Brienne of Tarth and the role of the Absent Mother on Game of Thrones

From the simplest fairy tales to literary classics, the absent mother is a central and recurring theme that resonates deeply with audiences. Mothers are the quintessential nurturers; they represent home, security, comfort and love. When they are absent, either literally or figuratively, the world is thrown into chaos. Elementary examples exist in children’s stories like Bambi, Cinderella and Babar. More complex representations can be found in Shakespeare, especially in the tragedies and romances, in retellings of the Arthurian legend such as Marion Zimmer Bradley’s The Mists of Avalon, and throughout Game of Thrones.

The absent mother figures prominently in the lives of many Games of Thrones characters, shaping their perceptions, attitudes and responses to the world around them. The Starks, Lannisters, Targaryens, Jon Snow and several supporting characters have all been affected by different iterations of the absent mother. This series explores its impact on individual characters and attempts to place their experiences within similar thematic paradigms.

Let’s begin our journey with a deep dive into a character whose mother died when  she was still so young she doesn’t remember her: Brienne of Tarth.