History Characters / ASongOfIceAndFireHouseGreyjoy

Asha: "Thank you, Your Grace."

* BigBrotherBully: All Theon remembers of Rodrik are his "drunken cuffs", and also remembers only cruel japes and compulsive lies when he thinks of Maron. Theon also recalls that the worst beating he got at Winterfell, for having accidentally knocked Old Nan, looked almost sweet compared to the beatings Rodrik and Maron gave to him, and Asha remembers also that as a boy Theon was living in constant fear of them. It's telling that he doesn't have anything against Jason Mallister for killing Rodrik.

* GeneralFailure: Not all of them are entirely bad. Euron's great, Asha's good and at the very least Theon's a good tactician. However, like all Ironborn, they're anti-intellectuals (except for Asha) so they usually fall into this trope. It's rather telling that their [[FourStarBadass Fleet Admiral]] is considered the dumbest Greyjoy. Also Balon's overall plan shows his poor strategic skills.

* RapePillageAndBurn: Like the Dothraki from across the sea, the Greyjoys and Ironborn in general see this as a proud way of life.

* SmugSnake: Greyjoys have a ''very'' serious problem of seeing themselves and the rest of the Ironborn as far bigger, more dangerous and smarter than they actually are, and tend to bite more that they can chew. All Greyjoy attempts to restore the Old Way and make the Iron Islands independent have failed miserably and yet, Balon Greyjoy and his brothers Aeron and Victarion still delude themselves that they can accomplish that as well as conquering the North despite the Ironborn's limits and them having no allies in the rest of Westeros. Balon and Victarion, to an even greater degree, are TooDumbToLive, Theon took Winterfell by surprise but tried to hold and rule the castle despite it being strategically impossible, Rodrik got himself killed attacking the strongly defended Seaguard led by the very skilled Jason Mallister, etc...Only Euron has actually the intelligence and personality to be a real threat, while Asha is smart and level-headed enough to recognize the Iron Islands' limits and to suggest wiser solutions.

* ThickerThanWater: Averted. Being a Greyjoy doesn't mean that you will be treated better than others, with most of their abuse and jerkassery being directed directly at their family members. And the reason why they don't kill each other is because of the religious taboo of kinslaying rather than care for their family, which didn't stop Balon from wishing that Theon would get killed so he won't be in Asha's way. [[spoiler: Euron averts this to the extreme, with his family being the victims of some of his most depraved and evil actions, with him having raped his little brothers Urrigon and Aeron, maimed and sacrificed his own sons, and murdered his half-brothers Harlon and Robin and ordered Balon's death so he could become king.]]

* EvenEvilHasStandards: Well, using Ironborn values at least. He refuses to allow kinslaying in his hall, refusing to allow Victarion to kill Euron as revenge for the rape of his salt wife and banishing Euron instead, and he never does anything to kill Theon though he does wish for him to get killed so he won't stand in Asha's way.

*** "I must not let him drive me mad. He can take my fingers and my toes, he can put out my eyes and slice my ears off, but he cannot take my wits unless I let him.".

** Sansa Stark. Both are romantics with a tendency to fantasize only to have reality crush their dreams, and they even dreamed of marrying and becoming part of a different family (Sansa wanted to marry Joffrey and be a queen whilst Theon wanted to marry Sansa and become a Stark). Both held hostage and abused by their captors (including sexually by Joffrey in Sansa's case and by Ramsey in Theon's case), treated as dogs (Sansa comments on how Joffrey calls to her as if she were a dog and Theon is forced to sleep with dogs). Both have to change their names and identities (Alayne Stone and Reek) and change hands from one captor to another (Sansa- from the Lannisters to Petyr. Theon- from Starks to Boltons and now to Stannis). Their resilience and ability to adapt keeps them alive and both have a connecting link, Jeyne Poole. Furthermore, both are improving at being cunning, with Sansa trying to mainpulate Joffrey through body language and stroking his ego same as she does with Sweet Robin. and Theon keeping Jeyne's true identity a secret from Abel and later Stannis, and keeps playing Reek even when he gained his identity back.

** To his uncle, Aeron. Both were the youngest in the family (Aeron being the youngets after the death of Urri) and abused by older siblings, Aeron by Euron and Theon by Rodrik and Maron. Both were the blacksheep of the family, and loved to drink and party. They faced a near death exprience that made them more religious and both were held captive in dungeons. Aeron and Theon also show kindness and protectiveness over two women, Falia and Jeyne, with Aeron trying to warn Falia to escape Euron while she can and later, when they are both tied to the ship and about to die, he tells her that they will both feast in the Drowned God's halls together (Ironborn's version of Heaven), even though she is a woman, not Ironborn, not a fighter, and not of the religion. Theon risks his being taken captive again by Ramsey and risks his life all for the sake of Jeyne, and not for any fame or reward. He also tries to cheer her up or at least calm her down by telling her that he knows who she truly is, hold her hand and just being patient and kind to her, unlike the washerwomen.

** Sansa Stark. Both are romantics with a tendency to fantasize only to have reality crush their dreams, and they even dreamed of marrying and becoming part of a different family (Sansa wanted to marry Joffrey and be a queen whilst Theon wanted to marry Sansa and become a Stark). Both held hostage and abused by their captors (including sexually by Joffrey in Sansa's case and by Ramsey in Theon's case), treated as dogs (Sansa comments on how Joffrey calls to her as if she were a dog and Theon is forced to sleep with dogs). Both have to change their names and identities (Alayne Stone and Reek) and change hands from one captor to another (Sansa- from the Lannisters to Petyr. Theon- from Starks to Boltons and now to Stannis). Their resilience and ability to adapt keeps them alive and both have a connecting link, Jeyne Poole.

** To his uncle, Aeron. Both were the youngest in the family (Aeron being the youngets after the death of Urri) and abused by older siblings, Aeron by Euron and Theon by Rodrik and Maron. Both were the blacksheep of the family and were womanizers who loved to drink and party. Both faced near death exprience that made them religious, both were held captive in dungeons.

** To Jon Snow. Both feel like outsiders, both are raised at Winterfell, and both experience identity issues that have left them bitter and with the desire to prove themselves. While Jon Snow faces societal prejudice for being an illegitimate child who does not even know the identity of his mother, he is loved by his father, siblings, and uncle, and is raised alongside his siblings by his father Ned Stark. Theon -- though he is the new heir to the Iron Islands -- is sent away to another family as a hostage at age ten, raised away from his family, was bullied by his brothers before he was sent to the Starks, and his birth father treats him poorly. Jon is a blood Stark in all but name and raised as part of his family as Ned Stark's son. Theon has his family's name, Greyjoy, but is a Greyjoy raised as a ward among all of Ned Stark's children to keep his father Balon from rebelling again. Both Jon and Theon shared very close relationships with Robb, who was Jon's half-brother and whom Theon regarded as a surrogate brother. Theon loves and is loved by his sister and Jon loves and is loved by his siblings. However, while Jon decides to join the Night's Watch for the sake of honor and duty, has risen to Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, and [[spoiler:might possibly be the heir to the Iron Throne]], Theon becomes a traitor to Robb for the sake of winning his father's approval. He fails at keeping Winterfell after he captured it in an effort to gain affection from said father (a vain attempt, anyway, as Balon's [[TheUnfavorite Unfavorite]]), [[spoiler:and is later tortured into thinking of himself as Ramsay Bolton's servant named Reek]]. And despite both being companions to Robb, Theon and Jon have little love lost between them, with Theon resenting how Jon, a bastard, is (supposedly) afforded more respect than he, while Jon doesn't share Robb's trust and liking for Theon.

** Jaime Lannister. Both come from prominent families, have a talent for weapons (Sword for Jaime and bow and arrow for Theon), both were arrogant, hurt children (Jaime pushing Bran off a window and Theon ordering the killing of two miller boys), were known as handsome, called Kingslayers and both come from dysfunctional families with weird connections to their sisters (no incest in case of the Greyjoy siblings, but almost). After horrible events, both suffer permanent disfigurements that hinder their handling of weapons (losing an arm for Jaime and fingers for Theon, along with some more). Both try to redeem themselves and risk their lives for women (Brienne and Jeyne) in some of the most selfless acts the books have known.

* FreudianExcuse: He had a pretty miserable time at the hands of [[BigBrotherBully his brothers]] as a kid and going by what he says to the Captain's daughter, by his father as well. Then, at age ten, he was sent away from his family, home, and culture as a hostage to prevent his father from rebelling again and expected to live by a [[ValuesDissonance completely different set of values]]. Not to mention that the stranger he was expected to love as a father would have beheaded him with the sword that he, Theon, carried for him and handed him for executions, the moment word came of another rebellion by Balon. He recalls being through corporal punishments in Winterfell, something non of the other Stark children mention, even Jon. Furthermore, seems to have a had a lonely time there as Robb is suggested to have been his only friend during those 9-10 years. Logical considering he grew up in a place where no one trusted him, due to him being Ironborn, including his supposed caretakers.

*** Jaime Lannister. Both come from prominent families, have a talent for weapons (Sword for Jaime and bow and arrow for Theon), both were arrogant, hurt children (Jaime pushing Bran off a window and Theon ordering the killing of two miller boys), were known as handsome, called Kingslayers and both come from dysfunctional families with weird connections to their sisters (no incest in case of the Greyjoy siblings, but almost). After horrible events, both suffer permanent disfigurements that hinder their handling of weapons (losing an arm for Jaime and fingers for Theon, along with some more). Both try to redeem themselves and risk their lives for women (Brienne and Jeyne) in some of the most selfless acts the books have known.
*** Sansa Stark. Both are romantics with a tendency to fantasize only to have reality crush their dreams, and they even dreamed of marrying and becoming part of a different family (Sansa wanted to marry Joffrey and be a queen whilst Theon wanted to marry Sansa and become a Stark). Both held hostage and abused by their captors (including sexually by Joffrey in Sansa's case and by Ramsey in Theon's case), treated as dogs (Sansa comments on how Joffrey calls to her as if she were a dog and Theon is forced to sleep with dogs). Both have to change their names and identities (Alayne Stone and Reek) and change hands from one captor to another (Sansa- from the Lannisters to Petyr. Theon- from Starks to Boltons and now to Stannis). Their resilience and ability to adapt keeps them alive and both have a connecting link, Jeyne Poole.

*** Jaime Lannister. Both come from prominent families, have a talent for weapons (Sword for Jaime and bow and arrow for Theon), both were arrogant, hurt children (Jaime pushing Bran off a window and Theon ordering the killing of two miller boys), were known as handsome, called Kingslayers and both come from dysfunctional families with weird connections to their sisters (no incest in case of the Greyjoy siblings, but almost). After horrible events, both suffer permanent disfigurements that hinder their handling of weapons (losing an arm for Jaime and fingers for Theon, along with some more). Both try to redeem themselves and risk their lives for women (Brianne and Jayne) in some of the most selfless acts the books have known.

* PetTheDog: Gives his men a chance to escape before Rodrik Cassel gets back to Winterfell and forbids rapes while he was there. He also spares Osha's life and lets the Starks keep their Direwolves. Saves Jayne from Ramsey even at the risk of being recaptured himself.

** To his uncle, Aeron. Both were the youngest in the family (Aeron being second youngest) and abused by older siblings, Aeron by Euron and Theon by Rodrik and Maron. Both were the blacksheep of the family and were womanizers who loved to drink and party. Both faced near death exprience that made them religious, both were held captive in dungeons.

* FreudianExcuse: He had a pretty miserable time at the hands of [[BigBrotherBully his brothers]] as a kid. Then, at age ten, he was sent away from his family, home, and culture as a hostage to prevent his father from rebelling again and expected to live by a [[ValuesDissonance completely different set of values]]. Not to mention that the stranger he was expected to love as a father would have beheaded him with the sword that he, Theon, carried for him and handed him for executions, the moment word came of another rebellion by Balon.

* AloofBigSister: Her relation with Theon isn't a particularly healthy and warm one. The first thing she does upon reuniting with him after ten years is to pass herself as another girl and acts seductive to make him talk about his intentions and plans and embarass him. Afterward she publicly humiliates him several times, and acts mostly aloof and annoyed to him, and while she genuinely cares for him she isn't particulary good at expressing it.

* TheFriendNobodyLikes: In the North, due to both being a Greyjoy and his smug personality. Bran and Jon both find him annoying, Catelyn doesn't trust him, and even his best friend Rob expresses annoyance at him sometimes.

* GroinAttack: [[spoiler:It is heavily implied that Ramsay Bolton either castrated Theon or at best mutilated his genitals.]]

* InferioritySuperiorityComplex: Most of his boasting and arrogance is clearly a way to deny his deep insecurity over not having a home and not being a true Stark, among other things.

* {{Jerkass}}: Like father, like son. Treats everyone as if they are beneath him. [[spoiler: It takes him being tortured horrifically someone WAY worse than he ever was for him to start shedding this.]]
* JerkassHasAPoint: Sure, he undermined it by acting like a total prick, but Theon is not wrong in attempting to point out to most of Winterfell that his use of Beth was close to how he was used for years, regardless of how well they thought they'd treated him. Slapping "ward" on him rather than "hostage" didn't make him feel any safer, let alone securer.

* OnlySaneMan: Before the Greyjoys entered the war he proposed an alliance with the North and tells Balon that they're doomed to fail if they don't. Asha later agrees with him.
* PetTheDog: Gives his men a chance to escape before Rodrik Cassel gets back to Winterfell and forbids rapes while he was there. He also spares Osha's life and lets the Starks keep their Direwolves.

*** Jaime Lannister. Both come from prominent families, have a talent for weapons (Sword for Jaime and bow and arrow for Theon), both were arrogant, hurt children (pushing Bran of a window and killing two miller boys), were known as handsome, called Kingslayers and both come from dysfunctional families with weird connections to their sisters (no incest in case of the Greyjoy siblings, but almost). After horrible events, both suffer permanent disfigurements that hinder their handling of weapons (losing an arm for Jaime and fingers for Theon, along with some more). Both try to redeem themselves and risk their lives for women (Brianne and Jayne) in some of the most selfless acts the books have known.

* {{Foil}}: To Jon Snow. Both feel like outsiders, both are raised at Winterfell, and both experience identity issues that have left them bitter and with the desire to prove themselves. While Jon Snow faces societal prejudice for being an illegitimate child who does not even know the identity of his mother, he is loved by his father, siblings, and uncle, and is raised alongside his siblings by his father Ned Stark. Theon -- though he is the new heir to the Iron Islands -- is sent away to another family as a hostage at age ten, raised away from his family, was bullied by his brothers before he was sent to the Starks, and his birth father treats him poorly. Jon is a blood Stark in all but name and raised as part of his family as Ned Stark's son. Theon has his family's name, Greyjoy, but is a Greyjoy raised as a ward among all of Ned Stark's children to keep his father Balon from rebelling again. Both Jon and Theon shared very close relationships with Robb, who was Jon's half-brother and whom Theon regarded as a surrogate brother. Theon loves and is loved by his sister and Jon loves and is loved by his siblings. However, while Jon decides to join the Night's Watch for the sake of honor and duty, has risen to Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, and [[spoiler:might possibly be the heir to the Iron Throne]], Theon becomes a traitor to Robb for the sake of winning his father's approval. He fails at keeping Winterfell after he captured it in an effort to gain affection from said father (a vain attempt, anyway, as Balon's [[TheUnfavorite Unfavorite]]), [[spoiler:and is later tortured into thinking of himself as Ramsay Bolton's servant named Reek]]. And despite both being companions to Robb, Theon and Jon have little love lost between them, with Theon resenting how Jon, a bastard, is (supposedly) afforded more respect than he, while Jon doesn't share Robb's trust and liking for Theon.

*** To his uncle, Aegon. Both were the youngest in the family (Aegon being second youngest) and abused by older silblings, Aegon by Euron and Theon by Rodrik and Maron. Both were the blacksheep of the family and were womanizers who loved to drink and party. Both faced near death exprience that made them religious, both were held captive in dungeons.

* {{Foil}}: To Jon Snow. Both feel like outsiders, both are raised at Winterfell, and both experience identity issues that have left them bitter and with the desire to prove themselves. While Jon Snow faces societal prejudice for being an illegitimate child who does not even know the identity of his mother, he is loved by his father, siblings, and uncle, and is raised alongside his siblings by his father Ned Stark. Theon -- though he is the new heir to the Iron Islands -- is sent away to another family as a hostage at age ten, raised away from his family, was bullied by his brothers before he was sent to the Starks, and his birth father treats him poorly. Jon is a blood Stark in all but name and raised as part of his family as Ned Stark's son. Theon has his family's name, Greyjoy, but is a Greyjoy raised as a ward among all of Ned Stark's children to keep his father Balon from rebelling again. Both Jon and Theon shared very close relationships with Robb, who was Jon's half-brother and whom Theon regarded as a surrogate brother. Theon loves and is loved by his sister and Jon loves and is loved by his siblings. However, while Jon decides to join the Night's Watch for the sake of honor and duty, has risen to Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, and [[spoiler:might possibly be the heir to the Iron Throne]], Theon becomes a traitor to his foster family for the sake of winning his father's approval. He fails at keeping Winterfell after he captured it in an effort to gain affection from said father (a vain attempt, anyway, as Balon's [[TheUnfavorite Unfavorite]]), [[spoiler:and is later tortured into thinking of himself as Ramsay Bolton's servant named Reek]]. And despite both being companions to Robb, Theon and Jon have little love lost between them, with Theon resenting how Jon, a bastard, is (supposedly) afforded more respect than he, while Jon doesn't share Robb's trust and liking for Theon.

** Despite trying to emulate and please his father, he cannot bring himself to really practice and enjoy the "Old Way" as he contemplates taking two bodies of their belongings but the thought gives him a bitter taste in his mouth and he renounces doing it, nor he can bring himself to kill himself one of his northern acquaintances Benfrend Tallhart.

* CharacterDevelopment: The smug, arrogant, womanizing archer [[spoiler:goes through a bout of truly horrific torture, leaving his mind fractured and his identity in shambles, before gradually reclaiming it piece by piece. He emerges still snarky, but with remorse for what he's done, a more noble streak, and a greatly humbled/self-deprecating attitude.]]

*** Even Roose took notice of Theon's love and silks and velvets.

** After being told that [[spoiler: Bran and Rickon have escaped]] one of the first things he does is complain he doesn't have enough time to comb his hair. When Maester Luwin suggested that he take the black, the first thing he did was take a mental inventory of his wardrobe to see if he had enough nice black clothes. SkewedPriorities, thy name is Theon.

* BeingEvilSucks: Finds out the hard way in book 2, as he tries to live up to his family and people's standards, and acts increasingly ruthless as his desires to earn his family's respect and to rule Winterfell become more and morey desperate, but it only worsens his guilt and mental state and makes him even more miserable. By the time of A Dance With Dragons he deeply regrets his choices [[spoiler: and wishes that he had stayed with and died with the Starks instead of betraying them.]]
* BelatedLoveEpiphany: [[spoiler:Of the familial type. He eventually comes to realize that the Starks were his true family, long after he betrays them and sets the events in motion that led to Robb and Catelyn's deaths.]]

* BlackSheep: To House Greyjoy, as despite his initial excitement to go back home and his desire to earn his family's respect, his own father and uncles view him as soft and weak and believe him to have become a "greenlander" or "wolf" and treat him with open disdain, his own sister ridicules and humiliates him, and despite his efforts he cannot bring himself to enjoy their lifestyle of reaving nor to fully abandon the lessons Ned Stark taught him.

* BecomingTheMask: [[spoiler: All right, not so much becoming as being viciously tortured until your mind snaps.]]

* AloofBigSister: Her relation with Theon isn't a particularly healthy and warm one. The first thing she does upon reuniting with him after ten years is to pass herself as another girl and acts seductive to make him talk about his intentions and plans and embarass him. Afterward she publicly humiliates him several times, and acts mostly aloof and annoyed to him, and while she shows signs of genuine care for him she isn't particulary good at expressing it.

* TokenGoodTeammate: Relative to most other Ironborn she falls here. She expresses disgust at the idea of harming children and doesn't believe restoring the Old Way is plausible.

* UnexpectedSuccessor: After her older brothers Rodrik and Maron died in war, and little Theon was sent away to become a ward of the Starks, Balon shocked the Ironborn by making Asha his heir, and stood by his decision even after Theon returned home all grown up.

* WouldntHurtAChild: She will not harm children, and treats her young noble captives extremely well and ensures they receive proper care while held at Ten Towers. This is one of her biggest differences from Theon, who had very little problem with [[spoiler:executing, burning, and decapitating two children to pass off as Bran and Rickon just to keep his pride intact]]. When Asha learns of this, she is absolutely disgusted by his actions.