Brienne of Tarth
The main criticism I see levied at Brienne is that she is simply a character with no characteristics or qualities of her own. She is seen as being a plot device for ‘more important characters’. Others complain that she was just thrown into the story to satisfy feminist readers. I think both arguments are terribly unfair and completely overlook who Brienne is and the changes she undergoes during the series. My argument against these claims is what I will focus on this week, by choosing one quality of her character each day and explaining why it makes me appreciate Brienne that much more.
Strength
“At close hand, the brilliant blue armour looked rather less splendid; everywhere it showed scars, the dents of mace and warhammer, the long gouges left by swords, chips in the enameled breastplate and helm. His cloak hung in rags. From the way he moved, the man within was no less battered. A few voices hailed him with cries of “Tarth!” and, oddly, “A Beauty! A Beauty!” but most were silent.”
-Catelyn II, A Clash of Kings
(my favorite Brienne art, by quickreaver at deviantart)
I admire Brienne for both her physical and mental strength. When we first meet Brienne in A Clash of Kings she is winning the melee which Renly set up as he slowly made his way towards King’s Landing. The reader actually believes the knight who battles and defeats the Knight of Flowers is a man, until Catelyn asks why the people dislike him so much, and is told he is actually a she. I can understand why this introduction would seem cliché to some, because there are hundreds of stories about women who dress up as men in order to accomplish some goal. However, Brienne does not trick anyone into thinking that she is actually a man as characters in other stories do, she fights with the disgust of the majority of society firmly on her shoulders. I love this first impression we get of Brienne because of how it illustrates this, fighting she looked amazing but then once the fight is over all the glory of battle disappears, and you see the beating she has taken written in the scars of her armor. It’s like the people of Westeros themselves have carved them, with their words and actions. At times it feels like almost everyone in the series has scoffed at Brienne for her morals, bullied her because of her looks, or worse. Yet none of this keeps Brienne from continuing to fight, continuing to behave like she thinks a knight should behave, she does not let them change her or keep her from doing what she loves.
Strength
“At close hand, the brilliant blue armour looked rather less splendid; everywhere it showed scars, the dents of mace and warhammer, the long gouges left by swords, chips in the enameled breastplate and helm. His cloak hung in rags. From the way he moved, the man within was no less battered. A few voices hailed him with cries of “Tarth!” and, oddly, “A Beauty! A Beauty!” but most were silent.”
-Catelyn II, A Clash of Kings
(my favorite Brienne art, by quickreaver at deviantart)
I admire Brienne for both her physical and mental strength. When we first meet Brienne in A Clash of Kings she is winning the melee which Renly set up as he slowly made his way towards King’s Landing. The reader actually believes the knight who battles and defeats the Knight of Flowers is a man, until Catelyn asks why the people dislike him so much, and is told he is actually a she. I can understand why this introduction would seem cliché to some, because there are hundreds of stories about women who dress up as men in order to accomplish some goal. However, Brienne does not trick anyone into thinking that she is actually a man as characters in other stories do, she fights with the disgust of the majority of society firmly on her shoulders. I love this first impression we get of Brienne because of how it illustrates this, fighting she looked amazing but then once the fight is over all the glory of battle disappears, and you see the beating she has taken written in the scars of her armor. It’s like the people of Westeros themselves have carved them, with their words and actions. At times it feels like almost everyone in the series has scoffed at Brienne for her morals, bullied her because of her looks, or worse. Yet none of this keeps Brienne from continuing to fight, continuing to behave like she thinks a knight should behave, she does not let them change her or keep her from doing what she loves.