GOT Star Shares Controversial Take on LOTR Knighthood
A key difference separating The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones is highlighted by a famous remark from the GOT author. “What was Aragorn’s tax policy?” Certainly, Aragorn ruled for 100 years after the events of J.R.R. Tolkien’s books, but the specifics of his rule remain unexplored. Such questioning fuels Martin’s personal fantasy world, often dragging his protagonists into moral ambiguity in a way the LOTR hero avoided.
Exploring Knighthood in Two Realms
HBO’s next GOT series, The Hedge Knight, will delve into these complexities through the beloved tale of Ser Duncan the Tall (the actor) and Aegon Targaryen (Dexter Sol Ansell). They encounter multiple dangerous exploits in an age when the Targaryen dynasty continues to occupy the Iron Throne but their mighty beasts have gone extinct. During a comic con discussion, Claffey commented on one major difference between Game of Thrones and LOTR: the very definition of knighthood.
“This world that Martin has created, it contains a lot more sinister and adult themes that are explored. Much betrayal and deceit, and it’s challenging to navigate,” Claffey stated. “For a lot of people in Westeros, it works; it did for Littlefinger for a long time. For somebody to have the true knightly valor in that world is something to really look up to, especially in the world of the Seven Kingdoms. So I really adore Dunk’s commitment to maintain the morals that chivalry has largely abandoned in Westeros on his quest in the tourney. I think it requires a lot more to be a warrior than it does in Tolkien’s world.”
After the discussion, the actor attempted to soften that comment, concerned it might spark a war between the two fandoms and put him right in the crossfire. Of course, it prompted a follow-up interview to delve into his perspective on how chivalry differs between the universes of GOT and The Lord of the Rings.
Divergent Themes in Fantasy Worlds
As per the actor, a major part of the difference stems from the clashing tones between these two iconic fantasy worlds.
“There is so much more integrity present [in Middle-earth] due to the mature content in Game of Thrones and George’s world,” Claffey said. “People get so far in positions and status by doing hideous things and betraying others, both physically and metaphorically. In the glorious trilogy that is LOTR, you witness so much more nobility, and other than Morgoth or Sauron, those pure evils, [LOTR] is a lot more like storybook villainy.”
Instead of believing chivalry is more difficult, Claffey argues that in the Seven Kingdoms it’s tougher to maneuver while attempting to remain a decent warrior.
The Weight of Knighthood in Westeros
“A knight with some status must have some head fog,” he remarked, pointing to the morality-clouding anxiety that comes from attempting to survive the politics of the realm from the vantage point of a humble fighter. Viewers have witnessed the stress of knighthood throughout the series, with characters like Criston Cole in HotD and Jamie Lannister in GOT demonstrating how people under oath are forced to betray their principles, and what it does to them psychologically.
That said, although being a knight in Westeros may be harder than in Tolkien’s realm, Claffey is still willing to concede that his role in The Hedge Knight wouldn’t stand a chance against the best that The Lord of the Rings has to offer.
“The Ranger defeats Dunk every time of the week,” he declared, “I’d say Martin would concur.”