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The Blackfish · 29th November 2005, 02:09 AM

I agree with Arya that the amount of explicitness in the narration seems to be justified in creating a story that touches its readers emotions and draws them into the story on a level that would not be possible otherwise. For this reason I am able to stomach the violence and the sex because it is written for a purpose, and not just for titilation.

What I am less comfortable with is a thought that has been in my mind for some time now, and this seems like a good thread to share it in.
Has anyone taken much notice that many of the female characters in ASoIaF are rather less than an acceptable age to be sexually active? I understand and accept that in the world of Westeros and beyond, such things are normal, and it is infact accepted that when a girl "flowers" around her 13th birthday, she will soon after be married off and expect to produce babies. This is also true of certain cultures in our world, if not in these times, at least historically.
My concern is that these things are NOT accepted in our world - the world/culture of the reader. Dany in particular was not much more than 13 when married to Drogo, and some of their scenes were very explicit and nearly made me vomit as I read about the massivly framed Drogo with the small 13 year old Dany.
Don't get me wrong, I really like the Danyaerys POV and admire her for all that she has achieved. But every time I read the sexual parts of her story, I keep thinking "this girl is only about 14 or 15." Just doesn't seem right.

I think that perhaps GRRM has gone a little overboard in the amount of incest and paedophilic tendencies.

Any thoughts?

29th November 2005, 02:09 AM	#7 (permalink)
The Blackfish The one that got away Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 54	Re: Disturbing "theme" in AFFC I agree with Arya that the amount of explicitness in the narration seems to be justified in creating a story that touches its readers emotions and draws them into the story on a level that would not be possible otherwise. For this reason I am able to stomach the violence and the sex because it is written for a purpose, and not just for titilation. What I am less comfortable with is a thought that has been in my mind for some time now, and this seems like a good thread to share it in. Has anyone taken much notice that many of the female characters in ASoIaF are rather less than an acceptable age to be sexually active? I understand and accept that in the world of Westeros and beyond, such things are normal, and it is infact accepted that when a girl "flowers" around her 13th birthday, she will soon after be married off and expect to produce babies. This is also true of certain cultures in our world, if not in these times, at least historically. My concern is that these things are NOT accepted in our world - the world/culture of the reader. Dany in particular was not much more than 13 when married to Drogo, and some of their scenes were very explicit and nearly made me vomit as I read about the massivly framed Drogo with the small 13 year old Dany. Don't get me wrong, I really like the Danyaerys POV and admire her for all that she has achieved. But every time I read the sexual parts of her story, I keep thinking "this girl is only about 14 or 15." Just doesn't seem right. I think that perhaps GRRM has gone a little overboard in the amount of incest and paedophilic tendencies. Any thoughts?