Sandor Clegane
Why do we love Sandor? I mean, he mocks Robb for being the warrior equivalent of an old maid at 14(when I was your age...*lol*), kills a kid and enjoys it, and lusts after a twelve year old girl. I love Sandykins to pieces but he doesn't look good at first glance
( Read more... )
Comments 86
I read all four books in a straight-shot frenzy, but it soon became obvious that I was anticipating certain characters' POVs more than others. Both Sansa and Arya were anticipated POVs for me on the strength of their own personalities, but Sandor definitely was a bonus. *grin*
1) Honestly, by the end of A Feast for Crows I'd become convinced that Martin intends for Sandor Clegane to be THE hero of the entire gosh-darn story. Forget about Daenerys and Jon: it's all about Sandor. While his story may not conform in all respects to the typical steps of a Hero's Journey, the idea still intrigues me. I mean, how awesome would it be for George R.R. Martin to write an epic story wherein the principal heroic journey isn't even a POV character!?!
*facepalms* Incidentally, this level of geeky crack was achieved before I deliberately went back for a Sandor info-gathering re-read and fell ( ... )
Reply
Reborn in salt and fire, with a red comet in the sky, anyone? I'm not saying he is Azor Azhai reborn, but he was "reborn" in Sansa's song during the Battle of the Blackwater - the comet was in the sky at the time; the bay was full of firel both tears (his) and the ocean (on fucking fire) contain salt;and his desertion of the Lannisters and leaving King's Landing marked a big turning-point in his character. Then we have the fact that trial by combat in the BwB, under the witness of an actual god - a god of fire, no less! - proved him innocent. Oh, and wouldn't it just be so very bloody ironic if a man whose one fear is fire, who despises chivalry, fancy words, and all other kinds of showiness, ended up being a prophecies hero who wields a flaming sword? He'd stick it in a tree, glare, and mutter curses at it. It would be great ( ... )
Reply
Cool theory, the two of you! And having a more or less side-character suddenly become important for the history of all of Westeros would be another GRRMish stroke of genius.
We'll see.
I do hold Mycah and all the others against him. After all "I was taking orders" is the cheapest excuse of human history, but I think he is less guilty than Joff or Cersei in this regard. And compared to all the other "knights" he's at least honest and says what nobody confesses: You can like killing and most people do once they are used to it and have an excuse like "orders", "honour" or "duty".
Reply
Well, at least we aren't complete crackpots! XD I just realized another benefit of this theory's possibilities....can't you just hear the raving Jon fanboys screaming when you think about it? The lands would echo with it! There's so many of them, and a lot of them seem to dislike Sandor *cough*blasphemers*cough*.
I do hold Mycah and all the others against him. After all "I was taking orders" is the cheapest excuse of human history, but I think he is less guilty than Joff or Cersei in this regard. And compared to all the other "knights" he's at least honest and says what nobody confesses: You can like killing and most people do once they are used to it and have an excuse like "orders", "honour" or "duty".In real life, I would. Some of my best friend's ancestors were killed in the Holocaust by men who were "just taking orders". In fiction, however, I'm taking ( ... )
Reply
I love how vocal he is about his disgust with the hypocrisy of the knights and High Houses in Westeros because I agree with most of what he says.
The age difference never bothered me. Sansa has not only acted more mature then what one would think of a 12 year old acting in today's society she acts more mature then most of her peers in the novels.
Reply
Sansa made an effort to act like an adult. It's so adorable and heartbreaking to re-read her AGoT chapters and see her trying to be grown up. Myrcella is the same age Sansa was in the beginning of the series, and Arys Oakheart adores her - as the daughter he'll never have. If Sandor had any paternal instincts, he would have felt the same about Joffrey and Sansa. But 16yr!Sandor strikes again and adorable young girl = the lady love he's secretly wanted.
Reply
Reply
Do you think that Sandor knew his grandfather? The kennelmaster who lost a leg?
Because if he was still alive when Sandor was very small I could see him
a) having some influence in Sandor's opinion on hounds/dogs in general and
b) being victimized by Gregor and subsequently adding to Sandor's hard-line opinion on the quality of life for people he considers to be handicapped or impaired (Bran, Tyrion, Lollys...)
Because yes, this is what my brain comes up with during my semi-lucid waking moments. All Sandor all the time, baby. :D *facepalms*
Reply
I do think Sandy knew his grandfather. Something about the way he told Sansa the story of how they got into the nobility gave me that impression. Also, considering the way he says little about his father, I think he was closer to his grandfather than his father. Of course, it may be my desperate hope that someone loved and cuddled little Sandy talking here.
being victimized by Gregor and subsequently adding to Sandor's hard-line opinion on the quality of life for people he considers to be handicapped or impaired (Bran, Tyrion, Lollys...)I never thought about that! I always assumed Sandor was thinking of himself and how he'd have been better off dead than horribly disfigured but reassuring himself that it could have been worse. But it makes so such sense that he watched his elderly and possibly going senile grandfather being ignored and maltreated. There's some kindness in Sandor that he only allows himself to demonstrate to animals and little birds. I thought he got that from his mother, ( ... )
Reply
*nods* It always seemed to me that a certain affection came through when Sandor tells Sansa the story about how his kennelmaster grandfather saved Lord Tytos' life.
Y'see, I never assumed Sandor was thinking about himself...because it always seemed like he was trying to draw a very sharp defining line between himself and those others. Like he was saying "look at me, no..LOOK at me! I'm nowhere near as damaged and worthless as they are!"
I'm just about convinced that Sandor did know his grandfather...and that he had a very strong impact on his life very early on.
Reply
There really does seem to be a kind of affection coming through, and the grandfather's influence makes a great deal of sense.
I'm not sure if it's that he thinks the other damaged people are worthless as that he thinks their lives are worthless because all they're going to be is worthless. If he saw his beloved, one-legged, possibly senile grandpa getting abused by Gregor, that would make even more sense than it would just based on his life, because if it was based on his own life alone....well, he seems to think he himself is pretty damned worthless at this point. Notice he isn't going "why don't more people treat these individuals like dogs" - he's wondering why they aren't dead, because they and everyone else would probably be better off that way.
Now I'm wondering about his parents, too. And I need to do homework, and try to sleep, so I can actually write x____x
Reply
I'm not bothered by the age difference; Sansa is pretty well grown for her years, and as consenting age is 16 in Martin's universe, 12 would be the equivalent of today's 16-17, which makes it fine. And plus, it's Fantasy, so I can easily accept it.
Reply
I've always liked the dark, tortured types in fiction too. I'm still surprised by just how much I love Sandor though. It's been a year and two months since I read the series and my Sandor love only grows more.
I saw you joined sansaxsandor. Maybe when you're finished ASoS, you could make a post about your impressions of Sandor in general and Sansa/Sandor in particular there? It's always fun to fangirl together. :D
Reply
Well, I'm well-known for liking those guys as well; there's something about them I have almost found appealing, perhaps the soft spot(s) they usually hide under the (non)imaginary armor of scales they wear :D
And yes, it was the first ASOIAF comm I joined, and I've already read all the posts, as I've done here. I'm loving it, and it'll be my pleasure to make that post, once I finish the next book!
Reply
Leave a comment