re: Crackpot ASOIAF Theories SPOILERS

quote:

---

I'll be so pissed, frick Theon. At least with Jamie most of the despicable shite he does is defensible in some way. NOBODY wanted Theon to sack Winterfell but he did it anyway for some attempt at glory. He's the most selfish person in the books, if there is anybody who deserves what happened to him it's Theon. Just kill the mother fricker GRRM, no need for redemption

---

I completely, unequivocally disagree. Theon is the most pitiable character in the series. He is stuck between a rock and a hard place at all times after book 1. Either betray your blood or betray your adoptive family. Either admit to being a wolf (read: pussy) or regain your glory as a kraken. His entire life has been spent in the service of others, either playing second fiddle to Robb or trying to prove himself to his father.

Then the boys escape. Then Winterfell is sacked. Then he's captured and tortured. Then he saves Jeyne, ol' Plain Jeyne, and he gets captured for that, too. His attempts to please his father have led him down a road that I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy and his last attempt to regain his honor, to regain his self-respect and, indeed, his own identity, end in despair.

Theon is not selfish. He is cowardly in his own way. He is weak in his own way. But he does not set out to attain personal glory for his own sake. He is not Euron. He's not even Victarion. He's the forsaken son of a tyrant who's been replaced by his sister.