Despite all the disappointment raised against Game of Thrones’ final season, there is no doubt that it can be considered a magnum opus of our times. The impeccable characterisation and hard-hitting realism make it a timeless piece of writing.
Inspired by the characters, here is a list of silent messages the characters of Game of Thrones offer. *Spoiler Alert* for all seasons.
Arya Stark:
Have your own list.
No matter where you are, how you are, have clarity on what you want. When you know where you want to go, it does not matter where you are. It’s just a matter of time; you will get onto your path.
Brandon Stark:
This too shall pass.
All you need is hope and patience. A disabled boy with a lost family and a bunch of friends survives white walkers and all obstacles and becomes the chosen King. Despite all the odds, he held on, patiently waiting for his time because he had faith, he had belief.
Jon Snow:
What’s in a name?
At the end of the day, your worth is not determined by your name, family, or fame but is determined by what you are as a person. Jon Snow becomes the chosen King despite being an illegitimate child. And he chooses to keep his little “secret” as it is because his family’s name does not matter to him. He owns his identity.
Daenerys Targaryen:
Beware of your own vanity.
Hailed as the breaker of chains, mother of dragons, she was a formidable ruler and inspiring queen. But finally, when her moment comes, her emotions get the better of her. She succumbs to the mad arrogance of power. Just a moment of indecision and she becomes the replica of what she fought against.
Cersei Lannister:
What remains in the end?
The queen of seven kingdoms, queen with the largest army, impenetrable capital and flowing wealth, dies a lonely death in the rubble. Her hunger for power, wealth, revenge was just an illusion she was running after.
Jamie Lannister:
Heart’s ways cannot be explained. It wants what it wants.
Jaimie Lannister was a man of his word, a man of honour, a man with compassion, courage, fortitude which would easily make him a worthy ruler, a hero worth emulating. But his only vice was he loved Cersei and loved without bounds, knowingly taking part in all her sinful acts. Finally, this love shapes his destiny.
Tyrion Lannister:
The world looks at you not the way you are but the way you see yourself.
Vilified, ridiculed, ignored for being a dwarf, he rises to the status of Hand of the Queen because he wore his weakness as an armour rather than hiding it.
Jorah Mormont:
If you know your “why” you can endure any “how”.
When he was infected with Greyscale, a fatal disease, he decides to accept his fate. But when Daenerys accepts him as his trusted advisor, he gets a purpose for his life and his desire to live rekindles. He finally finds the cure and fights valiantly alongside his queen.
Stannis Baratheon:
Know your battles well.
He was one of the most experienced administrators in Westeros and had one of the largest armies. Yet, he meets an unlikely end. He chose to misread the obvious realities, chose the wrong place, time and most importantly, wrong advisors. No doubt, Davos was correct when he said, “Stannis defeated himself.”
Mance Rayder:
The freedom to make your own mistakes is all you ever need.
Sometimes, this is all one wants. The freedom- to choose, to fall, to learn, to fall again, to keep moving, to choose your own destiny.