Are There Love Stories in Game of Thrones? : The Story of Jaime and Cersei

I feel very sorry for the Starks

So, a long time ago when I was first starting to read the A Song of Ice and Fire books, I was trying to convince my friend to read it and one of the first things she asked me about it was if there were any love stories. I had to stop and think about that for a minute because there are like thousands of character arcs, but, in the end, I had to tell her 'no'.

I mean, I guess that you could argue that Catelyn and Ned Stark have a bit of a 'love story', but by the time A Game of Thrones opens, the exciting parts of their love story are over. The Starks are happily married with five children which, while one of the happiest stories in A Song of Ice and Fire, isn't particularly interesting. Personally, I would love it if George R.R. Martin wrote a prequel to a Song of Ice and Fire about Robert's Rebellion and how Ned and Catelyn fell in love (that book would also answer a lot of other pressing questions), but I don't think that's going to happen, so we're stuck with their quaint, domestic affection. And, unfortunately, it doesn't last very long either because Ned loses his head at the end of book one. So much for love.

Aside from that, the only real love story in A Song of Ice and Fire that I can think of is the story of Dany and Khal Drogo. While not the most conventional of love stories, Dany and Khal Drogo's developing relationship was certainly one of the high points of A Game of Thrones. If Khal Drogo had lived, it might have turned into quite a beautiful love story. Unfortunately, like almost every important Game of Thrones character, Khal Drogo dies. After that, Dany has other relationships, but not another 'love story' per se (poor Ser Jorah, he's so in love with her).

Lyanna and Rhaegar = Romance

Sansa and Littlefinger also have a sort-of-love relationship, but the whole thing is sort of creepy, so we're not going to go into that. So, for all intents and purposes, lets say there aren't any love stories in A Song of Ice and Fire (although I haven't completely given up hope for Sam/Gilly and Arya/Gendry).

I would, however, argue that A Song of Ice and Fire, as we understand it, exists in the narrative shadow of several great, but deeply flawed, love stories.

Lyanna Stark is probably the most obvious example of this. I think it is fairly well accepted that Jon Snow is the child of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen. But, what is not widely accepted is that Rhaegar and Lyanna were in love. I think that this is the most likely scenario for two reasons:

1) Based on everything we are told, Rhaegar is not the type to kidnap someone (he's too honorable).

2) Lyanna is too fiery and spirited to allow herself to be kidnapped. And, if she had been kidnapped, she would have escaped a lot earlier.

Personally, I prescribe to the theory that they ran off together. Which, while romantic and everything, was also a disastrous idea because it caused Roberts Rebellion (which, incidentally, was a direct by-product of Robert also being in love with Lyanna). Obviously, Robert's Rebellion is the entire basis of A Song of Ice and Fire, so Lyanna and Rhaegar's story is vitally important. But, it also introduces the very interesting idea of monumental, earth-shattering, life-altering love.

Lyanna and Rhaegar's love is like an earthquake that destroys the Seven Kingdoms. I mean, it causes a war! If you think about it, it's a very selfish sort of love which stems from the complete inability of the characters to regulate their passions. They are unable to choose duty and self-control over passion and, as a result, thousands of people die. As a student of English, this theme isn't foreign to me. Particularly in pre-nineteenth century literature, writers are obsessed with the notion that self control in the interest of duty, responsibility, and moral perfection is the most important virtue. We see this in The Duchess of Malfi, Romeo and Juliet, The Faerie Queene, Paradise Lost, and Le Morte d'Arthur.  We also have the real life example of King Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville, because, let's face it, Edward's marriage to Elizabeth struck the death knell of the house of Plantagenet. George R.R. Martin is continuing in this grand tradition. Love, in A Song of Ice and Fire, seldom has a happy ending. It is understood to be a force of nature, powerful and extremely dangerous.

Thus, A Song of Ice and Fire is not a terribly romantic series.

But there is one great, monumental, love story in A Song of Ice and Fire: Jaime and Cersei. Skipping over all the weird, incest stuff, you have to admit that they have a weirdly romantic relationship. Consider that Cersei is the only woman Jaime has ever been with; I think it's hard to appreciate how weird that would have been in medieval times, but if that's not fidelity, I don't know what is. Cersei is unable to be physically faithful, but I think it's significant that she refuses to bear anyone else's children, which is another kind of loyalty.

Of course, this is what causes all the problems in A Song of Ice and Fire. If Cersei had had just one child that looked like Robert, it would have been a lot harder to make the incest rumors stick. But then again, if she had, it wouldn't have been love. Their relationship is extremely weird, but it also has these moments that are incredibly powerful and you can see that they really love each other. There's a scene in season three that's a really good example of this. Jaime and Cersei haven't seen each other in months and they just stare at each other. There's no dialogue, but it isn't necessary; the emotion is palpable.

It is Jaime and Cersei's love which causes the War of the Five Kings. If they hadn't been in love, Bran wouldn't have gotten pushed out the window, which would mean that no one would send an assassin after Bran, which would mean that Catelyn wouldn't arrest Tyrion, which would mean that the war between the Starks and Lannisters wouldn't have happened. Of course, the Lannisters wouldn't even have been at Winterfell if they didn't kill Jon Arryn because he was getting close to finding out about their relationship. Also, if Jaime and Cersei hadn't been involved, Stannis would never have started his rebellion, which prompted Renly to rebel. Also, if Joffrey hadn't been the product of incest, he might not be such a psychopath and Ned Stark's head might still be on his shoulders.

Again, Jaime and Cersei's passion is this reckless force that causes nations to crumble. Jaime's iconic line in A Game of Thrones is "the things I do for love" (in reference to pushing Bran out of the window) and I think that's a great way of summing up the series. Everything that happens in the books is the result of love. Albeit, Jaime and Cersei have a deeply flawed relationship, but they still love each other so intensely that they are willing to start a war for their love. It's like the "I'd do anything for you stereotype", but they actually mean it.

Ladies and gentlemen, that's romance. So, in that the War of Five Kings is the subject of A Song of Fire and the War of Five Kings is the product of love, I suppose you could make the argument that A Song of Ice and Fire is, in fact, a love story.

I don't think that makes my friend any more likely to read the books though. Oh well.

Just sayin'