The Shakespearean Ending of Game of Thrones

It’s well known that Shakespeare’s history plays about the War of the Roses greatly inspired George R.R. Martin’s epic series A Song of Ice and Fire. The rise and fall of rulers and powerful families like the Yorks, Lancasters and Tudors sets a dramatic foundation for the bard’s Henriad. It’s no coincidence that, in the Song of Ice and Fire series, we see the rise and fall of families like the Starks, Lannisters and Targaryens. Even the names are similar.

However, Martin’s books — and their TV adaptation, Game of Thrones — also dips their toes into the tragedy genre. As in Shakespeare’s work, the series features many tragic figures and intimately explores into the human condition. And the death toll is high.

We now know how Game of Thrones ends. Although we’re not sure, we can bet that A Song of Ice and Fire will conclude similarly, even if the path to get there is a bit different. Is this ending more in line with Shakespeare’s histories or his tragedies?

Before answering that question, let’s take a look back at the series and pick apart its Shakespearean influences.