This analysis looks at the similarities between Shakespeare's play "Cymbeline" and George R. R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" books and tries to find out if Martin has been influenced by Shakespeare's play and if the fantasy genre has been influenced by Shakespeare's romances in general.
Fans and scholars have long argued if "Game of Thrones" has been inspired by the works of William Shakespeare. Especially Macbeth is mentioned quite often, though Othello, Hamlet and King Lear are also mentioned from time to time. However, something that rarely comes up are the so-called "romances", the plays (presumably) from Shakespeare’s last period. This might not seem odd, since the romances themselves are quite difficult to categorize in Shakespeare's body of work. But when one looks at them, some similarities to the fantasy genre spring to the eye. There are wicked kings and queens, magic, apparitions of gods and fairy-tale-like figures, battles, fights, and much more that nowadays seems to be stereotypical of fantasy fiction. Since "A Song of Ice and Fire" uses many of these stereotypes, it can be seen as prototypical for the high fantasy genre.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 William Shakespeare: The genre of the romances and the play Cymbeline
3 The fantasy genre, exemplified by George R. R. Martin’s A Song Of Ice and Fire
4 The influence of Cymbeline in A Song of Ice and Fire
5 Conclusion
Research Objectives and Topics
This paper explores the literary connections between William Shakespeare's late romance Cymbeline and George R.R. Martin's fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire, investigating whether Martin draws inspiration from Shakespearean tropes and how the romance genre influences modern high fantasy.
- Comparison of narrative stereotypes in Shakespearean romances and high fantasy.
- Analysis of character parallels, particularly focusing on villainous figures and resilient female protagonists.
- Examination of structural motifs like lost heirs, displaced rulers, and complex, chaotic plot developments.
- Investigation into the historical and literary influences shared by both authors.
Excerpt from the Book
4 The influence of Cymbeline in A Song of Ice and Fire
One of the main characters in A Song of Ice and Fire is “Queen Cersei Lannister”, later known as “Queen Regent”, who is set “trying to get rid of anyone in her way” (Kennedy 2006). In a comment on Martin’s blog, dealing with a trailer of season 2 of the Game of Thrones series, someone by the nickname ‘Jon Snow’ writes about Cersei that “her ambition reminds me of Lady Macbeth and i have a feeling they will come to a similar end” (2008). As mentioned earlier, on the website of the publisher “Barnes & Noble”, blogger Kelly Anderson confronts some characters from A Song of Ice and Fire with their Shakespearean counterparts to see who would win a fight. She also plays “Cersei vs. Lady Macbeth” and “describes them both as “power-craving, strong-minded, scheming women”, who “both want to make it to the top and stay there”, simply because they believe that they “deserve it, by their own effort of will and whatever religious excuse they’ve got going [emphasis in the original]” (2013). The focus on the comparison with Lady Macbeth certainly fits, but one could easily compare Cersei to Cymbeline’s Queen as well. In fact, the Queen is not that different to Lady Macbeth. Just like her, Cymbeline’s wife is a “wicked queen who induces her husband into war with Rome” (Bate 1996: 40). Still, it should be pointed out – and that is probably due to the romance-factor of the play –, that “the Queen […] is embodiment of malevolence in the person, not of Goneril or Lady Macbeth, but of the fairy-tale witch” (Nosworthy 2004: lii). But let the witches wait for a moment.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter introduces the ongoing discourse regarding Shakespearean influences on George R.R. Martin's work and establishes the focus on the romance Cymbeline as a blueprint for high fantasy elements.
2 William Shakespeare: The genre of the romances and the play Cymbeline: This section defines the characteristics of Shakespeare's late romances, emphasizing motifs like lost royal children and miraculous resolutions, and provides a contextual overview of Cymbeline.
3 The fantasy genre, exemplified by George R. R. Martin’s A Song Of Ice and Fire: This chapter defines the high fantasy genre through its imaginative world-building and character archetypes, while outlining the scope and reception of Martin's series.
4 The influence of Cymbeline in A Song of Ice and Fire: This chapter conducts a comparative analysis between the characters and plot structures of Cymbeline and Martin's series, identifying parallels in villainy, manipulation, and protagonist arcs.
5 Conclusion: The final chapter summarizes the findings, noting that while direct influence is complex to prove, both authors utilize similar historical and literary motifs to construct vast, chaotic, and multifaceted narratives.
Keywords
Shakespeare, Cymbeline, George R.R. Martin, A Song of Ice and Fire, Game of Thrones, Romances, High Fantasy, Literary Influence, Character Archetypes, Narrative Structure, Historical Fiction, Tragicomedy, Manipulation, Female Protagonists, Epic Narrative.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this academic paper?
The paper examines whether George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series is influenced by William Shakespeare's late romance plays, specifically using Cymbeline as the primary point of comparison.
What are the central thematic areas covered?
The work covers genre definitions of Shakespearean romance, the tropes of the high fantasy genre, and detailed character and plot parallels between the two literary bodies.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to determine if Martin has been influenced by Shakespeare’s romances and if the fantasy genre itself shares foundational characteristics with the Shakespearean romance mode.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The author employs a comparative literary analysis, examining structural devices, character arcs, and thematic motifs present in both the source material (Cymbeline) and the target text (A Song of Ice and Fire).
What is addressed in the main body of the work?
The main body consists of defining the genres, providing a synopsis of Cymbeline, characterizing the fantasy genre, and performing a detailed side-by-side analysis of characters like Cersei Lannister versus Cymbeline’s Queen.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key terms include Shakespeare, Romances, Cymbeline, George R.R. Martin, A Song of Ice and Fire, fantasy genre, character parallels, and literary motifs.
How is Cersei Lannister compared to characters in Cymbeline?
The author compares Cersei to Cymbeline's Queen, citing their mutual manipulative nature, ambition, and their role as powerful, malevolent figures who influence their husbands and sons.
Is there a comparison drawn between Arya Stark and characters in Cymbeline?
Yes, Arya Stark is compared to Imogen from Cymbeline, noting similarities in their roles as resilient, disguised young women traversing difficult circumstances and their mutual status as figures who uncover the truth.
How does the author view the role of chaos in both works?
The author notes that both works feature chaotic plot progressions, where order is either restored by external forces or remains elusive, mirroring the complexities of reality.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Philipp Röttgers (Autor:in), 2016, Shakespeare and his impact on modern day fiction. Traces of Cymbeline in George R.R. Martin’s "A Song of Ice and Fire", München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/1189419
