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A Clash of Kings
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Symbols & Motifs
Red Comet
The red comet is a motif that develops The Illusion of Power, as various people interpret it largely as a portent of their success. Each person sees what they want or need to see in the comet, highlighting how power depends on appearance, perspective, and interpretation.
The comet’s significance is illustrated by the fact that it is the very first thing that appears in the novel’s prologue, as seen through the eyes of Maester Cressen. The fact that the comet is red resonates with the “red woman” the prologue introduces, Melisandre of Asshai. She interprets the comet as “dragonsbreath.” One of Joffrey’s knights sees the comet as a sign to “herald Joffrey’s ascent to the throne” and defeat the other kings (38-39). When Theon arrives at Pyke, his uncle Aeron calls it a “rising tide” brought by their deity, the Drowned God. Daenerys views the comet as a sign from the gods “to show [her] the way” (187). Each of these interpretations validates Varys’ insight that power is arbitrary, and people will find it wherever they believe it resides. By calling the comet a sign of their favor, these characters reveal how illusory their power really is.
Crowns
The crowns worn by each of the five kings symbolize the men who wear them. Rather than present the kings with nondescript crowns, Martin chooses to design the crowns to highlight a particular aspect of each man’s character.
Some of these aspects betray hidden truths about the limitations of the crown’s wearer. For instance, in Chapter 7, Robb’s crown bears a resemblance to the lost ancient crown of the Kings of Winter. This speaks to the tradition that supports his claim as King in the North. However, Catelyn observes that Robb is constantly moving the crown back and forth on his head, suggesting his discomfort with the crown. This hints at the reluctance with which Robb assumes his role as king. Similarly, Chapter 56 shows Theon wearing a crown that is “misshapen and ugly” (802), a reflection of the nature of his power and the lack of judgment with which he conquers Winterfell. A third example comes from Joffrey, whose “golden crown [is] set upon his golden curls” (592). The repetition of “golden” in this description emphasizes his identity as a Lannister and acts as a reminder that he is a child of incest. Although “golden” usually reflects positive attributes, in this case, it also highlights Joffrey’s status as Cersei’s favored, protected child and becomes a reminder of his self-absorption and entitlement.
Dragons
Dragons are a symbol of Daenerys’s power, but they are also symbolic of the return of magic to the novel’s world. Early in the A Song of Fire and Ice series, magic is widely believed to have disappeared from the world, leaving many characters skeptical of its manifestations: “Perhaps magic was once a mighty force in the world, but no longer” (442). In A Clash of Kings, this belief still largely holds in Westeros, although there are hints of magic, like Bran’s identity as a warg.
The return of magic to the world poses a threat to the established powers in Westeros, which is partly why the dragons symbolize Daenerys’s power. Although she is removed from the War of the Five Kings, her dragons would radically shift the conflict in her favor since none of the other kings can boast dragons of their own, let alone fathom that dragons have returned to existence. Their inability to anticipate the fantastical nature of the world around them leaves them open to surprise when magical elements do manifest. This weakness is illustrated by other events in the novel, such as when Melisandre sends living shadows to assassinate targets or when Jojen uses his greensight to warn Bran of Theon’s coming, foreshadowing the return of magic on a much larger scale with Daenerys’s eventual arrival in Westeros.
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By George R. R. Martin
