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- The Rains of Castamere Shocked Audiences When It Aired
- George R.R. Martin Always Had Trouble Killing Off Key Characters
- The Brutal Inspiration for the Red Wedding
As a history enthusiast and avid reader of George R.R. Martin’s works, I find it utterly fascinating to delve into the historical events that have inspired such gripping scenes in “A Song of Ice and Fire” series. The Massacre of Glencoe and the Black Dinner are two chilling instances from Scotland’s past that have left an indelible mark on our collective consciousness, much like the Red Wedding in Westeros.
By the summer of 2013, “Game of Thrones” had grown into one of the most popular shows on cable TV. The series was in its third season and was known for its brutal character deaths, much like the books it was based on. In the first season, the beloved character Ned Stark, portrayed by Sean Bean, met a gruesome end, beheaded and left on a spike. This shocking turn of events caught many viewers off guard, as they were not familiar with the violent fates that many “Game of Thrones” characters often face in George R.R. Martin’s novels.
Although Ned Stark’s death was a significant early shock in the series, the ninth episode of the third season, titled “‘The Rains of Castamere,’” presented an even more shocking and unforeseen outcome. This episode was based on a chapter from George R.R. Martin’s book “A Storm of Swords“, where he wrote a sequence so painful that he postponed writing it until the book deadline was near. Martin, being a history enthusiast, often uses real historical events as inspiration for the tragic events that befall his characters. In this case, the chapter that eventually became known as the ‘Red Wedding’ in “‘The Rains of Castamere,’” drew upon two grisly stories from historical records, popularly referred to as ‘‘The Massacre of Glencoe’ and ‘The Black Dinner.’
The Rains of Castamere Shocked Audiences When It Aired
Initially, let’s delve into the discussion about the specific episode of ‘Game of Thrones’, the one that marks the end of Season 3, where Robb Stark (Richard Madden) starts showing leadership as a potential successor to the Iron Throne. In this stage of ‘GoT’, Robb was leading his troops across the realm, achieving significant victories and seeking vengeance for his father’s execution — also aiming to overthrow the Lannisters from their powerful position. By then, Robb had found true love in Talisa Stark (Oona Chaplin), a woman he had wed despite his prior promise to one of Walder Frey’s daughters. Catelyn Stark (Michelle Fairley), Robb’s mother, had cautioned him against breaking the family agreement with Walder Frey, a seemingly cruel Lord from House Frey who, despite the promised betrothal, still seemed like a vital ally for the Starks.
In the storyline of “Game of Thrones,” it seemed as though Robb Stark’s betrayal was being ignored after Walder Frey invited him to his castle for a marriage ceremony. However, this assumption was proven wrong in a chilling manner when Catelyn Stark, Robb’s mother, subtly exposed Roose Bolton’s concealed armor under his sleeve. This revelation, though recognized by Catelyn, came too late as Robb, his stunned bride, and their army were taken by surprise and mercilessly killed in a brutal attack, including the tragic stabbing of Talisa’s unborn child within her womb.
George R.R. Martin Always Had Trouble Killing Off Key Characters
The reaction of GoT fans to the brutal episode was like few landmark TV episodes ever made, with such massive collective surprise that YouTube was flooded with videos of fans’ horrified reactions to the murderous episode. Author Martin later expounded that it was even hard for him to write the source work for the Red Wedding, remarking in an interview that “The Red Wedding was the hardest thing I ever wrote. [Joffrey’s Wedding] was easy and fun to write because everybody wanted to see that little [expletive] die. I invest a lot in these characters… so it’s a little like killing a part of yourself or smothering one of your children.” Indeed, this shock value was part of what made the subsequent HBO series so beloved, and Martin attributes that fact to the historical events that inspired the chapter and episode, believing truth to be stranger than fiction.
Exploring the background behind Martin’s depiction of the harsh endings for some cherished characters in Game of Thrones, it’s intriguing to delve into the historical incident that may have served as inspiration – the infamous Massacre of Glencoe. This event took place in the Scottish Highlands during the 17th century, resulting in the tragic deaths of around 30 members from Clan MacDonald of Glencoe. The region was characterized by ever-changing loyalties, as the Scots frequently resented their distant English rulers.
The Brutal Inspiration for the Red Wedding
In the year 1692, followers of the Jacobite Clans in Scotland, who were Catholic and aimed to reinstate James II as the British monarch while dethroning William and Mary, suffered a grim fate reminiscent of the Starks. Although the Scottish government was loyal to William and Mary, four rebellious clans, including the MacDonalds, refused to comply. After they eventually agreed to pledge allegiance to King William, it was too late as the deadline had already passed. When a Scottish army unit encountered the MacDonalds at Glen Coe, it was decided that punishment was still necessary by King William. The Scottish army unit tricked and then slaughtered at least 30 members of Clan MacDonald under false pretenses that their loyalty to the King had been accepted.
A significant influence behind the infamous Red Wedding event in “Game of Thrones” was drawn from a historical incident known as the Black Dinner. This incident occurred when King James II of Scotland, in 1440, invited two members of the powerful Douglas Clan to a feast at Edinburgh Castle. However, their hospitality turned out to be deceitful. During dinner, a severed bullhead was placed before them, symbolizing death. The young King James II, who was only ten years old, was under the control of his regents who feared an uprising from the Douglas clan. As a result, the boys were taken to Castle Hill and given a sham trial, followed by their beheadings. This brutal event served as another example of the Crown’s oppression of Scottish clans and paved the way for the more dramatic Red Wedding scene in “Game of Thrones.” Catch Game of Thrones on Max.
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2024-09-25 00:31