Lady Hodor, on 11 June 2012 - 04:15 PM, said:
Stubborn: Sansa gives in at nearly everything.
She is quite stubborn, actually. She tries to hold on to her ideals in King's Landing, even with everyone always trying to beat them out of her. She somehow holds on to her compassion despite everything she's been through, though we see a more hardened Sansa emerging in Feast.
Lady Hodor, on 11 June 2012 - 04:15 PM, said:
Brave: She is frequently scared and presents no acts of bravery.
Oh yes, she does. Saving Dontos was an act of bravery. Keeping her true feelings to herself and sucking up all of the abuse to survive was an act of bravery. Responding to the note left by Littlefinger was an act of bravery. Showing up to the godswood, knife in hand, was a moment of bravery. Refusing to kneel for Tyrion was an act of bravery. Climbing down the cliffs to escape King's Landing was an act of bravery. Helping Robert Arryn across the crossing Mya slipped on down the mountain was an act of bravery.
Lady Hodor, on 11 June 2012 - 04:15 PM, said:
Determined: She does nothing to make her aims come true, aside from risking going to the godswood.
She is very much determined to go home. Plotting with Dontos shows this. Plotting with the Tyrells is another example. She also confronts Littlefinger about not bringing her home like he promised. She has very little room for agency in King's Landing, but she grasps at the opportunities she's given.
Lady Hodor, on 11 June 2012 - 04:15 PM, said:
Honourable: She went to Cersei and told her of Ned's plans, essentially betraying him
All the Stark kids do things that aren't really
right. Arya's vigilante justice on Dareon and her murder of the insurance guy. Bran warging into Hodor. Yes, Sansa makes a mistake, but there was also no malicious intent behind it. She uses all the channels available to her afterwards to try to save her father's life.
Lady Hodor, on 11 June 2012 - 04:15 PM, said:
So I was just wondering why is it that she is so obviously different from the others?
I don't think she's all that different. She uses the tools she has--her armor of courtesy, her ability to hide her feelings, the ability to make people love her--to survive. Just as Arya and Bran use their particular skills to survive. And all the Stark kids are only alive because they had help from other people, Arya is no exception here. They're all motivated by their hope for home and seeing their family again. Actually, Arya and Sansa's stories parallel each other
extraordinarily closely throughout the series.
As for Sansa not being able to do anything on her own... Now that she has more freedom to move in the Vale, she's actually doing quite well. Littlefinger has entrusted her with important tasks like setting things up for the meeting with the Lords Declarant and getting Robert down the mountain, and she has succeeded largely on her own.
Elder Sister, on 11 June 2012 - 04:21 PM, said:
To me, the biggest fundamental difference between these two girls can be seen with Sansa's reaction to Sandor Clegane's offer to take her out of KL. She refuses, (in the books, Sandor doesn't offer to take her home, if I remember correctly - just out of there. Correct me if I'm wrong about this.) but I think Arya would have been out of there like a shot, and would have ditched Sandor when it was convenient.
Well, Sandor holds a knife to her throat and seems to ponder raping her, so not leaving with him is entirely understandable. He also takes off before she can actually get a response out to him. You're thinking of the TV show, I think.
Arya and Sansa are different, yes. But they both have their individual strengths (which are both just as valid) and they are both survivors. I admire both characters immensely.
Edited by Lady Kraken, 11 June 2012 - 04:56 PM.
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