Rape or Consensual

 

 

Rape or Consensual

            When it comes to rape, it is defined differently depending on the persons point of view. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, rape is defined as “unlawful sexual activity and usually sexual intercourse carried out forcibly or under threat of injury against a person’s will or with a person who is beneath a certain age or incapable of valid consent because of mental illness, mental deficiency, intoxication, unconsciousness, or deception.” (Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary Online, 2020). The sex scene from Daenery and Drogo’s wedding night can be up for debate when the topic rape comes up. The way it is described in the reading has its differences from the way it is shown on the first episode. In the reading, she is uncomfortable when thinking about what will happen after the wedding, but she tries to keep the thought out of her head to hold back tears. When they leave the place of the wedding, they both ride off on their horses and stop at a grassy area. The reading tells us that Daenery undresses Drogo and Drogo undressed Daenery. Daenery allowed for Drogo to touch on her body and did not say anything while he did. She even guides his hands between her legs. When watching the episode, it did not happen that way. In the episode, you can see in her face that she did not want any part in any sexual intercourse. She did not guide his hands anywhere, but instead continued to cry. Once again, she did not say anything while undressing and touching her, but the pain in her eyes are shown clearly. Both in the reading and the episode, she did not say anything to stop him or pull away from him. Even though she did not say anything, it can be shown as rape.

            The reading makes the sex scene seem like she gave consent. One of the parts from the reading that makes it seem like she gave consent was when it mentioned, “She took his hand and moved it down to the wetness between her thighs, “Yes,” she whispered as she put his finger inside her.” (Martin, 108). With Daenery saying this in the text, it does not make the sex scene seem like a rape despite her shedding tears at the beginning. In the reading before the sex scene, it explains how she feels when thinking about the wedding night. The emotions and thoughts that she has before and during the wedding can show that she was not ready for what would happen after the wedding. At the same time, even though she basically gave consent in the reading, she did not have much of a choice when it came to what would happen. Daenery’s brother Visery sold Daenery to Drogo so she would become his wife. Daenery’s brother Visery says, “Please him, sweet sister, or I swear, you will see the dragon wake as it has never woken before.” (Martin, 106). With her being sold and being told what to do, it shows how she did not have much of a say in what happens afterwards. With Daenery not having much of a say in what happens, this can make the sex scene seem more like rape then giving consent.

            When watching the first episode, you can see the fear in Daenerys eyes. She does not want to have any sexual intercourse with Drogo. During the wedding, she seen many different things at a time, and this did not help her much mentally. The thought of the wedding night replayed in her head and she tries to shake the thought of it away and tries to avoid letting it get the best of her emotions. When Daenery and Drogo get off their horses at the grassy area, he starts to walk around her. He does not understand Daenery much because they do not speak the same language. She never undresses him as it is mentioned in the reading that she did help. He did still undress her, but watching it seemed different from what was read. She cried as he began to undress her. He keeps saying no at different times, but she did not say no or push away from him. Instead she allowed it to happen, but that does not necessarily make it right or mean that she wanted to let it happen. The fear was shown through her body responses. It was a situation that she could not avoid. Instead, she must act like she does not mind being the wife of Grodo and do things that come along with marriage.

            When it comes to the creators and their decision to add this scene in the show, I believe that they made a risky, but correct decision. It is a scene that none of us want to experience, but it is part of show. The scenes that are added to the episodes are based on things that happened during that time. This scene could have been added to draw attention. It may have not necessarily been the right way to bring attention to the show, but it is a way. The scene received different reactions to what happen. This may have been a way to seek attention from the audience. Some may want to continue watch to see how she handled the situation later past the scene. Overall, the creators had a different approach in this show. The scenes come together to make the show whole. If the scene is not in the show, it would put a twist in the future episodes.

            What they could have done differently was show a different approach. The scene could have been written out to seem less like rape and more consensual. If the creators would have made the sex scene more romantic or meaningful, then the topic of rape would not come up when talking about the wedding night. A romantic wedding night would have more meaning behind it. In future episodes, we see that she tries a different way to please him. This makes it less awkward between the two. I do not think that they should have brought that scene into the first episode. With it being the first episode, you want to have the audience’s attention for rating purposes. Scenes like that can make some people not want to watch other episodes and this takes away from the shows high rating. This scene could have happened after the first few episodes, but instead it was on the first episode. Once again, this could have been a way to draw the audience’s attention. It could have made them want to watch more episodes to see what happens in the future.

            The problems that with the scene is determining whether it was rape. This can be shown as rape, but to some it may not be. Another problem with this scene is that Drogo did not stop even though he seen her crying. She may have not said no or pushed him away, but the way she responded to the situation shown that she did not want to have any sexual intercourse during that time. With her allowing that to happen, it makes it seem like females do not have to power in saying no to certain situations. It is important that people know when to say stop or no to anything that they are not comfortable doing. Grodo took Daenery out of her comfort zone in a wrong way. So, when watching this scene, it is important for everyone to understand that it is not okay to have any type of sexual intercourse without both people agreeing that it is what they both want and not just one person.

            The decision to portray the moment as rape made her asked for help. She had Doreah to teach her how to please Drogo. Daenery did not want to continue feeling the way she did, so with the help of Doreah, sex seemed less like rape. It also helped her feel more comfortable when Drogo would come in the room. When she learned what she needed to, she tried it later that night and it did not seem like rape, but more consensual. I do not consider Daenerys character as feminist or misogynistic. It can be seen where she uses sexuality to gain power, but every character has their way of gaining power and this was her way. She had to make a change, or she would continue to hurt physically and mentally.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Works Cited

Daenerys Targaryen and Khal Drogo wedding: Azure window, Game of thrones locations, Filming locations. (n.d.). Retrieved September 23, 2020, from https://www.pinterest.com/pin/491596115557369170/%E2%80%99

Israel, A. (1970, January 01). The "Game of Thrones" Rape Controversy Revisited. Retrieved September 23, 2020, from http://www.pdptr.com/2011/06/game-of-thrones-rape-controversy.html

Martin, G. R. (2011). A game of thrones: Book one of "A song of ice and fire". London: Harper Voyager.

Rape. (n.d.). Retrieved September 23, 2020, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rape