the Political Power in George R.R Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire: A Game of Thrones

Abstract

This research study intends to focus on how political power is being constructed in the novel by symbols, and other narrative events in the novel. George R.R Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire: A Game of Thrones is the first of seven books whose main story is about wars, politics, and also love. This research is conducted on the theory of representation by Stuart Hall and focused on the theory of mythology by Roland Barthes. In his theory, Barthes mentioned that anything including oral and photograph is cannot be directly translated but it needs to proceed so that it can be accepted by people’s minds. The author uses several symbols such as animals and color in his book, as well as his criticism of the social condition in his work. Therefore, A Song of Ice and Fire: A Game of Thrones portrays how the symbols can create some literal meaning and give impact on real life as well as realistically depicts the glory and miserable things as the result of the war itself.