Boaz
Happy Easter!
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2005
- Messages
- 6,588
I've been thinking a lot about Tywin Lannister, heck, all the Lannisters. My conclusion is that they need help in the head, serious help. Like a good thwack in the head... or therapy.
I'd like to have a thread that discusses the psychology of certain characters. I don't want to talk about conspiracies (you're shocked, I know), about who will ride a dragon, and who is your favorite. I want to post and read posts on the psychological/emotional/religious/mental aspects of characters. I'm not going to start by offering detailed analysis (I"m not qualified), but I think I'll just start with observations and questions.
I'd like to start with the Lannisters, specifically Tywin.
For the record, I'm not trained at all in any field of mental or physical health, i.e. I'm not a doctor, but I play one on the web. I seriously hope some of you have studied (in school or as a hobby) psychology... or better yet psychiatry.
Tywin Lannister was the eldest of five siblings... four boys, one girl. His father held a position of high authority and responsibility. His mother died before Tywin came of age. His father was seen as physically, financially, politically, and morally anemic. He despised his father's mistresses (whores). As soon as his father died and he assumed his father's authority, he ruthlessly set about to restore his vision of the Lannister name and power. He exterminated two noble families who defied him. He then accepted the position of Hand and effectively ruled the Seven Kingdoms. He loved his wife, Joanna. He had three children... the twins Cersei and Jaime and then Tyrion, a dwarf.
He believed strongly in hereditary rights, in the purity of racial breeding, in the distintion of social classes, in the honor and power of House Lannister, in patience, and in making examples of those who disobeyed him.
When Tywin's father died, his father's last mistress tried to walk out wearing the family jewels. Tywin took everything from her and turned her away with nothing, iirc. Tywin forced Tyrion's first wife to divorce Tyrion and to become a whore. He constantly berated Tyrion for visiting prostitutes. He forbade Tyrion to take Shae to KL and he proclaimed that he'd kill the next whore Tyrion took to bed. So after Shae's testimony that Tyrion took her to KL and to bed repeatedly... why did Tywin take her into his bed?
How emotionally distant is this man?
At one point, he needed to command the army and to run the government at the same time. He could not do both so he needed to choose someone to either play General or Hand. Kevan, Cersei, Jaime, and Tyrion seem to me to have been the most logical choices for either General or Hand. Tywin chose General for himself and for Jaime... and he bypassed Cersei to make Tyrion Hand of the King. He told Tyrion "You are my son." Later, when Tyrion demands his birthright Tywin tells Tyrion that Tyrion will never inherit the Rock. He used Tyrion's tremendous capabilities for his own benefit, but he'd rather hand over his legacy to a nephew.
Tywin split with Aerys II when Aerys went behind Tywin's back and made Jaime a member of the Kingsguard. In effect, Aerys stole Tywin's heir. Tywin spent the next nineteen years or so trying to get Jaime back. When Jaime declares that he wants no inheritance from Tywin, Tywin says "You are not my son." This was during Tyrion's trial. What was Tywin thinking? Was his entire life a waste?
What did he know about the parentage of Robert's children? Did he suspect Jaime? Was he shocked when Stannis' letter went out? Was he still in denial up to his death? To me, he seemed to cling to the belief that his high Andalish heritage would never produce incestous twins. I think he probably knew in his heart of hearts that it was true, but that he'd deny it with the strength of mind and willpower that he had.
I don't know that this man had a soft spot in his heart for anything but Joanna and Jaime. It does not appear that he had outlets of any kind for any other emotions than a little anger and a little vengeance. He bottled it all up. Tyrion, Jaime, and others remark at how they never saw joy, fear, sadness, or any other passion on his face. He was the absolute master of his emotions, his circumstances, his children, and in most cases... his world.
I'd like to have a thread that discusses the psychology of certain characters. I don't want to talk about conspiracies (you're shocked, I know), about who will ride a dragon, and who is your favorite. I want to post and read posts on the psychological/emotional/religious/mental aspects of characters. I'm not going to start by offering detailed analysis (I"m not qualified), but I think I'll just start with observations and questions.
I'd like to start with the Lannisters, specifically Tywin.
For the record, I'm not trained at all in any field of mental or physical health, i.e. I'm not a doctor, but I play one on the web. I seriously hope some of you have studied (in school or as a hobby) psychology... or better yet psychiatry.
Tywin Lannister was the eldest of five siblings... four boys, one girl. His father held a position of high authority and responsibility. His mother died before Tywin came of age. His father was seen as physically, financially, politically, and morally anemic. He despised his father's mistresses (whores). As soon as his father died and he assumed his father's authority, he ruthlessly set about to restore his vision of the Lannister name and power. He exterminated two noble families who defied him. He then accepted the position of Hand and effectively ruled the Seven Kingdoms. He loved his wife, Joanna. He had three children... the twins Cersei and Jaime and then Tyrion, a dwarf.
He believed strongly in hereditary rights, in the purity of racial breeding, in the distintion of social classes, in the honor and power of House Lannister, in patience, and in making examples of those who disobeyed him.
When Tywin's father died, his father's last mistress tried to walk out wearing the family jewels. Tywin took everything from her and turned her away with nothing, iirc. Tywin forced Tyrion's first wife to divorce Tyrion and to become a whore. He constantly berated Tyrion for visiting prostitutes. He forbade Tyrion to take Shae to KL and he proclaimed that he'd kill the next whore Tyrion took to bed. So after Shae's testimony that Tyrion took her to KL and to bed repeatedly... why did Tywin take her into his bed?
How emotionally distant is this man?
At one point, he needed to command the army and to run the government at the same time. He could not do both so he needed to choose someone to either play General or Hand. Kevan, Cersei, Jaime, and Tyrion seem to me to have been the most logical choices for either General or Hand. Tywin chose General for himself and for Jaime... and he bypassed Cersei to make Tyrion Hand of the King. He told Tyrion "You are my son." Later, when Tyrion demands his birthright Tywin tells Tyrion that Tyrion will never inherit the Rock. He used Tyrion's tremendous capabilities for his own benefit, but he'd rather hand over his legacy to a nephew.
Tywin split with Aerys II when Aerys went behind Tywin's back and made Jaime a member of the Kingsguard. In effect, Aerys stole Tywin's heir. Tywin spent the next nineteen years or so trying to get Jaime back. When Jaime declares that he wants no inheritance from Tywin, Tywin says "You are not my son." This was during Tyrion's trial. What was Tywin thinking? Was his entire life a waste?
What did he know about the parentage of Robert's children? Did he suspect Jaime? Was he shocked when Stannis' letter went out? Was he still in denial up to his death? To me, he seemed to cling to the belief that his high Andalish heritage would never produce incestous twins. I think he probably knew in his heart of hearts that it was true, but that he'd deny it with the strength of mind and willpower that he had.
I don't know that this man had a soft spot in his heart for anything but Joanna and Jaime. It does not appear that he had outlets of any kind for any other emotions than a little anger and a little vengeance. He bottled it all up. Tyrion, Jaime, and others remark at how they never saw joy, fear, sadness, or any other passion on his face. He was the absolute master of his emotions, his circumstances, his children, and in most cases... his world.
) 
