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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 1714 Views
Re: Questions I have after finishing ADwD. Spoilers of course. Kotagg - 18/08/2011 12:46:33 AM 1204 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 1089 Views
If his face is always covered, how can you say you know who he is? Roland00 - 18/08/2011 12:14:18 PM 1021 Views
I don't think anyone's saying they know who he is. Sareitha Sedai - 18/08/2011 02:42:32 PM 1060 Views
The thing is we do not know how long you can be a wight Roland00 - 18/08/2011 03:08:33 PM 1107 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 987 Views
And how developed was the Three Eyed Crow Roland00 - 19/08/2011 04:27:32 AM 1128 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 1065 Views
Well, it was sort of foreshadowed (in hindsight). Sareitha Sedai - 19/08/2011 01:29:48 PM 1083 Views
That's true. Sareitha Sedai - 18/08/2011 02:10:19 PM 999 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 1165 Views
Re: Questions I have after finishing ADwD. Spoilers of course. Roland00 - 18/08/2011 01:22:05 AM 1106 Views
Re: Questions I have after finishing ADwD. Spoilers of course. Sareitha Sedai - 18/08/2011 02:10:30 AM 1173 Views
Re: Questions I have after finishing ADwD. Spoilers of course. Roland00 - 18/08/2011 12:09:13 PM 1056 Views
Re: Questions I have after finishing ADwD. Spoilers of course. Jim - 18/08/2011 04:41:10 AM 1061 Views
You know, that's a really good point. Sareitha Sedai - 18/08/2011 02:07:50 PM 1040 Views
Another reason Theon is sympathetic Roland00 - 18/08/2011 03:13:12 PM 1297 Views
could you elaborate? imlad - 19/08/2011 03:16:59 AM 1121 Views
Re: could you elaborate? Jim - 20/08/2011 01:37:43 AM 1181 Views
Ok, I see part of that imlad - 21/08/2011 01:10:47 AM 1221 Views
Do you mean Sareitha Sedai - 22/08/2011 06:36:44 PM 1162 Views
Assuming the Quentyn, Dothraki sea, and Meereen pyramid parts are true... A Deathwatch Guard - 25/08/2011 07:33:10 PM 1121 Views
That's the other problem I have Sareitha Sedai - 25/08/2011 08:12:01 PM 1512 Views
I would hope GRRM knows better than that A Deathwatch Guard - 26/08/2011 12:49:42 AM 1057 Views
Re: Questions I have after finishing ADwD. Spoilers of course. Timthetrolloc - 18/08/2011 06:28:03 AM 1059 Views
LOL Sareitha Sedai - 18/08/2011 02:14:59 PM 1077 Views
Re: LOL Timthetrolloc - 19/08/2011 05:29:51 AM 1186 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 1028 Views
Remember she also had her faced chewed off Roland00 - 22/08/2011 02:25:21 PM 1087 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 1083 Views
Re: I imagine Timthetrolloc - 24/08/2011 06:41:39 AM 1103 Views
Yes. Sareitha Sedai - 22/08/2011 06:39:43 PM 979 Views
Re: Yes. Timthetrolloc - 23/08/2011 05:42:04 AM 999 Views
Re: Yes. Sareitha Sedai - 23/08/2011 02:19:55 PM 1137 Views
Re: Yes. Timthetrolloc - 24/08/2011 07:09:11 AM 1250 Views
Re: Questions I have after finishing ADwD. Spoilers of course. Cannoli - 18/08/2011 09:33:57 PM 1220 Views
Ah. Sareitha Sedai - 22/08/2011 06:27:10 PM 1106 Views
Re: Ah. Cannoli - 25/08/2011 01:21:05 AM 1198 Views
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