-and-fire?CMP=twt_gu (accessed 4 April 2022).
- 7.
A slightly more detailed presentation of the scientific literature on the Game of Thrones universe can be found in the introduction to Volume 1, as well as in the specific bibliography of each chapter.
Bibliography
Attali, M. 2014: “Rome à Westeros: Éléments d’historiographie des religions romaines dans A Song of Ice and Fire de George R. R. Martin”, in M. Bost-Fievet, S. Provini (eds.), L’Antiquité dans l’imaginaire contemporain. Fantasy, science-fiction, fantastique, Paris, 299–319.
Frankel, V. E. 2014: Women in Game of Thrones: Power, Conformity and Resistance, Jefferson.
Gjelsvik, A., and Schubart, R. (eds.) 2016: Women of Ice and Fire: Gender, Game of Thrones, and Multiple Media Engagements, New York and London.
Haimson Lushkov, A. 2017: You Win or You Die: The Ancient World of Game of Thrones, London.
López Güeto, A. 2020: De Poniente a Roma: La huella clásica en Juego de Tronos, Sevilla.
Lowder, J. 2012 (ed.): Beyond the Wall. Exploring George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, Dallas.
Rohr, Z. E., and Benz, L. (eds.) 2020: Queenship and the Women of Westeros. Female Agency and Advice in Game of Thrones and A Song of Ice and Fire, Cham.
Rolet, S. 2018: “L’Antiquité dans Game of Thrones (HBO, 2011-): une présence polysémique”, in F. Bièvre-Perrin and É. Pampanay (eds.), Antiquipop. La référence à l’Antiquité dans la culture populaire contemporaine, Lyon.
Schubart, R. 2016: “Woman with Dragons: Daenerys, Pride, and Postfeminist Possibilities”, in A. Gjelsvik and R. Schubart (eds.), Women of Ice and Fire. Gender, Game of Thrones, and Multiple Media Engagements, New York and London, 105–129.
Wilson J. R. 2021: Shakespeare and Game of Thrones, Abingdon and New York.
Acknowledgement
This project has been possible thanks to the financial support of Pablo de Olavide University (“Plan Propio de Investigación” de la Universidad Pablo de Olavide”).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Álvarez-Ossorio, A., Lozano, F., Moreno Soldevila, R., Rosillo-López, C. (2023). Heroes, Villains, War and Violence in Game of Thrones. In: Álvarez-Ossorio, A., Lozano, F., Moreno Soldevila, R., Rosillo-López, C. (eds) Game of Thrones - A View from the Humanities Vol. 2. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-15493-5_1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-15493-5_1
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-15492-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-15493-5
eBook Packages: Literature, Cultural and Media StudiesLiterature, Cultural and Media Studies (R0)