This article explores the portrayal of feudalism in Game of Thrones and how it reflects the society of the Early Middle Ages. It covers various aspects of the feudal system, including entertainment, women's roles, courtship, medicine, and technological advancements.
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Running head: ELEMENTS OF FEUDALISM IN GAME OF THRONES ELEMENTS OF FEUDALISM IN GAME OF THRONES Name of Student Name of University Author Note
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1ELEMENTS OF FEUDALISM IN GAME OF THRONES The Early Middle Ages between the 9thand 15thcentury saw the establishment of the feudal system, structured around the holding of land in exchange for service or labour. A feudalist society first evolved in medieval Europe and it stresses on the use of combined legal and military customs(Blaydes, Lisa and Chaney). Game of Thrones, the TV series based on the fantasy novel by George R. R. Martins, uses the backdrop of the Early Middle Ages and offers an insight on the contemporary feudal society. The Medieval Ages used various forms of games and entertainments that were aptly portrayed in the HBO series. Use of violence and aggression was a vital element in the popular games and entertainment. Hunting, gambling, feasting were the common forms of entertainment for the general masses; the warrior nobilities enjoyed word fighting, hunting dogs, royal hunts and more. Game of Thrones critically explores use of blood and gore as a form of enjoyment by the people belonging to various classes. According to (Fahoffer and Hans)Trial by Combat was a popularly cultured practice, often used to execute captives as well as used as a source of entertainment. Women of the Early Middle Ages mainly played the second role to men in all spheres, with the only exception of the queen (Crosby and Alfred). Their role in the society limited to the positions of wife, mother, midwife, peasant and nun. None of the leadership roles was open for women, including the strongest cultural force back then, the Roman Catholic Church. The TV series makes use of a number of strong women character to capture the versatility and strength amongst the contemporary women and uses the character of a powerful woman as the Queen. The practices of courtship, in the Early Middle Ages, not only reflect the perceptions and understandings on the concept of love, marriage and reproduction, but also reflect the practised laws and customs(Roper and Lyndal). The instances of courting portrayed various
2ELEMENTS OF FEUDALISM IN GAME OF THRONES messages ranging from resistance to arranged marriage to the question of free consent to choose one’s own partner. They enthusiastically adopted the concept of consensual marriage, though violation of consent was not rare(Karras and Mazo). The culture was to emphasise on the importance of heredity, blood relationships and used the woman’s body as a means of reproduction and prolonging of bloodline. As explored in the Game of Thrones series, there was presence of homosexual relationships, though highly suppressed by the feudal mindset. Knowledge of medicine in the Early Middle Ages was chiefly derived from the leftovers of Greek and Roman texts mixed with ancient ideas and practices, spiritual influences and the consensus of the contemporary society. The Order of Maesters in Game of Thrones was the organization for most learned men, including healers and scholars. Apart from the use of lethal poisons, several other natural substances, like the milk of poppy, essence of nightshade and shade of the evening were commonly used Pycell as sedatives, anti-anxiety drugs and magical potions. Great emphasis was laid on literature and knowledge in general; the learned were respected highly(Ong and Walter). The relationship amongst the warrior nobilities based on the transaction of labour in lieu of land; breach of loyalty faced the most severe punishment, even execution. Adoption of gunpowder, advent of windmills and much other advancement were made in the technological area in this age. The lever was extensivelyusedtobuildmachinesthatsignificantlyreducelabour.Thisperiodalso experienced the advent of the first mechanical clocks, water mills, spectacles and later, the mechanical printing. The farming practices included a home-oriented setup, usually near the streams,wheretheywouldgrowfood,grazethecattleandharnesstheriverwater abundantly. The advancement in farming techniques included the arrival of heavy wheeled plow, horseshoes, tandem harnessing of horses and crop rotation.
3ELEMENTS OF FEUDALISM IN GAME OF THRONES To conclude, the society of the Early Middle Ages was essentially based on feudalism and feudalist practices. Game of Thrones withholds the appropriate essence of daily lives, struggles and entertainment of the contemporary people.
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4ELEMENTS OF FEUDALISM IN GAME OF THRONES References Blaydes, Lisa, and Eric Chaney. "The feudal revolution and europe's rise: Political divergence of the christian west and the muslim world before 1500 ce."American Political Science Review107.1 (2013): 16-34. Crosby, Alfred W.Ecological imperialism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2015. Fahoffer, Hans.MedievalCombat:AFifteenth-CenturyManual of Sword-fightingand Close-Quater Combat. Frontline Books, 2014. Karras, Ruth Mazo.Sexuality in medieval Europe: Doing unto others. Taylor & Francis, 2017. Ong, Walter J.Orality and literacy. Routledge, 2013. Roper, Lyndal.Oedipus and the devil: Witchcraft, religion and sexuality in early modern Europe. Routledge, 2013.