The Ambitious Lady Olenna: Forward Planning and Margaery’s Path to Queenhood

From the outset, Lady Olenna Tyrell appears to have planned every step of Margaery Tyrell’s rise to power. Olenna's unwavering and shrewd ambition, combined with the attentions she bestowed upon her granddaughter during her early childhood, were all directed towards securing Margaery the highest position in Westeros – that of Queen Consort to King Tommen I. No detail was left to chance, and her actions and decisions speak volumes about Olenna’s true motives and plans.

Political Grooming from a Young Age

Olenna Tyrell is no stranger to political maneuvering. From her early days, she instilled in Margaery a sense of shrewdness and ambition that would prepare her for the treacherous landscape of Westeros politics. Olenna recognized the potential of her granddaughter as a figurehead and a pawn in her larger political game. The question remains: was Margaery’s eventual ascent to the throne merely a fortunate consequence of Olenna’s elaborate plans, or was it part of an even grander scheme?

Killing Joffrey Prior to His Kingship

Olenna’s foresight goes beyond the mere grooming of Margaery. Her intentions to eliminate Joffrey I Baratheon predate his kingship. Despite his ascension to the throne, Olenna has always known that the young, cruel, and unpredictable king is not a viable long-term leader. She anticipated Joffrey’s lethal traits and held the belief that he would eventually harm Margaery’s prospects of becoming queen. Her reasoning is clear: with a younger brother, Prince Tommen, who would be an easier candidate for subtle manipulation, Olenna saw a less threatening and more malleable candidate for future leadership.

Olenna’s resolve to kill Joffrey was further fortified by her knowledge of his true parentage and his acts of brutality even before he was declared king. Her refusal to leave the Red Keep until her ‘previous granddaughter’ was wed to King Tommen underscores her unwavering commitment to this end. Ultimately, Olenna’s strategic alliance with Littlefinger saw the specific assassination plot for Joffrey come to fruition, ensuring Margaery’s ultimate destiny as Queen of the Seven Kingdoms.

The Many Attempts to Make Margaery Queen

While Olenna’s plans for Margaery to become queen are evident, she was not the first to seek this outcome. The books reveal attempts by Loras Tyrell and Renly Baratheon to convince King Robert I to dump Cersei Lannister for Margaery. Robert’s untimely death derailed this plan, leading to Margaery’s eventual marriage to Renly Baratheon. However, the supernatural interference of the shadowbaby threw a wrench into these political maneuvers, necessitating the introduction of Joffrey as a viable alternative.

Olenna’s determination to see her granddaughter become queen is deeply rooted in her own past. Betrayals and broken marriages plagued her formative years. She was engaged to the youngest son of Aegon V Targaryen, but like her predecessors and successors, her marriage was doomed. Olenna’s dissatisfaction with these events cemented her drive to secure a queen for her granddaughter, much like she had desired for herself yet was denied. Olenna’s perception of denial and injustice drives her to see Margaery’s path to the throne as a necessary vindication of her own ambitions.

Conclusion: Olenna’s Enduring Ambition

In essence, Olenna Tyrell is a formidable and calculating character whose actions have been meticulously planned for generations. Her determination to see Margaery ascend to the highest throne not only speaks to her efficiency as a political strategist but also to her deep-seated desire for retribution and validation. Every move she makes in the complex game of Westeros politics is rooted in her unwavering ambition and her belief in the ultimate success of her plans.