Lauren Humphreys
Bio
writer of things • I like nerdy stuff
Stories (2/0)
Battle of the Boyfriends
Literature has a longstanding tradition of originating or propagating stereotypes. Tropes formed in classical literature are still widely prevalent in today’s wider culture; the wise old sage, the damsel in distress, and the heroic knight are but a few examples of the clichés that continue on in current popular culture. The societal expectations and values surrounding these tropes exist to a lesser extent, but they can still be found in abundance if examining the correct character. A damsel in distress written in the twenty-first century will assuredly have more agency than a similar character written four hundred years prior, but characterization around chivalry and masculinity have largely remained the same. From classic to present-day literature, it is the man’s duty to be loyal to his lady, his family, and above all, his lord. But what is a man to do when his family despises his love’s family? Or when allegiance to his overlord means betrayal to his own house? These are amongst the questions that will be examined in this essay, through the comparison of the male leads of both Romeo and Juliet and Game of Thrones—Romeo Montague and Jon Snow. This paper will juxtapose Romeo and Jon’s respective existences in the chivalric code, and how they embody differing aspects of the code by studying the ultimate of their character arcs. In addition, a section of the body will be dedicated to examining the militaristic presence of Jon’s lover, Daenerys Targaryen, and how her inversion of traditional gender roles leads Jon to make the ultimate sacrifice for his country.
By Lauren Humphreys4 years ago in Humans
Women on the Market in Westeros
Over the past several years, Western popular culture has seen an explosion in interest for the fantasy genre, erupting in 2011 when HBO premiered the television drama Game of Thrones. In the history of television, the popularity that Thrones has reached is unrivaled. The drama series and the books it is based on have both been praised for their intricate weaving of many plotlines, genres, and thematic specialties. As with any popular culture phenomena, Game of Thrones was privileged enough to have their own creative platform in which they can perform social critiques. While most of these criticisms are placed in a medieval and/or fantasy context, many lessons provided by Thrones are still relevant to its twenty-first century fan base.
By Lauren Humphreys4 years ago in Geeks