Post originally by Faioli at 2003-09-08 02:48:11
Converted from Phorums BB System


Ryan Bigelow wrote:
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Perhaps these historical kings did things all themselves at such a young age, but it is highly suspect. Yes, people were considered adults at young ages, but that doesn’t mean that other adults would follow them willingly. Even though we were considered culturally to be children when we were under 18, we still wouldn’t go follow a 13-year old at that age. So just because they are considered adults does not mean that some magical line has been crossed and that all adults are considered the same. Yeah, they had to grow up fast, but so did their elders. And this does not excuse the fact that many of the protagonists are children; the 13 year old girl with the Southern Barbarians, the 16 year old king, the 16 year old Stark general, 15 year old Jon Snow on the Northern wall. Are there no other competent adults around to rule the kingdom?
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First of all, let me say that I don't think Martin does Bran's viewpoint very well -- the others are relatively decent. I think it was a wise move on his part to make a 5-year "jump" in the 4th book to speed things up. I guess people wouldn't find it believable that a child would make a morally meaningful decision that would affect the entire world (as epics are wont to do; a long journey, both physically and spiritually is needed before the Ring can be cast to Mount Doom, for the Halfling to make the right decision...)

Secondly, about adults not concievably following "children". That depends on what happens to the adults, and who the children are. One may be a bright symbol around whom people unite (like Robb Stark), and the actual fighting and planning may be done by his generals. One may be a near-adult prodigy (like Jon Snow, or Daenerys), grudgingly acknowledged and followed out of nothing more than despair. One may be treated as currency, a puppet (like Jeyne Poole, Arya, Sansa, Tommen, Myrcella) trying to cut off its strings. One may be a cruel monster (like Joff) whose puppet "reign" exists because the "adults" (Cersei, Tywin) cannot or don't want to take the throne for themselves. Still, THEY make all the meaningful decisions. Nobody really "follows" Joff.

Yet (to ignore for a second the fact that this is a fantasy novel anyhow) there is at least one case in recorded history where adults were actually willing to follow a 16-year-old girl to victory -- or to their deaths. Was that "child" a mere symbol of hope? A legend-come-true who swept men into following her? A child prodigy? A girl with lots of luck? Who knows... but they did. I am speaking, of course, of Saint Joan of Arc.