从女性主义分析《权力的游戏》中的女性角色

ChapterOneIntroductionIntheinformationage,moviesandTVdramasarefilledwithourlife.Filmandtelevisionworkshavebecomeanindispensablepartofourmodernlife.ThroughoutthedevelopmentofmoviesandTVplays,thecontentoffemalesubjectsoccupiesalot.Today’sfemaleimagehasbecomeasymbolofsocialcultureappearinginallkindsofmoviesandTVworksandisevenknownasoneofthemostimportantculturalphenomenaintoday’ssociety.ThedesignandresearchoffemaleimagesinmoviesandTVplayshavealsobecomeanindispensablepartofthedesignandresearchoffilmandtelevisionworks.Theemergenceoffeministthoughtsandtheorieshaschangedtheconceptofwomeninsocietyandalsoopenedupanewperspectiveforthedesignoffemalefilmandtelevisionimages.Whenwere-examinethefemaleimageinfilmandtelevisionworks,wewillfindsomerecessiveproblemsthathavebeenignoredforalongtime.Forexample,beingnegativelyaffectedbytraditionalgenderconceptsandvariousmarketbehaviors,thefemaleimagesinmoviesandTVdramasshowsuchphenomenaas“stereotyped”,“objectificationofobjects”,“commercialization”and“eroticism”.Thesewronginterpretationsdenythesocialvalueofwomenthemselves.Thesephenomenaarenotonlyamisreadingofsocialgenderrelationsbutmoreseriouslyaggravategenderinequality.Basedonthis,howtoimprovetheimageofwomeninmoviesandTVplays,howtoarousetheattentionofwomen’slivingconditionsandawakenwomen’sindividualconsciousnesshavebecomethefocusofthispaper.Basedontheanalysisoffeministtheory,thispaperwillanalyzethedeviationandproblemsexistinginthepositioningandinterpretationofwomeninmoviesandTVplaysfromtheperspectiveoffeminism,tryingtoestablishthecorrectpositioningoffemaleimagessothatthefemaleimagesinmoviesandTVplayshavetheirownsubjectivity,andavoidthefloodofvulgar,falseandpornographicfemaleimages.Andrequiresthefemaleimageinthedesignshouldsetupthecorrectdesignconcept,inthedesignmeansandtechniquesofinnovation,createaproperaestheticcharacteristic,higherartistictaste,andhealthyandpositivefemaleimagesothatthefemaleimageinthefilmandtelevisionworksreflectthenewstyle.ChapterTwoIntroductiontoGameofThronesGameofThronesisanepicfantasyTVseriesproducedandreleasedbyHBOTelevisionintheUnitedStates.TheseriesisadaptedfromthefantasynovelASongofIceandFireseriesbyAmericanauthorGeorgeR.R.Martin.Heusedrichcolorstodepictthethemesoffemalecharacters,sothescreenwritersofGameofThronesalsoplacedgreatemphasisonshapingfemalecharacters.ThedramaissetinthedarkMiddleAgesofEuropeandmainlytellsaseriesofwarstoriesonWesteros.Ithasbeenairedforeightseasons,andapartfromtheupsanddownsandsuspense-filledplot,thestruggleandpoweroffemalecharactershavebecomethedistinctivehighlightofthedrama.2.1IntroductiontotheAuthorGeorgeRaymondRichardMartinwasborninBayonne,NewJersey,on20September1948,thesonofalongshoreman.Althoughhisfamilywasnotwealthy,hebeganwritingatanearlyageandsoldmonsterstoriestootherchildrenintheneighborhood.Inlatehighschool,Martinbecameobsessedwithcomicbooksandsuperheroesandbeganwritingforvariousfanzines(amateurfanzines).In1970,Martinmadehisfirstprofessionalsale,selling“Hero”toGalaxymagazine,whichpublishedthestoryinFebruary1971.Inthe1970s,Martinheldvariousjobs,suchasaVISTAvolunteer,chessdirector,andteacher,buthenevergaveupwritingontheside,hesooncaughttheattentionofreaderswithhisnostalgic,romanticwriting,hisslightlygothic,desolateatmosphere,andhissciencefictionwithelementsofhorrorfiction.Hewassoonnoticedbyreadersforhisnostalgic,romanticwriting,slightlygothicanddesolateatmosphere,andsciencefictionwithelementsofhorror.Attheageoftwenty-seven,MartinwontheHugoAwardforASongofLya,thehighestachievementinsciencefiction,andhassincewonfourHugos,twoNebulaAwards,aWorldFantasyAwardandelevenTrajectoryAwards.HisothermasterpiecesincludeSandkings,TheWayoftheCrossandDragon,thefull-lengthnovelDyingofTheLight,FeverDreamandTheArmageddonRag.Hebecameafull-timewriterin1979.ThehugesuccessoftheepicfantasydramaASongofIceandFirecaughttheattentionofHBOProductions.AndwriterMartinhimselfisinvolvedintheproductionoftheTVseriesasanexecutiveproducer,selectingtheproductionteamandworkingonthescreenplay.2.2IntroductiontotheMainContentAseriesofinterconnectedcourtbattles,battlesonthebattlefields,adventuresandmagicalrivalriesinafictionalmedievalland,theplayisamagnificentandcompletepictureofthewhole.SetinthesevenkingdomsofWesteros,acontinentsimilartomedievalEurope,winterisapproachinginthenorthofWesteros,athreatfromtheeasternNarrowSeaisemerging,andafewminormishapssetthesevenkingdomsatwarforpower.Thiswarsetsoffabloodystorm,witheachkingtryingtowinthegame.However,aseachkingconfrontstheother,theyknownothingofthecomingwinter.Anancientcreaturethathasbeenextinctforthousandsofyears,theFeybeginstomakeitswayintotheworldstepbystep.ThestoryisagrandnarrativecoveringthetwocontinentsofWesterosandBraavos,ninegreathouses,hundredsofbannermenandmanycharacters.Therearethreemainstorylinesthatintersect:thesevenkingdoms,wheretheGreatHousesarelockedinyearsofstrifeovertheIronThroneinthewakeofRobert'sRebellionandtheWaroftheUsurpers;thecold,desperateWall,wheretheFeyandtheWildlingsareontheoffensiveinsidetheWall;andthedistantEasterncontinent,wheretheFeyandtheWildlingsareontheoffensive.Inthefareast,Daenerys,theoverthrownprincessoftheTargaryendynasty,completeshertransformationandsetsoutonajourneytoregainherthrone.Firstofall,thebookhasamyriadofcharactersandusesauniquepoint-of-viewapproachtothecharacterizationthatdoesnothighlightheroism,dedicationortreacherousintrigueinisolationbutratherplacesthecharacterintheperspectiveofa“realperson”,writingabouthisorherdifferentsituationsandchoicesinthewhirlwindoftimeandsociety.Inaddition,thiscomplementstheintricaciesofthebook.Secondly,thebookiswellstructuredandthechaptersarelinkedtoeachotherinawell-balancedandwell-pacedmanner,whichmakesforanengagingandcontinuousread.Thirdly,thebookistypicalofWesternepicfantasyliterature.Theconcernsaregrand,andthebookislargeinitsentirety.History,characters,religion,andmythologyareinterwoventopresentaworldthatisbothfantasticalandreal,richinsubstanceandofconsiderableliteraryvalue.From17April2011to18September2018,theseriesnotonlywon33PrimetimeEmmyAwards,GoldenGlobesandothermajorawardsbutwasalsonominated88times.Tothisday,itremainshighlyrecognizableandunparalleledinitsglobalreach.AccordingtoT,GameofThroneshasnowbeenbroadcastinover60countriesandterritoriesworldwide,includingNorthAmerica(USA,Canada,etc.),SouthAmerica(Brazil,Argentina,etc.),Europe(France,Estonia,etc.),Asia(Japan,India,etc.),Africa(SouthAfrica),Oceania(Australia),etc.ChapterThreeFeministTheorySinceancienttimes,themoraloutlookandculturalconsciousnessofmenasthemainstreamideologyhavebeendeeplyrooted,andthemeasurementcriterioncenteredontheirconsciousnesshasbecomedirectionalthinkingandwidelyexistsincontemporarysociety.Onthecontrary,women’ssocialstatusisveryweakened.Asmen’s“attachments”,theyoftenserveasapartofmen’ssymbolicproperty.Duetothemultiplesocialpressuresandhistoricalissues,womenbegantorethinktheirownvalueswithanindependentattitude,embarkedonthepathofstrivingforgenderequality,andultimatelyemergedwithfeminism.3.1FeministTheoreticalConceptsTheword“Feminism”hasbeenaroundforthousandsofyears,originallyoriginatinginFrance,andbecamepopularinthelate19thandearly20thcenturiesincountriessuchastheUnitedKingdomandtheUnitedStates,whereitwasfirstusedtodescribethewomen’scampaignfortherighttovote.Itwasoriginallyusedtodescribethewomen’smovementfortherighttovote.Itwasinthe1960sand1970sthatthetermreallytookoff,andsincetheheightofthesecondwomen’smovement,ithastakenonanincreasinglyrichermeaning.Feminism,whichoriginatedintheWest,firstemphasizedwomen’srighttovoteandthencampaignedforequalrightsforwomen.Astimeprogressed,feministsmovedfromtheinitialstruggleforrightstoafeminineperspectiveontheworldandafeminineawarenessofwomen.Feminism,whichoriginatedinEuropeandtheUnitedStates(alsoknownasfeminist)Feminismisthemaingoaloffeminism,whichistheequalizationofrightsbetweenmenandwomen.Feministsfocusontherefutationandreinventionofgendercultureforbothsexes,seekingtounderstandsocietyfromafemaleperspectiveandtothinkonthisbasisinordertoachievethegoalofequalandequalrightsbetweenthesexes.Patriarchyreferstoasystemoffamily,socialideologyandpolitics.Itisasysteminwhichmen,throughlabor,custom,education,tradition,languageandlaw,placewomenundermaledominationanddeterminetherolethatwomenshouldplay.Withtheestablishmentofapatriarchalsociety,womenweretransformedfromindependentindividualstodependentindividuals,andtheirsocialstatusdeclinedrapidly.Andtheshiftbetweenthesubjectandtheobjectofsocietyhasleftwomeninamarginalizedposition.Feministtheoryembodiesthetruemeaningofwomen’scommitmenttogenderequality.Onlybystartingtocritiquethemselvesandthinkindependentlyagaintogainawarenesscanwomenbetterunderstandthemselvesandsociety.Feminismhasseveralcharacteristics:firstly,itliberateswomen.Apatriarchalsocietycenteredonmalepowerhassociallydividedwomenandsuppressedtheirfreedom.Inordertorestoretheoriginalimage,womenmustbeemancipated.Secondly,toachieveequality.Basedonthefemaleperspectiveandposition,manyphenomenainallareasofsocietythataredetrimentaltotheimageandpowerofwomenarecurbed.Thisisfollowedbyananalysisofthereasonsbehindthisphenomenonsothatwomencanstopbeingvictimizedbysociety,restorethetrueimageofwomen,achieveemancipationandgenderequalityandpromotesocialharmony.Basedonthecharacteristicsoffeminism,wecanconcludethattheessentialcoreoffeminismistoendsexism,achievegenderequalityandequalrights,andchangetheexistenceofwomenasthe“other”.3.2DevelopmentoftheFeministMovementIntheearlystagesofhumansocialdevelopment,womenhadagloriousandfreetime,namelythematrilinealclansociety,whenwomenwereextremelyrespectedandloved.Childrenwereknownonlytotheirmothersandnottotheirfathers,whichcanalsoreflectthestatusofwomenatthattime.Womenplayedaleadingroleintheproductionofsociety,werethemanagersoftheclan,therewasamystiqueandtheywereworshipped.However,afterthisperiod,thestatusofwomenfellaway.IntheancientGreekperiod,Aristotle,agreatphilosopher,alsohadadiscourseonwomeninhisPoliticsanditbecamethedominantdiscourseinGreeksocietyatthetime.ForAristotle,themansimplymeantmenandwomenweremerelysensualbeings,machinesformentoprocreate,watchandplaywith.Womenwerepassiveandsubservienttomen,likemechanicalrobots.Throughoutthelonghistoryofhumanculture,womenwereconsideredtobedependentonmen,nothavinganindependentmind,asundevelopedmen.Associetydevelopedandcivilizationgrew,womenbecameawareoftheimportanceoftheirowndevelopmentandbegantofightfortheirrightsandfreedom,andthewomen’smovementhasflourishedeversince.Theriseofthewomen’sliberationmovementwaslinkedtothefactthatwomenhadbeeninanunequalpositiontomenforalongtime.Thedevelopmentoffeministthinkingwasaccompaniedbyafeministmovement,thefirstwaveofthewomen’smovementattheendofthe19thcentury,influencedbytheideasofequalityandfreedomoftheFrenchRevolution,whichcalledforgenderequality,therightofwomentovoteinpolitics,therighttoeducationandequalemployment,emphasizingthattherewasnodifferencebetweenthetalentsofmenandwomen.Forexample,theabilitytobearchildrenwasanaturalpartofawoman’snature.Aswomenenteredsociety,theconflictbetweenworkandfamilybecamemorepronounced.Feministsofthetimequestionedwhywomencouldnothaveafamilyandajobatthesametimeasmen.Feministsencouragedandsupportedtheneedforwomentomaintaintheireconomicindependence,tocompetefreelyandequallywithmeninthelabormarket,andtoreceiveequalpayforequalwork.Thefirstwaveofthewomen’smovementfocusedonwomen’spursuitofpolitical,economicandlegalequalitywithmen,andthismovementledtothepromotionofwomen’saffirmativeachievementsintherighttovote,educationandemployment,buttraditionalgenderrolenormsremainedunchangedandwomenwerestilldependentonmen,usingmenasthestandardformeasuringwomen,pursuingequalitywithoutdistinctionanddownplayingthegenderdifferences.Inthe1960sand1970s,BettyFriedan’sTheFeminineMystiqueinauguratedthesecondwaveofthefeministmovement,recognizingthedifferencesbetweenthebiologicalsexesofmenandwomenandemphasizinggender.Thegendereddivisionoflabornaturallyandeliminatesgenderinequalitiesinpay.In1949SimonedeBeauvoir’sTheSecondSexwaspublished,abookthatplayedanimportantroleinthesecondwaveofthewomen’smovementandhasbeencalledthe“bibleofthefeministmovement”.Duringthisperiod,women’semploymentimprovedandtheywereabletoparticipateinsocialwork,butwomen’sdevelopmentstillfacedtheseriousproblemofbalancingequalopportunitiesforworkwiththerolesandresponsibilitiesofmotherhood.Inthesecondwaveofthewomen’smovement,womenmainlyfoughtforreproductiverights,politicalparticipationandequalityineducation.Emphasiswasplacedonasenseoffemininitybasedongenderdifferencesbetweenthesexesandrecognitionofthevalueoffemaleexistence.Thethirdwaveofthefeministmovementisacritiqueoftheprevioustwofeministmovements.Theessenceoftraditionalfeminismwaspatriarchalinstructureanddeniedtheequalityofmenandwomenthattraditionalfeminismpromoted.Womenenteredthemalesphereandheldthemselvestomalestandards.Post-modernfeminismemphasizesequalityonthebasisofdifference,thatwomenshouldhavetheirownidentityandpowerofdiscourseaswellasafemalemodeofthinking,thatwomenarenotsubordinatetomenbutareindependentsocialindividualswhoshouldpursuewomen’srights,freedom,anddevelopmentbasedonthebiologicaldifferencesbetweenmenandwomen.Inthethirdwave,moreemphasisisplacedontheconstructionofasenseoffemalesubjectivityandidentityasanindividual,aswellasonmulticulturalandmulti-typicalgenderculturaldifferences.Atthesametime,itbegantofocusontheequality,individualityandspecificityofdifferentidentitiesofwomenintermsofgenderfromafemaleperspective.Areviewofthethreewavesofthefeministmovementclearlyshowsthatwomenarebecomingincreasinglyawareoftheirself-developmentandtheirincreasingattentiontotherealizationoftheirownvalues.Womenarenolongerstrivingforcompleteequalitybetweenthesexesbutforindependentdevelopmentbasedontherecognitionofthedifferencesbetweenmenandwomen,whetherinthesocialsphere,thefamilyortheprofessionalsphere.ChapterFourAnalysisoftheFemaleCharactersandFormationReasonsTheerahascreatedtragedies,andmenareaccustomedtothesenseofsuperioritybroughtaboutbyapatriarchalsociety,believingthatwomenarejustappendagesintheirlifeandpoliticallife.Theylackfundamentalrespectforwomenandcannotguaranteetheirfundamentalrights,whichdirectlyleadstotherealityofwomen’ssurvivaldifficulties,andthusformsasocialphenomenonwherewomencannothavetherightself-cognitionandprotecttheirownrights.GameofThroneshastosomeextentbrokenfreefromtheconstraintsoftradition.Thisworkdoesnotmarginalizefemalecharacters,anditscenterisnotmale.Instead,itmeticulouslyportraysrepresentativeandvividfemaleimages.4.1AnalysisofTypicalFemaleCharactersinGameofThronesBeauvoironcesaid,“Womenarenotborn,butareshaped.”Patriarchalsocietiesintentionallycultivateandshapewomenastoolstopleasemenandengageinhouseholdchores,lackingtheabilitytodirectlysurviveorgainpower.Patriarchalsystems,inordertomaintaintheirrule,focusoncultivatingwomenintogentleandobedientdaughters,virtuousandloyalwives,andselflessmothersfromtheperspectiveofmen’sneeds,andmakechildbirththeirmostimportantmission.Inthiscontext,theeducationofwomeninthefamilyislimitedtoaspectssuchasfemaleworkers,etiquette,music,dance,etc.,strivingtocultivatethemintoladiesandbecomeidealwiveswhocanpleasetheirhusbands.IntheGameofThronesonthecontinentofWesteros,suchapatriarchalsocietywasestablished,resultinginmanytypicalfemalecharacters.4.1.1The“New”WomanWhoStrivesforIndependenceDaenerysTargaryenwasbornonthenightofthegreateststormsinthehistoryofWesteros,hencethename“Stormborn”,themotherofDaenerysanddragons,thefaceoffireinGameofThrones.HerfatherwasamadkingwhoonceruledtheSevenKingdomsofWesteros,andafterhismurder,shewentintoexilewithhermalevolentbrother,Viserion.UnlikeCersei,Daenerysisatfirstablanksheetofpaper,awomanwithoutanysenseofindependenceorrebellion,whosefemininitygraduallydevelopsandmaturesasshegrowsup.AsBeauvoirsays,“Womenarenotcreated,butratherformedgradually.”ThefirstseasonofGameofThronescanbeseenastheawakeningofDaenerys’femininity,withherbrotherandhusbandbeingthekeyfactorsintheawakeningofherfemininity.Asayounggirl,Daenerysisatimidandunsuregirlwhofearsherbrotherandseeshimasheronlysupport,butVeselyanisabrutal,vulgarandviolentmanwhoseeshissisteronlyasatooltofulfillhisambitions.IntheirexileintheFreeCities,thesiblingswereforcedtoselltheirmother’scrowninordertoseekrefugeandhelpandwerejokinglycalled“beggarkings”,whiletheolderbrother,Veselyan,oftentookouthisangeronhisweakersister,abusingandbeatingher,callingthisbehavior“wakingupthewrathofthesleepingdragon”.Daenerysonlysuffersandcriesinsilence.Attheageof13,DaenerysisforcedbyherbrothertomarryKhalDrogo,thehorsekingleaderofthemostpowerfultribeofthenomadicDothraki,theKalasa,inordertohelphimconquertheSevenKingdomsandtakeoverthethrone,whichDaenerysisdeeplyafraidofbuthasnochoicebuttocomply.AftermarryingKhalDrogo,Daenerysexperiencedherfirsttasteofhumanaffectionandwascaredforbyherhusband,butherbrotherstillthoughtshewashispawnandcontinuedtohumiliateher.Atabanquet,VeselyantriedtohumiliateDaenerysagainwhenhewasdelayedingettingassistancefromtheHorseKingandwasscaldedalivebythefeistyHorseKing,whobrokehisarmsandlegs.Daenerysjustlookedoncoldly,withoutatearinhereye,andsaidcoldly,“Heisnotatruedragon,andfirecannotkillatruedragon.”Herdespairatherbrother,whohadheldherdownforsomanyyears,wasthefirststeptowardsherstrength.Butitdidnotlastlong.TheHorseKing,wholovedDaenerysdearly,waswoundedinbattleshortlyafterward,fellillandwaskilledbyavengefulsorceresswhousedbloodmagictoturnhimintoacripple.Withoutheronlysupport,Daenerysdidnotpanicinthefaceofherclan’srebellion.Deeplyawarethatshecouldonlysurviveifshebecamestrong,Daenerysdaredtohatchthelegendarydragon’seggandwasreborninflames.BecomingtheUnburnerandtheMotherofDragons,shegainedtheworshipofthetribesandachievedhermetamorphosisfromasoftwomantotheQueenofMeereen.Daenerys,hasmovedtowardsindependenceandfreedomfromtheoppressionofapatriarchalsociety.InsteadofbecominganarbitraryanddictatorialqueenlikeCersei,sheadvocatedtheabolitionofslaveryandtheemancipationoftheUnsullied.Thisiscertainlyamanifestationofafeminineconsciousnessthatseeksfreedomandequality.Intheshow’sthirdseason,DaenerysispersuadedbyJorahtocometoSlaver’sBaytobuyUnsulliedtofillherranks.Slaver’sBayisaregionontheEasternContinentthatistheabsolutecenteroftheslavetrade,andoverthousandsofyears,thethreecitiesofAstapor,YunkaiandMeereenhavebecomethethreerulingpowersofSlaver’sBay.AstaporisfamousfortheUnsulliedslavesselectedfrombloodyathleticcompetitions,castratedandtrainedasimpersonal,emotionalsoldiers.Theyhadnonamesoftheirownandnametagsweredrawnfromabarreleachdaytoobtainthenameoftheday.Disgustedbytheinhumaneslavery,DaeneryspledgedtotradedragonsforalltheUnsulliedinthecity,thenorderedtheUnsulliedtoattackthedefenselessslavers,settingtheUnsulliedandslavesinthecityfree.WhentheinterpreterproclaimedtoalltheslavesthatDaeneryshadgrantedthemtheirfreedom,shewasstoppedjustintimebyDaenerys,whoclaimedthatyourfreedomwasnotgrantedbyme,thatitbelongedtoyoualone,andthattheonlywaytohaveitwastoearnit,eachandeveryoneofyou.ShealsoabolishedtheruleoftakingcardsatrandomtodeterminethenamesoftheUnsullied.Theywereallowedtofindthemselvesagainandbecomehumanbeingsinthetruesenseoftheword.Daenerysleftwithaprovisionalgovernmentconsistingofahealer,apriestandascholar,thehealerrepresentingherbenevolenceinsavinglives,thepriestrepresentingherdevotiontofaithandthescholarrepresentingherphilosophyofrulingwithbenevolence.Itwasthissenseoffreedom,democracy,equalityandloveforwomenthatendearedhertothepeopleandgaveheralargefollowing.4.1.2The“Soft”WomanWhoBreakingtheStereotypeAgainstthebackdropofafeudallordshipwherewomenfromnoblefamiliesweregenerallyvoicelessandbroughtuptobeladylikeinpreparationfortheirfamily’smarriage,AriaStarkisarebelliousandindependentyoungwomanwhorefusestoacceptthestatusimposedonherbyapatriarchalsociety.Arebelliousandindependentyoungwoman,Starkrefusestoacceptthestatusimposedonherbyapatriarchalsocietyandisnotsubservienttomaleauthority.AriaStarkShewastheyoungestdaughterofEddardStark,LordofWinterfell.Intheoriginal,shewasplainandsmallinstatureandgrewupasaboy,fondofswordsandwandsandstoriesofwarandadventure,andwasknownasatomboy.Althoughhermotheroncesaidshewouldhavebeenbeautifulifshehadbeendressedup,shewasextremelytiredofthearistocratic,ladylikeupbringingofthetimeandrefusedtoacceptherfateasagirl,shehatedstudying‘blushing’,refusedtobealadyinmarriageforthesakeoffamilypowerandsaidthatmostgirlswereidiots.ThisisincontrasttohersisterSansa,whoismoreinlinewithwhatisexpectedofwomeninapatriarchalsociety,wholovesneedlework,isquietandgentle,andspendsherdaysfantasizingaboutthearrivalofherdreamprince,whereasAriathinksthisisthebehaviorofadullard.Onlythosewithoutanindependentmindwouldfantasizeaboutthesalvationofothers.AftertheStarkfamilywaspersecutedbyQueenCersei,Aliawentfrombeingaprincesswithnoclothesorfoodtoafugitiveinaninstant,butsheshowedremarkablestrengthandcalmness,evenwhenshewitnessedherfatherbeheadedintheTempleofBaelorUniversityandlosthermother,brotherandsister-in-lawattheBloodyWedding,shedidn’tshedasingletear,insteadgivingasneerattheblowsoflifeandmovingon,learningfromtheheroessheadmiredEvensurpassingthem.CyrilFowler,theteacheroftheWaterDanceswordplay,oncetoldherthattheworldwasfullofheroes.ThewordsofForerunner,whotoldherthattheonlygodintheworldisdeathandthattheonlywordswecansaytodeathare“nottoday”,madetheyoungAriarealizethecrueltyoflifeandthepreciousnessoflife.Yoren,theNight’sWatchoftheNorth,survivestenaciouslywiththebeliefinrevengeforherbrother,andheencourageshertolivebravelywiththebeliefinrevenge.TolearnfromJaqen,theguardianoftheThousandFaces,tolearntheartofface-changingandkilling,Ariawashesthecorpseandoffershereyestoshowherdeterminationandcourage.WithoutthepowerofQueenCersei,orthebeautyandfiredragonsofDaenerys,theMotherofDragons,orthefantasyofchanginghercircumstancesthroughmarriage,Aliaispassionateaboutself-learningtoachieveself-improvement.Sheisawomanwhorefusestobedependentonmaleauthority,whoisself-empowered,andwhogrowsupalone,stumbleslearnandreflect,andeventuallytransformsintoabutterfly.4.1.3The“Other”WomaninPursuitofSelf-worthTheSevenKingdomsdepictedintheshowGameofThronesresemblethefeudalsocietyofmedievalEurope,wherethesocialsystemdidnotexistintermsoffreemarriages,andmarriagesweremadebyfamilieslookingforamarriagewithafamilythatmatchedtheirstatus,andmergingfamilyinterestswasacommonformofmakingthefamilystrong.Suchmarriageswerepoliticallychargedandthewomenwholackedavoicewerethedirectvictimsofsuchmarriages,Cerseibeingoneofthem.CerseiisthedaughterofTywinB.LannisterandJoannaB.Lannister.DukeofLannisterandJoannaLannister.SheistheeldestdaughterofLordTywinLannisterandJoannaLannister,andsisterofJaimeLannister.Fromanearlyage,sheshowsastrongsenseofrebellionagainstthepatriarchyandpatriarchalsociety,andisthetragicfemaleantagonistoftheplay.Proudandconceitedbynature,Cerse