Game of Thrones is the only American fantasy drama television series that needs no introduction. From its premiere in 2011 to its final season in 2019, this show has been the talk of the world. Daenerys Targaryen, aka Mother of Dragons, played by the dazzling Emilia Clarke, has become an iconic fantasy character who inspires power, freedom and justice. However, she is also the character that provokes the most discussions about whether she is worthy of the admiration and attention she has acquired. Fans like it when she says “Dracarys,” especially when the person receiving the dragon fire is portrayed as an evil anti-hero. It is precisely because of this character’s assertiveness and charisma that the viewer does not stop to question some of her actions or consider whether she has gone too far.
Daenerys’ tragic end caused a polemic among fans and viewers. It was hard to imagine the woman who conquered many cities and restored freedom among the slaves, the woman who proudly said, “Yes, all men must die; but we are not men’ to die such a silent and treacherous death at the hands of one of her advisers.
However, if we take a closer look at Daenerys’ personality and decisions, we’d see that her ending isn’t so far-fetched. Having a few personality traits that differ from most doesn’t necessarily kill you, but it would create a lot of enemies. It’s the decisions she made based on those personality traits that may have caused her downfall. Thus, the Breaker of Chained contributed to her own fall.
Her black and white approach
Daenerys’ hamartia is her black and white view of the world. Hamartia is a Greek literary concept that refers to a tragic flaw that creates a chain of events that begins to work against the protagonist and ultimately ruins him. Throughout the seasons, we’ve seen Daenerys resort to extreme measures, especially when dealing with opposition. While trying to negotiate with her, a former master says, “Politics is the art of compromise.” To which she responded by saying, “I am not a politician; I am a queen.”
In fact, she proves her uncompromising nature once she enters Meereen, as she crucifies 163 former slave traders and refuses to bury their bodies as punishment for their brutality towards slaves. This act could be debatable, as justice is something that can only happen through a powerful leader who is not afraid to pull the trigger. However, her murder of Randal and Dickon Tarley for refusing to “bend the knee” was unnecessary and difficult to justify. After all, they didn’t own slaves; they just spoke an oath of allegiance to Cersei that they refused to break. Her hand, Tyrion Lannister, tries to intervene to influence her judgment and save the lives of the man and his son, but Daenerys’ black and white perception of life dictates her decisions and anyone who refuses to bend the knee will to face her dragons.
On another occasion, learning that the city of Yunkai was slipping back into slavery, she sends Daario Naharis to execute each master. Fortunately, she takes Jorah Mormont’s advice when he claims that he used to sell slaves himself, but has now changed his wrong ways. He asked if she would give Yunkai masters the same chance to adjust to a new life. But Danerys doesn’t always listen to her advisors. During the final episodes, we’ve seen her destroy the entire town of King’s Landing, including innocent men, women, and children, even after hearing the bells of surrender. Stories of her extreme measures and unmerciful and inflexible nature created a certain reputation that was difficult to erase; which in turn create enemies from within and without.
Just before Jon Snow stabs her heart, they had a little discussion about her plans for the future. After conquering the seven kingdoms, Jon advised her to stop her conquests, but the Mother of Dragons was so ambitious and so determined that she told him that her next plan is to conquer the entire world and free it from all tyrants. While it may seem like a noble goal, the victims who die in the process tell us it’s fanatical, tragic, and cruel.
Her lack of political foresight
Although she claims she’s not a politician but a queen, Daenerys should know that queens rule, and that ruling is entirely political. When it comes to political wit, our queen falls short. She makes many decisions that are not in favor of her plans and political goals. When Jon Snow shows up on her doorstep asking for help, she doesn’t hesitate to come to his aid in his battle with the dead. In doing so, she loses a dragon, a very valuable asset to her quest and a creature very dear to her. In this way, Daenerys saves the person who will end her life because of her impulsiveness.
A good politician won’t let their emotions get in the way of their plans, but Daenerys started to have feelings for Jon and acted on them. Another political mistake is when she executes former slave Mossador for killing a former master without giving him a fair trial. The crime deserves punishment, but not all punishment should be death. Mossador was one of Daenerys’ most passionate allies. He tried to convince the slaves to follow her and rallied them to her cause. Political foresight would mean not killing one’s allies, especially in a newly conquered city very prone to upheaval. This decision weakened Daenerys’ position and opened the door for the Son of the Harpy to destroy the peace of the city.
Her trust issues
All the shortcomings mentioned above can be atoned for, overlooked and carefully maintained so as not to become a fatal issue. However, if we have to consider what can be the Achilles heel of Daenerys– in other words, the tragic mistake that caused her demise – we need to look at the people she keeps close to her and the ones she drives away.
The dragon queen’s trust issues are not that she doesn’t trust people, but that she has too much trust in the wrong people. We have seen her drive away people who are completely devoted to her and who have proven their ultimate loyalty. She banishes Jorah Mormont who made up for his past mistake by being her protector and advisor from the very first season. She also follows Tyrion’s advice to leave Daario Naharis. Daario, like Mormont, really loved his queen and gave her “his sword, his life, and his heart.” But Dany’s infinite ambitions blind her to the need to have reliable allies by her side as she faces the most decisive battle of her life. Some argue that if Daario was still by her side, she wouldn’t have been so easily manipulated and killed.
With Tyrian a Lannister, Jon a proclaimed king in the north, and with Varys’s fluctuating allegiances, Daenerys’ circle grew more and more dangerous. For each of them, the Mother of Dragons was an inconvenience in one way or another. She kept a council of people who, because of their different experiences and backgrounds, cannot relate to her on a deep level, or have the same loyalty that her previous advisers had for her. Before dragons, before soldiers, before armies and munitions, a conqueror must make his allies trustworthy. Betrayal is a door that one opens unconsciously, which brings nothing but destruction.
Indeed, “a Targaryen alone in the world is a dangerous thing.” Especially when she is surrounded by the wrong advice that such a ruthlessly ambitious individual cannot comprehend.