Matching 50 Game of Thrones characters with 50 European countries

Denmark: Stannis Baratheon

This connection between Stannis Baratheon and Denmark can be found in an unlikely source: Shakespeare’s Hamlet. While it may have never crossed your mind, more than a few Game of Thrones lovers have pointed out parallels between Martin’s work and that of the Bard, a high compliment. There are significant connections between Macbeth and Ned Stark’s story, Othello and Littlefinger, and, of course, between Hamlet and Stannis’ struggle for the crown.

Hamlet is famously set in Denmark, and might be the most famous Danish story of all time. It centers on a young prince who learns that his fiendish uncle poisoned his father and took the throne for himself. If this sounds familiar, it’s probably because Stannis Baratheon is a bit of a Hamlet parallel. While he’s nowhere near as pure and good as the classic Shakespearean lead, fans have pointed out that Stannis, too, had a throne unlawfully stolen from him. The true king, Stannis’ brother Robert, was led to his death by a conniving party that wanted power for themselves. Like in Hamlet, this is another game of uncles vs. nephews, but this time with the roles reversed.

Both works can be read as commentaries on madness; think of Hamlet’s “To be or not to be” line. Stannis, too, constantly seems on the edge of a breakdown. Heck, he burns his own child at the stake as a way to please his god. Yikes. Perhaps they’re not a perfect match, but Stannis has more than a few ties to the famous Danish prince.