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Re: You are missing the point. Werthead Send a noteboard - 19/08/2012 01:25:30 PM
Nobody is arguing that she does not say yes at that point. The arguemnt is that she is 13 and therefore not in a position to give consent, and that it is therefore especially problematic that Martin emphasises the consent to such an extent.


I would agree with regards to that scene alone. However, later on it is emphasised that Dany does not enjoy these initial encounters with Drogo (consent or not) and does not do so until Drogo starts to respect her wishes, so her consent may be technically given but she's still not happy about the situation (something that should have been emphasised in the first scene more).

However, whilst it may have been written in modern times and be set in another world, the books are very clearly closely based on the real medieval period (moreso than any other work of fantasy I know of, with the possible exception of Kate Elliott's CROWN OF STARS series) when children were expected to marry and bear offspring of their own, often at exceptionally young ages. The issues of how this clashes with modern sensibilities are very deliberately placed in the narrative. It's meant to be problematic and make readers question the situation. It's also interesting to see how this scene is dealt with by people of other nationalities: in many European countries the age of consent is 14, with informal tolerance of things happening a year or two earlier, and in such cases the scene is regarded rather differently (to the point where the age issue is disregarded and the consent one becomes paramount) from in the UK and USA where it is significantly higher.

As I said earlier, I think that scene is hamstrung by GRRM being unusually timid (perhaps rightfully so given the circumstances) and backtracking a little from the full unpleasentness of the situation. The HBO series definitely handled this scene better, one of the few instances where it is possible to say that.
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A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin - 13/08/2012 10:48:37 PM 20568 Views
Fascinating. - 13/08/2012 11:40:22 PM 2816 Views
Re: Fascinating. - 14/08/2012 06:23:13 AM 2599 Views
Mainly the names. - 17/08/2012 12:07:21 AM 2525 Views
Regarding Daenerys as Henry Tudor - 14/08/2012 06:36:37 AM 2693 Views
Not really. - 14/08/2012 07:01:36 PM 2783 Views
Shocking - 15/08/2012 06:49:18 AM 2738 Views
On the Rape issue.... - 14/08/2012 01:19:35 AM 2647 Views
Re: On the Rape issue.... - 14/08/2012 02:02:42 AM 2496 Views
Firstly, Camilla is a she. Secondly, though I won't speak for her, regarding the rape in the novels, - 14/08/2012 02:23:19 AM 2672 Views
When does he use rape in an erotic manner? - 14/08/2012 05:48:59 AM 2496 Views
like all the time. - 14/09/2012 04:45:42 PM 2601 Views
Camilla is indeed a she. - 14/08/2012 06:18:58 AM 2542 Views
Re: Camilla is indeed a she. - 14/08/2012 04:37:17 PM 2562 Views
Re: Camilla is indeed a she. - 15/08/2012 06:39:31 AM 2763 Views
I for one never saw any of the rapes as erotic - 21/08/2012 05:04:11 PM 2812 Views
Re: On the Rape issue.... - 14/08/2012 06:17:55 AM 2486 Views
House Banners/Sigils - 21/08/2012 04:56:07 PM 2571 Views
Re: A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin - 14/08/2012 02:08:59 AM 2439 Views
Re: A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin - 14/08/2012 06:25:11 AM 2554 Views
I think you misread one part - 14/08/2012 04:51:34 PM 2703 Views
Currently kicking myself - 15/08/2012 06:43:36 AM 2806 Views
Re: Currently kicking myself - 16/08/2012 10:11:01 AM 2531 Views
what a great review. you echo my thoughts quite a bit... - 15/08/2012 01:21:38 AM 2458 Views
Wait...why would you waste time reading this fluff series when it's out on TV? - 16/08/2012 12:10:32 AM 2606 Views
Trollolololololololllll *NM* - 16/08/2012 01:02:22 AM 1271 Views
Se noteboard. *NM* - 16/08/2012 06:29:39 AM 1311 Views
Game, set, and match *NM* - 18/08/2012 03:50:38 PM 1282 Views
I think the TV series handles the problematic Dany/Drogo relationship better - 17/08/2012 12:20:16 AM 2597 Views
I think it messed it up by showing forced intercourse without the verbal consent Drogo DID obtain - 17/08/2012 12:07:14 PM 2639 Views
I still find it difficult to read it as anything other than a coerced consent - 17/08/2012 01:08:15 PM 2425 Views
A perpetrator-less crime then. - 17/08/2012 07:26:26 PM 2557 Views
Exactly! I'm on board, Cannoli. - 18/08/2012 07:45:56 PM 2423 Views
You are missing the point. - 18/08/2012 11:11:33 PM 2658 Views
Re: You are missing the point. - 19/08/2012 01:25:30 PM 2604 Views
Re: You are missing the point. - 19/08/2012 01:40:11 PM 2698 Views
So, you're saying that Juliet was raped by Romeo??? - 21/08/2012 05:24:56 PM 2616 Views
The later books do add more context and change some of this - 19/08/2012 12:08:49 AM 2482 Views
Re: The later books do add more context and change some of this - 19/08/2012 07:27:59 AM 2601 Views
That makes sense - 19/08/2012 02:35:36 PM 2217 Views
Jesus Christ another fucking thread about rape and fantasy. - 19/08/2012 01:47:43 AM 1541 Views
Perhaps if reading other people's views makes you so angry, you should avoid reading them? *NM* - 19/08/2012 02:37:03 PM 1334 Views
High blood pressure can kill, I hear. *NM* - 19/08/2012 03:33:14 PM 1406 Views
Nonsense. - 19/08/2012 03:33:39 PM 1293 Views
Fixed it for you. - 19/08/2012 08:22:18 PM 1401 Views
Shake the sand out of your vagina bitch. *NM* - 20/08/2012 06:35:32 AM 1293 Views
Gosh, this is really turning into something fun. - 20/08/2012 07:15:01 AM 1458 Views
Huh. I just came to the odd realization... - 20/08/2012 08:29:56 PM 1414 Views
Don't lock it! - 21/08/2012 05:11:34 AM 1359 Views
Yes, I'm aware, or I might have locked it already. - 21/08/2012 06:17:29 PM 1239 Views
I'd ask that you do lock it. - 21/08/2012 10:00:48 PM 1314 Views
Fair enough. *NM* - 22/08/2012 06:26:04 PM 1217 Views
I may join you - 20/08/2012 10:14:50 PM 1377 Views
COME AT ME BRO *NM* - 21/08/2012 05:09:34 AM 1254 Views
The interesting part is... - 28/08/2012 01:39:49 AM 2388 Views
That is the best written and most insightful review of that book I have read - 01/09/2012 05:38:00 PM 2464 Views
i'm rereading the series now and yeah there is a LOT of rape - 14/09/2012 04:38:27 PM 3081 Views

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