Just War

In class on Monday we talked about the Christian perspective on just war. We specifically touched upon the view points of Yoder, Augustine and Neihbur and their ideas of violence with Yoder being the pacifist and condemning all war and Neihbur being the realist. For this post; however, we will focus on Augustine who is one of the greatest known proponents for just war.

In class we briefly discussed how Augustine's basis for his argument was founded on love. It was a somewhat difficult concept for me to understand; however, when we look at it through a parental sort of view, it makes a little more sense. A parent may use coercive means on a child in order to better them (think withholding a positive reinforcement in order to get a child to eat his/her vegetables). In the same way according to Augustine, war is at times necessary in order to bring about a greater good.

This is an ever present theme in the entirety of Game of Thrones and the A Song of Ice and Fire series. In fact, the series' underlying theme centers around several factions and individuals waging war against one another for the sake of their own "just" causes. One fights because he believes he is the rightful heir, another fights for the injustice done to his father, another fights because he believes that he is the only legitimate family member left of the previous king, and then there is Danaerys Targaryan.

Danaerys Targaryan is the last remaining heir of the royal Targaryan bloodline. They were the previous rulers of the Seven Kingdoms years past before they were brutally uprooted and nearly entirely wiped out.  The Targaryan house had ruled the Seven Kingdoms for centuries and were known to have the blood of the dragon run through their veins, meaning fire could not harm them. They were also dragon riders and tamers and their rein lasted so long because of this incredibly ability. This noble line, through generations of inbreeding, eventually lost their magical blood, and with that, their ability to tame dragons. Thus, the fall of the Targaryans ended with the Mad King Aerys II, Danaerys' father. She was just a child when the throne was taken and was forced to flee across the sea in order to escape death. She left with her older brother Viserys (who had seemingly gotten a fair share of madness from his father) and lived upon the hospitality of past allies. Her brother eventually dies a rather gruesome and (in a not so Christian opinion) deserved death making her the last of the Targaryan bloodline.

In the beginning, Danaerys had no real thoughts of taking back the kingdom. That was her brother's dream. All she wanted was to go home and after Viserys sold her to Khal Drogo (the warrior in the previous post), her only focus was on surviving*. Yet after he dies, and through various events Danaerys begins to understand that the blood of the dragon--believed to be lost--resides within her and that she alone has the power to bring dragons back from extinction and with them, bring peace and order back to the Seven Kingdoms. It is here that I believe Augustine and Danaerys draw parallels. To understand this, we should look to her nature.

Later known as the Mother of Dragons, Danaearys Targaryan is a young woman of compassion and strength. Her yearning for the throne does not stem from a need for glory, but rather out of love. She hears of the suffering of the people in the Seven Kingdoms and knows that diplomacy would never work; thus, she embarks on a long and bitter journey back home. She creates an army out of people who love her and believe in her cause. Those that follow her are treated with equality and respect, even if they don't believe they deserve it. Thus like Augustine believes, Danaerys sees that her only option to bring about justice is to wage war against the current king of the Seven Kingdoms. It is out of love and hope for long lasting peace that she vows to bring down the current king in a fury of, "fire and blood". She strives for the betterment of all and is willing to do so regardless of the danger and the inevitable bloodshed that lies ahead.


*She actually thrives and falls in love with the Khal and he with her. It was a rather surprisingly sweet and refreshing love story.