1/22/2024 0 Comments Game of thrones oath of loyalty![]() We had thought, perhaps, that Ramsay’s lack of loyalty to his own men would be his downfall as Jon had suggested, but for all their deficiencies, Ramsay’s cruel pragmatism and sadistic violence prove extremely effective in battle, and he almost achieves a crushing blow against Jon, whose loyalty to Rickon becomes a glaring disadvantage. Lord Umber’s contribution in this battle is essential to Ramsay’s strategy, yet his support is dependent not on respect or loyalty but on the pragmatic gains in power he can make by helping the Boltons crush the Starks. Remember what Lord Umber did when he decided to support Ramsay back in “Oathbreaker”? He refused to kneel or swear an oath of fealty, but he turned over Rickon and Osha because he knew that the power dynamics in the North were changing and it was time to side with the Boltons. Once Jon’s forces are out of position, Ramsay sends in Smalljon Umber’s soldiers to surround and crush them with their massive shields. In terms of loyalty, however, what is clear is that one leader sees his men as expendable, while the other respects his men and refuses to throw away their lives. Pragmatically, Davos’ side has fewer forces and can’t afford to lose any men, whereas Ramsay’s superior numbers mean that he can sacrifice these men. Ramsay, of course, pays no heed to the safety of his men, and tells his forces to loose their arrows. Ser Davos prepares to launch arrows, only to hold back from firing on his own troops. ![]() The two models of authority come out most clearly in the middle of the battle, after the two cavalry forces have engaged one another. Loyalty, in this case, becomes an easy weakness to manipulate, not a strength. To that, he adds his own unique brand of sadism, cruel violence, and psychological manipulation, which he brilliantly displays when he takes advantage of Jon’s loyalty to family by using Rickon to lure Jon and his army out of position. Inherited from his father, Roose, is a thirst for power, mixed with a cold pragmatism. ![]() On the other side is Ramsay, who represents a different model of authority. Quite fitting, for a Father’s Day episode. Jon’s understanding of authority and loyalty extends from an idea of mutual respect between leaders and followers–an honorable concept that links him back to his father, Lord Stark. But he probably also remembers that Ser Aliser Thorne and the other members of the Night’s Watch became disloyal in the first place because he did not, in their eyes, “fight for them.” He literally gave his life because he decided to help the Wildlings escape across the Wall, and in return, he receives unwavering support from Tormund. Then, Jon asks essentially the same question which Grey Worm had asked earlier: “Will your men want to fight for you, when they hear you wouldn’t fight for them?” He tries to point out, basically, that Ramsay is not worthy of loyalty because he offers nothing in return to his men.Īs a leader, Jon has had first-hand experience with the reciprocal nature of loyalty. This is the same way in which Jon Snow attempts to undermine Ramsay’s authority: he challenges him to a one-on-one duel, which Ramsay of course refuses. Why should these soldiers follow masters who have never done anything for them? By pointing out that their power is not based on a reciprocal arrangement, Grey Worm is able to quickly and easily undermine the authority of the Masters. Loyalty, then, functions only when both leaders and followers receive something from the other. ![]() The reciprocal nature of loyalty is best encapsulated when Grey Worm asks the soldiers of the Masters to make a choice: “Fight and die for Masters who would never fight and die for you, or go home to your families.” The men instantly drop their weapons and leave. The following post contains spoilers for Game of Thrones Season 6, Episode 9, “Battle of the Bastards.” It depends on a reciprocal, two-way relationship. ![]() The main idea was that loyalty, more often than not, requires both parties–the followers and the leaders/authority figures–to bring something of benefit to the table. Beneath the exciting bloodbath of it all was a fascinating examination of loyalty and authority. It gave us, in many ways, exactly what we hoped, feared, and expected from Game of Thrones. Unlike the previous episode, which was filled with anticlimactic resolutions, “Battle of the Bastards” was a wild, thrilling ride that brought us to an immensely satisfying conclusion. ![]()
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