GRRM Master of Ancient Greek Writing Devices-Part 1

Many times we think of the ancients as being brute, ignorant, cavemen. However, a quick study of ancient Greek plays will reveal most of the devices used by modern storytellers, were fully implemented by the fourth century B.C.

In fact, the Greek playwrights, Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides clearly had a grasp of how to maximize plot twists, irony, character development, scene, and many other tools that still evade contemporary writers. However, this is not the case with George R.R. Martin. On the surface, the Game of Thrones, A Song of Ice and Fire series may appear to be just another collection of fantasy fiction tales, but upon closer investigation, Martin has developed hybrid versions of the classics. Essentially, he has built a better mousetrap.

While time prevents me from covering each of these components, I have decided to focus this particular blog on comparing the hamartia and hubris of protagonist, Lord Eddard “Ned” Stark with the most famous protagonist in the Greek tragedies, Oedipus.

Hubris, is a unique kind of pride.  It prevents a person from seeing how selfish, actions can, (and often do) dictate the outcome of ones own destiny. Hubris blinds us from seeing our own arrogance to the point that we challenge the very will of the gods with our own flawed ideology.

Just as the arrogance of young Prince Oedipus grows during his separation from his biological family, so does the arrogance of Lord Stark grow, as he is isolated from his purpose of defending the north.

Hamartia or the “mistake”:

• Prince Oedipus fails to read the warning signs, when he is too proud to move aside for a traveling chariot. Unaware that the driver is his “true” father, he challenges him and kills him, even though he is aware of the prophecy. He cannot see how his own strengths have created a flawed thought process that will eventually be the first pebble to start an avalanche of problems affecting him and his children. This is not entirely his fault, since the gods seem to be setting the stage, but the result is the same.

• Likewise, Lord Stark, starts a downward spiral, when he refuses to consider what might motivate a rogue black brother to flee from the nights watch. Part of the strength of House Stark is their preparedness for dark times.  Even their words are, “Winter is Coming,” so, he of all people, should know that the long summer is coming to a close, but his sense of justice requires him to show no mercy and he refuses to back down from his ideas. This results in him beheading the guard, and eventually dooming his family.

Hubris or excessive “self-pride”:

• Although Oedipus goes through the motions of praying to the gods, he actually believes he has the solution. In his pride he rejects the counsel of his wife, and others, including a prophet when he is offered an escape route. Had he backed up and accepted a lesser fate, the damage might have been limited, but he refuses to back down from the problem of the plague and believes his contribution will make the difference.

• Stark goes through a similar process as Catelyn, Little Finger, Varys, Renly, and even Cercei all offer him some form of escape, but none of these suggestions seems noble enough, so he denies the opportunities each time they are presented.  He believes his own efforts will produce superior results, but instead his blindness results in his own downfall, and that of his house.