The Parallels Between Ancient Greek Tragedies and the Themes and Plotlines of HBO’s Game of Thrones

Introduction

The HBO television series Game of Thrones (2011-2019), adapted from George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire novels, captivated global audiences with its complex characters, intricate political plots, and dramatic exploration of power, loyalty, and morality. While Game of Thrones is set in a fantastical medieval world, its themes and plotlines often echo the stories of ancient Greek tragedies, which similarly explore the complexities of human nature, fate, and the consequences of individual actions. Ancient Greek tragedies, written by playwrights such as Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, depicted gods, kings, and heroes caught in cycles of vengeance, hubris, and fatalism, with the outcome of their stories often determined by their own flaws and the inevitable workings of fate.

In this article, we will explore how the thematic elements and plotlines of ancient Greek tragedies intersect with the narrative structure and character arcs of Game of Thrones. Specifically, we will examine themes such as the conflict between fate and free will, the nature of power and leadership, the role of revenge and justice, and the destructive consequences of hubris. By analyzing key characters and events in Game of Thrones alongside the stories of figures from Greek tragedy, we can better understand how ancient storytelling traditions continue to resonate in contemporary media.

The Nature of Fate and Free Will

One of the central themes in ancient Greek tragedy is the tension between fate and free will. In many Greek plays, characters are subject to forces beyond their control, often dictated by the gods or their own tragic flaws. These figures may strive for autonomy or pursue personal goals, but they are ultimately trapped by fate, unable to escape the consequences of their actions. The Greek concept of moira (fate) dictates that certain outcomes are unavoidable, regardless of human effort.

Similarly, in Game of Thrones, the characters are often caught in a web of fate and personal choices, where their attempts to control their own destinies are frequently thwarted by forces beyond their understanding. Several characters in the series can be likened to the tragic heroes of Greek theater, whose attempts to escape their predetermined fates lead to their downfall.

Jon Snow and Oedipus: The Quest for Identity and the Weight of Fate

Jon Snow, the alleged illegitimate son of Ned Stark, is one of the most prominent characters in Game of Thrones. Throughout the series, Jon embarks on a journey of self-discovery, questioning his lineage and role in the greater conflict. Jon’s narrative parallels that of Oedipus, the tragic hero of Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex. Like Oedipus, Jon is unaware of key aspects of his identity, and his attempts to find the truth about his origins lead to revelations that reshape his entire existence.

In Oedipus Rex, Oedipus seeks to uncover the truth of his parentage, only to discover that he has fulfilled the very prophecy he tried to avoid: killing his father and marrying his mother. Oedipus’s ignorance of his fate leads him to take actions that ultimately fulfill that fate in a tragic reversal. Similarly, Jon Snow’s quest for truth about his parentage culminates in the revelation that he is the son of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen, a discovery that places him at the center of the political and military struggle for the Iron Throne. This knowledge reshapes Jon’s understanding of his destiny, but it also traps him in a conflict of loyalty, morality, and ambition that mirrors the tragic destinies of ancient Greek heroes.

Daenerys Targaryen and Cassandra: The Blindness of Power and Prophecy

Daenerys Targaryen, whose journey spans from exiled princess to the ruler of the largest army in Westeros, exemplifies the tragedy of unheeded prophecy and the blind pursuit of power. Her rise to power mirrors the story of Cassandra, the Trojan princess cursed by Apollo to prophesy the future but never to be believed. While Cassandra’s warnings are dismissed, Daenerys’s warnings come from within herself—particularly the prophetic vision of the “mad queen,” a fate she eventually fulfills as her desire for power overcomes her moral compass.

In the final season of Game of Thrones, Daenerys’s decision to burn King’s Landing, despite the city’s surrender, marks the tragic culmination of her character arc. Much like the Greek tragic hero whose flaws (in Daenerys’s case, her obsession with power and destiny) bring about their downfall, Daenerys’s actions echo the classical tragic pattern of unchecked hubris and the destruction it causes. As with Cassandra’s prophecies, Daenerys’ potential for destruction was evident to those around her, but her refusal to listen to the advice of others, and her growing disillusionment with the world around her, lead her to fulfill her tragic fate.

The Consequences of Hubris and the Corrupting Nature of Power

Hubris—the overbearing pride or arrogance that leads to the downfall of the protagonist—is a key theme in Greek tragedy. Greek heroes often suffer because of their belief that they can surpass the gods or change their fate. This theme of hubris is central to the development of many Game of Thrones characters, especially those who strive for power and dominance.

Cersei Lannister and the Hubris of Ambition

Cersei Lannister, perhaps the most complex and tragic antagonist in Game of Thrones, embodies the Greek concept of hubris. From the moment she begins her ascent to power, Cersei exhibits an overwhelming desire to protect her children and maintain control over the Iron Throne, which leads her to engage in morally questionable actions, including the murder of her enemies and manipulation of allies. Cersei’s hubris mirrors the tragic flaws of characters like Antigone or Medea, whose intense familial loyalty and desire for control lead to destructive outcomes.

In Euripides’ Medea, the protagonist’s overwhelming desire for revenge leads her to commit horrific acts that ultimately ruin her own life. Similarly, Cersei’s overzealous protection of her family results in a series of self-destructive actions. Her orchestrating the explosion of the Great Sept of Baelor, killing hundreds—including her son, King Tommen—represents a direct manifestation of her hubris, as she believes she can reshape the political landscape on her terms without considering the consequences. Cersei’s downfall, which comes when she is left alone and estranged from her family, mirrors the tragic pattern of the hero who overreaches and brings about their own destruction.

Stannis Baratheon and the Tyranny of Power

Stannis Baratheon, another central character in Game of Thrones, exhibits a form of hubris rooted in his unwavering belief in his own right to rule. His ambition to claim the Iron Throne, combined with his reliance on Melisandre’s prophetic visions and the sacrifice of his daughter, culminates in his defeat and death. Stannis’s story is a modern retelling of the hubristic leader in Greek tragedy, such as Agamemnon in The Oresteia, whose rigid sense of duty leads him to make decisions that ultimately cost him his life. Stannis’s unbending faith in his cause, regardless of the moral consequences, leads him to alienate potential allies and, in the end, causes his tragic downfall.

Revenge, Justice, and Morality

Another important theme in Greek tragedy is the quest for justice, often pursued through acts of vengeance. The characters in these plays are often trapped in cycles of revenge, where each act of retribution only leads to further violence and moral decay. Similarly, in Game of Thrones, the pursuit of vengeance is a driving force behind many of the characters’ actions, and their decisions often lead to unintended and disastrous consequences.

Arya Stark and Electra: The Pursuit of Revenge

Arya Stark’s storyline in Game of Thrones mirrors that of Electra in Sophocles’ Electra. Both characters are driven by a desire for vengeance against those who have wronged their families. Arya’s pursuit of revenge leads her to the House of Black and White, where she trains as an assassin. Her eventual list of enemies, which includes the likes of Cersei Lannister, The Mountain, and others, parallels Electra’s single-minded pursuit of justice for her father’s death at the hands of her mother, Clytemnestra.

While Electra ultimately finds catharsis in her vengeance, Arya’s path is more complex. After avenging her family members, Arya realizes that the act of revenge has left her empty and disconnected from her humanity, much like the tragic heroes of Greek drama who are consumed by their desire for vengeance. In the end, Arya’s story demonstrates the futility of vengeance and the moral cost of seeking justice at any cost—a theme central to many Greek tragedies.

The Stark Family and the Cycle of Revenge

The Stark family’s saga in Game of Thrones is marked by a series of retaliatory killings that echo the tragic cycles of revenge seen in Greek plays such as The Oresteia. From Ned Stark’s execution at the hands of Joffrey Baratheon to the Red Wedding and Robb Stark’s death, the Stark family is caught in a cycle of retribution that continues throughout the series. Like the figures in Aeschylus’ The Oresteia, the Starks find themselves in a tragic spiral where acts of vengeance lead to further bloodshed, perpetuating a cycle of violence that only ends in destruction.

Conclusion

The parallels between the themes and plotlines of ancient Greek tragedies and the HBO series Game of Thrones are striking. Both explore the destructive consequences of hubris, the tension between fate and free will, the consequences of power, and the cyclical nature of vengeance. Characters in both Game of Thrones and ancient Greek tragedies often find themselves ensnared by their own flaws, desires, and the forces that shape their destinies. The tragic heroes of Greek drama and the protagonists of Game of Thrones alike grapple with issues of identity, power, morality, and justice, making the study of Greek tragedy a valuable lens through which to understand the complexities of contemporary storytelling.

Ultimately, Game of Thrones can be seen as a modern retelling of ancient themes, proving that the tragic elements explored by playwrights like Sophocles, Euripides, and Aeschylus continue to resonate deeply with audiences today. By studying these parallels, we gain a deeper understanding of both ancient Greek culture and the universal nature of human suffering, ambition, and the quest for justice.

Bibliography

1. Aeschylus. The Oresteia. Translated by E.H. Plumptre. 1865.

2. Euripides. Medea. Translated by James Morwood. Oxford University Press, 2008.

3. Martin, George R.R. A Song of Ice and Fire series. Bantam Books, 1996–2011.

4. Sophocles. Oedipus Rex. Translated by Robert Fagles. Penguin Classics, 2003.

5. Iser, Wolfgang. The Act of Reading: A Theory of Aesthetic Response. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1978.

6. Game of Thrones. Created by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. HBO, 2011–2019.