Jessica Chastain accuses 'GoT' of justifying rape for Sansa's character evolution

'Rape isn’t a tool to make a character stronger' she said

Actor-activist Jessica Chastain has taken a dig at the makers of Game of Thrones for what she believes is justifying rape and sexual abuse for the evolution of Sansa Stark’s character, reported The Indian Express.

In the latest episode of the hit HBO fantasy drama, Sandor Clegane – a.k.a The Hound – tells Sansa (played by Sophie Turner) that she has grown up from the “Little Bird” that she once used to be. He adds that had she left King’s Landing with him early on, she would not have faced villains like Petyr Littlefinger Baelish and Ramsay Bolton who tried to harm her.

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But to this, the Lady of Winterfell replies saying, “Without Littlefinger and Ramsay and the rest, I would have stayed a ‘little bird’ all my life,” using his nickname for her. This has prompted Jessica, who will next be seen working alongside Sophie in X-Men: Dark Phoenix, to take to Twitter on Tuesday and publically call out HBO and the show-runners for crediting Sansa’s growth to her victimisation at the hands of different male characters.

“Rape is not a tool to make a character stronger. A woman doesn’t need to be victimised in order to become a butterfly,” Jessica wrote. “The ‘little bird’ was always a Phoenix. Her prevailing strength is solely because of her and her alone. #GameOfThrones” the actor added.

Baelish, through the many seasons up until his murder in season seven, manipulated Sansa as per his needs while posing as her protector and mentor. He even kisses her, perhaps to remember Sansa’s late mother Catelyn whom he used to love. But it was actually him who orchestrated the execution of Sansa’s father Ned and the deaths of Jon Arryn and Joffrey Baratheon. He also framed Tyrion Lannister for attempting to take Sansa’s brother Bran’s life and eventually caused the War of the Five Kings.

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Then, there was that one scene in the fifth season wherein Ramsay forces himself onto Sansa on their wedding night. Said development was a break from the books of George RR Martin which Game of Thrones is based on and drew much flak from fans and critics alike.

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Needless to say, Twitter has been ablaze ever since Jessica pointed the matter out. Sophie is yet to respond to the furore but one cannot deny that the former has highlighted a fairly good point. She even prompted fellow actor Ava DuVernay to call out Game of Thrones for killing off Missandei – the only woman of colour in the show – in the last episode.

Missandei – a former slave rescued by Daenerys Targaryen and her most trusted confidant – is captured and executed by Queen Cersei right before Daenerys’ eyes. After learning of this, Ava tweeted, “So... the one and only sister on the whole epic, years-long series? That’s what you wanna do? Okay. #GameOfThrones”

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Some fans believe the lack of female writers and directors has led to these story arcs. In the entire run of the series, only one female director Michelle MacLaren has been brought on. She helmed four episodes, the last of which was in 2014. Also, there have been only three female writers in 10 years of Game of Thrones, contributing to nine episodes total.



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