This Sunday’s Game of Thrones season finale and the urge to do something different inspired this week’s odd entry. I decided to combine two columns and let the audience decide where this character falls. Is she cringeworthy or crushworthy?
Stats:
Full Name: Cersei Lannister
Age: Unknown, 30s or 40s
Occupation: Queen Regent and schemer
Who is She?
Cersei is the fierce lioness in George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series. She is part of the powerful family of Lannisters and was married to Robert Baratheon until his death. She is the mother of the next two succeeding kings. She is the twin and lover of Jaime Lannister. Cersei is a big player on the Westeros game board as she tries to keep her family on the throne. She is played by the amazing Lena Headey on the show.
“I am a lioness. I will not cringe for them.”
Why So Crushworthy?
Cersei Lannister is a strong woman trying to carve out a place in a male dominated world. She was married to the fat and alcoholic King Robert at a young age. This marriage turned out to be terrible for both sides. Cersei is the equal of her male counterparts and manages to hold her own despite efforts from others to knock her down. Cersei is smart, beautiful, and very cunning. She has outmaneuvered some of the males in her family with her ruthlessness. She is definitely a mother lion to her cubs. She would protect them with her last breath. Cersei is more aware of situations than most women in Westeros.
Why So Cringeworthy?
Well, the thing with her brother does not buy her any points. Incest usually ends badly — Joffrey being a prime example. Her little tower tryst was the small event that led to the war in Westeros. Her parenting skills are enough to land her on the cringeworthy scale. She lets her monster of a son start wars and shoot arrows at people. Cersei’s use of her body to get her way leads to her own brother-lover turning his back on her. Cersei is selfish and normally kills people she doesn’t like. Cersei’s belief is that her looks and family will keep her out of the fire. This hubris is what lands her in a sticky situation later on.
So readers, what do you think? Is Cersei loveable or worthy of loathing?
