From Pawn to Player: Rethinking Sansa XVIII

[The Snowman]

Well first time poster in the (gigantic) P2P thread. I've just skimmed through the above essays by Malden and Brashcandy and have to they do symbolise the earlier turmoil of Sansa and the whole beauty/beast comparison. Quality stuff. Anyway was just doing a random reread of Feast and just wondered how much the Vale lords and nobles know about Alayne. The moment on the descent from the Erie when Sansa hears that Eddard Stark's bastard has been elected NW LC and she blurts out 'Jon Snow'. Obviously that was a bit of a slip up seeing as why would Littlefinger's natural daughter know who Jon Snow was, unless of course she's Sansa. I'm sure you have discussed this but I couldn't get anything definitive while searching. So thoughts?

[Raksha the Demon]

The exchange was probably written to set up Myranda Royce's suspicion that there was more to 'Alayne Stone' than Littlefinger was letting on. No, it hasn't been written that Myranda suspects Alayne's secret identity; but I think she does, or will after Sansa blurted out Jon's name. That could come up in TWOW. My question is, what will Myranda do with the information? Help Sansa escape Littlefinger's clutches? If Myranda has set her cap for either LF or Harry-the-Heir, it would make sense for her to encourage Sansa Stark to run away. Or will Myranda become Sansa's new BFF? Considering that Sansa's last female BFF was Margaery Tyrell, and that Sansa has a habit of trusting the wrong people (in her defense, she is younger and less sophisticated than Myranda, and often did not have much of a choice), I'm not sure I want Myranda to figure out that Littlefinger's supposed bastard daughter is the highborn, legitimate heir (as far as anyone in the Vale would know) to Winterfell, Sansa Stark.

[brashcandy]

Well first time poster in the (gigantic) P2P thread. I've just skimmed through the above essays by Malden and Brashcandy and have to they do symbolise the earlier turmoil of Sansa and the whole beauty/beast comparison. Quality stuff. Anyway was just doing a random reread of Feast and just wondered how much the Vale lords and nobles know about Alayne. The moment on the descent from the Erie when Sansa hears that Eddard Stark's bastard has been elected NW LC and she blurts out 'Jon Snow'. Obviously that was a bit of a slip up seeing as why would Littlefinger's natural daughter know who Jon Snow was, unless of course she's Sansa. I'm sure you have discussed this but I couldn't get anything definitive while searching. So thoughts?

Welcome to the thread Snowman :) We've had some ideas on this, mostly put forward by KRBD and tze, that some of the Vale Lords - in particular Anya Waynwood and Bronze Yohn- could be playing their own game with Littlefinger and may well suspect that Alayne Stone is really Sansa Stark. There is Waynwood's acquiescence to the HtH marriage plan, plus her cryptic comment about the girl suffering enough horrors. Bronze Yohn had that moment of 'you look familiar' when he came to the Eyrie, and Sansa remembers him at Winterfell talking specifically to her mother. For added suggestion, the Royce house words are: We Remember.

Personally, while I don't believe anyone has quite figured out that Sansa is Alayne, I do agree that it's only a matter of time, and that it won't follow LF's stated agenda of a dramatic reveal on her wedding day. I don't think that the blurting of Jon Snow's name was something that would have raised Randa's suspicions, but she is definitely interested in Alayne Stone and getting her to share secrets. My bet is on Bronze Yohn being the one to emerge as a credible ally for Sansa, as well as her developing a solid friendship with Mya Stone and Lothor Brune. But as you would appreciate, there are so many different factors in the Vale right now, it's hard to predict which way Martin will go.

[Mladen]

If there is one thing we can say about love, it has to be that love has tendency to fall into cliché. And those clichés have grown through centuries. We talk about love that moves mountains, starts wars, finds every way and gives opportunity for happiness. Love has been described as most powerful magic with power to change the world. But, does it speak right about love? And more importantly, where does the power of true love reside?

Discussing what love can do to a person; we talk about joy and happiness, pleasure and tenderness, but often forget the most important part - the change. We have seen it in movies, the shallow girl becomes smart, tough guy softens; actually we have seen it all. But one thing we rarely see is that love changes someone to the ground, the shakes the very pillars of someone`s existence. And that`s where the true power of love resides.

You can`t find more different guys than Konstantin Levin and Sandor Clegane. Where Konstantin is kind, caring and genuinely good, Sandor is harsh, hateful and cynical. While the first aspire to see the good in people, the latter hates humankind. So, how did we end up comparing these two? Well, no matter how different they are, or how different their paths are, they have one thing in common. They fell in love and they were changed. Not changed in those silly characteristics we talked about, oh no, they changed in the most important part, in their essence, their core.

Konstantin Levin was the man of great virtue. As Russian landowner, he represented the backbone of his homeland. He was educated aristocrat who believed in tradition and behaved accordingly. But beyond that, he was man of many ideas and dreams. He believed in socialism, his patriotism is deeply connected with his altruism. He sees good in people and is genuinely hurt when it`s proven otherwise. He can`t understand the meaningless of Moscow society, for he search for meaning in life. He can`t understand the adultery, for he loves so profoundly. He is man of many ideals. And that becomes his blessing and his curse.

On the other hand, Sandor is man capable of every crime. He is Hound, a dog, a man with such horrific history that even mentioning it is strictly forbidden. He understands what people are capable of. He wanders through life with one purpose – to kill his brother. Sandor doesn`t love, doesn`t care, he is a shell, an empty shell. Welll, he is, at the very beginning.

“He was Prince Joffrey’s sworn shield for many years, and even here we would hear tell of his deeds, both good and ill. If even half of what we heard was true, this was a bitter, tormented soul, a sinner who mocked both gods and men. He served, but found no pride in service. He fought, but took no joy in victory. He drank, to drown his pain in a sea of wine. He did not love, nor was he loved himself. It was hate that drove him. Though he committed many sins, he never sought forgiveness. Where other men dream of love, or wealth or glory, this man Sandor Clegane dreamed of slaying his own brother, a sin so terrible it makes me shudder just to speak of it. Yet it was the bread that nourished him, the fuel that kept his fires burning. Ignoble as it was, the hope of seeing his brother's blood upon his blade was all this sad and angry creature lived for … and even that was taken from him, when Prince Oberyn of Dorne stabbed Ser Gregor with a poisoned spear.”

The Elder Brother on Quiet Island, A Song Of Ice and Fire

“He soon felt that the fulfillment of his desires gave him only one grain of the mountain of happiness he had expected. This fulfillment showed him the eternal error men make in imagining that their happiness depends on the realization of their desires.”

Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina

What happens when our ideals are turned into ashes? Sandor can`t kill his brother, that is certain, as much as Levin discovered that fulfillment of his desires doesn`t include happiness. Love brought both of them things they did not expect. For Levin, the idealization of marriage life and love was broken when reality showed her teeth, and Sandor`s brutal desires diminished under the warmth of his feelings.

The interesting part is that this happens inside of them. This doesn`t change who are they. Sandor is not changed in his manners, in his relationships with others, or in his harsh nature. He hates people, only this time, he hates one less. Levin unfortunately got the wake-up call. His dreams and ideals should have been fulfilled after he marries woman he loves, but unlike fairytale ending, that `happily ever after` in life means something else. Levin, faced with all the differences between him and Kitty, becomes frustrated, depressed and even suicidal.

By killing Ser Gregor, Red Viper took all desire of revenge from Sandor. Prince Oberyn, unknowingly of course, left Sandor without his purpose. But before that, something else shifted Sandor`s priorities, well not something, someone – Sansa. After fateful night in Sansa`s room during battle, Sandor wanders purposelessly. After he meets with Brotherhood, and gets some sort of forgiveness, he continues his path, but not to Harrenhall where his brother is supposing to be, then to Twins, to claim his prize from Starks so he could rebuild his life. His decision to go to Twins, to travel with Arya and surrender her for money is for some something trivial, but it is one man`s attempt to do something else, something more. Gregor is forgotten, his shadow is smaller every day, and for the first time he is free. So, Sansa`s impact on Sandor isn`t just momentary, it isn`t fading. It grows stronger, and becomes Sandor`s song.

Now, I have to reference the Blackwater episode of GOT show. You won`t hurt me. In the sincerest form, when everything is wrong and corrupted, in world so harsh and vile, Sansa demonstrates to Sandor that there is still beauty in the world. In that room on the show, Martin, in his all romantic glory, did something amazing. He faced Sandor with love in its purest, and by that most powerful form. Sandor`s philosophy, his beliefs, his harshness, in one second, all was gone. No, little bird, I won`t hurt you. If Sandor`s telling Sansa the truth about his scar takes first place as most romantic thing in the book series, than this scene certainly takes No1 prize in the show.

So, in the name of the Seven, I want to highlight 7 glorious moments of Sandor`s redemption arc.

1.

The truth about his scar

2.

`Give him what he wants` line

3.

UnKiss

4.

Trial by combat with Beric Dondarrion

5.

Decision to go to Twins

6.

His death

7.

Quiet Isle

Sandor`s lack of beliefs and faith comes from his tragic past. Like all those who live to see terrible things, Sandor`s faith is challenged and gone, and in him is only emptiness. Sansa opened his heart, but not in traditional way, she just made way for other things to happen. It was Sansa`s `fault` for Sandor`s change of course of life direction. We can call Sansa `mother of his redemption`, for she did unspeakable. She made Sandor to rethink his life. I sincerely believe that on Quiet Isle, Sandor won`t just find redemption and forgiveness, he will also find beauty in his beastly exteriority.

Levin`s path was ended when he realized that some things should suffice in life. The fulfillment of desires has to be enough for happiness and that meaning of life could be found in love and family. Sandor`s story isn`t over yet, and therefore we still have a lot of reading until his path ends. But we can all hope that whatever he finds at Quiet Isle would be enough to grant him his deepest desire – Sansa.

[Mladen]

Well, my flight has been postponed until 5pm, so I am posting this from Belgrade Airport :). I hope you`ll like it. Regards, my friends

[Elba the Intoner]

And more importantly, where does the power of true love reside?

Is this like Varys' riddle - where does true power reside? The answer to Varys' riddle is "where men believe it resides", but for the power of true love I think it is the opposite since it is not something that comes from a conscious thought. The power of true love comes from the heart.

[greensleeves]

Well first time poster in the (gigantic) P2P thread. I've just skimmed through the above essays by Malden and Brashcandy and have to they do symbolise the earlier turmoil of Sansa and the whole beauty/beast comparison. Quality stuff. Anyway was just doing a random reread of Feast and just wondered how much the Vale lords and nobles know about Alayne. The moment on the descent from the Erie when Sansa hears that Eddard Stark's bastard has been elected NW LC and she blurts out 'Jon Snow'. Obviously that was a bit of a slip up seeing as why would Littlefinger's natural daughter know who Jon Snow was, unless of course she's Sansa. I'm sure you have discussed this but I couldn't get anything definitive while searching. So thoughts?

I sometimes wonder if Littlefinger intends or at least expects some people to figure out Sansa's true identity for themselves. People have a tendency to be more accepting of something they've concluded on their own than something they're told. He knows that people don't trust him anyways.

I think that we won't really know until TWOW comes out.

[Kittykatknits]

Well first time poster in the (gigantic) P2P thread. I've just skimmed through the above essays by Malden and Brashcandy and have to they do symbolise the earlier turmoil of Sansa and the whole beauty/beast comparison. Quality stuff. Anyway was just doing a random reread of Feast and just wondered how much the Vale lords and nobles know about Alayne. The moment on the descent from the Erie when Sansa hears that Eddard Stark's bastard has been elected NW LC and she blurts out 'Jon Snow'. Obviously that was a bit of a slip up seeing as why would Littlefinger's natural daughter know who Jon Snow was, unless of course she's Sansa. I'm sure you have discussed this but I couldn't get anything definitive while searching. So thoughts?

I go back and forth on this. It's my belief there are suspiciouns but her true identity is not yet known. Either way, I am certain her identity will be revealed in Winds.

I sometimes wonder if Littlefinger intends or at least expects some people to figure out Sansa's true identity for themselves. People have a tendency to be more accepting of something they've concluded on their own than something they're told. He knows that people don't trust him anyways.

I think that we won't really know until TWOW comes out.

I'd fit with his MO. While negotiating with the Tyrells, LF praised Joffrey in public but set up rumors within the staff on his true nature. So, they were able to figure out the truth on their own.

Same thing with Loras and the KG. LF paid singers while at Highgarden which led Mace to believe this was his idea.

[KittensRuleBeetsDrool]

Welcome Snowman, and, Mladen, I enjoyed your essays very much, and will miss having you around! I know how it is to be busy. (Why I have not been contributing as much lately!).

On the subject of Sansa's real identity being revealed in TWOW: We haven't had a Sansa chapter as a "teaser" yet! I think that's because there is something big going down and GRRM for obvious reasons doesn't want to give away the store. :) I am hoping for some exciting developments, especially because of the way her last chapter in Feast ended.

And yes, I am convinced that Bronze Yohn Royce, in particular, might have some "nagging suspicions" at least, because he actually has met her and knows her family. And now that Sansa's down from the Eyrie and is going to be hanging out and acting as Petyr's hostess, BY is going to have more opportunities to see her and I predict he will catch on at some point.

Meanwhile Lady Anya is being painted as perfectly willing to let her ward marry a bastard. Going back to ACOK, remember on Catelyn's journey to the Eyrie how she pities Mya Stone for thinking that she can marry Mychel Redfort, but can't because she's a bastard? It's been pointed out that "Alayne's" position is more akin to Edric Storm's than Mya's, being the acknowledged bastard of a powerful man (whereas Mya was not acknowledged) but when Catelyn is reflecting on how poor Mya's dreams are bound to be crushed, it doesn't seem to matter - bastardy is the obstacle. Now it is very possible (probable?) that LF is blackmailing Lady Waynwood. It is also possible/probable that Lady W. does indeed have a huge problem with HtH marrying a bastard and LF is just bullshitting Sansa, hoping she'll fall for the "handsome knight who will help you win back Winterfell" line. OTOH, Lady W. just might wonder who "Alayne" really is...

[Queen of Winter]

Safe travels, Mladen! Come back and join us again when you can. And good luck with the new job! :thumbsup:

[Elba the Intoner]

Welcome to the thread Snowman :) We've had some ideas on this, mostly put forward by KRBD and tze, that some of the Vale Lords - in particular Anya Waynwood and Bronze Yohn- could be playing their own game with Littlefinger and may well suspect that Alayne Stone is really Sansa Stark. There is Waynwood's acquiescence to the HtH marriage plan, plus her cryptic comment about the girl suffering enough horrors. Bronze Yohn had that moment of 'you look familiar' when he came to the Eyrie, and Sansa remembers him at Winterfell talking specifically to her mother. For added suggestion, the Royce house words are: We Remember.

Personally, while I don't believe anyone has quite figured out that Sansa is Alayne, I do agree that it's only a matter of time, and that it won't follow LF's stated agenda of a dramatic reveal on her wedding day. I don't think that the blurting of Jon Snow's name was something that would have raised Randa's suspicions, but she is definitely interested in Alayne Stone and getting her to share secrets. My bet is on Bronze Yohn being the one to emerge as a credible ally for Sansa, as well as her developing a solid friendship with Mya Stone and Lothor Brune. But as you would appreciate, there are so many different factors in the Vale right now, it's hard to predict which way Martin will go.

To expand on this discussion, Tze has just made this amazing post in the "Littlefinger's Downfall" thread that relates to this speculation. I'll link to it here. It's post number 60.

[brashcandy]

To expand on this discussion, Tze has just made this amazing post in the "Littlefinger's Downfall" thread that relates to this speculation. I'll link to it here. It's post number 60.

Well, if we add this to all the other insights highlighting Sansa's emerging strengths, and the possible alliances she could build, it really appears as though LF has overplayed his hand, and certainly has underestimated his 'family' and foes. It will be fascinating to see which way Martin goes on this.

[The Snowman]

Cheers for that guys. I've been back tracking through the most recent P2P threads and cant believe the amount of detail that has gone into this. The reflecting on how Sansa has has changed by the virtue of others and how you have shown the differences between how Sansa views Sandor and how she views Tyrion is pretty awesome.

[brashcandy]

Welcome to the thread, FMOW; it's nice to know we've been able to have such an impact on readers. Feel free to jump into the discussion at any point :)

[Lyanna Stark]

I've wondered some why in the show Sansa is wearing Dragonfly motifs so often, when she has no connection to dragonflies or dragons. It's so obvious that the Sansa Dragonfly jewellery is sold across the net as a "thing".

The obvious thing is the Prince of Dragonstones and Jenny of Oldstones, but that seems to be a bit arbitrary, unless Sansa for some reason goes off to marry a commoner, which she has not yet seem inclined to do, nor has she met any commoners that could fit that role. However, I ran across something in the first Dunk and Egg novel that may shed further light on it. Or not, depending on us putting any stock at all in what takes place in the show.

Spoilers for the first Dunk and Egg novella below:

The obvious dragonfly link is the Prince of Dragonflies, but then when rereading Dunk and Egg the other day, I came across this section at the very end when Maekar Targaryen offers Dunk to take on Egg as a squire and Dunk ponders the offer Maekar makes of going to Summerhall and becoming a household knight, or continuing the rougher life as a hedge knight.

"That can be changed," said Maekar. "Aegon is to return to my castle at Summerhall. There is a place there for you, if you wish. A knight of my household. You'll swear your sword to me, and Aegon can squire for you. While you train him, my master-at-arms will finish your own training." The prince gave him a shrewd look. "Your Ser Arlan did all he could for you, I have no doubt, but you still have much to learn."

"I know, m'lord." Dunk looked about him. At the green grass and the reeds, the tall elm, the ripples dancing acrosss the surface of the sunlit pool. Another dragonfly was moving across the water, or perhaps it was the same one. What shall it be, Dunk? he asked himself. Dragonflies or dragons?

As we all know, Dunk chose the dragonflies and told Maekar that Daeron never slept in a ditch and that Aerion always ate properly, while leaving out that this didn't make them better men.

Perhaps also importantly, Dunk does not want to give up his freedom and enter servitude when he has seen that Targaryen justice, even Maekar's, is nowhere near perfect and favours the already powerful, he'd prefer to be able to make his own choices based on his own judgement. Dunk will still not be powerful or important, but at least he will have some level of autonomy.

We've also seen how GRRM illustrates power, what wielding power means and how it affects the people wielding it. Here the choice is "dragonflies or dragons", which gets to represent that.

If Sansa is then adorned with dragonflies for a similar reason, that would indicate that she when faced with her own "dragonflies or dragons" choice will choose dragonflies. Sansa of AGOT would have chosen dragon over dragonfly for sure, since she did not yet comprehend what power and the people in power were about, but Sansa of AFFC and moving forward, and when eventually faced with that choice? The dragonfly vs dragon choice is not only a choice of power vs having no power, but also a choice of a "smaller" existance, perhaps, but also one where you at least make most decisions over your own life, such as where to go, what to have for dinner and what people to have around you. As a High lord/lady, prince/princess, king/queen, these choices are often not yours to make freely.

Then we also have the Prince of Dragonflies and Jenny of Oldstones, where we have love over duty as theme, but it's also about the prince of dragonflies forsaking something, i.e. his position in society and his power, for something he deemed worth more, when faced with that choice. There is nothing said anywhere of prince Duncan living a life of a commoner, or in poverty, but it was certainly not a life in the limelight, that much is certain. Probably no fancy tournaments, no pleasure barges on the Mander and no fancy court life. Hence it was a choice that would severly affect his life, but that he still made, probably full knowing what it would entail in sacrifices.

Going by this, and going by we know of Sansa, how she started out as nearly a princess, through hostage, to unwilling wife, to bastard daughter; her quest for autonomy and agency and to return home, does it make sense to have a dragonfly vs dragon choice, involving her sacrificing something dear to her in order to achieve something even more important?

Of course, as the show isn't canon, it may mean something or it may mean nothing, but it's still a strange choice to make if there was no underlying meaning to it.

[greensleeves]

I've wondered some why in the show Sansa is wearing Dragonfly motifs so often, when she has no connection to dragonflies or dragons. It's so obvious that the Sansa Dragonfly jewellery is sold across the net as a "thing".

Of course, as the show isn't canon, it may mean something or it may mean nothing, but it's still a strange choice to make if there was no underlying meaning to it.

Great analysis.

I remember seeing somewhere that Sansa's costumes on the show had some kind of easter egg in them... and I could swear that it was backed up by David and Dan or even GRRM himself. I can't seem to find that interview again however.

The dragonfly theme occurs multiple times in both seasons. In season 1 she also has a purple? dress with roses around the collar and a blue dress with knotty things around the collar (I'm not sure if those were supposed to be roses as well... that would be significant.)

[Lyanna Stark]

Great analysis.

I remember seeing somewhere that Sansa's costumes on the show had some kind of easter egg in them... and I could swear that it was backed up by David and Dan or even GRRM himself. I can't seem to find that interview again however.

The dragonfly theme occurs multiple times in both seasons. In season 1 she also has a purple? dress with roses around the collar and a blue dress with knotty things around the collar (I'm not sure if those were supposed to be roses as well... that would be significant.)

Sansa wears a lot of the same dresses until the Battle of the Blackwater episode, which I always assumed was from cost reasons, since in the novels we see her having a rather large wardrobe, in that she chooses dresses that covers her arms so nobody will see her bruises, plus she mentions in ACOK that her old dresses don't really fit her anymore. The in ASOS we have Cersei having her measured for new dresses, among them her wedding dress.

Yet in the show, Sansa seems to have a limited wardrobe.

In the novels there is no mention of dragonfly jewellery however, the only one we get is the "moonstones Joffrey gaver her" (Cersei's words) and eventually the amethyst hairnet. Plus when Ned is beheaded, I believe Sansa is wearing silver jewellery.

[greensleeves]

Sansa wears a lot of the same dresses until the Battle of the Blackwater episode, which I always assumed was from cost reasons, since in the novels we see her having a rather large wardrobe, in that she chooses dresses that covers her arms so nobody will see her bruises, plus she mentions in ACOK that her old dresses don't really fit her anymore. The in ASOS we have Cersei having her measured for new dresses, among them her wedding dress.

Yet in the show, Sansa seems to have a limited wardrobe.

In the novels there is no mention of dragonfly jewellery however, the only one we get is the "moonstones Joffrey gaver her" (Cersei's words) and eventually the amethyst hairnet. Plus when Ned is beheaded, I believe Sansa is wearing silver jewellery.

Yes, I think you're right about the budget restriction and the fact that none of the dragonfly clothes/jewelry are in the novels.

On the show, She has two pieces of dragonfly jewelry: a pendant and a ring. Dragonflies are also embroidered on the dress that Ser Meryn rips off of her in the show.

I tried to find that interview and ended up finding an old post by brashcandy intstead:

http://asoiaf.wester...v/#entry3299761

I could be going crazy, but I think I remember somewhere that in the tv series, they've made a conscious decision regarding Sansa's wardrobe (I think they said it was a 'hint'?) to have her dresses decorated with dragonflies (she also wears a dragonfly necklace iirc).

The way I remember it they didn't specify that the dragonflies were the 'hint', but they're such a specific and odd detail that I think it must be significant. I really wish I could find that interview.

If Sansa is then adorned with dragonflies for a similar reason, that would indicate that she when faced with her own "dragonflies or dragons" choice will choose dragonflies. Sansa of AGOT would have chosen dragon over dragonfly for sure, since she did not yet comprehend what power and the people in power were about, but Sansa of AFFC and moving forward, and when eventually faced with that choice? The dragonfly vs dragon choice is not only a choice of power vs having no power, but also a choice of a "smaller" existance, perhaps, but also one where you at least make most decisions over your own life, such as where to go, what to have for dinner and what people to have around you. As a High lord/lady, prince/princess, king/queen, these choices are often not yours to make freely.

Then we also have the Prince of Dragonflies and Jenny of Oldstones, where we have love over duty as theme, but it's also about the prince of dragonflies forsaking something, i.e. his position in society and his power, for something he deemed worth more, when faced with that choice. There is nothing said anywhere of prince Duncan living a life of a commoner, or in poverty, but it was certainly not a life in the limelight, that much is certain. Probably no fancy tournaments, no pleasure barges on the Mander and no fancy court life. Hence it was a choice that would severly affect his life, but that he still made, probably full knowing what it would entail in sacrifices.

Going by this, and going by we know of Sansa, how she started out as nearly a princess, through hostage, to unwilling wife, to bastard daughter; her quest for autonomy and agency and to return home, does it make sense to have a dragonfly vs dragon choice, involving her sacrificing something dear to her in order to achieve something even more important?

It's important to note that while the choice of dragonfly might offer Sansa continued autonomy and agency, the very fact that she chooses is an act of agency and autonomy. I hope she does get to make a dragonfly/dragon choice.

The only other explanation I could see is that instead of being the chooser, Sansa represents the choice. In other words, someone has to make a dragonfly/dragon decision where the dragonfly option is Sansa herself.

Aside:

My new head cannon is that the roses are also significant. In the show both Sansa and Arya have these knotted collars on many of their early costumes and they also wear a lot of blue. Then Sansa has the blue dress she wears (when Nymeria attacks Joffrey) where the knots almost look like flowers. Finally, we see Sansa at the hand's tourney with a dress where the knots have fully turned into roses. Although, that last dress is purple I think this theme must be a reference to a the wreath of blue roses Lyanna receives and the blue roses that are associated with Stark women in general.

(This new head cannon has the advantage of finally providing some explanation for those ugly knotted collars!)

[Queen of Winter]

Lyanna, I really enjoyed what you shared with us. I do feel it has profound meaning in her storyline. It was something I was thinking on for a while...the dragonfly thing (but I never really did anything with it).

Anyway, I just wanted to share some info I ganked from the net, about dragonfly symbolism. Like Lyanna stated, it could mean something, it could mean nothing. But I particularly liked the part where dreams /unconscious/deeper thoughts are mentioned. I know in the past we've talked about water as symbols for the subconscious (it was the Bay of Crabs, I think --which is near the Fingers)

Here it is:

Symbolic Meanings of the Dragonfly:

As a creature of the wind, the dragonlfy totem represents change. It's iridescent wings are incredibly sensitive to the slightest breeze, and so we are reminded to heed where the proverbial wind blows - lest we run into stormy weather.

Dragonflies are also creatures of the water, and any creature whose habitat is in, or around water carries symbolism relative the the subconscious, or "dreaming" mind and thoughts.

This is because in the animal world, water is symbolic of the subconscious mind ("deeper mind," "dreaming mind") and relates to the thoughts we have in relaxed/meditative/sleeping/subconscious states.

Dragonflies carry messages that deal with deeper thought - and they ask that we pay attention to our deeper thoughts and desires.

Further symbolic insect meaning of dragonfly comes into play when we observe the dragonfly's mode of transportation as it skitters across the top of water surfaces. This implies that our deeper thoughts are surfacing and we must be mindful of the outcome we wish to have.

The dragonfly is a reminder that when our deeper thoughts rise to the surface we must pay attention - there are lessons to be learned, and we are also reminded that what we think is directly proportionate to what we "see on the surface." ...In short, our thoughts (even the deeper ones that we might not be as in-touch with as we are with our conscious thoughts) are responsible for what we see in our lives - in our physical surroundings.

Lastly it should be noted that the Dragonfly lives a short life, and it knows it must live to the fullest with what it has. This lesson is huge for each of us....

[brashcandy]

I tried to find that interview and ended up finding an old post by brashcandy intstead:

http://asoiaf.wester...v/#entry3299761

Yes, I was actually quoting Valkyrja in that post, so credit goes to her.

I found a good breakdown of her clothing on the show here.

Dragonflies are also creatures of the water, and any creature whose habitat is in, or around water carries symbolism relative the the subconscious, or "dreaming" mind and thoughts.

This is because in the animal world, water is symbolic of the subconscious mind ("deeper mind," "dreaming mind") and relates to the thoughts we have in relaxed/meditative/sleeping/subconscious states.

Dragonflies carry messages that deal with deeper thought - and they ask that we pay attention to our deeper thoughts and desires.

Certainly applies to a lot of what we've seen recently concerning Sansa and her inner thoughts and dreams. Not only does it have relevance for her relationship with Sandor, but hopefully we'll see her recollecting and really focusing on Lysa's ravings and what they revealed.

We've also seen how GRRM illustrates power, what wielding power means and how it affects the people wielding it. Here the choice is "dragonflies or dragons", which gets to represent that.

Great analysis. Even if the dragonfly adornment means nothing (which doesn't seem likely), we can be almost certain that Sansa won't be following the traditional patterns set by her predecessors. She's already rejected Cersei's advice of ruling via fear, and her own personal life is geared towards to finding true fulfillment and autonomy.