Characters, War of the Roses June 2, 2013

Catelyn Stark: The Heart of Game of Thrones

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At the emotional center of Game of Thrones, you’ll find Catelyn Stark. Trying desperately to hold her family together after her husband died, Catelyn represents toughness, ferocity, and love. House Tully’s words are “Family, Duty, Honor.” Quite possibly, George RR Martin loosely based Catelyn on Edward IV’s proud and passionate mother who repeatedly struggled to save her children during the turbulent Wars of the Roses. Like Catelyn, Cecily was once a great beauty. Contemporaries called Cecily “the Rose of Raby” after the…

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Game of Thrones, Jaime Lannister, Ned Stark, Robb Stark, Sansa Stark, Tyrion Lannister May 20, 2013

Favorite Game of Thrones Character Poll Results

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Sorry these poll results have taken so long to post. When I first looked at the poll, it had only gotten an embarrassing six votes so I kind of gave up on it. But, I thought I’d better check again today and noticed that 96 people have answered – I’m thrilled. Thanks! It was great and really cool to see what characters people like. I have to admit I love Arya and Tyrion. However, there are so many great characters…

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Episode Recap May 19, 2013

Game of Thrones Recap: Season 3, Episode 8

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Tonight’s episode of Game of Thrones (Season 3, Episode 8 “Second Sons”) had three major events: Gendry’s disgusting leeching, Daenerys’ near assassination by the dashing sellsword Dario Naharis, and Sansa’s marriage to Tyrion. For the purpose of peering into the history behind this Game of Thrones episode, this post focuses on the Tyrion’s marriage. Tyrion’s noble behavior at the wedding feast reveals how he towers over the peers who laughed at him hours earlier as he struggled to put the…

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Historical Periods May 14, 2013

The Seriousness of Arranged Marriages: No Jane Austen Novel

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Episodes: “The Bear and the Maiden Fair,” Season 3, Episode 7 As Season 3 winds up, arranged marriages are becoming an incredibly important theme. Tywin Lannister wants to marry Tyrion to Sansa Stark and prevent the Tyrells from becoming Lord in the North. Robb Stark pleaded with his uncle to marry Lord Frey’s daughter so he can regain the lord’s military support. In the HBO interactive features from this week’s Game of Thrones, George RR Martin talks about the political importance…

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Characters, War of the Roses May 13, 2013

More on Cersei and Elizabeth Woodville

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This post continues from my previous post on Elizabeth Woodville and Cersei Lannister. Elizabeth, like Cersei, had her share of sorrows. Elizabeth was the mother of twelve children, including the heir to the throne, the blonde-haired Prince Edward.  After Edward IV died, his brother Richard (later Richard III) effectively kidnapped Prince Edward and imprisoned him in the Tower along with his brother. Neither boy was ever seen again. While Elizabeth experienced grief, she also shared in the moral ambiguity seen…

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