Game of Thrones: Rape vs Consensual Sex

    This semester has forced me into drawing my attention towards the Game of Thronesseries. Before being required to be involved in the series, I knew nothing about it. Of course, I knew it existed, but I had no idea of all of the events that took place. I remember watching the first episode and I just could not keep up; all I remember was that a lot of sex took place in this show. Personally, I do not watch a lot of stuff that involves sexual content on television, and even the stuff that I have been exposed to, has never been as graphic as the sex scenes on Game of Thrones.

    Speaking of the first episode of the first season, Khal Drogo and Daenery's wedding scene really stood out to me. I would argue and say that according to this episode, during the night of the wedding Deanery was raped, even though the novel made it seem as if it was consensual sex. Just by watching the episode you could tell that Daenery was uncomfortable, I mean she was just sold in to marrying this grown man who looks like he is in his thirties and please let's not forget that she is only thirteen years of age. Remember this scene shows Daenery asking Drogo questions, honestly I am not sure why or what her real purpose was, but I can only imagine that she did that because she was scared and was trying to stall from what she knew was coming. Drogo literally shut her up while she had tears falling down from her face and began to rape her. However, the novel portrayed this scene in a different way. The author of the novel did a great job providing details in which made the scene as if it was complete consensual sex. The novel even mentions how Drogo did not start until Daenery gave him the “yes”, which definitely did not happen in the episode. The novel makes us believe that from the beginning this couple had genuine love one another and as if they both were enjoying every bit of what was going on. Just from comprehending the novels perspective, it is almost easy to believe especially when she began to guide his hand on her body while they were having sex.

    From either perspective, rather it be from the episode or from the novel, I truly believe that there is no way to justify what happened as being right or okay. Consent is defined as giving one permission or agreeing to do something. With Daenery being in the situation that she is in, there was absolutely no way she could not do what her husband said or had asked her to do. She knew it was either do whatever he had asked or face the consequences. She had no choice therefore it is considered to be rape and not consensual sex. And if we are honest, we all can agree that the consequences that many of them faced were very ridiculous or deadly, so I do not blame her I believe I would just take it too just to save me some trouble, especially in that day and time. For whatever reason the novel tried to sugarcoat what really went on during the time frame of which Game of Thrones is in. Quite frankly I honestly appreciated the episode and how graphic it was because it was very eye-opening and it made me grateful for living in a world where you have rights and where you are free to do what you want, however you want and to whoever you want to do it with. Although in this scene we are talking about Drogo and Daenery, but this was a traditional thing, this happened to several young girls and of course they had to do whatever their new husband asked of them to do. So yes, I believe changing the novel and making the change to actually showing what really happened in that time was a good idea.

    If there was something that could have been changed throughout this season, I would say that changing their love life around would probably sit better with the audience. Throughout the season Daenary begins to actually fall in love with Drogo which can be problematic in some cases because many people believe that females that have been raped, end up falling in love with their rapist and in this case, that is exactly what happens. Which nothing is wrong with her falling in love with her husband but come on we cannot forget that she was forced to have relations with this man unwillingly. I think if there was a slight change in her age it would sit right with me and I am sure others would agree as well. I am not justifying rape or saying that this sex would have been consensual had Daenery been older, but I do believe if Daenery was older she would have a better understanding of what was going on and if we would have gave her more time, she probably would have been okay to give her body to her husband with no problem. I would say that she played a great role and being in the time that she lived in, I would definitely consider her role to be feminist. After while she realized what gave her power and of course power is something we all want, and she figured that her body and her agreeing to please Drogo would take her a long way. I do not know how others feel, but personally I believe Daenery’s character is shown as being very strong considering all that had taken place in her life.