As it reflects the era to which the author belongs, literature is one of the attributes of human
beings that has held value for thousands of years. It compels the author to depict what is truly
there, and to every individual, it appears to be his biography.
George R. R. Martin finds himself in Westeros, an imaginary world that is very much different from the real world in many ways, but it has many parallels that people in the real world simply refer to as societal constraints.
Martin discovers in Westeros that there are some rules for women known as The Order of
Things. He meets four different women from four different classes and they all live their lives
according to those rules.
It is the second episode of House of the Dragon in which Martin meets four women from various
classes, ages, statuses, desires, and pride, they all have one thing in common: peace and they all
are ready to sacrifice their lives for it.
Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen
Princess Rhaenyra, a young and ambitious woman with silver hair and a golden necklace, was the
only named heir to the throne six months ago, but she is not permitted to attend small council
meetings. She is trying to share her input before the meeting but is abruptly reminded that she is
only a cupbearer.
She understands how to use the dragon, Westeros’ greatest technology, which has made House
Targaryen, the most developed house, and this arouses her desire for power and the dream of
establishing a new order in Westeros.
But all of these dreams and desires vanish in the blink of an eye when she hears the hard truth
from Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, “Men would sooner put the realm to the torch than see a
woman ascend the Iron Throne.”
Lady Laena Velaryon
Laena, the 12-year-old daughter of Corlys Velaryon, the master of ships, follows The Order of
Things differently than Princess Rhaenyra. She gladly accepts that she must wed King Viserys to
restore the house’s honour and power for her father’s house.
It is customary in Westeros for a girl to marry before reaching puberty if her family’s pride
requires it, and Laena follows the same.
“It would be a great honor to join our houses as they were in old Valyria. I would give you many children of pure Valyrian blood so that we might strengthen the royal line and the realm,” she said to King Viserys.
Lady Mysaria
Lady Mysaria is considered the lowest and most despised class in Westeros, capable of bearing
children but unable to marry. When prince Daemon expressed his desire to marry Mysaria, Lord
Otto Hightower says, “This is an abomination. With every breath, you soil your name, your
house, and your brother’s reign.”
Unlike other Westerosi women who crave power and dream of an ambitious life, this class seeks
serenity, as Mysaria correctly stated to Prince Daemon, “I did not come into your service
wanting gold or power or station. I came to you to be liberated from fear.”
Alicent Hightower
The lovely Alicent Hightower, daughter of the Hand of the King, Lord Otto, and a close friend of
Princess Rhaenyra, is fond of history, but she must now follow the Order of Things in order to
fulfill his father’s desire for power in the king’s council.
Lord Otto wants her to be more attractive in front of the king because he plans to marry her as
the king’s second wife, and when he left for the Dragon Stone, he told her, “You are the most
comely girl at court. Why do you destroy yourself? Will you see the king tonight?”
The Order of Things is still applicable in the present world in one way or another. Women are still
struggling to find their place in society, but they are getting there.
