A Dance with Dragons: Analysis of Major Characters
"A Dance with Dragons: Analysis of Major Characters" delves into the intricacies of pivotal figures within George R.R. Martin's epic fantasy series, "A Song of Ice and Fire." The narrative centers on characters like Aegon Targaryen, a potentially surviving heir to the Iron Throne, and Arya Stark, who is training to become a Faceless Man, illustrating the blend of personal ambition and destiny prevalent in the story.
Other notable characters include Davos Seaworth, a former smuggler navigating political intrigue, and Cersei Lannister, who grapples with her loss of power while imprisoned. Meanwhile, Jon Snow, the brooding lord commander of the Night's Watch, faces moral dilemmas as he attempts to unite the fractured realms against looming threats.
The relationships and motivations of characters such as Daenerys Targaryen, who juggles love and duty, and Ramsay Bolton, whose ruthless machinations drive the plot's tension, reveal the complex interplay of loyalty, betrayal, and survival in a harsh world. Overall, this analysis offers insights into the rich character development and thematic depth that defines "A Dance with Dragons," inviting readers to explore the narrative further.
A Dance with Dragons: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: George Richard Raymond Martin
Alternate Title: A Song of Ice and Fire: Book Five
First published: 2011
Genre: Novel
Locale: Free City of Braavos, Essos; the Wall, Westeros; Yunkai, Essos; King's Landing, Westeros; Meereen, Essos; Winterfell, Westeros
Plot: Epic fantasy
Time: Fictional Middle Ages, 300 AL, concurrent with events in A Feast for Crows
Aegon Targaryen, long thought dead, possibly the only surviving son of Daenerys Targaryen's deceased brother, Rhaegar Targaryen. Tyrion Lannister meets a teenager named Griff and believes it is Aegon in disguise. If indeed alive, Aegon Targaryen would be seen by many as legitimate heir to the throne of Westeros.
Arya Stark, Cat of the Canals. Arya is an acolyte in the House of Black and White in Braavos, a temple to death. She is in fact in training to become a Faceless Man, an elite assassin.
Asha Greyjoy, niece of the new lord of the Iron Islands, Euron Greyjoy. Asha is married in absentia as she returns to the mainland. She is captured by Stannis Baratheon as he tries to conquer the north, and is reunited with her tortured and broken brother, Theon Greyjoy.
Barristan Selmy, former the head of the royal guard, chief military adviser of Daenerys Targaryen. Though he is aging, Barristan Selmy remains a strong warrior and skilled battle commander.
Brandon Stark, disabled young son of deceased Eddard and Catelyn Stark. Bran continues to have strange dreams and a psychic connection with his direwolf. He seeks the three-eyed crow he has been dreaming about, accompanied by Jojen Reed, Meera Reed, and Hodor as they brave the supernaturally animated dead north of the Wall.
Cersei Lannister, daughter of Tywin Lannister, mother of King Tommen Baratheon. A prisoner of the religious leaders at King's Landing, Cersei is made to endure public humiliation for her sins, and is no longer able to exert power through her son, King Tommen.
Daario Naharis, head of the mercenary band named the Stormcrows. Daario is now serving Daenerys Targaryen, whom he professes to love. He is known for his prowess on the battlefield, as well as his outlandish character. He is kept as a hostage by the leaders of the city Yunkai.
Daenerys Targaryen, mother to three growing dragons and leader of a growing army of freed slaves and mercenaries. She is in love with Daario Naharis, but has been wed to a noble from the city of Meereen, Hizdahr zo Loraq. At their wedding, someone tries to poison her, and her dragon carries her to the grasslands known as the Dothraki Sea, where she wanders in the wilderness.
Davos Seaworth, former smuggler; Stannis Baratheon's chief adviser. Seaworth is sent as an emissary to raise support for Stannis Baratheon's bid to take the throne. He is imprisoned and narrowly escapes execution, with another corpse put in place of his. Davos is then sent on a secret mission to bring young Rickon Stark back from hiding in order to rally Eddard Stark's former allies.
Hizdahr zo Loraq, a nobleman from the city Meereen. Daenerys Targaryen marries him to form a political alliance, though she does not love him. Some of Daenerys Targaryen's military commanders suspect Hizdahr is in fact leading the resistance against her occupation of Meereen.
Jaime “Kingslayer” Lannister, son of deceased Tywin Lannister; twin and former lover of Cersei Lannister. Jaime struggles to learn to fight without his right hand. He furthers the Lannister cause as a military leader, helping to battle rebels once loyal to the Starks.
Jorah Mormont, the exiled lord of Bear Island. Jorah has been sent away from the court of Daenerys Targaryen. He is captured by slavers along with Tyrion Lannister and Penny, a dwarf woman whom Tyrion has befriended. The three eventually escape slavery to join the mercenary band known as the Second Sons.
Jon Snow, bastard son of deceased Eddard Stark, 998th lord commander of the Night's Watch. In this role, he oversees an unprecedented migration of wildlings south of the Wall, maintains an uneasy alliance with Stannis Baratheon, who has come north to defend the Wall, and works to thwart the plots of Melisandre, priestess of the red god. He ultimately chooses to turn from his duty in the Night's Watch to stop Ramsay Bolton's reign of terror, but is stabbed repeatedly by other members of the Night's Watch.
Mance Rayder, ex-member of the Night's Watch, king of the wildlings. He has facilitated a mass migration of people north of the Wall to the south, fleeing a supernatural terror. He has survived execution on the Wall through an illusion cast by Melisandre, but has been caught by Ramsay Snow while trying to liberate Ramsay's child bride, falsely stated to be Arya Stark.
Melisandre, priestess of R'hllor. Melisandre is stationed at the Wall with Selyse and Stannis Baratheon. She wants to use the blood of kings to bolster her sorcery.
Quentyn Martell, the dutiful and plain young man who is son of Prince Doran Martell of Dorne. Along with his trusted companions, he joins a band of mercenaries to get close to Daenerys Targaryen, whom he seeks to wed. She rejects him. When he tries to steal her dragons, he is mortally wounded in the process.
Ramsay Snow Bolton, bastard of the Dreadfort. Ramsay has gained favor with his father for astute and ruthless political maneuvering, and has now taken the Bolton name. He uses the tortured and broken Theon Greyjoy's political value as Prince of the Iron Islands and a marriage to a false Arya Stark to take over control of Winterfell and some of Eddard Stark's former allies.
Rickon Stark, young son of deceased Eddard and Catelyn Stark. Rickon is not dead as most of Westeros thinks. Davos Seaworth hears this interesting news, and goes to bring him back from hiding.
Stannis Baratheon, brother of the late king, Robert Baratheon. Stannis uses a different strategy in his continued pursuit of the Iron Throne of Westeros. He goes north to help protect the Wall, along with his wife Selyse and the priestess Melisandre. Stannis then turns south to take the lands formerly controlled by Eddard Stark. The manipulative Ramsay Bolton reports that Stannis dies in his attempt to retake Winterfell.
Theon Greyjoy, now also known as Reek, nephew of Balon Greyjoy, lord of the Iron Islands. Theon has been imprisoned and tortured into total submission by Ramsay Snow Bolton, the Bastard of the Dreadfort. Ramsay uses Theon as an instrument in becoming the new Lord of Winterfell.
Tommen Baratheon, boy-king of Westeros, is a tractable and pleasant child. He is easily controlled by his advisers, who now rule in his name as his mother, Cersei Lannister, is publicly shamed.
Tyrion “the Imp” Lannister, son of the late Tywin Lannister. Tyrion has fled King's Landing, where he killed his father, Tywin, and is accused of killing his nephew, King Joffrey. He travels to several cities in Essos, meeting a youth who is likely an unknown heir to the Targaryen dynasty. He is captured by Jorah Mormont, who intends to take Tyrion to Daenerys Targaryen in Meereen. Along the way, he befriends a fellow dwarf named Penny. All three are enslaved by a slaver from Yunkai. Tyrion and Penny are forced to perform for the court of Daenerys. The three escape slavery to join the mercenary band called the Second Sons.
Victarion Greyjoy, lord captain of the Iron Fleet, master of the Iron Victory. Victarion is on a quest to find Daenerys Targaryen and her dragons for his brother, Euron Greyjoy, now Lord of the Iron Islands.