Sansa Stark Article: My Response to the Sansa Haters (An Overview of my opinion of Sansa's Character)

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My Response to the Sansa Haters (An Overview of my opinion of Sansa's Character)

posted by SilverDoe29

Right, well, I notice a lot of people absolutely hate Sansa. Personally, I think Sansa is an excellent character, though maybe not a favourite she's definitely pretty close.

Now, if u haven't read up to A Feast for Crows, I recomend u turn back right now because there will be spoilers. Pretty big spoilers, and lots of them.

Anyways, this is my opinion about Sansa and my resoponse to the haters.

Why people hate Sansa
As far as I can see, the key reason people hate Sansa is her girliness and shallowness at the beginning of the boeken (or TV Show, if u prefer). Yes, I agree Sansa needed to grow up, but (a)so do most twelve-year-olds, and (b)she did grow up - a lot. And, is there anything wrong with an occasional female character who is not a rebelious tomboy?

Sansa in A Game of Thrones

In A Game of Thrones, Sansa starts off as a typical teenager, if a particularly naive one. She lives in a fantasy world of her own, is in love with the idea of love and acts rather bratty at times. When she meets Joffrey, he is everything she's been dreaming of, at least on the outside. And, yes, I know she's being mean to Arya, but u have to see things from her point of view a bit. When Arya beats up Joffrey, he lashes out at her, leaving her hurt and confused. u can't exactly blame her for becoming meer than a little hostile towards Arya at this point. Then, yes, she runs of to Cersei and tells her all about Eddard Stark's plan. I know, I know, most of u are rolling her eyes at her stupidity - but remember, Cersei was Joffrey's mother. Joffrey, whom up until that point had been her knight in shining armour, her hero, her dream come true - and Eddard's plan involved her leaving him. And she really didn't understand how serious the situation was - for her, the worst thing that could happen was being dragged back home pagina brokenhearted, something she was doing everything in he power to prevent. The idea of Ned being beheaded probably never even crosses her mind.

So, Sansa goes to Cersei. She starts to realize that things are looking bad for her father, but still thinks everything will be fine because Joffrey is king and she really believes in him. This would be very touching if it weren't for the fact that she was wrong to believe in him - but how was he to know that? Joffrey, in her mind, is still an idealized Prince Charming who would never do anything to hurt her of anyone she cares about. That is what she is convinced of as she goes down on her knees to plea with him for her fathers life.

Then things begin to go downhill for our Sansa. Joffrey beheads Eddard and Sansa is brought down to reality in the most painful way possible. Suddenly everything in the world she lives in is turned upside-down, and she doesn't have her father there to help her deal with it anymore. Sansa is terrified, and yet, when Joffrey forces her to look at Eddards head dipped in tar she does not brake down, and somehow manages to be brave enough to deliver the "or maybe he'll bring me yours" line. All in all, Sansa has gone from an ignorant, shallow teenage girl with her head in the clouds to someone u can really begin to admire and sympathise with.

Sansa in A Clash of Kings

In A Clash of Kings, Sansa has resigned herslef to the fact that she will have to marry Joffrey, hoping that her brother Robb will succeed in throwing Joffrey down. She is beginning to learn how to live without her father in the middle of a court full of intrigues and has left her fantasy world behind her - mostly. She has succeeded in making her life somewhat meer bearable door hiding behind empty courtesies, though when Joffrey to her immense relief cast her aside she reluctantly warns his new bethrothed Margaery of her husband-to-be's true nature. Despite the fact that it would most likely mean becoming Joffrey's bride-to-be once more, she begs Margaery, who is now like a sister to her, not to marry Joffrey. Margaery says that her brother, Loras, would not let Joffrey hurt her. Meanwhile, Ser Dontos promises to help her escape after she saved his life, though she is beginning to doubt his competance.

All in all, we see that Sansa has left behind some of her naivety and almost all of her brattiness. She has become much meer capable and independant, and will no longer trust in anyone just because of their outward appearance. Really, in this book, what's to hate?

Sansa in A Storm of Swords
In A Storm of Swords, Sansa is forced to marry Tyrion Lannister, the Imp. Now, Tyrion may be one of the most sympathetic Lannisters, but that doesn't change the fact that he comes from the family that had Sansa's father executed. I know she wasn't exactly pleasant towards him, but considering her expiriences with other Lannisters in the past she's hardly to blame. Then comes Joffrey's wedding. She is pretty much forced to watch people feasting and partying just after news reached her ears about her brother Robb and mother Catelyn's murder. Then, at the feast, Joffrey is murdered and Ser Donto finnally makes good on his promise to help Sansa escape... only for it to be revealed that he was hired door Littlefinger, and the reason helping her escape took so long was because first he had need of her in a plot of his to have Joffrey poisoned. Now, I know all of u are thinking Sansa should be dancing with joy, but think about things a bit harder. Dontos, her hero, had decieved her. She had been used in a plan to assassinate someone. No matter how much of a monster Joffrey was, a twelve jaar old isn't going to feel comfortable about having had a hand in his death.

So, Littlefinger aka Petyr Baelish brings Sansa to the Eryie. Finnally, Sansa has arrived somewhere that somewhat remsembles home... right? So, something bad has to happen immediately, because George R. R. Martin is just unable to give his characters - especially Sansa - a break. No promblem. Littlefinger forcefully kisses Sansa, and his wife Lysa Arryn trys to kill the poor girl. So Littlefinger shoves her of the cliff and Sansa has to watch her aunt tumble of a moutain. Sweet dreams. Really, Martin is absolutely intent to put Sansa through hell, isn't he? How can u not feel sorry for a charcter who has invoke so much of the author's wrath on them even though they didn't do anything to deserve it?

Sansa in A Feast for Crows
I don't think I'll bother with an overview of what happens to Sansa in this book, since the answer is not much. Instead, I'll just focus on her character development.

In A Feast for Crows, Sansa has finnally become a lot meer compent at the Game of Thrones, what with Littlefinger instructing her in it. She's become much colder and is beginning to think of herself as Alayne Stone, the new identity she has taken on. As well as that, she can now better control her emotions, and outbursts from her that have unpleasant consequences aren't likely to happen any more. Sansa has really matured a lot in this book, and is learning how to deal with the world she lives in. Congradulations, Sansa. Hopefully Martin will decide not to have her killed off.

AudreyFreak, valyriansdragon and 7 others like this

ilovereading Nice article, but I don't think she is already over with her problems. Maybe she will become more Stark-like in the last two books or even outdone Petyr in scheming. You should really post this somewhere where Sansa haters will see it.

SilverDoe29 I'll try to, but I couldn't really think of anywhere else to post this.

ilovereading Maybe you should try Game of Thrones or A Song of Ice and Fire. There are Sansa's both haters and fans.

SilverDoe29 Posted a link in the Song of Ice and Fire spt.

FlightofFantasy Great article! I agree with what you have to say. I have to admit that I hated Sansa in the first book, but starting at the end of the book, and continuing throughout the rest of the series, Sansa has become such an amazing and complex character, and her storyline has gotten so, so awesome, that now she's one of my absolute favorite characters. Ever. I can't wait for season two to come along, so all of the Sansa haters who haven't read the books see how incredible she gets!

AngelGirl1992 I am probably the only one who actually liked her in the beginning. And I absolutely had it with people saying she was "un-stark" like what is this fuckery. She is and always will be a stark END OF STORY

SilverDoe29 I liked her well enough at the beginning of the story because I found her interesting and she really did have her family's best interests at heart, she just didn't realise how dire the situation really was... but she was a bit bratish and VERY childish. I just don't blame it on her, I blame it on her upbringing.

wegottago I agree that she has grown throughout the series and is a much more bearable narrator in the later books. Yet I continue to hate her. Probably because, while she does suffer and grow, she never admits to herself her own responsibility for her part in Ned's death. Its always "Joffrey's so mean, i wish he was dead" and never "what was I thinking? Why did I do that? It's all my fault! I miss father." I'm not saying her actions aren't understandable from her position, and I believe its completely Ned's fault for telling his plans to his teenage goddamn daughter. But she never turns the lens on herself, and I find that despicable considering her actions and their consequences. This lack of deeper self-reflection further reinforces a recurring picture of her general shallowness that pervades her chapters throughout the series. Taken on their own, things like being a bitch to Arya, lying to protect her handsome but obviously detestable and spoiled prince, and failing to appreciate the numerous kindnesses of her very ugly but very obviously awesome husband are all forgivable and understandable. But taken all together, I can't help but hate that bitch. I've enjoyed watching her suffer, but I've also enjoyed watching her grow throughout her trials. I do believe she will come to accept her responsibility, and if she does I will be happy to start rooting for her.

sansasuck This article is the biggest piece of crap! People don't hate Sansa for her "girliness". It's her lack of loyal, lack of intelligence and total selfiness. While she may not be the one who cut off Ned's head, she definetly played a major role in his death. Also it's not her "trust" for Joffrey but her desire to live this fairytale life depicted in song. The girl deserves every bit of cruelty she receives and the only thing I want more than winds of winter to finally get here is for Sansa head to put on a post.

starkdagger Skimmed this article and found it concise, but sansa is ah mewling cunt who can not will not use reason. Her main concern is sansa. I'm a fan of the books and the show and I gotta say she put herself in hell and I only hope that when aria comes back from bravos she has to kill her .

AudreyFreak ^^Wow, you two need help. maybe you can experience the 'cruelty' and 'hell' you wish on a freaking fictional character. Sansa is naive and selfish- that's what makes her REALISTIC. And she survives the way she knows how to. also, 'sansasuck', you probably didnt even read it. your post (and name) are what is crappy. And Sansa isn't a "bitch". She and Arya both fought and if anything Arya was the bitchy one, insulting the boy she knows Sansa likes, freaking beating her up and saying she hates her. Sansa tried to invite Arya into the conversation and be nice and Arya crapped on it. she didn't "kill" Ned or betray anyone either. She was as rebellious as Arya ever was, as she herself admits. You people who "enjoy" watching anyone suffer should probably suffer yourselves to see how good that feels.