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Another reason Theon is sympathetic Roland00 Send a noteboard - 18/08/2011 03:13:12 PM
It's called the POV trap, most people tend to relate more if they see what is going on in that person's head. Also, as an aside, considering most people have had years to forget or soften the memories of what Theon did, may allow some to feel more sorry for him. Personally, I agree with you, though I think he's had it a little rougher than he deserved.


Both the POV trap and the length of time since Theon was being vile. It's been around 11 years since ASoS came out, right? I hadn't thought about the effect that could have on readers' perspectives. I also agree that Theon's had it a little rougher than he deserves, but surely there had to be someone Ramsay could work out his crazy on so that we would understand the full extent of it. I can't think of anyone in the series (still alive) who I'd rather that be :P Possibly excepting Cersei, but at least she didn't escape suffering in this book, and I expect the best is yet to come, there.

Other than showcasing Ramsay's psychoticism, I wonder if Theon's suffering is meant to redeem him somewhat in the eyes of the reader, so that, combined with his rescue of Jeyne, he is meant to qualify as another one of the many "grey" characters. Obviously this didn't work for me, but at least you've helped me understand where people might be coming from on that.

Another reason Theon is sympathetic is that he didn't have a PoV in the book version of AGoT, but he gets major screen time in the tv show version of AGoT. In the books when he is PoV he is either
1) Conflicted about who his loyalties are in ACoK / Wants his approval of his father when he returns
2) He becomes a traitor and captures winterfell
3) He is Reek in ADwD

Now that he has more of a PoV in the tv show, people see more of his character and even though he is a douche in the tv show, douches are human beings too.
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Questions I have after finishing ADwD. Spoilers of course. Sareitha Sedai - 17/08/2011 04:48:04 PM 1713 Views
Re: Questions I have after finishing ADwD. Spoilers of course. Kotagg - 18/08/2011 12:46:33 AM 1203 Views
Re: Questions I have after finishing ADwD. Spoilers of course. Sareitha Sedai - 18/08/2011 01:58:17 AM 1056 Views
Bran didn't recognize him because his face is always covered Jim - 18/08/2011 04:28:55 AM 1088 Views
If his face is always covered, how can you say you know who he is? Roland00 - 18/08/2011 12:14:18 PM 1020 Views
I don't think anyone's saying they know who he is. Sareitha Sedai - 18/08/2011 02:42:32 PM 1059 Views
The thing is we do not know how long you can be a wight Roland00 - 18/08/2011 03:08:33 PM 1106 Views
Given that Martin doesn't seem to introduce characters like that, someone we know is more likely Cannoli - 18/08/2011 09:36:50 PM 986 Views
And how developed was the Three Eyed Crow Roland00 - 19/08/2011 04:27:32 AM 1126 Views
But the point is, they were introduced at least, and not brought in from left field. Cannoli - 19/08/2011 11:36:41 AM 1064 Views
Well, it was sort of foreshadowed (in hindsight). Sareitha Sedai - 19/08/2011 01:29:48 PM 1082 Views
That's true. Sareitha Sedai - 18/08/2011 02:10:19 PM 998 Views
Also, telling your 10-year-old nephew that you're a monster now must be rough. Cannoli - 18/08/2011 09:39:49 PM 1164 Views
Re: Questions I have after finishing ADwD. Spoilers of course. Roland00 - 18/08/2011 01:22:05 AM 1105 Views
Re: Questions I have after finishing ADwD. Spoilers of course. Sareitha Sedai - 18/08/2011 02:10:30 AM 1172 Views
Re: Questions I have after finishing ADwD. Spoilers of course. Roland00 - 18/08/2011 12:09:13 PM 1055 Views
Re: Questions I have after finishing ADwD. Spoilers of course. Jim - 18/08/2011 04:41:10 AM 1060 Views
You know, that's a really good point. Sareitha Sedai - 18/08/2011 02:07:50 PM 1039 Views
Another reason Theon is sympathetic Roland00 - 18/08/2011 03:13:12 PM 1295 Views
could you elaborate? imlad - 19/08/2011 03:16:59 AM 1120 Views
Re: could you elaborate? Jim - 20/08/2011 01:37:43 AM 1180 Views
Ok, I see part of that imlad - 21/08/2011 01:10:47 AM 1220 Views
Do you mean Sareitha Sedai - 22/08/2011 06:36:44 PM 1161 Views
Assuming the Quentyn, Dothraki sea, and Meereen pyramid parts are true... A Deathwatch Guard - 25/08/2011 07:33:10 PM 1120 Views
That's the other problem I have Sareitha Sedai - 25/08/2011 08:12:01 PM 1511 Views
I would hope GRRM knows better than that A Deathwatch Guard - 26/08/2011 12:49:42 AM 1056 Views
Re: Questions I have after finishing ADwD. Spoilers of course. Timthetrolloc - 18/08/2011 06:28:03 AM 1058 Views
LOL Sareitha Sedai - 18/08/2011 02:14:59 PM 1077 Views
Re: LOL Timthetrolloc - 19/08/2011 05:29:51 AM 1185 Views
Huge agree and disagree ironclad - 19/08/2011 02:06:24 PM 1180 Views
Re: Huge agree and disagree Timthetrolloc - 22/08/2011 05:58:13 AM 1027 Views
Remember she also had her faced chewed off Roland00 - 22/08/2011 02:25:21 PM 1085 Views
Re: Remember she also had her faced chewed off Timthetrolloc - 23/08/2011 05:14:04 AM 978 Views
I imagine Sareitha Sedai - 23/08/2011 02:16:12 PM 1082 Views
Re: I imagine Timthetrolloc - 24/08/2011 06:41:39 AM 1102 Views
Yes. Sareitha Sedai - 22/08/2011 06:39:43 PM 978 Views
Re: Yes. Timthetrolloc - 23/08/2011 05:42:04 AM 998 Views
Re: Yes. Sareitha Sedai - 23/08/2011 02:19:55 PM 1136 Views
Re: Yes. Timthetrolloc - 24/08/2011 07:09:11 AM 1249 Views
Re: Questions I have after finishing ADwD. Spoilers of course. Cannoli - 18/08/2011 09:33:57 PM 1219 Views
Ah. Sareitha Sedai - 22/08/2011 06:27:10 PM 1105 Views
Re: Ah. Cannoli - 25/08/2011 01:21:05 AM 1197 Views
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