𝐕𝖎𝖗𝖙𝖚𝖊 || O2

 

  

 

  

   

               ─── 🤍 , 𝗧𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗦

              :pushpin: ' introduction

              :pushpin: ' morality – what is it?

              :pushpin: ' margaery – in the book

              :pushpin: ' margaery – in the show

              :pushpin: ' outroduction

 

  

 

  

   

               ─── 🤍 ' 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗥𝗢 ⤸

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Hello, Thrones! today, I am finally

continuing my trek towards certified

Margaery. I chose to write about

the complexity of her character –

specifically, her moral complexity.

Please   enjoy, and   let me   know

what you think! #bethronescertified

  

  

   

               ─── 🥀 ' 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬 ៹

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Before we begin, I feel it is important to touch on what exactly I’ll be talking about in this dissection. When talking about “morality,” it is simply a person's values. Do they know right from wrong, but more specifically, 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦? Everyone inherently knows right from wrong. The question is how often we decide to overlook the “good” in order to do something “bad.”

To judge a persons morality, you might ask: Are they okay with bending the rules to get what they want? Do they have a sense of comion about them? While you may think these are relatively simple questions to answer, when looking at characters in the ASOIAF universe…morality can truly go in any manner.

Hence why I will be focusing on Margaery Tyrell. You heard me mention in the introduction the word “complexity.” Margaery is a complex character, and has complex moral values. I’ll be looking at how she develops throughout the books and show (seasons 2-6), and at the end hopefully we’ll better understand her.

 

  

 

  

   

               ─── :closed_book: ' 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞𝗦 ៹

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Though Margaery has appeared in all six current books in the Game of Thrones series, we have yet to get a chapter from her perspective. Thus, all of her actions, interactions, and even intentions are fed to us only through the eyes of other characters, the most notable being Eddard Stark, Petyr Baelish, Varys, and Cersei Lannister. Prior to Margaery’s wedding to Renly Baratheon, we learn through Varys of a scheme (made by Renly and Loras Tyrell) which would have King Robert fall in love with Margaery due to her likeness to Lyanna Stark, in short making Cersei Lannister no longer a problem. Knowing that Margaery in this moment is only 14, we can assume two things: One, if this had played out the way her family wished, Margaery would have probably only done so to appease them. Two, the morality at play here has less to do with Margaery, and so much more to do with the people surrounding her.

We don’t know much about Margaery’s feelings on Renly’s death later on in the books, or Joffrey’s. Only that she is innocent from both crimes, and will soon marry Tommen Baratheon as, “he enjoys having her and her ladies around” (- Jaime Lannister). When Margaery first arrives in King’s Landing, we learn that she is generous to the poor, and kind to Tommen. She showcases true care for her brother when learning about his injuries while taking Dragonstone. Her actions from here on are mostly looked down upon by Cersei, who accuses her of:

- Bribing Cersei’s handmaidens to spy on her (unconfirmed)

- Sleeping with Ser Ossney Kettleback (false)

Overall, in the books, Margaery is described as sweet and gentle, with a bit of her grandmother in her (thoughts of Sansa Stark and more). She is a favorite of the citizens in King’s Landing. There is not much evidence to suggest Margaery is morally bad. She is simply a young girl being influenced by her family, though not naive. She knows of Cersei’s hatred for her, and from Cersei’s perspective, uses Tommen to get to her. However, these thoughts about Margaery through Cersei’s perspective are very clearly out of jealousy and her obsession with the crown. Until we receive a chapter in her perspective, we may never know the true intention behind her actions.

 

  

   

               ─── :clapper: ' 𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗪 ៹

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In the show, we gather a more fleshed out perspective on Margaery and her actions thanks to her portrayal by Natalie Dormer. When we first meet her, Margaery is provoked by Petyr Baelish about Renly’s sexuality, and after his death utters the famous line to Baelish, “I want to be 𝘵𝘩𝘦 Queen,” signifying far more ambition than in the books. Similarly to the books, however, Margaery interacts with the poor in King’s Landing, opening up the question as to whether she is solely comionate, or has been trained to be adept at winning the hearts and minds of the people, something Cersei heavily criticized her for.

We get the impression through her interactions with Sansa Stark in Season 3 that Margaery knows exactly what kind of person Joffrey Baratheon is, most likely from information she has heard from her grandmother, Olenna, and whispers. This is confirmed when Margaery speaks with Joffrey in his bedroom, managing to talk him out of the doubts he has concerning her and Renly’s marriage. She placates him by speaking openly about Renly’s sexuality, insinuating that he drunkenly suggested, “something that sounded very painful and could not possibly result in children,” an unconfirmed claim. She proceeds to flirt with him using his love for violence, manipulating him with his own sadistic pleasures.

Margaery shows a comionate friendship towards Sansa, suggesting that she marry her brother Loras, even while knowing Loras’ disinterest in women. One could argue that this would protect both, allowing Sansa to escape to Highgarden, while easing rumors that Renly and Loras were lovers.

Like the books, Margaery is innocent and unaware of Olenna’s plan behind Joffrey’s death. This does not stop her from asking her grandmother outwardly if she is technically Queen, even while the capital is in mourning, showcasing more of her ambition towards being Queen consort, and ultimately her decision to go through with marrying Tommen. Though kind to the younger Baratheon, she uses her maternity in order to manipulate them, insisting that they must meet frequently in secret (likely to avoid Cersei knowing). This manipulation continues after their wedding and consummation, when Margaery openly tells Tommen that he will continue to be treated as a child the longer his mother remains in King’s Landing.

A final point to make is Margaery’s manipulation of the system when she is imprisoned by the High Septon, devoting herself to the Seven and thus causing Tommen to unite the crown and the church to please her.

Overall, the Margaery we see here is far more ambitious and manipulative. Many describe her as being morally grey, doing what she has to do for both herself and her family, while never pushing too far. As Lady Olenna implies to Daenerys, Margaery was loved but not feared, a flaw that led to her death. My opinion is that though her intent to be Queen consort is not the most morally true, she did what she had to do to secure her family's safety and comfortability for as long as she could. She shows true love for her family and the poor, while remaining clever enough to play the game. I will always love Margaery as portrayed in the show, though I will also argue that her manipulation of Tommen to become so devout to her is a crucial role in his death, and not all of the blame can be ed to Cersei. She knew exactly what she was doing, which is part of what makes her so morally complex, fluctuating very easily from innocent to calculating.

  

 

  

   

               ─── :balloon: ' 𝗢𝗨𝗧𝗥𝗢 ⤸

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Thank you for sticking around to

hear me yap. This was a project

I wanted to feel truly ionate

about, hence why there is such a

large gap between posts 1 and 2

for certified Margaery! I truly hope

you enjoyed, and maybe learned

something new. Bye-bye! :sparkles: 🤍

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