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A Short Analysis of George R. R. Martin's "The Ice Dragon"

George R. R. Martin’s short story, “The Ice Dragon”, is a captivating tale set in a world of harsh winters. It centers around an adolescent girl by the name of Adara, who is born during the coldest chill ever felt. She is the youngest of three, but is different from her siblings, having been receiving visits from an ice dragon since the day she was born. Deemed a winter child since birth, her piercing blue eyes and freezing cold touch sets her apart from the other children of the town. True to her nickname, she hates the warmer months and yearns every day for the return of the snow and her ice dragon.

Her Uncle Hal visits every summer, much to Adara’s displeasure, as his visits mean winter is very far away. He brings stories and news back from the war the king currently has his knights fighting.

With every visit, the war is creeping closer to her home. When it is finally at their doorstep, Hal tries to take Adara to safety in the south. Instead, she runs away to hide in a cave, and immediately begins wondering how she’ll survive until winter.

It isn’t long before her ice dragon appears to take her away to the north, where it is always winter. But just as she’s about to leave her life behind forever, she hears her father’s scream and begs the dragon to take her home. There, the chilling beast meets its demise defending Adara from three enemy soldiers and their fire-breathing dragons. It disappears, leaving behind a pond of cool water.

From that day forward, the winters are not as cold, and Adara starts to feel warmth and emotions like other children.

“The Ice Dragon” is a beautifully written tale that blends fantasy and reality to create a captivating narrative. On the one hand, we have the fantastical element of the ice dragon itself, a mythical creature that brings both fear and fascination. The frozen beast represents the raw power of winter and the cold, and its presence adds a touch of magic to the story. On the other hand, we have the realistic portrayal of Adara, a young girl who experiences the harsh realities of her world. Adara’s love for the winter and her unique connection to the cold are relatable human emotions, especially when you factor in the isolation she constantly feels. Her relationships with her family and the challenges she faces - even the invasion of the fiery dragons - are grounded in reality. Martin seamlessly weaves these elements together, allowing readers to immerse themselves in a reality where fantasy and reality coexist. The story invites readers to contemplate the beauty and wonder of the fantastical, while also exploring the depths of human emotions and the resilience of the human spirit.

Martin’s short story is a masterpiece of vivid and immersive imagery. His descriptions of the dragon, a magnificent creature with jagged icicles for teeth and “hoarfrost” covered skin which is “a crystalline white, that shade of white that is so hard and cold that it is almost blue”, are so detailed, readers are practically shivering when it is near. The dragon’s icy breath, described as a cold so intense it could freeze a man solid in seconds, adds to the chilling atmosphere. He paints a world of icy beauty and stark landscapes that’s both enchanting and terrifying. Martin’s imagery transports readers directly into the heart of this fantastical kingdom, making them feel as though they are standing right there with the characters.

Adara’s relationship with her family, especially her father, is another particularly interesting aspect of the story. Martin could have followed the stereotypical route of having her father unfairly hate her due to her mother’s death during childbirth. However, the script is literally flipped when her father admits to Hal that he “loved her best of all”, his “little winter child”. It is a pivotal moment that shows readers how truly disconnected Adara is to her everyday life, and shapes the rest of the story. Without this hushed conversation and strained family dynamic, the ending would not have been as impactful.

Despite the many great aspects of this tale, I do have one slightly harsher critique. I was saddened by the ending, and it is not solely due to the fact that the ice dragon died. Though that part is understandable, considering the dragon was going up against three fire-breathing ones all alone, I don’t understand why it was necessary to have Adara lose all of her connections to her favorite time of the year, such as her cold touch which allowed her to hold the ice lizards and make intricate snow castles. Yes, it is a metaphor for her heart melting as she finally connects with her family. But Elsa could unfreeze Anna without losing her ice powers at the end of the Disney film, Frozen; so why couldn’t Adara have both as well? I would think that losing her ice dragon would be enough of a symbolic, and heartbreaking, event that shows the beginning of her transition into a more normal childhood. To have her also lose her other connection to the winter feels as though Adara is losing herself entirely when she chooses her family. She saves them, but at the cost of her dreams and everything which made her unique.

Overall, I adamantly recommend reading this short story that sweeps you into a world of fantasy and wonder. “The Ice Dragon” is a captivating tale which explores complex themes such as love, individuality, and the power of nature, all woven together with beautiful imagery and compelling characters. It offers a unique journey of imagination and introspection, encouraging readers to embrace their uniqueness and to appreciate the beauty and mystery of the world around them.