History DeconstructedTrope / ASongofIceandfire

* DeadpanSnarker: Tyrion Lannister & Littlefinger, whose smart mouths keep getting them in trouble.

* BodyguardBetrayal - Jaime Lannister betrayed the king he served to save the realm but people still give him crap for breaking his oath of loyalty.

* EvilOverlord: Tywin Lannister; all his KickTheDog and ShootTheDog moments are the result of PragmaticVillainy and being haunted by the memory of his father nearly ruining House Lannister

* EvilOverlord: Tywin Lannister; all his KickTheDog and ShootTheDog moments are the result of PragmaticVillainy and being haunted by the memory of his father nearly ruining House Lannister
* EnemyMine: Several alliances between bitter rivals are shown to merely harbour resentment and mistrust, leading to infighting and ChronicBackstabbingDisorder.

* TheIngenue: Sansa Stark's naivete doesn't work well in the CrapsackWorld of Westeros, and very soon she's a BrokenBird

* KidHero: Arya and Bran Stark now without guidance and resort to things they never thought they'd do to survive.

* HeroicArchetype: Jon Snow is pushed to do all sorts of bad things to protect the Realm, [[spoiler:and is ultimately killed by his own men.]]

** Janos Slynt is sent to the Wall for pissing off one superior, [[spoiler:and beheaded for insubordinating another.]]

* StarCrossedLovers: Robb & Jeyne Westerling putting their personal happiness over family obligations has brutal consequences.

* HotAmazon: Brienne has the strength and stamina to take on almost any knight in the Seven Kingdoms, but this comes from having huge, mannish body that earns her the contemptuous nickname of "Brienne the Beauty".

* TheWisePrince: possibly [[spoiler:Aegon VI Targaryen]]

** Daeron "The Young Dragon" Targaryen never understood that war isn't a game and got him and 50,000 men killed in a foolhardy Dornish invasion.

* TheGoodChancellor: Eddard Stark: For all the good he tried to do for the realm, he couldn't control King Robert and his effort to transfer power to the rightful heir caused his own death and sparked a civil war.

* HotBlooded - Ned's brother Brandon Stark unwisely threatened the Mad King Aerys and got himself and his father killed. The torture machine used on him strangled him to death because he wouldn't stop trying to reach for his sword.

* PrinceCharming:

** Quentyn Martell: Believed himself to be this and got dragon roasted for is trouble]].

* TheQuest: Prince Quentyn Martell sets off with his loyal band of friends to find and woo the WorldsMostBeautifulWoman. Half of them get killed in a minor skirmish before we even get to their story. By the time Quentyn reaches his beautiful princess, Dany is already set up for an ArrangedMarriage, while sleeping with a lowborn sellsword who's much more handsome and dangerously exciting than Quentyn. Believing that TheHero can't be killed, Quentyn then tries to steal a dragon to prove himself worthy of her, only to be roasted alive for his trouble.

** Eddard Stark, Jon Arryn are killed when they underestimate the self-serving nature of the people around them.
** Kevan Lannister is killed specifically ''because'' he might have actually succeeded in keeping the peace.

** Viserys Targaryen is agonisingly murdered for being demanding and superior.
** Janos Slynt is sent to the Wall for pissing off one superior, and beheaded for insubordinating another.

* TheStarscream: Theon Greyjoy [[hottip:*:He has legitimate reason to betray the Starks and he is not accepted in the Iron Islands so he looks for someone who will appreciate him.]]
* WellIntentionedExtremist - Varys is forced to kill people he likes who oppose his plan to put a Targaryen on the Iron Throne. His "prince" Aegon may not be any better than the other pretenders to the throne.

** Robb Stark is never beaten in battle but sucks at diplomacy and is a HorribleJudgeOfCharacter]]

* TheChosenMany: The Night's Watch disillusions Jon because they aren't the elite ancient order that they once were. When he becomes Lord Commander, his attempts to shake them up into an effective force and form a peace with the wildlings causes distrust and hatred. Just when it seems that they will finally be in a position to save the realm, [[spoiler:they turn against him because they want to stay TrueNeutral.]]

* TheChosenMany: The Night's Watch disillusions Jon because they aren't the elite ancient order that they once were. When he becomes Lord Commander, his attempts to shake them up into an effective force and form a peace with the wildlings causes distrust and hatred. Just when it seems that they will finally be in a position to save the realm, [[spoiler:they turn against him because they want to stay TrueNeutral.]]

* EvilPrince:
** Viserys Targaryen, with a bit of NobleFugitive who's "allies" get sick of his nasty attitude and kill him. In spite of that, his sister Daenerys still admits that even though he was bitter and cruel, he did keep them alive while they were living on the run in the streets of the Free Cities.

* ProperLady: Catelyn Stark's concern for her family triggers a chain of events leading to the Red Wedding.

** Daenerys gets completely sidetracked from her ultimate mission by [[ChronicHeroSyndrome constantly trying to solve every problem she encounters in Essos.

* LoveableRogue: Some of the Brotherhood Without Banners, especially Tom O'Sevens and Lem Lemoncloak [[hottip:*:Their justice while serving in Beric Dondarrion's outlaw band is swift and brutal, and that's before Beric dies and the much more ruthless Lady Stoneheart takes over the group.]]

Kevan Lannister, Eddard Stark, Jon Arryn [[hottip:*:Eddard, and probably Jon as well, are killed when they underestimate the self-serving nature of the people around them, and Kevan is killed specifically ''because'' he might have actually succeeded in keeping the peace.]] Tywin Lannister's father Tytos was so generous that he almost bankrupted the House and his kindness was repaid with a revolt among his bannermen.

** Viserys Targaryen [[hottip:*:agonisingly murdered for being demanding and superior]] and Janos Slynt [[hottip:*:sent to the Wall for pissing off one superior, and beheaded for insubordinating another.]]

* StarCrossedLovers: Robb & Jeyne Westerling [[hottip:*:Putting their personal happiness over family obligations has brutal consequences]].

* WellIntentionedExtremist - Varys [[hottip:*:is forced to kill people he likes who oppose his plan to put a Targaryen on the Iron Throne. His "prince" Aegon may not be any better than the other pretenders to the throne.]]

* YoungConqueror: Robb Stark [[hottip:*:Never beaten in battle but sucks at diplomacy and is a HorribleJudgeOfCharacter]] and Daenerys [[hottip:*:gets completely sidetracked from her ultimate mission by [[ChronicHeroSyndrome constantly trying to solve every problem she encounters in Essos]].

* BarbarianHero: Khal Drogo [[hottip:*:his people only obey him because of his strength so they abandon him when he loses it.]] and Victarion Greyjoy [[hottip:*:Victarion is an honorable and straightforward man, but he's done some terrible things (such as, after his brother Euron seduces his wife, Victarion was bound by ironmen custom to kill her). In ''A Dance With Dragons'', he accepts some sorcerous help from a priest of R'hllor, Moqorro, in contrast to the typical Barbarian Hero who usually has little use or respect for magic users.]]

* ChildrenAreInnocent: Rickon Stark [[hottip:*:Relatively overlooked by his parents, he has something of a savage streak]], Joffrey [[hottip:*:There are early signs of psychopathy in his backstory, such as torturing animals, and he's subtly hinted to have abused his brother Tommen]]

* EvilPrince: Viserys Targaryen, with a bit of NobleFugitive [[hottip:*:His "allies" get sick of his nasty attitude and kill him. In spite of that, his sister Daenerys still admits that even though he was bitter and cruel, he did keep them alive while they were living on the run in the streets of the Free Cities.]]

* TheGoodChancellor: Eddard Stark [[hottip:*:For all the good he tried to do for the realm, he couldn't control King Robert and his effort to transfer power to the rightful heir caused his own death and sparked a civil war]].

* PrinceCharming: Rhaegar Targaryen. [[hottip:*:Supposedly a wise and thoughtful young man, kidnaps Lyanna Stark, who is betrothed to Robert Baratheon (and in contrast to a lot of arranged marriages in this universe, Robert is deeply in love with Lyanna, though she doesn't return his feelings). This sets off a chain of events that leads to [[http://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/Robert%27s_Rebellion Robert's Rebellion.]] and Quentyn Martell [[hottip:*:Believed himself to be this and got dragon roasted for is trouble]].

* ProperLady: Catelyn Stark [[hottip:*:Her concern for her family triggers a chain of events leading to the Red Wedding.]]
* TheQuest: Prince Quentyn Martell [[hottip:*:sets off with his loyal band of friends to find and woo the WorldsMostBeautifulWoman. Half of them get killed in a minor skirmish before we even get to their story. By the time Quentyn reaches his beautiful princess, Dany is already set up for an ArrangedMarriage, while sleeping with a lowborn sellsword who's much more handsome and dangerously exciting than Quentyn. Believing that TheHero can't be killed, Quentyn then tries to steal a dragon to prove himself worthy of her, only to be roasted alive for his trouble.]]

* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Kevan Lannister, Eddard Stark, Jon Arryn [[hottip:*:Eddard, and probably Jon as well, are killed when they underestimate the self-serving nature of the people around them, and Kevan is killed specifically ''because'' he might have actually succeeded in keeping the peace.]] Tywin Lannister's father Tytos was so generous that he almost bankrupted the House and his kindness was repaid with a revolt among his bannermen.

* SmugSnake: Viserys Targaryen [[hottip:*:agonisingly murdered for being demanding and superior]] and Janos Slynt [[hottip:*:sent to the Wall for pissing off one superior, and beheaded for insubordinating another.]]

* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Kevan Lannister, Eddard Stark, Jon Arryn [[hottip:*:Eddard, and probably Jon as well, are killed when they underestimate the self-serving nature of the people around them, and Kevan is killed specifically ''because'' he might have actually succeeded in keeping the peace.]]

* DeadpanSnarker: Tyrion Lannister whose smart mouth keeps getting him in trouble and who often curses himself for not being able to keep it shut.

* WellIntentionedExtremist - Varys [[hottip:*:is part of a huge conspiracy to put a Targaryen back on the Iron Throne. He is forced to kill people he likes who oppose the plan. His "prince" Aegon may not be any better than the other pretenders to the throne.]]

* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Kevan Lannister, Eddard Stark, Jon Arryn [[hottip:*:Eddard, and probably Jon as well, is killed when they underestimate the self-serving nature of the rest of the court, and Kevan is killed specifically ''because'' he might have actually succeeded in keeping the peace.]]

* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Kevan Lannister, Eddard Stark, Jon Arryn [[hottip:*:one of the themes of the series is whether a good man can also be a good leader. Eddard, and probably Jon as well, is killed when the underestimate the self-serving nature of the rest of the court, and Kevan is killed specifically ''because'' he might have actually succeeded in keeping the peace.]]

* BoisterousBruiser: Robert Baratheon [[hottip:*:He is a great war leader but a mess in times of peace. His drinking, eating and whoring is symptomatic of depression]]
* CelibateHero: The Kingsguard and the Night's Watch [[hottip:*:Regularly break their celibacy because their vows say they can't have children, not have sex]].

* TheChosenMany: The Night's Watch [[hottip:*:Jon is disillusioned that they aren't the elite ancient order that they once was. When he becomes Lord Commander, his attempts to shake them up into an effective force and form a peace with the wildlings merely causes distrust and hatred. Just when it seems that they will finally be in a position to save the realm, they turn against Jon because they want to stay TrueNeutral.]]
* DeadpanSnarker: Tyrion Lannister [[hottip:*:whose smart mouth keeps getting him in trouble and who often curses himself for not being able to keep it shut.]]

* HeroicArchetype: Jon Snow [[hottip:*:Is pushed to do all sorts of bad things to protect the Realm, and is ultimately killed by his own men.]]
* HotBlooded - Ned's brother Brandon Stark [[hottip:*:very unwisely threatened the Mad King Aerys and got himself and his father killed. The torture machine used on him strangled him to death because he wouldn't stop trying to reach for his sword.]]
* TheIngenue: Sansa Stark [[hottip:*:Her naivete doesn't work well in the CrapsackWorld of Westeros, and very soon she's a BrokenBird]]

* KidHero: Arya and Bran Stark [[hottip:*:They are now without guidance and resort to things they never thought they'd do to survive.]]
* LoveableRogue: Some of the Brotherhood Without Banners, especially Tom O'Sevens and Lem Lemoncloak[[hottip:*:Their justice while serving in Beric Dondarrion's outlaw band is swift and brutal, and that's before Beric dies and the much more ruthless Lady Stoneheart takes over the group.]]

* MessianicArchetype: Baelor Targaryen [[hottip:*:His fervour may have been motivated by the Targaryen family mental instability. His idealism also bankrupted the realm.]].
* PrinceCharming: Rhaegar Targaryen [[hottip:*: Supposedly a wise and thoughtful young man, he kidnaps Lyanna Stark, who is betrothed to Robert Baratheon (and in contrast to a lot of arranged marriages in this universe, Robert is deeply in love with Lyanna, though she doesn't return his feelings). This sets off a chain of events that leads to [[http://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/Robert%27s_Rebellion Robert's Rebellion.]] and Quentyn Martell [[hottip:*:Believed himself to be this and got dragon roasted for is trouble]].

* RagsToRiches: Littlefinger [[hottip:*:finds out the hard way that to achieve this he must be a ManipulativeBastard instead of a GuileHero.]]
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Kevan Lannister, Eddard Stark, Jon Arryn [[hottip:*:one of the themes of the series is whether a good man can also be a good leader. Eddard, and probably Jon as well, is killed when he underestimates the self-serving nature of the rest of the court, and Kevan is killed specifically ''because'' he might have actually succeeded in keeping the peace.]]
* RebelliousPrincess: Arya Stark [[hottip:*:She wanted to be a warrior. BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor]]
* SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan: Renly [[hottip:*:resents that he isn't as manly as his brothers so he grabs the crown since he believes that warriors don't make good kings.]]

* DeadpanSnarker: Tyrion Lannister [[hottip:*:whose smart mouth keeps getting him in trouble and who often curses himself for not being able to keep it shut.]]* EvilPrince: Viserys Targaryen, with a bit of NobleFugitive [[hottip:*:His "allies" get sick of his nasty attitude and kill him. In spite of that, his sister Daenerys still admits that even though he was bitter and cruel, he did keep them alive while they were living on the run in the streets of the Free Cities.]]

* TheIngenue: Sansa Stark [[hottip:*:Her naivete doesn't work well in the CrapsackWorld of Westeros, and very soon she's a BrokenBird]]* KnightInShiningArmor: Most knights buy their title. The most shining knight in the series, Brienne, isn't a knight at all because she's a woman. The Kingsguard, which is supposed to be made up of only the shiniest of knights, is a shadow of its former self. A number of knights who play this trope straight end up paying for it, due to putting HonorBeforeReason or facing off against a CombatPragmatist and assuming they'll stick to the unwritten rules of battle. We're also constantly reminded that, one way or another, knights exist to kill, and the people they kill are ''not'' AlwaysChaoticEvil.

* TheChosenMany: The Night's Watch [[hottip:*:Jon is disillusioned that they aren't the elite ancient order that they once was. When it seems that they will finally save the realm, they turn against him because they want to stay TrueNeutral.]]

* HeroicArchetype: Jon Snow [[hottip:*:Is pushed to do all sorts of bad things to protect the Realm]]

* TheMagicComesBack: Fantasy series often portray the return of magic as heralding the return of a golden age. Here, magic is making an already bad situation worse. No wonder [[spoiler:the Maesters of the Citadel is trying to replace it with science.]]

* PrincessClassic: They are little more than bargaining chips to be married off to cement alliances. Whether they like their betrothed is usually irrelevant. This has disillusioned Sansa and turned Cersei into the bad person she is today. Myrcella, however, seems to like Trystane Martell a lot.

* KnightInShiningArmor: Most knights buy their title. The most shining knight in the series, Brienne, isn't a knight at all because she's a woman. The Kingsguard, which is supposed to be made up of only the shiniest of knights, is a shadow of its former self. A number of knights who play this trope straight end up paying for it, due to putting HonorBeforeReason or facing off against a CombatPragmatist and assuming they'll stick to the unwritten rules of battle. We're also constantly reminded that, one way or another, knights exist to kill, and the people they kill are ''not'' AlwaysChaoticEvil.

* DeadpanSnarker: Tyrion Lannister [[hottip:*:whose smart mouth keeps getting him in trouble and who often curses himself for not being able to keep it shut.]]
* TheIngenue: Sansa Stark [[hottip:*:Her naivete doesn't work well in the CrapsackWorld of Westeros, and very soon she's a BrokenBird]]
* RebelliousPrincess: Arya Stark [[hottip:*:She wanted to be a warrior. BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor]]

* EvilPrince: Viserys Targaryen, with a bit of NobleFugitive [[hottip:*:His "allies" get sick of his nasty attitude and kill him. In spite of that, his sister Daenerys still admits that even though he was bitter and cruel, he did keep them alive while they were living on the run in the streets of the Free Cities.]]
* TheWisePrince: possibly [[spoiler:Aegon VI Targaryen]]
* PrincessClassic: They are little more than bargaining chips to be married off to cement alliances. Whether they like their betrothed is usually irrelevant. This has disillusioned Sansa and turned Cersei into the bad person she is today. Myrcella, however, seems to like Trystane Martell a lot.

* BarbarianHero: Khal Drogo [[hottip:*:his people only obey him because of his strength so they abandon him when he loses it.]] and Victarion Greyjoy [[hottip:*:Victarion is an honorable and straightforward man, but he's done some terrible things (such as, after his brother Euron seduces his wife, Victarion was bound by ironmen custom to kill her). In ''A Dance With Dragons'', he accepts some sorcerous help from a priest of R'hllor, Moqorro, in contrast to the typical Barbarian Hero who usually has little use or respect for magic users.]]
* TheStarscream: Theon Greyjoy [[hottip:*:He has legitimate reason to betray the Starks and he is not accepted in the Iron Islands so he looks for someone who will appreciate him.]]
* YoungConqueror: Robb Stark [[hottip:*:Never beaten in battle but sucks at diplomacy and is a HorribleJudgeOfCharacter]] and Daenerys [[hottip:*:gets completely sidetracked from her ultimate mission by [[ChronicHeroSyndrome constantly trying to solve every problem she encounters in Essos]].
* FoolishSiblingResponsibleSibling: Jaime and Cersei Lannister. By the time of ''Feast'', their roles seem to have reversed.
* ProperLady: Catelyn Stark [[hottip:*:Her concern for her family triggers a chain of events leading to the Red Wedding.]]

* SmugSnake: Viserys Targaryen [[hottip:*:agonisingly murdered for being demanding and superior]] and Janos Slynt [[hottip:*:sent to the Wall for pissing off one superior, and beheaded for insubordinating another.]]

* ChildrenAreInnocent: Rickon Stark [[hottip:*:Relatively overlooked by his parents, he has something of a savage streak]], Joffrey [[hottip:*:There are early signs of psychopathy in his backstory, such as torturing animals, and he's subtly hinted to have abused his brother Tommen]]
* RagsToRiches: Littlefinger [[hottip:*:finds out the hard way that to achieve this he must be a ManipulativeBastard instead of a GuileHero.]]

* CelibateHero: The Kingsguard and the Night's Watch [[hottip:*:Regularly break their celibacy because their vows say they can't have children, not have sex]].
* MessianicArchetype: Baelor Targaryen [[hottip:*:His fervour may have been motivated by the Targaryen family mental instability. His idealism also bankrupted the realm.]].
* TheChosenOne: Stannis Baratheon and [[spoiler:Aegon VI]] [[hottip:*:"The Warrior of Light" and "The Prince who was Promised" believe its their destiny to rule and will do anything to get what they want even if it means doing things that are against their nature.]]
* TheChosenMany: The Night's Watch [[hottip:*:Jon is disillusioned that they aren't the elite ancient order that they once was. When it seems that they will finally save the realm, they turn against him because they want to stay TrueNeutral.]]
* TheGoodChancellor: Eddard Stark [[hottip:*:For all the good he tried to do for the realm, he couldn't control King Robert and his effort to transfer power to the rightful heir caused his own death and sparked a civil war]].
* KidHero: Arya and Bran Stark [[hottip:*:They are now without guidance and resort to things they never thought they'd do to survive.]]
* TheMagicComesBack: Fantasy series often portray the return of magic as heralding the return of a golden age. Here, magic is making an already bad situation worse. No wonder the Maesters of the Citadel is trying to replace it with science.
* TheQuest: Prince Quentyn Martell [[hottip:*:sets off with his loyal band of friends to find and woo the WorldsMostBeautifulWoman. Half of them get killed in a minor skirmish before we even get to their story. By the time Quentyn reaches his beautiful princess, Dany is already set up for an ArrangedMarriage, while sleeping with a lowborn sellsword who's much more handsome and dangerously exciting than Quentyn. Believing that TheHero can't be killed, Quentyn then tries to steal a dragon to prove himself worthy of her, only to be roasted alive for his trouble.]]
* HotBlooded - Ned's brother Brandon Stark [[hottip:*:very unwisely threatened the Mad King Aerys and got himself and his father killed. The torture machine used on him strangled him to death because he wouldn't stop trying to reach for his sword.]]