#sansa stark x jenny of oldstones parallels

[ansheofthevalley]

Jenny of Oldstones, the Prince of the Dragonflies and Sansa Stark and Jonsa: parallels, symbolism and motifs.

(This is regarding this post and some kind of discourse that it brought, because apparently, drawing parallels bewteen them is a reach now) 

@sansasnowstark, your defense of this parallel inspired me to write this.

First off, what’s a parallel?

A person or thing that is similar or analogous to another.

A similarity or comparison.

Something very similar to something else, or a similarity between two things

Parallelism, in rhetoric, component of literary style in both prose and poetry, in which coordinate ideas are arranged in phrases, sentences, and paragraphs that balance one element with another of equal importance and similar wording. The repetition of sounds, meanings, and structures serves to order, emphasize, and point out relations.

The Oxford dictionary uses the word analogy. Let’s see what an analogy is as a literary device:

A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.

A story, play, poem, picture, or other work in which the characters and events represent particular qualities or ideas that relate to morals, religion, or politics

Allegory is a figure of speech in which abstract ideas and principles are described in terms of characters, figures, and events [...]  Writers use allegory to add different layers of meanings to their works. Allegory makes their stories and characters multidimensional, so that they stand for something larger in meaning than what they literally stand for.

And since we’re on topic, let’s see what symbol mean:

A thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract.

A symbol, says the dictionary, is something that stands for something else or a sign used to represent something.

About symbolism:

Symbolism is the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities, by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal sense. [...]  Symbolism can take different forms. Generally, it is an object representing another, to give an entirely different meaning that is much deeper and more significant. Sometimes, however, an action, an event or a word spoken by someone may have a symbolic value.

So, with all these definitions in mind, let’s jump into Jenny of Oldstones and her story with Duncan Targaryen, the Prince of the Dragonflies.

As said in the post linked above, Michele Clapton uses the dragonfly motif on Sansa’s costumes throughout the series, whether it’s a pendant, embroidery (x) (x), fabric, or the shape of her costumes (x) (x).

But what’s a motif?:

A dominant or recurring idea in an artistic work.

An idea that is used many times in a piece of writing or music

Motif is an object or idea that repeats itself throughout a literary work. A motif can be seen as an image, sound, action, or other figure that has a symbolic significance, and contributes toward the development of a theme. Motif and theme are linked, but there’s a difference between them. A motif is a recurrent image, idea, or symbol that develops or explains a theme.

Now, having better understanding of what a motif is, we can all agree that the dragonfly (image) is linked to Sansa throughout the seasons. The dragonfly motif on Sansa works as symbolism of Jenny of Oldstones and the Prince of the Dragonflies. It has symbolic significance. But why?

First of all, we have to understand that a symbol’s meaning can change throughout the story. It evolves, same as a character.

At first, during S1, the dragonfly as symbol are meant to represent Sansa’s idealism and love for songs and knightly valor. We know the story of Jenny and Duncan is one of her favorites (as is the story of Aemon the Dragonknight and Naerys, but I’ll talk about later). In S1, the dragonflies represent her naiveté. But as the seasons come and go, the dragonflies are still present but their symbolic value are not the same: the embroidery is gone, but we still catch glimpses of dragonfly motif in her pendant, her circle and needle necklace and her dresses’ clasps:

While in King’s Landing, the dragonflies are still tied to her idealism and romanticism, as she befriends Margaery and expects to marry Loras. So, even though her previous idealism and worldview are shattered the moment her father is executed, she still holds on to those things, as they give her a sense of security and normality. But the meaning of the symbol changed: it doesn’t represent the idealism and naiveté of before, now it represents her longing for freedom.

While in the Vale, she goes under a rather radical transformation. She debuts the feather dress, which is a direct contrast to the dragonfly symbolism of season 1: she’s no longer that “sweet summer child”; she has seen how terrible the world can be, that “life is not a song”. So she shows the world, through her costume, how the world made her tougher. The “needle” of the circular necklace, while paralleling Arya’s sword and being her own kind of weapon, is also an evolution of the dragonfly necklace: it represents how she had her wings cut off.

The dragonfly motif comes back to her costume in the form of clasps, while she escapes Ramsay and while she’s at the Wall. But again, the meaning of the symbol is not the same as it was during her stay in King’s Landing. Now, she’s reclaiming her freedom, she’s growing back her wings: she’s ready to fight; for Winterfell, against Ramsay and anyone who wants to harm her. 

The most recent appereance of the dragonfly motif, even if it’s subtle, is in her leather armor from 8x02, as pointed out by @castaliareed (x):

As castaliareed said “she isn’t wearing a dragonfly anymore, she is the dragonfly”. Again, the meaning of the symbol changes: on one hand, you’ve got a fully grown and independent Sansa, one that has wings. After years of being caged and having her wings cut off, she’s finally free; but on the other hand, if she’s becoming a dragonfly, that means the dragonfly is not just a symbol and a motif, now Sansa herself is a symbol, at the same time she starts antagonizing Dænerys, and thus bringing back the Dragonfly/Dragon dilemma Duncan had to face: there is a parallel between her and the story of Jenny of Oldstones and Duncan, the Prince of the Dragonflies.

So, why is it important that Sansa “becomes” a dragonfly, clearly evoking the story of Jenny and Duncan, in season 8? What does this parallel mean? Why is it important for the narrative?

First, let’s remember the story of Jenny and Duncan Targaryen:

Duncan Targaryen, the Prince of Dragonstone, met Jenny while traveling the riverlands in 239 AC. The prince loved Jenny so much he married her against the wishes of his father, King Aegon V Targaryen, breaking his betrothal to the daughter of Lyonel Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End. King Aegon tried to have the marriage undone, but Duncan refused to give Jenny up, ultimately relinquishing his rights to the Iron Throne for her. The outraged Lyonel led a short-lived rebellion. With his younger brother Jaehaerys becoming Prince of Dragonstone and the new heir, Duncan came to be called Prince of Dragonflies. (x)

At first sight, their story resembles the one of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark. Both were princes, in both cases there is a scorned Baratheon betrothed, there’s a rebellion against the Targaryens. The story of Jenny of Oldstones and Duncan Targaryen is extremely similar to what happens between Lyanna and Rhaegar but it’s not a direct parallel, Lyanna and Rhaegar’s story is more of a tragic retelling of the story of Jenny of Oldstones and the Prince of the Dragonflies.

But elements of this story are present in both Sansa and Jon’s respective arcs.

As remarked above, the motifs and symbolism is fairly easy to identify in Sansa’s character. So what are the parallels between Sansa and Jenny?:

Connected to the Riverlands

Descendants of the First Men

Both considered strange: some villagers thought Jenny was a witch; after Joffrey’s murder, some talked about how she killed Joffrey with a spell and flew the scene turning into a winged wolf

But what are the parallels between Jon and Duncan?:

Both are dark-haired Targaryens, something that was unusual: Duncan favored his mother, Betha Blackwood; Jon favored his mother, Lyanna Stark

Both are the heirs to the Iron Throne

Duncan chose love over duty when abdicating the crown in order to stay with Jenny; part of Jon’s arc is the dichotomy of duty/love, so far he’s chosen duty over love, but there will come a time in which he will choose love over duty

Both are linked to Baratheon rebellions, one started one, the other “ended” it: Duncan’s marriage to Jenny led to a short-lived rebellion, in which Lyonel Baratheon declared himself the Storm King; Jon was born at the end of Robert’s rebellion, one of the reasons Robert rose his banners against the Mad King was the abduction of Lyanna Stark by Rhaegar Targaryen

The main connections between Jonsa and Jenny/Duncan:

A marriage for love: Duncan and Jenny married for love. In Sansa’s case, in GOT, she’s been married twice, neither of them of her choosing and neither had any love. Following the Rule of Three, her third marriage must be different, it has to be one of her choosing and one that will bring her love.

The choosing of love over duty: Jon’s arc has been marked by the duty/love dichotomy. From his time at the Wall, while he infiltrated the Wildling camp, to when he gave up his crown so he could secure a military alliance, Jon has always chosen duty. It will come a time when he will put love first.

The choosing of Dragonflies over Dragons: this has strictly to do with Jon rejecting his Targaryen heritage, while favoring the Starks (through a marriage with Sansa).

[elegantwoes]

Sansa Stark 2022 Month - Day 5: Mother

Sansa and Catelyn Meta || More similar than you think

We all know the general consensus when it comes to Sansa Stark. Despite the physical appearance she shares with her mother Sansa is arguably more like her father in terms of personality, and that is evident in Ned's twelfth AGOT chapter and Catelyn's seveth ACOK chapter. When you contrast and compare you can see Sansa shares Ned's more calm and kinder approach and even how he tries to sympathize with their enemy despite the pain and suffering they caused to the Stark family.

However despite the obvious difference that doesn't mean there is no similarity between Sansa and Catelyn. In this meta I am going to delve deeper into that parallel and the similarities that Sansa Stark and Catelyn Tully share:

Riverlands

Politics

Woman's bravery

Sharp Wit

Motherhood

Riverlands:

At first glance it doesn't seem like Sansa has a lot of connection to the Riverlands, but one of the more notable ones, is the Whent imagery in her chapters - the house her maternal grandmother and Catelyn's mother (Minisa Tully) is part of:

"I forgot, you've been hiding under a rock. The northern girl. Winterfell's daughter. We heard she killed the king with a spell, and afterward changed into a wolf with big leather wings like a bat, and flew out a tower window. But she left the dwarf behind and Cersei means to have his head." (A Storm of Swords - Arya XIII).

The second one is the dragonflies motif that has been present with Sansa since the beginning of the tv-show (x, x). A very fitting motif, because not only does the dragonfly change, transformation, adaptability, and self-realization, and Sansa goes through all of this in her character arc, but it also ties back to her love for songs and stories - Jenny Old Stones and the Prince of Dragonflies. Jenny in particular has quite the similarities with Sansa:

Jenny claimed descent from long-vanished kings of the First Men. The ruined castles of Oldstones was once the seat of House Mudd.

The connection that Jenny has to the Riverlands and the First Men reminds you of Sansa Stark who is both a Stark (First Men) and a Tully (Riverlands). Interestingly enough in fan art Jenny Oldstones is often depicted to have red hair - connecting herself more to the Tullys and also to Sansa (x, x, x). Catelyn also has her own part that connects her to this song. Back when she was a child she often renacted the story of Duncan and Jenny with Littlefinger and her sister Lysa.

Politics:

While this ability is on the rusty side due to crippling self esteem and lack of experience, it should be noted that Sansa has quite the talent for looking at situations with a critical eye. That is evident here when Sansa examines the reward Littlefinger gets in her last ACOK chapter:

Joffrey laughed, and the court with him. Lord Paramount of the Trident, Sansa thought, and Lord of Harrenhal as well. She did not understand why that should make him so happy; the honors were as empty as the title granted to Hallyne the Pyromancer. Harrenhal was cursed, everyone knew that, and the Lannisters did not even hold it at present. Besides, the lords of the Trident were sworn to Riverrun and House Tully, and to the King in the North; they would never accept Littlefinger as their liege. Unless they are made to. Unless my brother and my uncle and my grandfather are all cast down and killed. The thought made Sansa anxious, but she told herself she was being silly. Robb has beaten them every time. He'll beat Lord Baelish too, if he must. (A Clash of Kings - Sansa VIII)

Sansa accurately notes that the Lannisters have no right to give Harrenhal away, because the castle isn't in their possession. Nor would the bannermen of Lord Hoster Tully ever accept Littlefinger as their Lord Paramount unless they have a scheme up their sleeve. Sansa basically predicted the Red Wedding well ahead. This is no different from her Lady Mother, Catelyn Tully, who figured out what Hoster Tully did to Lysa years ago, by only hearing a couple of delirious words from her father's mouth:

Could Tansy be some pet name he called Lysa, the way he called me Cat? Lord Hoster had mistaken her for her sister before. You'll have others, he said. Sweet babes, and trueborn. Lysa had miscarried five times, twice in the Eyrie, thrice at King's Landing . . . but never at Riverrun, where Lord Hoster would have been at hand to comfort her. Never, unless . . . unless she was with child, that first time . . . (A Storm of Swords - Catelyn I)

Not only this but both Sansa and Catelyn immediately notice that tension is brewing in the Vale, despite being there for a short while.

Catelyn was at a loss for words, Jon Arryn's son, she thought incredulously. She remembered her own baby, three-year-old Rickon, half the age of this boy and five times as fierce. Small wonder the lords of the Vale were restive. - Catelyn VI AGOT

and

From bits and pieces of overheard conversations Sansa knew that Jon Arryn's bannermen resented Lysa's marriage and begrudged Petyr his authority as Lord Protector of the Vale. The senior branch of House Royce was close to open revolt over her aunt's failure to aid Robb in his war, and the Waynwoods, Redforts, Belmores, and Templetons were giving them every support. (A Storm of Swords - Sansa VII)

Woman's courage:

A song of Ice and Fire is not short on characters who show a lot of courage but here we are going to talk about a specific kind of bravery that Brienne called a woman's courage:

"No, but you have courage. Not battle courage perhaps but . . . I don't know . . . a kind of woman's courage.

The type of courage that doesn't require physical strength, but inner strength instead, and Sansa, just like her Lady Mother, shows a tremendous amount of it.

It's when she goes in front of court and where she so sweetly and bravely plead forgiveness for her father's sake. Make no mistake this takes a lot of bravery, not just because of how big King's Landing throne room true is to GRRM's imagination, but also how much risk it put Sansa in:

She stopped under the throne, at the spot where Ser Barristan’s white cloak lay puddled on the floor beside his helm and breastplate. “Do you have some business for king and council, Sansa?” the queen asked from the council table. “I do.” She knelt on the cloak, so as not to spoil her gown, and looked up at her prince on his fearsome black throne. “As it please Your Grace, I ask mercy for my father, Lord Eddard Stark, who was the Hand of the King.” She had practiced the words a hundred times.

Or when she, in spite of feeling fear of dying herself, bravely stood up and took on the duties that Cersei abandoned and calmed the people's fear:

She never knew why she got to her feet, but she did. "Don't be afraid," she told them loudly. "The queen has raised the drawbridge. This is the safest place in the city. There's thick walls, the moat, the spikes . . ." "What's happened?" demanded a woman she knew slightly, the wife of a lesser lordling. "What did Osney tell her? Is the king hurt, has the city fallen?" "Tell us," someone else shouted. One woman asked about her father, another her son. Sansa raised her hands for quiet. "Joffrey's come back to the castle. He's not hurt. They're still fighting, that's all I know, they're fighting bravely. The queen will be back soon." The last was a lie, but she had to soothe them. She noticed the fools standing under the galley. "Moon Boy, make us laugh."

This is no different from Catelyn who grabbed onto valyrian steels bravely and fiercely regardless of her own safety just to protect her son Bran:

She reached up with both hands and grabbed the blade with all her strength, pulling it away from her throat. She heard him cursing into her ear. Her fingers were slippery with blood, but she would not let go of the dagger.

Or when Catelyn who in spite of feeling a deep sense of grudge over what happened to Ned or Bran, she values peace and wants the fighting to end as soon as possible, so she can take care of her remaining loved ones. That takes a great deal of bravery and inner strength:

“He wouldn’t . . . you’d never make a peace with Stannis, would you? Bend the knee? You wouldn’t . . .” “I will tell you true, Brienne. I do not know. My son may be a king, but I am no queen . . . only a mother who would keep her children safe, however she could.” “I am not made to be a mother. I need to fight.” “Then fight . . . but for the living, not the dead. Renly’s enemies are Robb’s enemies as well.”

Sharp Wit:

Sharp wit has been a skill in Sansa's repertoire for quite some while now, but though this skill has been used in defense through most of the books Sansa has been in, in her The Winds of Winter chapter sample we see Alayne/Sansa taking her armor of courtesy and morphing it into a sword, and Sansa uses this sword very well.

The first example of this is when Harrold Hardying confronts Sansa after he has humiliated her in front of his foster family, and asks her forgiveness. Sansa, who at this point has been subjugated far too much at the hand of men and them making a habit of demanding something out of her, and likely is completely done with this, tells him a big fat no:

And there he stood, Harry the Heir himself; tall, handsome, scowling. "Lady Alayne. May I partner you in this dance?" She considered for a moment. "No. I don't think so." Color rose to his cheeks. "I was unforgiveably rude to you in the yard. You must forgive me." "Must?" She tossed her hair, took a sip of wine, made him wait. "How can you forgive someone who is unforgiveably rude? Will you explain that to me, ser?"

Even when she does agree to dance with him in the end, Sansa doesn't stop holding fire to his feet:

Besides, Petyr said that I should not seem eager. Instead she said, “I have heard that you are about to be a father.” It was not something most girls would say to their almost-betrothed, but she wanted to see if Ser Harrold would lie ... “Saffron?” Alayne tried not to laugh. “Truly?” Ser Harrold had the grace to blush. “Her father says she is more precious to him than gold. He’s rich, the richest man in Gulltown. A fortune in spices.” “What will you name the babe?” she asked. “Cinnamon if she’s a girl? Cloves if he’s a boy?” That almost made him stumble. “My lady japes.” “Oh, no.” Ser Harrold studied her face. “You are comely enough, I grant you. When Lady Anya first told me of this match, I was afraid that you might look like your father.” “Little pointy beard and all?” Alayne laughed. “I never meant…“ “I hope you joust better than you talk.”

Another good example is when Sansa tries to help Lady Myranda who is being harassed by so called "knights". However, in her attempt to rescue her dear friend, Sansa is caught in the middle, and ends up being oggled by one of them. Sansa humiliates him in return:

“Alayne!” cried Myranda Royce, from a carved stone bench beneath a beech tree, where she was seated between two men. She looked in need of rescue. Smiling, Alayne walked toward her friend. .... He was staring so intently at Myranda’s breasts that he hardly noticed Alayne until Myranda rose to hug her. “Thank you, thank you, thank you” Randa whispered in her ear .... Not to be outdone, the pimply knight hopped up and said, “Ser Ossifer speaks truly, you are the most beautiful maid in all the Seven Kingdoms.” It might have been a sweeter courtesy had he not addressed it to her chest. “And have you seen all those maids yourself, ser?” Alayne asked him. “You are young to be so widely travelled.” He blushed, which only made his pimples look angrier. “No, my lady. I am from Gulltown.”

By the looks of her sample chapter Sansa seems to be completely fed up being treated rudely and getting sexualized by men. And if she can be like this while masquerading as the bastard daughter of a highly unpopular lord protector in the most snobbish and classist region of Westeros, imagine what she will be like, once she assumes her identity as Sansa Stark, and is in Winterfell, where she's likely to hold the position that her lady mother once held?

Sansa's behavior in the The Winds of Winter chapter sample really reminds you of Catelyn who has no problem sharing her opinion and calling people out when it's neccessary, especially men:

"While he lives," Renly admitted. "Though it's a fool's law, wouldn't you agree? Why the oldest son, and not the best-fitted? The crown will suit me, as it never suited Robert and would not suit Stannis. I have it in me to be a great king, strong yet generous, clever, just, diligent, loyal to my friends and terrible to my enemies, yet capable of forgiveness, patient—" "—humble?" Catelyn supplied.

or

Another man was fallen, trapped beneath his injured horse, both of them screaming in pain. Squires rushed out to aid them. This is madness, Catelyn thought. Real enemies on every side and half the realm in flames, and Renly sits here playing at war like a boy with his first wooden sword.

and:

"I call it weak." Lord Randyll Tarly had a short, bristly grey beard and a reputation for blunt speech. "No disrespect to you, Lady Stark, but it would have been more seemly had Lord Robb come to pay homage to the king himself, rather than hiding behind his mother's skirts." "King Robb is warring, my lord," Catelyn replied with icy courtesy, "not playing at tourney." Renly grinned. "Go softly, Lord Randyll, I fear you're overmatched." 

Nor does she have a problem calling out her own son Robb when she believes his actions go too far, especially when it concerns the wellbeing of her daughters:

"Don't call me the boy," Robb said, rounding on his uncle, his anger spilling out all at once on poor Edmure, who had only meant to support him. "I'm almost a man grown, and a king—your king, ser. And I don't fear Jaime Lannister. I defeated him once, I'll defeat him again if I must, only . . ." He pushed a fall of hair out of his eyes and gave a shake of the head. "I might have been able to trade the Kingslayer for Father, but . . ." ". . . but not for the girls?" Her voice was icy quiet. "Girls are not important enough, are they?"

Another aspect where Sansa and Catelyn share a resemblance when it comes to wit is how Tyrion, a very misogynistic character who is not known for complimenting women on their intellect, notices it and makes commentary about it:

''Tyrion led Sansa around the yard, to perform the necessary courtesies. 'She is good at this, he thought, as he watched her tell Lord Gyles that his cough was sounding better, compliment Elinor Tyrell on her gown, and question Jalabhar Xho about wedding customs in the Summer Isles. His cousin Ser Lancel had been brought down by Ser Kevan, the first time he’d left his sickbed since the battle. He looks ghastly. Lancel’s hair had turned white and brittle, and he was thin as a stick. Without his father beside him holding him up, he would surely have collapsed. Yet when Sansa praised his valor and said how good it was to see him getting strong again, both Lancel and Ser Kevan beamed. She would have made Joffrey a good queen and a better wife if he’d had the sense to love her'

Tyrion notes that Sansa's wit, her ability to work the room and charm people rivals that of any queen. Which reminds me of how he, albeit bregrudingly, admitted that Catelyn has outwitted him at every turn:

This is the high road,” he gasped, looking at Lady Stark with accusation. “The eastern road. You said we were riding for Winterfell!” Catelyn Stark favored him with the faintest of smiles. “Often and loudly,” she agreed. “No doubt 'your friends will ride that way when they come after us. I wish them good speed.” Even now, long days later, the memory filled him with a bitter rage. All his life Tyrion had prided himself on his cunning, the only gift the gods had seen fit to give him, and yet this seven-times-damned she-wolf Catelyn Stark had outwitted him at every turn. The knowledge was more galling than the bare fact of his abduction.'

Motherhood:

When you look at Sansa's Vale arc it's easy to notice how similar her situation is to Ned's childhood. Being a 'daughter' of a 'father' (Jon Arryn/Petyr Baelish), befriending a Baratheon (Mya Stone/Robert Baratheon). However, what is less noticable, but no less important. is how Sansa's arc in the Vale resemblances Catelyn's own childhood as well; a young teenage girl assuming the role of Lady of the Keep and playing the role of pseudo mother for a much younger boy. Who am I talking about here, Sansa or Catelyn? The answer is both.

Sweetrobin seems to be the 'Edmure' to Sansa's 'Catelyn' and it's through this relationship we first hand get to not only see what Sansa's future potential parenting skills would be, but also how she would raise her eldest son who would be her heir. The first instance of that is how Lysa introduces us to Sweetrobin:

"Robert has weak eyes, but he loves to be read to," Lady Lysa confided. "He likes stories about animals the best. Do you know the little song about the chicken who dressed as a fox? I sing him that all the time, he never grows tired of it.

We get to know that Sweetrobin likes a children's song. However by the time we get to the first Sansa chapter in AFFC little Robert seems to favor the stories of the winged knight and begs Sansa/Alayne if she can read it to him:

"No," he said, "but I'm not going. I want to stay in bed. You could read to me about the Winged Knight." The Winged Knight was Ser Artys Arryn. Legend said that he had driven the First Men from the Vale and flown to the top of the Giant's Lance on a huge falcon to slay the Griffin King. There were a hundred tales of his adventures. Little Robert knew them all so well he could have recited them from memory, but he liked to have them read to him all the same.

Sweetrobin who once liked a very childlike song meant for young children suddenly seems to favor a story more fit for a young boy who is on the road to grow up. In a span of a couple weeks Sansa already started the process of young Robert unlearning the toxic coddled mindset. An impressive feat if you think about.

And this isn't the only way she works to make him grow up. In Sansa's first AFFC chapter we see Sweetrobin nas tried to slip into Sansa's bed several times and even going so far as nuzzling into her breasts, a habit that was indulged on Lysa's part. However Sansa quickly puts it to stop by forcing him to stay in his own bedroom:

I know you were. Sweetrobin had been accustomed to crawling in beside his mother, until she wed Lord Petyr. Since Lady Lysa’s death he had taken to wandering the Eyrie in quest of other beds. The one he liked best was Sansa’s . .. which was why she had asked Ser Lothor Brune to lock his door last night.

This scene has been often used to show how awful Sansa is to Sweetrobin, but if you think about it, is it really? Learning how to sleep in your own bedroom is something all children have to learn and at some point Sweetrobin has to grow up. Sansa using this tough love method on him early on will be benficial to young Robert in the long run.

Another iexample where see Sansa's parenting skills is when Sansa comes up with the idea for the Winged Knight's Tourney for Robert:

It was clever. The tourney, the prizes, the winged knights, it had all been her own notion. Lord Robert’s mother had filled him full of fears, but he always took courage from the tales she read him of Ser Artys Arryn, the Winged Knight of legend, founder of his line. Why not surround him with Winged Knights? She had thought one night, after Sweetrobin had finally drifted off to sleep. His own Kingsguard, to keep him safe and make him brave. And no sooner did she tell Petyr her idea than he went out and made it happen.

I don't think many are appreciative of this brilliant move, because this winged knight tourney has several purposes.

Surrounding him with the winged knights would help young Robert feel more saver and less scared and therefore he would likely get less seizures.

Having proper role models around him could inspire him to get more braver and stronger just like the winged knights.

By giving young Robert a group of knights who would serve him as the King's guard, she is not only asserting his identity as Lord of the Vale and Warden of the East, but by also keeping the young heirs around Robert they could foster a stronger relationship with him and make the young heirs, who are future Vale bannermen, more loyal to young Robert in the future.

If that wasn't enough, there's even a fourth purpose to this. In the long run it could work in favor for Sansa in the future when she decides to go against Littlefinger. By organizing this winged knight tourney Sansa is imposing herself in the eyes of the lords as a parental figure, which will be highlighted even more once she shed's her Alayne persona for her Stark one. Even if Sansa reveals she played a part in hiding Lysa's true killer to Yohn Royce and/or Anya Waynwood, it would likely not affect her credibility, because she has been showing all along she was on young Robert's side, through her motherly act towards Sweetrobin. Sansa is essentially undermining Littlefinger and unknowingly setting him up through her kindness and he’s not even aware of it.

All of this is possible not just because of Sansa's own intelligence and her innate ability to be kind, but also the almost effortless strict but loving and kind motherly act towards young Robert, which is very reminiscent of her own mother Catelyn, especially how she is with her own eldest son Robb:

Catelyn gave her firstborn a challenging look. "If you are to rule in the north, you must think these things through, Robb. Answer your own question. Why would anyone want to kill a sleeping child?" ...

The way Catelyn refuses to coddle Robb and hold his hand through everything shows where Sansa got that tactic from.

Another instance is that despite wanting to protect Robb from any danger Catelyn knows that sending Robb back to Winterfell would damage his reputation in the eyes of the bannermen, and therefore prevent from properly ruling over the North:

“Pray, who were those men I saw here a moment ago? Roose Bolton, Rickard Karstark, Galbart and Robett Glover, the Greatjon, Helman Tallhart … you might have given the command to any of them. Gods be good, you might even have sent Theon, though he would not be my choice.” “They are not Starks,” he said. “They are men, Robb, seasoned in battle. You were fighting with wooden swords less than a year past.” She saw anger in his eyes at that, but it was gone as quick as it came, and suddenly he was a boy again. “I know,” he said, abashed. “Are you … are you sending me back to Winterfell?” Catelyn sighed. “I should. You ought never have left. Yet I dare not, not now. You have come too far. Someday these lords will look to you as their liege. If I pack you off now, like a child being sent to bed without his supper, they will remember, and laugh about it in their cups. The day will come when you need them to respect you, even fear you a little. Laughter is poison to fear. I will not do that to you[…]'

So while Sansa does act and think like her father she emulates herself like Catelyn and that is just as much valid as the similarities Sansa shares with Ned. In conclusion, Sansa Stark is such a beautiful and refreshing combination of both Ned and Catelyn and still a very unique and multifaceted character that can not only stand on her own feet but also can surpass both her parents.

[thelegendofclarke]

i meant the totality of the circumstances that are in favor of jonsa.

Ooohhh lord lol… That would probably require all the motivation I do not have, a clone of myself, my own personal starbucks, and a lifetime supply of adderral tbh.

But here are a BUNCH of metas by a bunch of people who have said it way better than I really EVER could…

A Time for Wolves - The Case for Jon and Sansa by @blindestspot

The Great Maybe – Jon/Sansa in Game of Thrones by @blindestspot

How Jon & Sansa could come into play by @blindestspot

Sansa’s TWoW Storyline by @blindestspot

The parallel journey of Jon Snow and Sansa Stark by @swordinthedarkness

Why Sansa could fall for Jon by @themiddleliddle

Sansa & Jon’s childhood relationship by @themiddleliddle

Marrying Your Cousin by @justadram

Why I ship Jon x Sansa and you should too. by @ludus

Jon & Sansa Connections by A Thousand Eyes and Two (on Worg)

Jon thinking of Sansa by @taesjinn

Pomegranate Imagery in ASoS by @sxpiosexualx

Restoring Winterfell by @sxpiosexualx

Jon & Sansa- Platonic or Romantic? by @volchitza

The Influence Jon Has on Sansa’s Storyline by @passionfruixts

Parallels and the Parental Figures by @passionfruixts

Identity and Idiolect by @passionfruixts

The Tourney at Ashford and Sansa’s suitors by Garlan Marius (on Worg)

Jon & Sansa Book Moments by @jonandsansagifs

Why Jon & Sansa? by @crownsansa

Cousin Marriage by @him-e

Sansa and Ned, Kingmakers by @him-e

Jon & Sansa in the Books by @him-e

Will Jon Remember Sansa? by @castaliareed

Jon and Sansa Restore Each Other’s Identities by @howlandreads

Jon is the Prince that was promised… To Sansa, by Ned. by NostalgiaZombie (on Reddit)

Littlefinger/Heathcliff literary analysis (there are Jon/Sansa Implications at then end!) by cantuse (on Reddit)

Sansa & Snows by @butterflies-dragons

About Sansa’s first crush and her taste in men by @butterflies-dragons

Sansa Stark: A Wolf With Dragon Wings by @butterflies-dragons

We’re All Just Songs in the End: Jenny of Oldstones & the Prince of Dragonflies by @butterflies-dragons

Jon Snow: The silent, unknown and unthought answer to Sansa’s hopes. by @butterflies-dragons

Everything on @butterflies-dragons‘s blog, honestly tbh

Auburn Love by @halfawolf

This Jon & Sansa Powerpoint (YUP! we have a POWERPOINT!) by @alaynesnow

The Wolf Bit and Banners (parallels between Jon/Aragorn and Sansa/Arwen) by @castaliareed

The Original 1993 Plot & Jon/Sansa by @to-bury-the-castle

The Possibility of Jon & Sansa by @thewesterwomanreturns

Sansa & Jon’s early relationship by @sansa-hand-of-the-king

Shipping Jon & Sansa by @gennalannisters

Sansa’s safety is at the forefront of Jon’s mind. by @valyriansword

Foreshadowing and Symbolism in Sansa’s Snow Castle by Ragnorak(on Worg)

Jon/Sansa & Jaehaerys/Alysanne by @baelerion (posted on @jonsansasource)

Jon and Sansa? A twist of fate by The Fury of the North (on Reddit)

Is GoT Foreshadowing a Jon & Sansa Marriage? on Hypable

Romance Over Rivalry: The Benefits of a Jon/Sansa Marriage by @majicbeyondthewall (on Wicnet)

Video: Will Sansa marry Jon Snow? by Alt Shift X (on Youtube)

I know I am missing A TON of great meta’s, but these are the ones I found that I have happened to reblog. If I remember or come across more I will add them, so keep an eye out if you are still interested.

Also here are some of the things I have personally said on the topic…

Jon & Sansa’s Show Interactions

Why Sansa & Jon could appeal to each other

Sansa’s Romantic Interests

Jon & Sansa potentially ending up together

Edd Fetch Me a Block

Jon, Sansa & Janos Slynt

I think that should be a pretty solid start for ya! lol

[obsidianarchives]

Game of Thrones Recap: S8E2 - "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms"

Let me get this out of the way up top, I am and have always been a sucker for bottle episodes. While your mileage may vary and I can understand being disappointed if you were expecting more plot than character payoffs, this was everything I could have asked for in a prelude to the devastation we all know is coming. Only one location this week, so let’s get into it.

Winterfell

I don’t know what Jaime thought was going to happen, but the Kingslayer showed up about 19,999 soldiers short on the bill and was immediately hemmed up and brought to trial after arriving in Winterfell like a thief in the night. Daenerys was ready to feed Drogon the man who killed her father (and if he kept pushing it, a side of Tyrion), and Sansa was all too ready to help before Brienne of Tarth stepped in to vouch for him. Finally giving respect to the depths of their relationship, her word was enough for the Lady of Winterfell and Jon, who wants NO smoke between his sister and his love, is just happy to have another hand in the fight. He exits stage left, giving Dany the cold shoulder as soon as she bangs the gavel, ignoring his beloved like he’s 1995 Dumbledore.

Ratbag, slave trader, creepy old pervert Jorah, who for some reason is still hanging around, managed to convince Daenerys to save Tyrion’s head and job as Hand for now and also advised her to have a direct conversation with Sansa instead of ruling by exchanging petty looks. In an overdue change, we’re getting to the point and having characters act like adults instead of talking about each other this season. There is a thawing of relations, as the two powerful leaders find common ground and Sansa explains that her standoffish nature is less about Dany specifically and more about ensuring the protection of her people.

She knows men do stupid things in love (and out of love) and while the Dragon must have three heads, Sansa wants to make sure her people are protected should Jon make decisions with the wrong one. She apologizes for the lack of formalities last episode, but isn’t here for the kiki and wants to know what will happen to the North after the battle with the dead. Dany is as non-committal as Stevie J, but her answer is cut short by the arrival of Theon back in Winterfell. I didn’t like the looks Sansa and Theon were exchanging here, but hopefully it’s just the bonds of friendship and not a more romantic suggestion. I have never seen it for Theon, his redemption arc, shipping him with anyone other than death, or as a staff, record label, and a MFing crew and I’m not about to start now.

The Night’s Watch and Brotherhood Without Banners holdouts (primarily Tormund and Dolorous Edd) made their way to Winterfell from the disaster with the Umbers at Last Hearth less than a day ahead of the army of the Dead. With all the expected players finally assembled, the armies of the living try to come up with some sort of strategy, and their plan centers around setting up Bran as bait to get the Night King in the open. For the first time we begin to get some sense of what the White Walkers may actually want, and chief among that is killing Bran as the holder of living memory. Theon volunteers to guard him, which means he’s as good as dead, but no great loss there. Breaking up the war council, Jon avoids Dany again, still having not told her about being first in line for the throne.

After experiencing even more microaggressions, Missandei and Grey Worm realize they’ll never be welcomed in Westeros, and being disgusted with the racism, make plans to retire somewhere warm and safe when this is all over. Which means they’re going to die. BUT THEY’D BETTER NOT! I need someone to rescue them and fly them to Wakanda. By the old Gods and the new.

GHOST BYKE! They finally remembered Jon’s closest companion and friend was not one of the direwolves they needlessly killed, as Winterfell is transformed to the Wall South. We see Jon, Edd, and Sam once again as the Watchers on the Wall, this time atop the Starks’ castle, reflecting on all they’ve seen and mourning their fallen brothers Grenn and Pyp. Inside, Jaime and Tyrion are also going down memory lane, which turns into a fireside chat joined by Brienne, Podrick (who Neville Longbottom’d ALL the way up), Tormund, and Davos. Tormund tries to measure his dick against Jaime and teaches the children about the virtues of calcium.

Trading war stories and all this unlikely group have survived to this point, Tormund — ever the feminist — is disgusted that Brienne is not yet a knight. After she downplays how much the honor would mean to her, Jaime realizes it’s past due and as an anointed knight himself, commands Brienne to kneel as he confers the honor upon her. There’s a touching bit of hesitation on her part, as a woman who has been taunted all her life has to pause to see if this is just another mockery, but in a stirring and surprisingly intimate scene, she finally attains her lifelong goal. Which, unfortunately, means she’s also going to die.

Atop the walls, the Hound and Arya are having another one of their stilted, yet loving conversations, during which Sandor Clegane admits fighting for her changed him. However, being interrupted by Lord Beric reminds Arya there’s somewhere she’d rather be and goes to find Gendry. After stalking her prey and realizing Gendry is here for her murderous ways and still as fine as ever, she drops all pretense and asks his body count as she starts stripping, deciding she wants to celebrate Easter Sunday by hopping on that boy right there in the forge. Our little baby psychopath is all grown up and made good on six years of lust.

Outside, Lady Lyanna Mormont read her cousin Jorah for filth for even fixing his mouth to tell her anything. Unfortunately, the scene did NOT end with her banishing him from the North and our sight, but with Sam rewarding the worthless weasel with the Tarly family’s Valyrian steel sword “Heartsbane” in memory of Lord Commander Jeor Mormont. Back at the fire, Podrick channels his inner Pippin from Lord of the Rings and uses his gifted pipe, er…pipes to sing on the verge of battle. As we see a montage of loving couples (and Sansa x Theon) spending their last night together, we end with Daenerys finally walking up on Jon in the crypts as he stares at his mother’s statue. Jon finally tells her the truth about Rhaegar and Lyanna, and by extension, himself. Instantly, the love leaves Dany’s eyes and she looks at Jon now as a threat and rival, growing colder than the winter outside. Before they can finish their conversation however, they are interrupted by horn blasts. The dead are here. It’s. About. To. Go. DOWN!

With next week’s “Battle of Winterfell” bearing constant comparisons to the Battle of Helm’s Deep in Peter Jackson’s The Two Towers, it’s interesting that this episode should share so much in common tonally with The Return of the King: a kingdom on the edge of war, awaiting its inevitable destruction before the dawnless day. The episode posits that life is intrinsically linked to memory and history. What better way to spend a last night with the forces of the living than by reminiscing. The last enemy that must be defeated is death, but the battle is not lost as long as the memory of what was lost is preserved.

Book-Specific Notes: I try to keep theories and predictions (at least those informed by the text) separate for the particularly spoiler-averse, so read on at your own discretion. The choice to use Jenny of Oldstones for Podrick to sing before the battle was potentially telling. For a refresher, this is also the song that Tom of Sevenstreams sings as payment to the Ghost of High Heart for her visions. The song laments the Tragedy of Summerhall, which saw the death of several legendary figures, but was also the night Jon’s father (and Daenerys’s brother) Rhaegar Targaryen was born. The Jenny of the song is the wife of Duncan Targaryen, who gave up his claim to succession and chance to rule the Iron Throne out of love. It's also strongly hinted that the Ghost of High Heart is the same witch who made the prophecy that The Prince That Was Promised would come from that specific Targaryen lineage.

I wouldn’t go so far as to say the show is tipping its hand yet, but there are a number of interesting parallels. But also, the lyrics might spell trouble for those that we saw in the montage as Pod sang:

High in the halls of the kings who are gone Jenny would dance with her ghosts. The ones she had lost and the ones she had found And the ones who had loved her the most.

[butterflies-dragons]

Master List Post

Hello everyone! 

This is a master list post of all my Sansa Stark and Jon x Sansa posts:

My first post

A wolf with big leather wings like a bat

Sansa looked radiant 

Children of The Mountain

Sansa’s needlework was exquisite

Sansa & Dragonflies

It looks nothing like a dragon

Dragonflies or dragons?

My fist LONG Jon x Sansa post: WE’RE ALL JUST SONGS IN THE END. IF WE ARE LUCKY: JENNY OF OLDSTONES AND THE PRINCE OF DRAGONFLIES

It’s short version: Jon Snow: The silent, unknown and unthought answer to Sansa’s hopes

It’s shorter version: Jon Snow: The silent, unknown and unthought answer to Sansa’s hopes

A soft woman is simply a wolf caught in meditation

Sometimes butterflies grow into dragons

Sometimes butterflies grow into dragons 2.0

Sansa’s first crush was a Brother of The Night’s Watch

Sansa’s first crush was a Brother of The Night’s Watch 2.0

Sansa associates lover’s kisses with snowflakes

My second LONG Jon x Sansa post: SANSA STARK: A WOLF WITH DRAGON WINGS

Sansa being the betrothed of the dragon’s heir

The hollow knights are turning into dragons, she thought

Ask: The snowflakes always appear as a symbol of love, happiness and home

Ask: Jon and Sansa prevailed

Ask: When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies but the pack survives

Ask: Jon would turn into the most important man in Sansa’s life, after Ned… 

The Prince That Was Promised By Ned

Touch my sister, and I’ll kill you myself

A handful of snow

A handful of snow 2.0

Jon Snow: Redhead > Silver hair 

Beautiful and Majestic

A woman’s name has me in thrall. A woman’s being afflicts my whole body.

This is part of my third unfinished LONG Jon x Sansa post, written in a rush with a lot of mistakes: As long as Sansa Stark and Jon Snow remain, Winterfell remains

Sansa and Jon remembering Winterfell while bathing in hot water

Sansa and Jon facing frightening situations and found comfort in their direwolves

Someplace no stag ever found … though a dragon might

Jon was jealous af...

A man’s thirst...

Your new boyfriend looks like a girl…

I will never get over it!

Jon’s first impression of Joffrey = Sansa’s first true impression of Joffrey

Our best hope may be the Eyrie

Our best hope may be the Eyrie 2.0

Sansa is Jon’s sun

You are the only Stark in Winterfell. Until I return, the north is yours

Paintings that remind me of Sansa

The Starks Are The Heart

About Sansa’s first crush and her taste in men

Ask: Targaryen imagery in Sansa’s arc

The central part of the story

Queen Sansa

Queens

Sweet Lady

We’re all just songs in the end. If we are lucky

She is a survivor. And that should not be dismissed

Sansa’s Armor

Gods, how are we going to feed them all?

Jenny and Duncan

The warrior of Winterfell

Ghost & Lady

I am stronger within the walls of Winterfell

Sansahood

Foreshadowing in the Books & Foreshadowing in the Show

Michele Clapton: Because Sansa... She is the one I love the most, yes 

Ask: How does Jonsa have anything to do with beauty and the beast?

Sansa and Jon fit perfectly in the classic roles of Beauty and the Beast

Ask: Apparently Beauty and the Beast is related to another ship only... 

Ask: Apparently I don’t understand art commissions 

Did you know that there is a version of Beauty and the Beast where the Beast is a white wolf???

Sansa’s fight for Jon to be released reminds me very much of her pleadings for Ned’s freedom

A man could not always be where he belonged

Another Jon choosing love/family over duty/his King

Ned and Cat 2.0

The moment that Sansa sees Jon again is the first moment of real happiness that Sansa’s probably had on the Show

Courtesy is a lady’s armor

Catch The Wind

Hopscotch

A Song for Lya  

Snow Castles & Giants

Louis Vuitton’s l’Armure necklace

Florian & Jonquil / Jaehaerys & Alysanne

All men are fools, and all men are knights, where women are concerned

Sophie’s goodbye to Sansa

Tyrion wore black and rubies for his wedding with Sansa?

Ask: About Jon being "Sansa's hero”

Edd, fetch me a block

The Blood of Winterfell

Ask: That’s pretty & The Little Mermaid

GRRM about Lemon Cakes

Someday she would be a queen

My skin has turned to porcelain, to ivory, to steel

Sansa’s scales dress

North

GRRM about Being a ‘Lady’

Ask: What is your favorite Sansa scene in the book and in the show?

Sansa & Jon parallels is ASOS are too much

Two voices

All the Sansa Stark and Good Queen Alysanne parallels 

We all lie

Poetry… is you

Sansa building her snow castle at the Eyrie

GRRM about The Stark Sisters’ Names

Ask: Yes, Sansa is a major character

Ask: Does Tyrion need to die for Sansa to be able to marry Jon, or because it was not consummated it's not valid?

THE WOLF THAT SLEW THE DRAGON

Crying because the first word of the first Sansa’s chapter of the first book is her father’s name

GRRM about the creation of Sansa

Duty

Creating Dark Sansa

Jon’s Targaryen Name?

Sansa’s wits

Anti Jonsa arguments... 

I love how GRRM reinforced the concept of THE PACK with Ned and Cat marriage 

She cried out when she saw him, ran to him, and embraced him fiercely

Sansa and the Dawn

GRRM about Jonsa

GRRM linking Jon and Sansa with Snow

GRRM is such a Stark fanboy

GRRM and Parris McBride

I think I just found the first Jonsa Warrior

Freedom of the castle

Ask: About the Asoiaf Original Outline

Sansa Stark and The Feather

A cousin is better than a brother, because he can marry you

She’s a messy eater and he’s confused ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Sansa, Jon and Sweetness

***

And here some other stuff I wrote...

This is supposed to be funny: Say something nice about Joffrey

Chemistry

Khaleesi & Tormund

Khaleesi’s logic

Been there, done that (without dragons)

Jon/Ned/Rhaegar

Fuck S7

Somber music plays

35/36 “epic” seconds...  

He starts manipulating people — in a very Jon Snow way, in a very kind way

This TEA

Alan Taylor is the new GRRM

✵✵✵ Happy New Year to you all ✵✵✵