Whether you are an ardent fan of the show or have never seen it; you are surely not immune to the ongoing ever-increasing tweets and posts about the latest season of Game of Thrones. Being the show of this era, this show has a mind-boggling number of audience. It is full of surprise beheadings, betrayals, twisted affairs and the most emotionally devastating plots. Let us nosedive into this world full of white walkers and dragons to learn some inspiring life lessons-
- Never doubt your abilities- With a hoard of strong characters, displaying marvelous leadership skills like Daenerys Targaryen and Cersei Lannister; it is quite usual to ignore the other weaker characters like Theon Grejoy. But do remember that Daenerys was nothing but a meek girl who was sold to the Dothraki by her dominant brother in return for some favors. She started as nothing but now is the mother of 3 dragons, breaker of chains and an immensely reputed leader among the people. Similarly, it is quite a common notion to underestimate one’s abilities when life is a bit harsh but one can never know how one’s personality unfolds. With a fire among herself, Dany took a stance against slavery and won much hearts because of her courage, valor and good deeds. Similarly, the audience was enchanted to see Arya Stark grow into a skilled warrior and excel in sword fighting. From a timid girl, she grew into a warrior who alone murdered the Freys, who was responsible for her mother’s and brother’s murder. So, whenever you feel insecure about your own self, peep into the life of Daenerys Targaryen or Arya Stark and learn some amazing life lessons from them.
- Everybody makes mistakes-When our favorite, Jon Snow crossed his boundaries and slept with the wilding girl, Ygritte; we all were scared of his fate. Being a member of the Night’s Watch, he took vows to never get into any relationship or start a family, but his mistake was accepted by the respected Maester Aemon and he was seen quoting, “If we beheaded every Ranger who lay with a girl, the Wall would be manned by headless men.”
This incident throws a great deal of light on the fact that every human is flawed and it cannot be expected from them to never commit any mistakes. However fatal they may be, mistakes are admissible and hence one must be honest about it.
- What people think about you does not matter-Being decked up with characters wearing their weakness badges proudly; this show surely sums up some true life lessons. Whether it is Tyrion-the imp, Jaime- the Kingslayer, Brienne - the beauty, Ser Davos- the onion knight, Jon Snow- the bastard or Bran- the cripple; the characters teach you to never be ashamed of your weakness and instead try to find their uniqueness among them. Daenerys paid no heed to the various notions people had about her on being the mad king’s daughter. Just keep on doing your duties and you shall be awarded accordingly. Tyrion aptly justifies this integral life lesson in one of his most famous quotes- “Never forget what you are. The rest of the world will not. Wear it like armor, and it can never be used to hurt you.”
- Be loyal and honest-The qualities of loyalty and honesty are among the deeply rooted values imbibed by this show. For instance, the loyalty displayed by Brienne to Catelyn Stark has been immensely popularized. She swore an oath to Lady Stark to protect her daughters- Sansa Stark and Arya Stark and as a result, she continues to do so even after Lady Stark’s demise. On the other hand, the disloyalty of Ser Jorah Mormont to Daenerys Targaryen was confessed by him honestly. Although his action resulted in a sentenced exile, this did not stop him from confessing that he was sent to spy on her and report her actions to Westeros. These qualities are a must-have and one should have the courage to accept one’s mistakes and disloyalties.
- Spend every day like it is your last-Lord Petyr Baelish has surely been the most peculiar character of the lot. With his cunning looks and unpredictable actions, he is not liked by many. But one of his dialogues provides the necessary enlightenment when it comes to the issue of life and death- “Everybody dies sooner or later. And don’t worry about your death. Worry about your life. Take charge of your life for as long as it lasts.”
Game of Thrones showcases the mortality of men well. It demonstrates that death is omnipotent and all men must die. Each human (or in this case, even the white walkers and dragons!) is equally vulnerable and hence must not worry about his life. Death will eventually consume us all and we should focus on the present and make it count.
- Don’t be judgmental- Gorge R. R. Martin creates a logical perspective among the minds of the audience as to why certain actions are undertaken by people. It is quite easy to pass judgments and criticize people for their deeds but it is sometimes forgotten why such actions were taken in the first place. The mindset of people in some situations compels them to do some things which are not totally justified. For instance, Cersei’s actions can be easily justified based on her unconditional love for her children; Jaime pushing Bran from the window could be justified for his love for Cersei, and the list goes on and on. We cannot just label someone as bad based on their particular activities. Similarly, in our lives, we are too quick in jumping to conclusions and hence often neglect other aspects of people’s personalities.
The list of these valuable lessons is quite a huge one. When deeply analyzed this extremely popular show can play a major role in shaping the minds of youngsters. And what can be better than to learn something while indulging in this adrenaline pumping series!