Feudal Life and Movies: Analysis of HBO Series Game of Thrones
Instructions:-
Choose one of the following and compare its society to the feudal life of the Early Middle Ages: Clash of Clans, World of Warcraft,The Fellowship of the Ring (or the Hobbit), or the HBO series Game of Thrones. Or you may choose another comparison as long as it is science fiction or futuristic fantasy. (Do not choose a fantasy story already set in Middle Ages or in the past, or one that clearly has no common points with feudalism.)
Think of the terminology used as well as the relationships within each society. Use the LibGuide provided below in this Learning Module to research “feudalism” beyond what is in the textbook–you might consider more in depth games and pastimes, perceptions of women, and farming technology, for example, as well as concepts like loyalty between vassal and lord, and otherworldly ideals–or choose your own. Have fun with this assignment, but make sure your comparisons are understandable to a reader unfamiliar with your choices.
Make at least 3 major comparisons, and, again, follow the SEE-I format. Conclude with either an anecdote or an analogyChoose one of the following and compare its society to the feudal life of the Early Middle Ages: Clash of Clans, World of Warcraft,The Fellowship of the Ring (or the Hobbit), or the HBO series Game of Thrones. Or you may choose another comparison as long as it is science fiction or futuristic fantasy. (Do not choose a fantasy story already set in Middle Ages or in the past, or one that clearly has no common points with feudalism.)
Think of the terminology used as well as the relationships within each society. Use the LibGuide provided below in this Learning Module to research “feudalism” beyond what is in the textbook–you might consider more in depth games and pastimes, perceptions of women, and farming technology, for example, as well as concepts like loyalty between vassal and lord, and otherworldly ideals–or choose your own. Have fun with this assignment, but make sure your comparisons are understandable to a reader unfamiliar with your choices.
Make at least 3 major comparisons, and, again, follow the SEE-I format. Conclude with either an anecdote or an analogy
Solution
Feudal Life and Movies: Analysis of HBO Series Game of Thrones
Contemporarily, research suggests that some movies, as well as TV, are now mirroring the traditional lifestyle of the middle Ages’ society. One aspect that these movies depict is the aspect of feudalism. Bloch (2011) describes a feudal society as one that resembles the Middle Ages medieval European society where society is governed by the several lords who have economic powers and prestige. Additionally, it was a notable feature that the feudal society was structured into seven kingdoms. This paper transcends an analysis of how the HBO series Game of Thrones depicts the feudal life.
First, as mentioned earlier, the feudal society had seven kingdoms. About the Game of Thrones, the TV show depicts that its social and political structure was made up of the lords and lordship. The seven kingdoms in the Game of Thrones include Kingdom of the North, Kingdom of the Rock, Kingdom of the Stormlands, Kingdom of the Reach, Kingdom of the Mountain and the Vale, and the Principality of Dorne (Dinklage, Coster-Waldau, Headey, Clarke, & Harington, 2011). Comparatively, feudal society depicted the same structure in that the name “Seven Kingdoms” refers to the realm that has power over Westeros and other islands governed by King Andals and the First Men. Therefore, in is conclusive that the TV series depicts the dominant characteristics of a feudal society especially one that was in a medieval era in Europe.
Second, feudal society had three categories of the social order; the kings, lords, and the peasants. Additionally, Duby (1982) indicates that the feudal society had a “rigid societal structure” where the commoners were not able to advance a level up in the society. About the Game of Thrones, we can note from Season five that the daughter of the Lord Eddard Starks daughter, Sansa Stark will have to marry a son from another lordship within the seven kingdoms (Dinklage, Coster-Waldau, Headey, Clarke, & Harington, 2011). Therefore, feudalism is a predominant feature within the contexts of this TV series. The lord’s daughter cannot mix with other commoners regarding marriage depicting a rigid structure of societal interactions.
Lastly, an of lordship inheritance is common with the
feudal society. As such Lewis (1981) states that in the feudal society they
practiced inheritance that was based on primogeniture where the inheritor will
take possession of everything from the parent’s land as well as possession,
excluding the younger siblings. As such, succession to a throne was decided by
order of birth. About the Game of Thrones, in the first four episodes, it is
noted that Joffrey Baratheon inherits his father’s throne at a younger age
since it is believed he was the oldest son of King Robert Baratheon (Dinklage, Coster-Waldau, Headey, Clarke,
& Harington, 2011).Therefore,
the feudal system of inheritance is clearly depicted in the series indicating
the traditional practices of the feudal society in the 9th and 15h
century.
References
Bloch, M. (2011). Feudal Society. New York: Routledge.
Benioff, D., & Weiss, D. B. (Directors). (2011). Game of Thrones [Motion Picture]. USA.
Duby, G. (1982). The three orders: feudal society imagined. University of Chicago Press.
Lewis, A. W. (1981). Royal succession in Capetian France: studies on familial order and the state (Vol. 100). Cambridge, Massachussets: Harvard University Press.