GOT Star Reveals Controversial Take on LOTR Chivalry
A key distinction separating LOTR and GOT is illustrated by an often-cited observation from George R.R. Martin. “How did Aragorn handle taxes?” Indeed, the King of Gondor ruled for 100 years after the conclusion of Tolkien’s novels, but the details of his rule remain unexplored. Such inquiry fuels Martin’s personal fantasy world, often dragging his characters into ethical gray areas in a way Aragorn avoided.
Delving into Knighthood in Different Fantasy Worlds
The upcoming GOT spinoff, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, will delve into this moral mud through the beloved story of Dunk (the actor) and Aegon Targaryen (Dexter Sol Ansell). They face multiple perilous adventures in an era when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne but their mighty beasts have gone extinct. During a recent panel, Claffey reflected on one significant contrast between GOT and The Lord of the Rings: the core meaning of knighthood.
“This world that Martin has built, it contains a lot more sinister and mature subjects that are presented. A lot of treachery and deceit, and it’s challenging to find your way,” he said. “For a lot of people in Westeros, it pays off; it did for Petyr Baelish for a long time. For somebody to have the true chivalric honor in that realm is something to really look up to, especially in the world of Westeros. I deeply appreciate Dunk’s commitment to uphold the ethics that chivalry has largely abandoned in Westeros through his journey in Ashford. I think it requires a lot more to be a warrior than it does in Tolkien’s world.”
Following the panel, Claffey attempted to soften that statement, fearing it might spark a conflict between the two fandoms and put him right in the crossfire. Of course, this led to a deeper conversation to further explore his thoughts on how chivalry varies between the worlds of GOT and The Lord of the Rings.
Divergent Themes in Fantasy Worlds
As per the actor, a major part of the distinction comes down to the contrasting styles between these two legendary fantasy worlds.
“There is so much more honor evident [in Tolkien’s world] due to the adult themes in Game of Thrones and Martin’s creation,” he said. “Characters rise to power in positions and status by doing terrible acts and betraying others, literally and figuratively. In the epic series that is LOTR, you witness so much more honor, and other than the dark Vala or the Dark Lord, those absolute villains, [LOTR] is a lot more like storybook villainy.”
Instead of thinking chivalry is more difficult, Claffey believes that in the Seven Kingdoms it’s more difficult to maneuver while trying to be a honorable knight.
The Burden of Chivalry in Game of Thrones
“A warrior with a certain rank must have some head fog,” he remarked, referring to the morality-clouding anxiety that stems from trying to navigate the scheming of the realm from the perspective of a low-born knight. Audiences have seen the pressure of knighthood across the series, with figures like Criston Cole in HotD and Jamie Lannister in Game of Thrones exploring how people bound by vows are forced to go against their principles, and the impact to them psychologically.
However, while serving as a warrior in the Seven Kingdoms may be harder than in Tolkien’s realm, Claffey is still willing to admit that his role in The Hedge Knight is no match against the greatest that LOTR has to offer.
“Aragorn defeats Dunk every time of the week,” Claffey declared, “I’d say George would concur.”
