Foreshadowing Daenerys' Decision to Burn King's Landing
Daenerys Targaryen, from A Song of Ice and Fire and the Game of Thrones series, ultimately decides to burn King's Landing, an event covered extensively through various quotes and actions by numerous characters. This article explores the key foreshadowing elements that predict this historic and devastating decision, focusing on the actions, decisions, and predictions of characterseventIduating Daenerys' ultimate action.
1. Mirri Maz Duur and Daenerys' Saviour Complex
The scene between Mirri Maz Duur and Daenerys in Season 1, Episode 1 ("Fire and Blood") is significant. Mirri confronts Daenerys with the collateral damage of war, specifically the deaths of a baker and a young boy. Daenerys, however, shows a complete disregard for these innocent lives, stating, "My child was innocent." (Source: Mirri Maz Duur and Daenerys Targaryen S01E01 - Fire and Blood).
Daenerys' focus is on her son and her enemies, not on the innocent civilians affected by war. This mindset, known as heraviorism,saviorism, aligns with her refusal to prioritize the suffering of innocents, foreshadowing her later actions.
2. Theon Greyjoy and His Strategical Parallel
In The Night Lands (S02E02), Theon Greyjoy remarks, "We won’t beat them until we take King’s Landing and we can’t take King’s Landing without ships." (Source: The Night Lands)
In The Old Gods and New (S02E06), Theon uses the same strategy to justify his actions, saying, "The castle is mine but these people are still yours. You’ll yield to keep them safe to keep them alive." (Source: The Old Gods and New).
Daenerys later repeats a similar sentiment, insisting that Cersei should yield to protect the people of King's Landing. This parallel strategy foreshadows her decision to burn the city, as she sees taking the city as a means to secure her rule over the people.
3. A Plea for the Dragons
Daenerys' desperate cry, "Where are my dragons?" in The Old Gods and New (S02E06), comes during a scene where bells ring "horror,” a premonition signaling what is to come.
Bells serve a symbolic role in King's Landing, often associated with surrender, but also with the fall of the city. The ringing of the bells—a bellows of "horror"— hints at the impending destruction of King's Landing.
4. Davos Seaworth's Prophecy
Davos Seaworth's warning in Blackwater (S02E09) is a clear foreshadowing of Daenerys' eventual action: "Those walls have never been breached. The men guarding those walls when they see you they don’t see a liberator they see a stranger coming to set their city on fire." (Source: Blackwater).
Similar to Barristan Selmy's quote, the ringing of the bells is used as a symbol of the impending destruction. This foreshadows the reality that Daenerys' presence will not be met with celebration but with hostility, given the historical context of the city's past sackings and sieges.
5. The Bell's Ring for Horror
In a pivotal moment during Blackwater, Davos and Varys discuss the ominous meaning of the bells: "I've always hated the bells. They ring for horror. A dead king. A city under siege." (Source: Blackwater). This discussion emphasizes the symbolism of the bells, which foreshadow that Daenerys' reign may end in horror for the city.
Further, Davos clarifies, "I’ve never known bells to mean surrender." (Source: Blackwater). This doubles down on the fact that the city will not welcome her as a liberator but rather as a threat that must be met with defiance, setting the stage for the eventual burning.
6. Predicting Innocent Suffering
Jorah Mormont and Ser Barristan Selmy's conversation in Walk of Punishment (S03E03) discusses the reality of innocent deaths: "Thousands of innocents are always going to die in war," (Source: Walk of Punishment). Even beloved characters like Daenerys are aware that innocent lives will be lost, yet she proceeds to separate her enemies from the innocent, showing a personal slight rather than a moral guideline.
Daenerys, in a later episode, explicitly states, "The blood of my enemies, not the blood of innocents." (Source: Walk of Punishment), emphasizing her moral ambiguity and the personal stakes she places over broader justice.
Conclusion
The numerous instances of foreshadowing across various episodes and characters indicate a pattern of innocence's sacrifice and personal interests overriding justice. Daenerys' decisions to burn King's Landing are a culmination of these themes, emphasizing the complexities of power, justice, and the sacrifices made in pursuit of a throne.
Additional Insights and Citations
For further exploration, enthusiasts can search for specific episodes and characters mentioned above. Key references include Mirri Maz Duur and Daenerys Targaryen S01E01 - Fire and Blood, The Night Lands, The Old Gods and New, Blackwater, and Walk of Punishment. Detailed analysis and context can be found in various A SoIaF fan communities and scholarly articles on George R. R. Martin’s work.