The Quintessential Representations of Westerosi Great Houses in ASOIAF

When it comes to the Great Houses of Westeros in George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series, there are characters who truly embody the traits of their ancestral coats of arms and house mottos. This article delves into who best represents the Stark, Lannister, Tully, Arryn, and Greyjoy families, offering a subjective but fun exploration of their most iconic members.

The Stark Family: The Truest of the Starks

The Starks serve as a cautionary tale with their motto, “Winter is Coming,” which is not a boast but a profound warning. Their rise to power was achieved through uniting the North. Among the Starks, Jon Snow stands out as he united the freefolk and the North under his rule, becoming King in the North. His unification efforts to fight against the impending winter symbolize the Starks' sense of duty and preparation.

The Lannister Family: The Indomitable Pride

The Lannisters’ motto, “Hear Me Roar,” encapsulates their unparalleled pride and dominance. Unlike their father, Tywin, who is depicted as the epitome of pride, Cersei Lannister embodies the fiercest Lioness. Her relentless pursuit of maintaining her house’s dominance and family’s values, displayed through her ruthlessness and arrogance, highlights the true essence of the Lannister lion.

The Tully Family: Family, Duty, and Honor

The Tully family’s motto, “Family, Duty, Honor,” is personified by Catelyn Tully. As the wife of Eddard Stark, she exemplified these values, demonstrating loyalty and duty to her family while maintaining a strong sense of honor. Her character, rooted in these principles, makes her one of the quintessential Tully figures in the narrative.

The Arryn Family: Indistinct in Representation

The Arryns, with their motto of “The Highest Tower,” are often seen as a more enigmatic bunch. The House Arryns have not been heavily featured in the narrative, except for the character Robyn, who was portrayed as a weakling. Jon Arryn, while mentioned, does not appear significantly in the story. This leaves us with a somewhat ambiguous representation of the Arryn family's essence.

The Greyjoy Family: The True Vikings of Westeros

The Greyjoy family's motto, “We do not sow,” echoes the myth of ancient Vikings. Victarion, the Uncle of Theon Greyjoy, serves as the closest to this description. Imagine The Hound, played by Rory McCann, as a bearded Viking who catches a sword blade in his hand and slices his opponent in half with an axe. This vividly captures the essence of the Greyjoy family's proud and fierce nature.

The Tyrell Family: Growing Strong Through Legends

With the motto “Growing Strong,” the Tyrells’ narrative arc is marked by growth and adaptation. While Lady Olenna Tyrell, also known as “The Queen of Thorns,” epitomizes the Tyrell spirit, Mace Tyrell was a poor representation. Instead, it is Gilly who gave birth to Daario, his bastard son, and his eventual rise to lord over Storm’s End that best represents the Tyrell family's motto.

The Martell Family: Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken

The Martells, with their motto “Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken,” are a formidable house that thrived through diplomacy and force. Prince Oberyn, also known as “The Red Viper,” exemplifies these traits, fighting with passion and honor. However, his eventual downfall marks a bittersweet end to his representation of the Martell spirit.

The Targaryen Family: Fire and Blood

The Targaryens, symbolized by their motto “Fire and Blood,” are known for their conquests, strong leadership, and eventual madness. Dany (Daenerys Targaryen) is the perfect representation of this motto. She embodies the resilience and strength required to rise from the ashes, leading her army and breaking the chains of oppression.

While these interpretations are subjective, they provide a rich tapestry of the Great Houses in Westeros, highlighting the characters and stories that best represent their respective families.

Stay tuned for further explorations into the diverse and compelling worlds of Westeros!