Brienne of Tarth

[kem_viva]

The main criticism I see levied at Brienne is that she is simply a character with no characteristics or qualities of her own.  She is seen as being a plot device for ‘more important characters’.   Others complain that she was just thrown into the story to satisfy feminist readers. I think both arguments are terribly unfair and completely overlook

Comments

[alexandral]

Love this post so much. ** draws love hearts all over **

I was thinking the other day that there isn't any place in the books that explains why everyone thinks Brienne to be so "ugly". Everyone just says the same thing: she is huge, her hair is a mess, etc. I get the impression that she just didn't fit into the ideals of the feminine beauty of that age, that is all (long hair, etc.).

[kem_viva]

Thank you!

If you continue in the chapter that quote is from Cat does give a description of Brienne which includes characteristics that are generally viewed as 'unattractive'. But yes I agree, to an extent I think it has to do with the ideas of feminine beauty during this time period.

[kkglinka]

Being familiar with medieval standards for feminine beauty, I strong believe that Brienne is not ugly. In fact, she might even be considered attractive by modern standards. Many modern supermodels would be labelled ugly by medieval standards: (freakishly) tall, deep set eyes (thick brows), puffy, wide lips (full lips with corners meeting or crossing the pupil line), angular jaws (manish), muscular (mannish), slim hipped (thick waist), athletic thighs and shoulders (thick/broad/mannish)....

I think what happens for many readers though is that they see that description and interpret it against modern, western, standards of feminine beauty. If you do that, then Brienne would be some sort of hideous, deformed weirdo.

[el_regrs]

Eh, beauty ideals might be part of it, but that doesn't necessarily mean she isn't ugly.

There are several places in the books that describe her as being broad of jaw, big lipped, buck toothed, horse faced, having a nose that's been broken more than once, and so on. I could see flatchestedness, freakish height, and thin, limp hair (actually Brienne's has been described as long, but "like straw") and possibly the freckles as going against the standards in that setting, but the rest are clearly features that, when put all together, don't exactly paint a pretty picture, even by our standards.

I mean, I can see what you're saying, that just because the folks in Westeros find her ugly, it doesn't necessarily make her a caricature of an ogre (that some folks seem to draw her as). But at the same time, I wouldn't hold out hope that she's some secret beauty queen.

[matitablu]

Where is that Orson Welles applause gif when I need it! Looking forward to the next posts! *_*

[kem_viva]

Thank you!

[fauxkaren]

Others complain that she was just thrown into the story to satisfy feminist readers.
EXCUSE ME WHILE MY EYES ROLL SO HARD THEY GET STUCK IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD.

However, Brienne does not trick anyone into thinking that she is actually a man as characters in other stories do, she fights with the disgust of the majority of society firmly on her shoulders.
I LOVE that about her. She might not be comfortable with a lot of feminine things like wearing dresses, but she never pretends to be a man.

At times it feels like almost everyone in the series has scoffed at Brienne for her morals, bullied her because of her looks, or worse. Yet none of this keeps Brienne from continuing to fight, continuing to behave like she thinks a knight should behave, she does not let them change her or keep her from doing what she loves.
So true. Brienne has a lot of inner strength.

I love Brienne a lot and I look forward to the rest of your posts about her!

[kem_viva]

LOL I KNOW just look at the Brienne of Tarth tag on tumblr, one of the 'confessions' is that statement. UGH *EYEROLL*

Thank you!

[janie_tangerine]

THIS, THIS AND THIS. (also kudos on nailing a lot of things I've been trying to sum up for the last three hours without managing. ;) )

No but seriously, this post. I loved how you stressed how actually strong she is - to last as long as she lasted means having an inner strength that half of the people in those books can dream they had. ;) also I loved how you picked her introduction and I love the idea that her scars got carved by the abuse she got. It's such a great way to sum her up. Also what I always liked about that scene was the even if people around were disliking them as usual, as soon as she got the cloak Catelyn thought that the expression she had made her face beautiful or something along those lines. It kind of really stuck with me for some reason. Anyway, awesome post. Can't wait to see the next ones. :D

[kem_viva]

Thank you! I am looking forward to reading your post(s) on Brienne as well :)

I love the imagery that quote puts forward, it really does a great job illustrating Brienne's character. And yes the part when she receives the cloak is so sweet <3

[bobthemole]

Yet none of this keeps Brienne from continuing to fight, continuing to behave like she thinks a knight should behave, she does not let them change her or keep her from doing what she loves.

I've always admired Brienne's integrity and adherence to the values of knighthood. While all the knights around her use their status as means to an end, she views it as a calling.

[kem_viva]

Yes, its definitely something I admire about her too. Thanks you for your comment :)