Game of Thrones as Myth: Qyburn as the Archetypal Shadow
In this series, we take a fast and fun look at Game of Thrones characters and what traditional archetypes they fall into.
What is an archetype? In fantasy and myth, certain types of characters constantly reappear: stalwart Heroes, odd Mentors offering talismans, Threshold Guardians and their tests, dangerous Shapeshifters, otherworldly Shadows, dark Villains, sly Tricksters, and more. As you scan the above list, you can probably drop some Game of Thrones characters into one category or another, or even into multiple categories.
Still from the film Nosferatu, 1922, directed by F. W. Murnau.
This series examines how Game of Thrones characters fit into the archetypal frameworks developed by mythologist Joseph Campbell (The Hero with a Thousand Faces) and the more modern version by Christopher Vogler (The Writer’s Journey). Both Campbell and Vogler employ the works of psychiatrist Carl G. Jung. Along with many other academics, Jung suggested that the archetypes of myth and legend sprang from a human collective unconscious, since they appear in so many different cultures separated by space and time.
"“In describing these common character types, symbols and relationships, the Swiss psychologist Carl G. Jung employed the term ‘archetypes,’ meaning ancient terms of personality that are the shared heritage of the human race.” —Christopher Vogler"
Campbell argues that human beings are biologically hardwired to understand the symbolism and expression of character archetypes. Otherwise, we would be incapable of participating in the shared human experience of storytelling.
"“Summoned or not, the God will come.” —Motto over the door of Carl G. Jung’s house"
As we segue into Game of Thrones characters, it is important to remember that archetype is not a straightjacketed category but rather a flexible function of storytelling. Any individual character can (and usually does) express various archetypal traits or even moves from one category to another as the story unfolds.
This time we dig into the mysterious and sinister character of Qyburn, the disgraced Maester who quickly forms an alliance with Cersei Lannister. Qyburn performs a number of archetypal functions such as Mentor and Mad Scientist, but his primary archetypal role is that of The Shadow.
"“The archetype known as the Shadow represents the energy of the dark side, the unexpressed, unrealized or rejected aspects of something. Often it’s the home of the suppressed monsters of our inner world.” —Christopher Vogler"
Qyburn’s intellectual curiosity regarding subjects considered unnatural and taboo has resulted in the revocation of his Maester’s chain by the Citadel. “They found some of my experiments … too bold,” he explains in “Kissed by Fire” (S3/Ep5). Qyburn is uninhibited by ethics or rules. This leaves him free to harness the powers of the darkness to perform good deeds, or at least deeds Qyburn himself deems necessary. Qyburn’s obsession is revealed in this early exchange with Jaime in “The Bear and the Maiden Fair” (S3/Ep7):
"Qyburn: “Curious. The only way to treat disease is to understand disease. And the only way to understand it is to study the afflicted.” Jaime: “You performed experiments on living men.” Qyburn “On dying men.” Jaime: “With their permission.” Qyburn: “My studies have given me insight and saved many lives.”"
Cersei forms an immediate bond with Qyburn when he arrives at King’s Landing, choosing him to serve as her personal physician. So far as we know, Cersei had never allowed Grand Maester Pycelle to touch her. It’s as if she can already sense Qyburn’s potential to manifest her darkest impulses, that her chaotic hatred and impotent desire for revenge can be focused through the prism of his amoral clarity and turned into action. When Jaime describes Qyburn as “an odd little man,” Cersei responds by saying, “I’ve grown rather fond of him. He is quite talented, you know” (“Two Swords,” S4/Ep1).
Cersei further cements her alliance with Qyburn after the mortal wounding of Ser Gregor Clegane by the Red Viper (the late Oberyn Martell) in “The Children” (S4/Ep10). Grand Maester Pycelle recognizes that Clegane is dying and beyond the reach of medical science. Qyburn, however, jumps into action, stating that he stands a good chance of keeping Clegane alive. When Pycelle points out Qyburn’s lack of fitness for the task, Cersei not only dismisses Pycelle, but also turns his laboratory over to Qyburn. “Come to me with anything you need,” she tells him. Qyburn, well aware of the effects of his weird science, warns Cersei:
"Qyburn: “You should know, the process may change him, somewhat.” Cersei: “Will it weaken him?” Qyburn: “Oh, no.” Cersei: “Very well, then.”"
Soon, Qyburn takes Varys’ place as the Master of Whisperers on the Small Council, much to the chagrin of Pycelle and the other members. Qyburn is scorned as a “sycophant” by the displeased Kevan Lannister, but Qyburn is loaded with qualities the conniving Cersei prizes: loyalty, intelligence and a complete lack of conscience.
Qyburn becomes Cersei’s trusted counselor, sending her secret messages via raven, gathering information for her and continuing his work on the resurrection of the near-dead Ser Gregor. The hermetically sealed aspect of the Cersei/Qyburn relationship is similar to that of the King Arthur/Merlin dynamic, where the ruler values one man’s counsel above all others to the point where he ignores the wisdom and warnings of their other experienced advisors. In “Hardhome” (S5/Ep8), after the High Sparrow imprisons Cersei, Qyburn is the only member of the Small Council who visits her, bringing information and leaving her with, “Goodbye, my Lady. The work continues.”
When Cersei arrives at the Red Keep after her humiliating walk of shame (“Mother’s Mercy,” S5/Ep10), the members of the Small Council glare at her with disgust. (Or, in Pycelle’s case, restrained glee.) Qyburn, however, rushes forward to cover her nakedness with a cloak, and offers her words of comfort. Qyburn also presents her with his completed experiment, the walking abomination that had once been Ser Gregor Clegane, now a screw-eyed monster in the armor of the King’s Guard:
"May I have the honor of presenting the newest member of the King’s Guard. If it pleases your grace, he has taken the vow of silence. He is sworn that he will not speak until all of his grace’s enemies are dead, and the evil has been driven from the realm."
As Ser Gregor carries Cersei in his gigantic, armored arms, her look of despair is replaced by a steely gaze of vengefulness. As she had intuited, Qyburn’s talents are providing her with the means to carry out her retributions. Qyburn now becomes indispensable to Cersei in her grab for the throne, and he will prove indispensable in her quest to hold on to and expand her power.
In this way, Qyburn is similar to Queen Elizabeth’s secretary, Walsingham, a brutal mastermind of espionage whose harsh methods she must accept in order to keep her throne in the film Elizabeth. But, unlike the young Elizabeth struggling to come to terms with necessary evils, Cersei not only wants to utilize Qyburn as a defensive mechanism, but as an agent of her anger. When Cersei orders Qyburn to place more spies in key areas of Westeros (“Oathbreaker” (S6/Ep3), her personal motives outweigh the practical:
"Don’t stop at the city. I want little birds in Dorne, in Highgarden, in the North. If someone is planning on making our losses their gains I want to hear it. If someone is laughing at the Queen who walked naked through the streets covered in shit, I want to hear. I want to know who they are. I want to know where they are."
Nothing is going to stop Cersei now. When Tommen outlaws trial by combat, thus depriving Cersei of Ser Gregor’s sword arm in her defense, Qyburn offers her the doomsday device of wildfire (“No One,” S6/Ep8):
"Qyburn: “Your grace, that old rumor you told me about, my little birds investigated.” Cersei: “Is it just a rumor or something more?” Qyburn: “More. Much more.”"
In the final episode of Season 6, “The Winds of Winter” (S6/Ep10), Cersei pulls the Qyburn trigger. He uses the wildfire to explode the Sept of Baelor and sends his little birds to assassinate Grand Maester Pycelle. As the trap springs on Pycelle, Qyburn displays the emotionless detachment that has served him so well:
"Please, Grand Maester, I bear you no ill will. Please, forgive me if you can. This pains me, my lord. Whatever your faults you don’t deserve to die alone in such a cold, dark place. But, sometimes, before we can usher in the new, the old must be put to rest."
Lets take a look at how Qyburn’s character serves Christopher Vogler’s functions of the Shadow archetype.