Game of Thrones: Provocative Content

If you have not yet had the pleasure of watching this exhilarating show, I advise that you jump on the band wagon. This show is packed filled with everything you could ask for; drama, action, mystery, suspense, and it's definitely not lacking in it's provocative content. I have been a fan of the show since the beginning and I must say I am excited to tune in each week to see what the creators have in store for the characters. From family's being slain, to Kings being poisoned you never know what a characters fate will be, and that's the exciting part. That's what people should look for in a show, the shock and awe of it. Not the mundane routines of everyday life, nor the safe politically correct route to ease sensitive viewers. Which brings me to my topic, during last weeks episode there was a scene where the character Jamie went to his sister, who was mourning over her dead son, and he proceeded to force her to have sex with him right there in the chamber where her dead son had been laid out.

Now I have noticed that the creators have been getting slammed for this scene because some say, it promotes rape. I believe that to be false. If you have watched the show from the beginning and this is the only thing that has bothered you up until now, then there is clearly something wrong with your moral vision. Now I do not, nor will I ever condone rape, but it is a television show of fictional characters. It isn't based on any real life events, and truthfully if you want to be politically correct with the time period this is placed in, the rape scene isn't that far from the historical truth. These women are in a time where men lead and women follow, now a few woman characters break those molds, but the rape of Cersei was necessary. Ever sense her brother, who is also her lover, came back she has treated him as insignificant and meaningless. Not only that he lost his hand so he feels emasculated because he cannot defend or protect anyone and his lover shooting him down and talking down to him isn't helping the situation.

The rape is important in the show to remind the viewers just who Jamie Lannister really is, a ruthless take what he wants kind of man without asking for pleasantries. Now the way he rapes his sister is indeed sick and cruel, he does it in the tombs of her (or their) dead son. She begs with him to stop, but he doesn't care. In a way this is how his character retains his masculinity. Is it a cruel way to do so, most definitely, but claiming they are making rape ok on the show is a bit of stretch.

In an article written by Maureen Ryan on the huffingtonpost website. Maureen points out 12 reason why this scene matters. She makes valid points about how this scene is not out of character of the show and, no matter how shocking it may be, it was a useful scene for the show. One comment she makes about the show is that states: "the show is about the acquisition and exercise of power: Who has it, who wants it, what kinds of people use it well and what happens when it turns people into despots or unleashes their inner sociopath." (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/22/game-of-thrones-rape_n_5192482.html). So I believe this scene was necessary to show that other power the men of the show have over the women. It also illustrates the kind of turmoil the character Cersei is in, every where she turns she is being controlled by men. Whether it be her father, Jamie or her now dead son, this woman was forced to hold her tongue and do as they say. The scene just reiterates that idea of a power struggle and how she now has no power.

Maureen does exhibit in her article how some television shows have used rape as a "firecracker" and it is used cheaply and in fact is demeaning to those who were victims of rape. But I don't believe Game of Thrones is using this scene as a firecracker, they have other means to grab an audiences attention. I believe the purpose was to show Jamie as that assertive and authoritative figure once again. As those of you who watched last season Jamie was put through the wringer, begin captured, having his hand chopped off and lets not forget the men who captured Jamie and Brienne of Tarth were actually going to try to rape Jamie. So the man has been beaten down and emasculated only to come home and find that same abuse waiting for him.

Now I am not saying you have to feel sorry for his character or say okay that rape was justifiable because the man had been through a lot. All I'm saying is that there are reasons for a scene like this and the show shouldn't be scrutinized for one scene.

Now as I stated earlier a few women of the show break the molds that have been placed in front of them. Those characters would be Arya Stark, Daenerys Targaryen, Ygritte, Shae, and Melisandre of Asshai.

Arya has been through so much from watching her father be be-headed to learning that her whole family had been slaughtered the girl has some adversaries to overcome. She has thrived as a character and we have watched her grow up on screen. She has learned to defend and stand-up for those who can't stand up for themselves and overall has become quite the little warrior. We can see that from the scene where her and the 'dog' fight those soldiers who took Arya and others prisoner last season. She stood up on her own and killed, something that the viewers hadn't witnessed and she did it with revenge seeping through her pores. Her character is definitely one to watch for and follow because you aren't quite sure where she will end up. And as we know with this show one week your favorite character is alive and well and the next they are killed.

Daenerys Targaryen is the mother of dragons and is one of my favorite characters. She is strong and her moral vision of freeing all the slaves she comes across is empowering and heartwarming. She doesn't rule with an iron fist and she doesn't need to strike fear in those who fight for her. They fight for her because they respect her and are devoted to her for giving them their freedom. This is a character that I can't wait to see what happens with, maybe it's because she has dragons or maybe it's her striking beauty, but whatever her pull is I am always intrigued to see where her journey is taking her and how close will she come in this season to reclaiming her throne.

Ygritte is the wildling that falls in love with John Snow and then tries to kill him for betraying her. She is a strong woman and holds her own in battle, as we have seen from the last few episodes she is a deadly warrior and from what I see is the only woman engaged in battle. Which in my opinion is a pretty big deal.

Shae is another woman who is out to break the rules. Even though the man she loves is married to another woman she still does her duty to them and serves them, while having her own agenda to serve Tyrion as well. She is a whore, but she is not ashamed of that and wheres her title proudly. She is a strong and opinionated woman who rarely hears the word no and rarely listens when given an order. Tyrion begs and pleads with her to leave, but the only way he can get her to leave is by telling her he doesn't love her anymore.

Last but not least we have the priestess Melisandre of Asshai, who is a powerful character of deceit. She serves Stannis Baratheon and convinces him to believe in this Lord of Light R'hllor. She tells him that this god will secure his place on the throne, but I believe she has a hidden agenda. After all this show is about power and gaining power so I believe Melisandre is using Stannis to gain some kind of power of her own. She is another strong female in the show who should be feared and one not to be trusted so easily.