Sorry about not posting last night. Storms happened and electricity alluded me for a time. That time happened to be when I usually blog.
DAY THREE: FAVORITE HOUSE WORDS
Baratheon: Ours is the Fury.
Each noble house has their own family motto or, as they are called in the book, house words. The most famous of these, even by people who aren't familiar with GRRM's work, are the house words of the Starks, "Winter is coming." This phrase has become fairly common in our culture. And while I like the Stark words, they aren't my favorite, mostly because how I view house words as shaping the psychology of the characters associated with them.
House words should play on a character, almost haunt them. They should be a driving force behind how and why the character acts the way they do. "Winter is coming" should remind a Stark to be cautious in their actions. Conserve resources because you'll need them for the lean and cold months. "Growing strong" keeps a Tyrell on her feet, helping her to remember to be bold, because her house is trying to better itself. "We do not sow" serves to justify to a Greyjoy why it's okay to abandon plans, friends, ties, even hope. They set down no roots. They can only steal.
"Ours is the fury" started not only the last war, but the current war. Robert's Rebellion happened because he was outraged that his betrothed would choose another man over him, so much that he can't even begin to believe it is anything other than a kidnapping/rape situation. He is hellbent on destroying all Targaryens, which is somewhat interesting, considering his grandmother was a Targaryen.
Robert Baratheon lives his life as an Idmonster. He fathers many bastard children, drinks constantly, eats almost as much, and sleeps with as many women as he can manage. He hits his wife, berates everyone around him, neglects his children, and runs the kingdom into debt. He is nothing but a machine of self-destruction. His fury drives him and it is the only thing that drives him.
It also causes the major rift between him and his two younger brothers. Stannis tries his best to be honorable and sensible, but deep down, he is driven by cold fury. He chafes at Robert's mockery, at how much his brother neglected and ignored him. His sense of justice tells him certain things are owed to him, but Robert denied him constantly. Robert basically liked everyone in the world more than he liked Stannis and Stannis can't forget that, even for a minute.
It's interesting that the person who tries the most to live up to the Baratheon house words is Joffery. Joffery, who isn't truly a Baratheon at all, as he is the product of incest between his mother and her twin, struts around King's Landing trying to be the same kind of badass that he believes Robert was, that he feels all Baratheon men should be. He lives for his fury. He beheaded Eddard Stark because he felt Ned betrayed his father and should die for it. He wants to destroy everyone rebelling against the crown because that is what any strong Baratheon man would do. It's a truly interesting bit of literary irony that Joff will do something and think "I am SUCH a great Baratheon, OURS IS THE FURY" when the reader looks at him as 'that crazy spoiled incesty Lannister psycho brat!"
In the War of Five Kings, it is interesting that three of these kings have the Baratheon last name. Their fury drives the current events, and even after two of them fall, the third one continues to fight, doing whatever he can to take back what he truly believes to be his.
House words can do many things. They can proclaim the greatness of a family. They boast of the resources in the area. They can speak of a long and powerful heritage. They can serve as a warning to other families. However, I think the best house words, the most potent house words, serve as a warning to not only others, but also to the family itself. Winter is coming, so be careful what you do. Growing strong, so be bold in spreading our power. As high as honor, but also as dangerous when you fall. Ours is the fury, and the fury can do a lot of damage when it goes unchecked.
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