The prevalence of incest in Game of Thrones stems primarily from the Targaryen family’s practice of marrying siblings to maintain their bloodline’s supposed purity and power, and it features in other houses to a lesser extent.
We often find ourselves pondering the intricacies of Westeros, a world teeming with political intrigue and complex family dynamics. One element that repeatedly surfaces, causing discomfort and curiosity, is the recurring theme of incest. Why is there so much incest in Game of Thrones? It’s a question that has likely crossed your mind while watching the series.
This isn’t just a random plot device; it’s rooted in specific cultural beliefs and historical precedents within the fictional world of the show. The show explores these themes through several prominent families, primarily the Targaryens.
Why Is There So Much Incest in Game of Thrones?
Alright, let’s talk about something that makes a lot of people raise their eyebrows when watching Game of Thrones: the incest. It’s a pretty big part of the show, and it’s not just a random thing. There are reasons, even if they’re not always pretty or easy to understand. It’s important to remember that Westeros, the world where Game of Thrones is set, is very different from our own. The rules, the beliefs, and even the ways people think about family are not like what we are used to. So, let’s dive deep into why incest plays such a significant role in this story.
Power, Purity, and the Throne
One of the biggest reasons for incest in Game of Thrones revolves around power and keeping it within certain families. In Westeros, having a strong claim to the Iron Throne is everything. For some families, particularly the Targaryens, who ruled for centuries, keeping their bloodline pure was extremely important. They believed their special connection to dragons meant their blood was superior to everyone else’s, a belief that made them marry within their own family to maintain that perceived purity.
Think of it like this: if a family believes they are special, they might not want to “mix” their blood with others. They want to keep their special powers or position within their family line. So, they see marrying a brother, sister, cousin, or uncle as an option.
The Targaryen Dynasty: A Case Study
The Targaryens are the best example of this. For generations, they married brother to sister, uncle to niece, and so on. They did it for power and to maintain their dragon-riding abilities, though that connection turned out to be less about genetics and more about certain other factors. The Targaryens are not the only ones; it just happened to be a well documented history.
Here’s a breakdown of why they did it:
- Maintaining Bloodline Purity: They believed their dragon-riding genes were tied to their unique blood, and keeping the blood “pure” was paramount.
- Consolidating Power: Marrying within the family kept power and lands firmly within their control, preventing other families from gaining any kind of advantage.
- Tradition: This practice became a deeply ingrained tradition over centuries, making it almost expected.
While this approach may have ensured the Targaryens held power for a long time, it also resulted in madness and instability. We saw how some of their children were not mentally stable. Aerys II, known as the Mad King, stands as the most obvious proof of the dangerous implications of continuous inbreeding.
Political Motivations and Strategic Alliances
Beyond the desire for bloodline purity, incestuous relationships also served political and strategic purposes. In a world where marriage is often a tool to form alliances, marrying close relatives could be a way to strengthen existing bonds and keep rival families from gaining control.
For instance, imagine two powerful families have some disagreements. They can avoid an all-out war if a son from one family marries a daughter from the other family. This would connect the two families. Now imagine that the families already have some connection. Having a child marry their relative can create an even more intimate and unbreakable bond.
The Lannisters: A Complicated Example
The Lannisters, while not strictly incestuous like the Targaryens, have a very complicated relationship that includes a secret incestuous bond. Cersei and Jaime Lannister’s relationship is a major plot point. While not the “official” reason they’re together (it is born from a forbidden love), their relationship also helps to maintain the Lannister name and power, though their incest was never sanctioned by the community.
Here’s how their incest fits the mold of power and manipulation:
- Control of the Crown: Cersei’s marriage to Robert Baratheon gave the Lannisters a place on the throne. Meanwhile, her twins were meant to carry on the Lannister line but kept their parentage a secret.
- Secrecy and Power: Their secret relationship allowed them to manipulate the rules and other individuals. For Cersei, the goal was always to protect her children. For Jaime, the love for Cersei and their children was the driving force behind his actions.
Their relationship is not explicitly for the sole purpose of power, but it shows how personal desires and political schemes can become very entangled.
The Social Norms of Westeros
Another important aspect to understand is that the social norms of Westeros are vastly different from ours. Westeros is a world with a medieval setting. These ancient societies had varying customs concerning marriage and family, and within some of them marriages between relatives were acceptable practices.
While many societies have rules against marrying close relatives, these rules are not universal. In some families, it was more common for families to stay within the existing community or marrying within the extended families.
A Different Perspective
Here are some things to consider:
- Acceptance of Lineage: While most people in Westeros may view incest with distaste, there was always some element of acceptance. In some noble families, keeping their bloodline “clean” was viewed as a great tradition.
- Limited Options: For certain families, especially ruling ones, the pool of suitable marriage partners was much smaller. Marrying within the family may have felt like the safest option for ensuring their lineage.
- Fantasy Setting: It’s essential to remember that Game of Thrones is a fantasy world. It doesn’t have to follow all the same rules as our world. Some customs are there to make the world unique and complex.
In short, the people in the story sometimes have different values than our own. Understanding this difference is key to understanding why these things happen.
The Consequences of Incest
While incest was sometimes used for power and control, the consequences were very negative. Throughout the series, we see the results of these actions, which include insanity, children who aren’t healthy, and family feuds that affect the whole realm. The show doesn’t shy away from showing how harmful this behavior can be.
The Tragic Outcomes
Here are some of the negative consequences highlighted by the show:
- Madness: The Targaryens are a good example of this, and Aerys II was a prime example of how inbreeding can affect a person’s mind.
- Health Problems: Some characters on the show have noticeable health issues that are implied to be caused by inbreeding.
- Moral Decay: The constant lying, manipulation, and secrecy associated with these relationships show how damaging these situations can be.
The show does not endorse or glorify the incestuous relationships. Rather, the writers demonstrate how destructive it can be for families, their children, and all of Westeros.
Incest as a Narrative Tool
In addition to these reasons, incest serves as a major dramatic and narrative tool for the story. It’s shocking, taboo, and makes viewers think. The incestuous relationships also push the story to darker places, allowing exploration of complicated characters and themes of love, betrayal, and power.
Adding Layers to the Story
Here’s how incest shapes the narrative:
- Creating Conflict: Forbidden relationships create tension and conflict, adding complexity to characters’ motivations and their actions.
- Exploring Morality: The presence of incest forces the audience to ask what is right and wrong within this world. It helps to challenge our own assumptions about family and relationships.
- Character Development: These relationships often define key character actions and shape their identities. It adds layers to characters that might otherwise seem one-dimensional.
In short, the incest in Game of Thrones is not just there for shock value; it has significant story-telling purposes.
So, why is there so much incest in Game of Thrones? It’s not just a random choice. It’s woven into the very fabric of the story to explore themes of power, bloodline, family, and morality. It highlights the dangerous side of certain practices and makes the story more captivating and thought-provoking. By looking into these elements, we have a better picture of why incest is important and how it shapes the world of Westeros.
Incestuous tradition of House Targaryen explained.
Final Thoughts
The incest in Game of Thrones serves as a crucial plot device, primarily highlighting the moral decay and power-hungry nature of certain families. It reinforces the Lannisters’ twisted ambition. They demonstrate how far individuals will go to maintain control.
The series emphasizes how these relationships often result in devastating consequences, further fueling conflicts. Ultimately, the show uses incest to portray the depths of depravity and the twisted legacy within the ruling class. This leads to the question: why is there so much incest in game of thrones?
