tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4533947979514229971.post7661501225768891958..comments2023-04-03T08:37:43.220-07:00Comments on The Quixotic Autistic: Cripples, Bastards and Broken Things: Disability in Game of ThronesLeah Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16798094383285526940noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4533947979514229971.post-14453179556047415992011-05-23T14:04:53.169-07:002011-05-23T14:04:53.169-07:00This post got me thinking that while Martin misses...This post got me thinking that while Martin misses the boat on some things (subtle gender dynamics, the acknowledgement of race) he gives Tyrion more agency and critical self-reflection than many of the non-disabled characters.<br /><br />(almost-but-not-really spoiler alert)<br />I can tell you he continues this trend with Bran. Someone has a line (I think in the tv series, too) that when a door closes, another one can open somewhere really unlikely. Although Bran is crippled by the fall, another (powerful) door is opened for him.<br /><br />However, characters with cog. disabilities aren't so lucky. The only one that springs to mind is Hodor, and while the later books suggest that he is a virtuous person, Martin also compares him to an animal on many occasions, making him more like a loyal dog. Also, the fact that in the TV series he is presented solely as comedic entertainment with no further introduction really got under my skin.<br /><br />Also, the fact that Aerys II is "Mad King Aerys" and no one thinks it's important to distinguish between whether his was a sadistic sociopath or developed some sort of mental illness also bothers me. <br /><br />Gregor Clegane is a straight out sociopath, and Viserys is possibly one, although perhaps he's more like Joffrey and they've been enabled in their sadistic tendencies. It MATTERS whether Aerys was like them--a king who was allowed to do whatever he wanted without consequence--or like Gregor, or like none of them and really had "voices" in his head.<br /><br />PS--good Joffrey/Draco comparison, although a key diff. is I thought Draco was potentially redeemable.SLGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14363950638364010601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4533947979514229971.post-13123911257600992182011-05-21T09:11:13.728-07:002011-05-21T09:11:13.728-07:00Hope you continue to enjoy it. The books will surp...Hope you continue to enjoy it. The books will surprise you even more. It's not much of a spoiler to let you know that the world centers as much on them as any of the other characters.Jack Crowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07499087036876745723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4533947979514229971.post-39094743306744015482011-05-17T22:39:39.872-07:002011-05-17T22:39:39.872-07:00That's something I really enjoy as well, lilac...That's something I really enjoy as well, lilacsigil. He's very self-aware, which is something a lot of the other uppercrust characters lack, owing precisely to their comfort within the world.Leah Janehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16798094383285526940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4533947979514229971.post-81739452225033619052011-05-17T19:04:57.501-07:002011-05-17T19:04:57.501-07:00I really like Tyrion's awareness that he is a ...I really like Tyrion's awareness that he is a "rich cripple" (and so is Bran) - this line, and the very presence of Tyrion and Bran add a very important dimension to the antics of the nobles that fill most of the storylines. Tyrion is very aware of the ways in which he has a far better position than most people, but at the same time also worse, and that dynamic is something often ignored.lilacsigilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08776762040144477840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4533947979514229971.post-81088941800264045592011-05-17T18:35:41.941-07:002011-05-17T18:35:41.941-07:00Thanks Lindsay. You're right, there's so m...Thanks Lindsay. You're right, there's so much great fodder for disability and feminist commentary in Game of Thrones, I'm having a blast. I'll probably be starting on the books when I find a job, which should be in a couple of weeks, I hope...Leah Janehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16798094383285526940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4533947979514229971.post-15295234236536391542011-05-17T18:04:38.678-07:002011-05-17T18:04:38.678-07:00That should be "good AT fighting and jousting...That should be "good AT fighting and jousting".<br /><br />Also, I'm really happy you're enjoying Game of Thrones, and going to analyze it from a disability perspective! There's a lot in there that lends itself to that sort of critique.<br /><br />And good timing on just now getting into the series --- Martin's just finished the fifth book, which is a sort of companion to the fourth, and it's to be released this July. So if you started reading the books fairly soon, you'd probably be ready to read the fifth book right when it comes out, with all the story lines fresh in your mind.Lindsayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10860246538349067232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4533947979514229971.post-32414499276461761512011-05-17T17:56:41.063-07:002011-05-17T17:56:41.063-07:00I love the books (don't have HBO, though, so I...I love the books (don't have HBO, though, so I have to wait awhile to see the series), and I also thought the part where Tyrion gave Bran that modified saddle.<br /><br />And Tyrion is wonderful. He's one of my favorite characters, along with the humongous female knight Brienne of Tarth (who, when Tyrion's brother Jaime meets her, tells her she reminds him of Tyrion. Even though Brienne is very large and good and fighting and jousting, while Tyrion is very small and unable to do either; they are similarly unable to play the roles their fathers had in mind for them).<br /><br />There's also something Tyrion says when he meets Jon Snow; I don't know if it made it into the show or not but it describes his relationship with his father really succinctly: "All dwarfs are bastards in their fathers' eyes."Lindsayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10860246538349067232noreply@blogger.com