Jacobean Influence in HBO’s “Game of Thrones” – Red Wedding
Jacobean drama is usually characterized by moral corruption and gory violence, usually in the context of revenge with a cynical tone. The Red Wedding event from HBO’s “Game of Thrones” is a perfect example of a “modern day” Jacobean tragedy.
For some added real-life context, “Game of Thrones” is set in the fictional land of Westeros, presumably in the medieval times as there are no signs of modernization (electricity, advanced infrastructure, etc.), and tells the story of a massive civil war. The television series is based on the series of novels entitled A Song of Fire and Ice by George R.R. Martin. The HBO adaptation of this particular event occurs in Season 3, Episode 9: The Rains of Castamere. In the first paragraph of this post, I put modern day in quotes because even though it is a modern day reference that is relevant, the setting of the story is still in medieval times.
In this event, Lord Walder Frey is celebrating the wedding of his daughter, Roslin, to the Lord Edmure Tully. The man she was to betrothed to, Lord Robb Stark of Winterfell (also known as “the King in the North”) had not kept his promise and married his true love, Talisa. Lord Stark does indeed apologize for breaking the vow and Lord Frey does seem to accept the apology. However, at the actual wedding feast, once the bride gets taken up for the bedding ceremony, Lord Frey locks the banquet hall doors and proceeds to attack Lord Stark and his men. In the process, Lord Stark, his mother Lady Catelyn, his wife Talisa, and all of his bannermen were massacred. See below for the actual scene:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnxvUuSzbMI
Lord Walder Frey’s reason for the massacre of the Starks was revenge for breaking the vow to unite the two families. Frey’s daughters aren’t particularly beautiful, which is why he was so desperate to marry them off. The vow originated from the need for the Stark army to pass through the Twins in a strategic mission to ambush an opposing army. Upon learning of Stark’s betrayal, Frey began to plot his revenge. This act is true to Jacobean characters in their quest for vengeance.
One response so far
I completly agree with your opinion about “Game of Thrones”. Medieval shows have a way with their twists. It’s impressing how the twisting can be so much more malicious than the modern times.