CRISTOBAL, AYLA MONICCA C.

3POL1 MA The Concept of Power in relation to Game of Thrones

MARCH 4, 2014 Prof. Ronald M. Castillo,

Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely, says Lord John Dalberg-Acton. The concept of power is, without a doubt, the central yet most problematic concepts in world politics. Power is also an integral part in political philosophy. It is the field where one can find the theories and beliefs behind politics and decision making that may be used to obtain power or to justify its existence. This paper aims to show the existence of power within states or territories and illustrate the corrupting influence of power, using George R. R. Martins Game of Thrones as an example, by providing different thematic instances from the last two episodes of the third season, which are The Rains of Castamere and Mhysa. The concept of power is the most significant part that is dominantly seen within the episodes of the series. George R. R. Martin supports the idea that both good and evil are existent within the individuals character. Ones use of social and political power customarily divulges the restrictions and moral boundaries of one person. Abuse of power ensues when ones psychological problems emasculate his or her moral principles. This was seen when Theon Greyjoy tried to conquer and take Winterfellbecause he has always felt like an incompetent outsider since his father sent him away to become a ward as a castigation for the Greyjoy rebellion, resulting to his torment in the episode of Mhysa when he was tortured by Ramsay Snow. The influence of power can also be seen during the Red Wedding in the episode of The Rains of Castamere when Lord Frey unmercifully killed the Starks and the rest of the Stark army during the wedding feast. This act of treachery to end the war, according to Tywin Lannister, has given and assured Lord Bolton and Lord Frey rewards from the LannistersLord Bolton as the new Warden of the North and Lord Frey as the Lord of Riverrun and the Freys as the replacement of the Tullys as the Lannisters vassals in the Riverlands. Moreover, by this concept of power arises the idea of Realpolitik or Political Realism. Political Realism is a theory of political philosophy that aspire to elucidate, model, and prescribe

political relations (Moseley, n.d.). It takes the notion that power is ought to be the primary goal and end of political action. This thought avows that a ruler should strive to maximize his power and that he is ought to pursue power for his own interest and not rule by ideology. Michel Foucault has increasingly influenced and affected the study of politics. He established a radical conception of social power as forming schemes exemplifying intentions of their own, above any individual. For Foucault, individuals are as much products of as participants in games of power (Kelly, 2009). Additionally, power, for him, is what makes us what we are, functioning in different levels, hence, power is everywhere.
Show them how it feels to lose what they love.

This line was said by Lady Catelyn Stark to her son, Robb, when he was planning and strategizing on taking over Casterly Rock. This is another theme that is dominantly perceived in the two episodeskinship or the essence of family. Aside from that scene, the importance of family was also shown when Lord Tywin talks about family and Tyrions failure to consummate his marriage to Sansa. Out of rage, Tyrion demanded to know a single time that his father, Tywin, had done something that was not in his interest but solely for the benefit of the family. His father replied:
the day that you were born. I wanted to carry you into the sea and let the waves wash you away. Instead, I let you live and I brought you up as my son because you are a Lannister.

The familys honor is also a fundamental part in the essence of kinship. According to Georg W. F. Hegel, the very identity of family members is arbitrated by relation to others. It is characterized by love which is, minds feeling of its own unity, (Peddle, 2000) where ones gist of individuality is within this unity. Hence, familial love denotes an incongruity between not desiring to be a self-subsistent and liberated person if that means feeling inadequate, and wanting to be acknowledged in another person. However, as said by Hegel, the family is also a limited form of ethical life for the reason that individuals cannot completely develop to their full potential as long as they remain independent on their parents. The purpose of the family is to cultivate the individuality of children to the point where they can leave their natural relations and be sovereign on their own. This is also seen when Nedd Stark, Lady Starks husband, died and Robb became the heir to the throne as the King of the North.

Mary Wollstonecrafts political philosophy about women empowerment and equality in the society can also be seen on the two episodes. Arya Starks strength and courage as a woman were very much exemplified in both episodes. Though in fiction, she became a living proof that women can also do such things that men do. Furthermore, In the episode of The Rains of Castamere, Lady Catelyn Stark embodied the courage and capability of a woman, especially a mother. She still fought for her sons life, even though she was not certain whether Lord Frey will let Robb go,to the point that they were both killed by the men of Freys. On the other hand, in the episode of Mhysa, Daenerys Targaryen exemplified the capabilities of a strong woman, just as what Wollstonecraft advocates in the society. Despite the fact that Daenerys is a woman, she still has the power and finesse to lead and rule a force that could possibly seize the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros and sit on the Iron Throne. These scenes illustrates the empowerment of women and their equality, and the discrepancy of the dictates of the society to women. As an abridgment, by using the different political philosophies of different political thinkers, it help shed light on the given thematic instances on every scene by explaining different views or philosophies of some of the thinkers in modern era. Given these varied thematic instances, these themes still comes back to its central thought which is power and how it tends to corrupt. It is established that even given fictional depiction, namely The Game of Thrones, it is to be seen that this paper displayed a capacity to surpass an implication that power is not always about great thingsthat it also has negative impact on both the ruler and the ruled. This paper ends with a mantra from Uncle Ben that was passed down to Peter Parker in Spiderman:
With great power comes great responsibility.

References
Benioff, D., Weiss, D. (Producers), Martin, G. R. (Writer), & Nutter, D. (Director). (2011). Game of Thrones [Motion Picture]. Kelly, M. G. (2009). The Political Philosophy of Michel Foucault. New York: Taylor & Francis. Retrieved March 3, 2014 Moseley, A. (n.d.). Political Realism. Retrieved March 3, 2014, from Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy: A Peer-Reviewed Academic Resource: http://www.iep.utm.edu/polreal/

Peddle, D. (2000). Hegel's Political Ideal: Civil Society, History, and Sittlichkeit. Animus, 5, 113-143. Wollstonecraft, M. (1792). A Vindication of the Rights of Woman with Strictures on Political and Moral Subjects. The Online Library of Liberty, 7, 78-115.