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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 2017 Views
Re: Questions I have after finishing ADwD. Spoilers of course. Kotagg - 18/08/2011 12:46:33 AM 1543 Views
Re: Questions I have after finishing ADwD. Spoilers of course. Sareitha Sedai - 18/08/2011 01:58:17 AM 1366 Views
Bran didn't recognize him because his face is always covered Jim - 18/08/2011 04:28:55 AM 1379 Views
If his face is always covered, how can you say you know who he is? Roland00 - 18/08/2011 12:14:18 PM 1300 Views
I don't think anyone's saying they know who he is. Sareitha Sedai - 18/08/2011 02:42:32 PM 1313 Views
The thing is we do not know how long you can be a wight Roland00 - 18/08/2011 03:08:33 PM 1395 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 1265 Views
And how developed was the Three Eyed Crow Roland00 - 19/08/2011 04:27:32 AM 1419 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 1356 Views
Well, it was sort of foreshadowed (in hindsight). Sareitha Sedai - 19/08/2011 01:29:48 PM 1403 Views
That's true. Sareitha Sedai - 18/08/2011 02:10:19 PM 1294 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 1452 Views
Re: Questions I have after finishing ADwD. Spoilers of course. Roland00 - 18/08/2011 01:22:05 AM 1385 Views
Re: Questions I have after finishing ADwD. Spoilers of course. Sareitha Sedai - 18/08/2011 02:10:30 AM 1464 Views
Re: Questions I have after finishing ADwD. Spoilers of course. Roland00 - 18/08/2011 12:09:13 PM 1360 Views
Re: Questions I have after finishing ADwD. Spoilers of course. Jim - 18/08/2011 04:41:10 AM 1385 Views
You know, that's a really good point. Sareitha Sedai - 18/08/2011 02:07:50 PM 1306 Views
Another reason Theon is sympathetic Roland00 - 18/08/2011 03:13:12 PM 1630 Views
could you elaborate? imlad - 19/08/2011 03:16:59 AM 1426 Views
Re: could you elaborate? Jim - 20/08/2011 01:37:43 AM 1470 Views
Ok, I see part of that imlad - 21/08/2011 01:10:47 AM 1518 Views
Do you mean Sareitha Sedai - 22/08/2011 06:36:44 PM 1458 Views
Assuming the Quentyn, Dothraki sea, and Meereen pyramid parts are true... A Deathwatch Guard - 25/08/2011 07:33:10 PM 1394 Views
That's the other problem I have Sareitha Sedai - 25/08/2011 08:12:01 PM 1814 Views
I would hope GRRM knows better than that A Deathwatch Guard - 26/08/2011 12:49:42 AM 1347 Views
Re: Questions I have after finishing ADwD. Spoilers of course. Timthetrolloc - 18/08/2011 06:28:03 AM 1363 Views
LOL Sareitha Sedai - 18/08/2011 02:14:59 PM 1348 Views
Re: LOL Timthetrolloc - 19/08/2011 05:29:51 AM 1484 Views
Huge agree and disagree ironclad - 19/08/2011 02:06:24 PM 1625 Views
Re: Huge agree and disagree Timthetrolloc - 22/08/2011 05:58:13 AM 1323 Views
Remember she also had her faced chewed off Roland00 - 22/08/2011 02:25:21 PM 1400 Views
Re: Remember she also had her faced chewed off Timthetrolloc - 23/08/2011 05:14:04 AM 1255 Views
I imagine Sareitha Sedai - 23/08/2011 02:16:12 PM 1377 Views
Re: I imagine Timthetrolloc - 24/08/2011 06:41:39 AM 1401 Views
Yes. Sareitha Sedai - 22/08/2011 06:39:43 PM 1289 Views
Re: Yes. Timthetrolloc - 23/08/2011 05:42:04 AM 1291 Views
Re: Yes. Sareitha Sedai - 23/08/2011 02:19:55 PM 1463 Views
Re: Yes. Timthetrolloc - 24/08/2011 07:09:11 AM 1534 Views
Re: Questions I have after finishing ADwD. Spoilers of course. Cannoli - 18/08/2011 09:33:57 PM 1529 Views
Ah. Sareitha Sedai - 22/08/2011 06:27:10 PM 1413 Views
Re: Ah. Cannoli - 25/08/2011 01:21:05 AM 1480 Views
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