The internet is abuzz with the recent episode of Game of
Thrones. Much like everyone else, I have my own opinion on the matter
SPOILER ALERT
I completely agree that the writers of this show use rape as
a plot device and it needs to stop. It perpetuates rape culture and normalizes
the behavior to the general audience. I’ve considered more than once walking
away from the show because of it. A variety of fans, bloggers, and the like
have publically walked away from the show because of Sansa’s rape at the hands
of Ramsey. I completely respect and support their decision.
That said, the writers had to do some major character
condensation to keep the storylines flowing. There are already so many side
narratives and characters that they don’t all fit in one episode anymore.
According to multiple sources, Jeyne Poole (the condensed character) gets it
much worse in the book than Sansa did on the show.
The Washington Post has an excellent piece that says the
show fully acknowledged this was a rape and did as tasteful a job presenting it
as possible. We know Ramsey is a monster and knew he’d torment his bride. I
respect the show for not victimizing the character with how the scene was
treated.
The show is on thin ice with me personally but this is not
what will break it. The writers were trying to do as accurate a job as possible
while condensing characters. That is not easy.
If we’re going to attack anyone about this incident, let’s
go after Martin for creating such a monstrous character. I’ve read enough of the
books to suspect that Martin writes with the male gaze even when it’s a female
point of view character.
If we’re really going to attack the writers, let’s attack
them for making all of the kidnapping slavers black. We finally get more than a
few token characters of color and they’re all bad guys? Really GoT? Really?
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