Family is the basic unit for a lot of political decisions in A Game of Thrones. If two men are fighting, it's rarely just an issue between two individuals: it's a clash between two major houses and families. But this doesn't mean that all families are totally in agreement. In-family fights range from sibling bickering to, you know, Gregor Clegane trying to cut his brother's head off. Here's the thing about family in this world: if yours decides not to accept you (because you're say, a dwarf, or not the first-born son), you might just get kicked out of the fam. It's not all family fun time, that's for sure.
Questions About Family
- Is there an ideal family in this book? Or a nightmare family? How does Martin treat different types of families? Do we get POVs from every angle?
- Do families have any character traits? For instance, the Lannisters seem villainous, but what about Tyrion? Does he stick out even more because he's from a generally evil family?
- How do characters benefit from their families? Are families a source of power? Are they a source of principles and responsibilities? Or is it sometimes just all about the Benjamins?
- What's the difference between a biological family (say, the Starks) and a chosen family (say, the Night's Watch)? What ways are there to get into a family? For instance, Catelyn marries a Stark, but is she really a Stark?