Allusions in Game of Thrones

For my topic this week I chose to do an allusion to the HBO series Game of Thrones. I have to say, I've been watching this show since it first came out and my obsession with it is a little embarrassing. For those of you who may not be familiar with the show, it is based off of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire book series and has captured the attention of many who have read it. Set in the fictional Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, the series chronicles the violent dynastic struggles among the realm's noble families for control of the Iron Throne. As the series opens, additional threats emerge in the icy North and in the eastern continent of Essos. The novels and their adaptation derive aspects of their settings, characters and plot from various events of European history. Allusions can be tricky to find if you aren't paying attention, but if you look hard enough you can find them in almost anything. I’ll be mentioning a few I've noticed in the first two seasons.

   The Whore of Babylon
            Revelation 17 tells us: "Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, ‘Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who is seated upon many waters, with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and with the wine of whose fornication the dwellers on earth have become drunk.’ And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and bedecked with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her fornication; and on her forehead was written a name of mystery: ‘Babylon the great, mother of harlots and of earth’s abominations.’ And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her I marveled greatly" (Rev. 17:1–6).   

Melisandre: Game of Thrones

Melissandre, or as she is otherwise known as the Red Woman, channels her inner Whore of Babylon in this series. Notice she also wears the scarlet cloak. Originally born a slave in Essos, Melisandre is a Red Priestess of the Lord of Light, a deity that is not widely worshiped in Westeros. Hailing from Asshai, a country located in the far east of the continent of Essos, she claims to wield powerful magical abilities,particularly the power of prophecy. Melisandre wears a large ruby necklace that seems to glow whenever she performs her magic. Some years ago she crossed the Narrow Sea and came to the court of Lord Stannis Baratheon on the island stronghold of Dragonstone, to preach her faith. Stannis and the majority of his household have now converted to her religion, and she has become a close adviser to Stannis himself. Throughout the first two seasons, she continually shows her true, ugly colors as a priestess to help Stannis. One instance is when she convinces him to betray his wife and impregnate her in order to win the war. She gives birth to a dark shadow assassin that ultimately kills Stannis’s brother Renly. She also has people burned as sacrifices to the Lord of Light. 

Ned Stark

Another allusion I found in the series was that of Eddard Stark, or Ned as he is mostly called. Eddard is the head of House Stark and Lord Paramount of the North. He is a dedicated husband and father, a loyal friend and an honorable lord. Eddard becomes Hand of the King to his lifelong friend, Robert Baratheon, when the previous hand dies insuspicious circumstances. He follows his predecessor's footsteps and uncoversan incestuous relationship between Queen, Cersei Lannister, and her brother, Sir Jaime Lannister. Robert dies after being injured while hunting and Eddard challenges the legitimacy of his successor, Joffrey Baratheon, but is betrayed by hispolitical allies and arrested for treason.He confesses to the crime to protect his family, but is nevertheless executed due to Joffrey'simpulsive sadism. The conflict between House Stark and House Lannister sets the stage for the War of the Five Kings. To me, Ned seems to be a Christ-like figure. He honestly should have been king, he would have made a great one, but Littlefinger betrayed him and wound up leading to his death, thanks to Jeoffrey. Does anyone else see how that parallels back to Judas betraying Jesus? These are just a few of the allusions I found while adamantly enjoying this awesome series. I’m sure to find more as the show continues but these are the ones that stood out to me the most thus far.  I have attached a video of some highlights of the first two seasons if you would like to check it out.