[SPOILERS] MOTIFS & MEANING IN MARTIN’S “MERCY”
The generous George R. R. Martin has once again blessed his loyal fans with a sneak peek from The Winds of Winter: “Mercy” is the fourth POV in his highly anticipated fifth novel of the series The Song of Ice and Fire, currently unfinished and unpublished. I have now spent a year in a close reading of AGoT that focuses on the significant motifs Martin introduces at the onset of the series ASoIaF. As I inched past the halfway point of the first novel, my initial list of ten topics ha
BEFORE “MERCY”: FACELESS IMAGES / SENSORY DETAILS In scenes set at HarrenHell, Arya “assumes” a new identity and bonds with a “fast friend” Jaqen, a spiritual guide likely sent by the forces that are the old gods with the intent to direct Arya towards Braavos. Jaqen’s choice of words in the dialogue he has with Arya indeed echo the “content” of what Syrio Forel teaches her and foretells the “content” of the kindly man’s lessons. SYRIO FOREL Syrio tells Arya. “Jus