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Message
re: Game of Thrones Re-Read/Re-Watch Project (Multiple Book Spoilers)
Posted on 9/22/12 at 11:52 pm to 19
Posted on 9/22/12 at 11:52 pm to 19
quote:
My issue with the Unsullied: IRL, this would be an army of baby-fat, bitch-tittied, hormonally challenged softies. With a complete lack of testosterone, they wouldn't even have aggression to feed on. Docile and (physically)weak, like Varys. Hardly foreboding warriors.
Now I'm admittedly no expert on human biology but in GRRM's defense the unsullied aren't supposed to be stronger or faster or more aggressive than normal people. Their strength lies within their unquestionable loyalty, their inability to feel pain and their legendary discipline.
They are never described as being great warriors they are the best SOLDIERS in the realm. There is a big difference there. Their lines will never break, their men will never flee and they will never disobey. They are every generals dream... if they lose an even fight the fault lies only in the commanding officer.
The strategy they bring to war, the warfare they are great at (much like the roman phalanx) doesn't rely on extreme feats of strength and speed. Order and discipline is their bread and butter and that, they excel in.
1
Posted on 9/23/12 at 10:10 am to CottonWasKing
I read that same link before I posted 
I know Martin's intention was to present them as a colony of ants or drones, insignificant individually but strong as a united force in their phalanx formations. The idea is borrowed from history and sound, but making them eunuchs was a faux pas in itself; castrating them pre-puberty was borderline retarded, as they will have never developed physically. The ratio of the child slaves surviving the training to those fed to dogs would be somewhere in the 'hood of 100 to 1, and I think that's conservative. The cost for each fully trained INDIVIDUAL unsullied would make the entire enterprise unsustainable.
The effect on brain chemistry is another issue altogether, but IRL the biggest problem - making it unlikely ANY would survive the training. The very concepts of discipline and sacrifice would be meaningless, as they would only want to eat and sleep. Even if they could be molded, disciplined cannon fodder is still cannon fodder.
Martin left himself an out, though with this elixir they drink at each meal, so he at least tried to include a supplement to make up for no testosterone, so I let it ride, especially since it now looks like they will play a lesser role in Dani's conquest of Westeros.
I know Martin's intention was to present them as a colony of ants or drones, insignificant individually but strong as a united force in their phalanx formations. The idea is borrowed from history and sound, but making them eunuchs was a faux pas in itself; castrating them pre-puberty was borderline retarded, as they will have never developed physically. The ratio of the child slaves surviving the training to those fed to dogs would be somewhere in the 'hood of 100 to 1, and I think that's conservative. The cost for each fully trained INDIVIDUAL unsullied would make the entire enterprise unsustainable.
The effect on brain chemistry is another issue altogether, but IRL the biggest problem - making it unlikely ANY would survive the training. The very concepts of discipline and sacrifice would be meaningless, as they would only want to eat and sleep. Even if they could be molded, disciplined cannon fodder is still cannon fodder.
Martin left himself an out, though with this elixir they drink at each meal, so he at least tried to include a supplement to make up for no testosterone, so I let it ride, especially since it now looks like they will play a lesser role in Dani's conquest of Westeros.
This post was edited on 9/23/12 at 10:35 am
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