Chapter-by-Chapter Analysis: Tyrion II, ASOS

Chapter-by-Chapter Analysis: Tyrion II, ASOS

image
“And my father? Who does he have spying on me?”
This time the eunuch laughed aloud. “Why, me, my lord.”
Synopsis: Tyrion meets with Varys (yay!) and then with Shae (boooo!).
SPOILER WARNING: This chapter analysis, and all following, will contain spoilers for all Song of Ice and Fire novels and Game of Thrones episodes. Caveat lector.
(more…)

View On WordPress

Does Tyrion fall under the same purview for propping up the Lannister regime prior to the Purple wedding? I’m just genuinely curious if we’re working from the same standard here because I’m baffled as to what we could/should expect from someone in Jaimie’s position (who did do the right thing once upon a time and was vilified for it) while accounting for the fact that he was born a Lannister and ask what viable political alternative exits for him to resist for at this point?

I certainly think he does. 

Indeed, that’s the central tension of Tyrion’s arc in ACOK – we’re rooting for him to succeed against Cersei and Varys and Pycelle and Littlefinger, we cheer when he leads the sally from the Mud Gate to the cheers of “Halfman!” but at the end of the day, Tyrion’s success means that Joffrey stays on the Iron Throne.

And this is a point that GRRM hammers home again and again. Tyrion starts ACOK by proclaiming that he’s going to “do justice,” and he’s absolutely gobsmacked to find out that the smallfolk of King’s Landing hate him. And as much as he likes to blame everything on Joffrey and feel aggrieved, Tyrion’s his Hand of the King and doesn’t do a damn thing when Joffrey starts giving orders to murder innocent civilians or shooting starving people with crossbows. 

I would also argue, btw, that a big chunk of Tyrion’s ASOS arc is his realization of his complicity in this regime and his realization of what the regime is like when you’re no longer the man on top…

Now, it’s an open question whether Tyrion is going to reawaken to humanity as @poorquentyn explores in his ADWD essays, but I personally hope that part of that process is Tyrion realizing that it’s not enough to try to “soften the blow” but that one has to defect from the system of oppression and join Dany’s revolution in order to actually “do justice.”

As for Jaime, I think I’ve made my opinion clear on that point: Jaime’s hated because he stupidly refuses to tell anyone what he did and why. But in my opinion, Jaime should be condemned for not stopping the Mad King the moment Aerys gave the command to burn people alive without trial.

Chapter-by-Chapter Analysis: Tyrion I, ASOS

Chapter-by-Chapter Analysis: Tyrion I, ASOS

image

“While Tyrion lay drugged and dreaming, his own blood had pulled his claws out, one-by-one.”
Synopsis: All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.
SPOILER WARNING: This chapter analysis, and all following, will contain spoilers for all Song of Ice and Fire novels and Game of Thrones episodes. Caveat lector.
(more…)

View On WordPress

Chapter-by-Chapter Analysis: Tyrion XV, ACOK

Chapter-by-Chapter Analysis: Tyrion XV, ACOK

image
“His wits were coming back to him, however slowly. That was good. His wits were all he had.”
Synopsis: Tyrion wakes up to find he’s lost his nose, his job, and the credit for his victory.
SPOILER WARNING: This chapter analysis, and all following, will contain spoilers for all Song of Ice and Fire novels and Game of Thrones episodes. Caveat lector.
(more…)

View On WordPress

Chapter-by-Chapter Analysis: Tyrion XII, ACOK

Chapter-by-Chapter Analysis: Tyrion XII, ACOK

image

“Cersei set a tasty table, that could not be denied…Tyrion was exceedingly courteous; he offered his sister the choice portions of every dish, and made certain he ate only what she did. Not that he truly thought she’d poison him, but it never hurt to be careful.” Synopsis: Tyrion has dinner with Cersei. It doesn’t go well. SPOILER WARNING: This chapter analysis, and all following, will contain…

View On WordPress