There are some really evil folks in Westeros; Tywin Lannister, Joffrey Baratheon, Ramsay Bolton and Euron Greyjoy come to thoughts. One character that originally looks like he may slot in there, Jaime Lannister, seems to be rather more although. Recalling how Surprise Man shocked his teenage self, Martin units Jaime up as a easy villain for the reader to hate, after which guides him right into a extra selfless character.
Jaime within the first two books/seasons is a sister-f**king, kingslaying tried youngster assassin. His venomous dialog with Catelyn Stark in “A Conflict of Kings” is a superb learn, however every phrase he spits out makes you need to strangle him as a lot as Cat does:
Jaime: “If there are gods, why is the world so filled with ache and injustice?”
Catelyn: “Due to males such as you.”
Jaime: “There are not any males like me. There’s solely me.”
On a reread, although, that is the primary second that implies there’s extra to Jaime: “I believe it passing odd that I’m liked by one for a kindness I by no means did, and reviled by so many for my most interesting act.” Jaime broke his oath by slaying King Aerys Targaryen, however for noble causes; the Mad King was plotting to burn all of King’s Touchdown and its folks. Jaime’s remaining POV chapter in “A Storm of Swords” ends with him realizing he nonetheless has time to put in writing his life story, nor do his previous acts outline who he must be going ahead:
“When he was carried out, greater than three-quarters of his web page nonetheless remained to be stuffed between the gold lion on the crimson protect on high and the clean white protect on the backside. Ser Gerold Hightower had begun his historical past, and Ser Barristan Selmy had continued it, however the remainder Jaime Lannister would wish to put in writing for himself. He may write no matter he selected, henceforth. No matter he selected…”
The symbolism of the near-blank web page is clear, however lovely all the identical.
Or take Theon Greyjoy, one other character who might be known as Westeros’ Surprise Man. He is a egocentric, lecherous backstabber in “A Conflict of Kings,” one desirous to redeem his honor for years of being a hostage of the Stark household. After being humbled and tortured, his arc in “A Dance With Dragons” is just not solely about reasserting his id, but in addition build up a greater man than he was earlier than. Theon saving Jeyne Poole from their mutual captor Ramsay Bolton is as near traditional, storybook chivalry as you will get on this “Track.”
Stannis Baratheon declared: “A superb act doesn’t wash out the unhealthy, nor a foul act the great. Every ought to have its personal reward.” At first look, this can be a summation of Stannis’ iron-hard views on justice, however the black-and-white nonetheless accommodates nuance. Individuals are able to doing each good and unhealthy acts, and Martin’s work is all about characters who exist within the large hole between pure and evil. The important thing that opened that hole to him was Surprise Man.