Read Online Winter is Coming: Symbols and Hidden Meanings in A Game of Thrones by Valerie Estelle Frankel - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Valerie Estelle Frankel
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and who doesn’t have what it takes. In this book, Barristan the Bold introduces rumors about Tyrion’s mother and Ashara Dayne possibly having bastards, just to muddle things further for readers. More possible heirs to the legacy of Azor Ahai are also introduced.
bright and dark: Jon and Bloodraven are darker than the others. Maester Aemon is blind. Dark may also mean dark of purpose or hidden.
Chapter 5: Visions of the Future
Bran’s Vision after his Crippling Fall
He saw his mother sitting alone in a cabin, looking at a bloodstained knife on a table in front of her, as the rowers pulled at their oars and Ser Rodrik leaned across a rail, shaking and heaving. A storm was gathering ahead of them, a vast dark roaring lashed by lightning, but somehow they could not see it.
This section of Bran’s dream-vision clearly refers to the danger gathering in King’s Landing.
He saw his father pleading with the king, his face etched with grief. He saw Sansa crying herself to sleep at night, and he saw Arya watching in silence and holding her secrets hard in her heart. There were shadows all around them. One shadow was as dark as ash, with the terrible face of a hound. Another was armored like the sun, golden and beautiful. Over them both loomed a giant in armor made of stone, but when he opened his visor, there was nothing inside but darkness and thick black blood.
Based on the events of the series, the three shadows seem clear. The ash-dark shadow with the face of a hound is obviously the Hound, Sandor Clegane. In the golden armor is Jaime Lannister. Littlefinger’s family sigil is a stone titan, and he’s certainly a danger to Ned and Sansa. However, the giant in armor made of stone is more likely Gregor Clegane, the Mountain that Rides, based on his eventual fate with “darkness and thick black blood.” Sandor torments Sansa and Arya, while Jaime’s fight with Ned finally leads to his demise. Gregor Clegane fights for the Lannisters and devastates the Stark troops and the Tully countryside. In the second book, he takes Arya prisoner for a time as well.
He lifted his eyes and saw clear across the narrow sea, to the Free Cities and the green Dothraki sea and beyond, to Vaes Dothrak under its mountain, to the fabled lands of the Jade Sea, to Asshai by the Shadow, where dragons stirred beneath the sunrise.
Asshai still has dragons, if Bran is seeing literally. Daenerys may end up with an army of them instead of only three. Also, Daenerys has already traveled from the free cities to the Dothraki sea to Vaes Dothrak. Since she must go east to reach the west, according to prophecy, she may next journey through the Jade Sea to Asshai.
Finally he looked north. He saw the Wall shining like blue crystal, and his bastard brother Jon sleeping alone in a cold bed, his skin growing pale and hard as the memory of all warmth fled from him.
Jon’s coldness can be read as a metaphor as he suffers and adjusts on the Wall. Or grimmer things may come and he may turn into a wight of sorts.
North and north and north he looked, to the curtain of light at the end of the world, and then beyond that curtain. He looked deep into the heart of winter, and then he cried out, afraid, and the heat of his tears burned his cheeks.
If the curtain of light at the end of the world is literal, it seems a stronger type of wall meant to keep the Others out. With the return of magic, that curtain may be coming down.
Now you know, the crow whispered as it sat on his shoulder, now you know why you must live.
“Why?” Bran said, not understanding, falling, falling.
Because winter is coming. (I: 136-137)
Bran hasn’t done much to warn his friends about this knowledge, even in the first book, surrounded by allies. If he is not meant to spread the word, he may have a larger role to play as a warrior. The three-eyed crow seems clear that Bran is the chosen one to fight the Others beyond the curtain—the crow appears to no one else.
Jon and Dreams
Bran
bright and dark: Jon and Bloodraven are darker than the others. Maester Aemon is blind. Dark may also mean dark of purpose or hidden.
Chapter 5: Visions of the Future
Bran’s Vision after his Crippling Fall
He saw his mother sitting alone in a cabin, looking at a bloodstained knife on a table in front of her, as the rowers pulled at their oars and Ser Rodrik leaned across a rail, shaking and heaving. A storm was gathering ahead of them, a vast dark roaring lashed by lightning, but somehow they could not see it.
This section of Bran’s dream-vision clearly refers to the danger gathering in King’s Landing.
He saw his father pleading with the king, his face etched with grief. He saw Sansa crying herself to sleep at night, and he saw Arya watching in silence and holding her secrets hard in her heart. There were shadows all around them. One shadow was as dark as ash, with the terrible face of a hound. Another was armored like the sun, golden and beautiful. Over them both loomed a giant in armor made of stone, but when he opened his visor, there was nothing inside but darkness and thick black blood.
Based on the events of the series, the three shadows seem clear. The ash-dark shadow with the face of a hound is obviously the Hound, Sandor Clegane. In the golden armor is Jaime Lannister. Littlefinger’s family sigil is a stone titan, and he’s certainly a danger to Ned and Sansa. However, the giant in armor made of stone is more likely Gregor Clegane, the Mountain that Rides, based on his eventual fate with “darkness and thick black blood.” Sandor torments Sansa and Arya, while Jaime’s fight with Ned finally leads to his demise. Gregor Clegane fights for the Lannisters and devastates the Stark troops and the Tully countryside. In the second book, he takes Arya prisoner for a time as well.
He lifted his eyes and saw clear across the narrow sea, to the Free Cities and the green Dothraki sea and beyond, to Vaes Dothrak under its mountain, to the fabled lands of the Jade Sea, to Asshai by the Shadow, where dragons stirred beneath the sunrise.
Asshai still has dragons, if Bran is seeing literally. Daenerys may end up with an army of them instead of only three. Also, Daenerys has already traveled from the free cities to the Dothraki sea to Vaes Dothrak. Since she must go east to reach the west, according to prophecy, she may next journey through the Jade Sea to Asshai.
Finally he looked north. He saw the Wall shining like blue crystal, and his bastard brother Jon sleeping alone in a cold bed, his skin growing pale and hard as the memory of all warmth fled from him.
Jon’s coldness can be read as a metaphor as he suffers and adjusts on the Wall. Or grimmer things may come and he may turn into a wight of sorts.
North and north and north he looked, to the curtain of light at the end of the world, and then beyond that curtain. He looked deep into the heart of winter, and then he cried out, afraid, and the heat of his tears burned his cheeks.
If the curtain of light at the end of the world is literal, it seems a stronger type of wall meant to keep the Others out. With the return of magic, that curtain may be coming down.
Now you know, the crow whispered as it sat on his shoulder, now you know why you must live.
“Why?” Bran said, not understanding, falling, falling.
Because winter is coming. (I: 136-137)
Bran hasn’t done much to warn his friends about this knowledge, even in the first book, surrounded by allies. If he is not meant to spread the word, he may have a larger role to play as a warrior. The three-eyed crow seems clear that Bran is the chosen one to fight the Others beyond the curtain—the crow appears to no one else.
Jon and Dreams
Bran
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