What do the White Walkers represent?
The White Walkers, a supernatural force from George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series and its television adaptation Game of Thrones, have captivated audiences worldwide with their chilling presence and relentless pursuit of destruction. While Martin has not explicitly confirmed any specific sources of inspiration for these enigmatic beings, several myths, legends, and historical groups from various cultures may have influenced their creation. In this blog post, we will delve into the possible inspirations for the White Walkers, focusing on mythology, and explore the similarities between these inspirations across cultures. In doing so, we will uncover universal anthropological conclusions about human societies and the fears that have haunted them throughout history.
The Wild Hunt: Chaos Across the Sky
The Wild Hunt, a European folk myth, tells of a group of ghostly hunters led by various figures such as Odin, King Arthur, or the Devil. These spectral riders race across the sky, hunting otherworldly prey and causing chaos in their wake. The Wild Hunt is often associated with the winter months, and its supernatural nature and destructive tendencies may have influenced the White Walkers' portrayal as harbingers of death and chaos. This myth highlights humanity's fear of uncontrollable forces that threaten order and stability.
Celtic Mythology: The Enigmatic Sidhe and Aos Sí
The White Walkers share similarities with the Sidhe or Aos Sí, supernatural beings from Irish and Scottish mythology. Often depicted as fair-skinned, otherworldly, and capable of wielding powerful magic, these beings inhabit an alternate world parallel to our own. The Sidhe and Aos Sí represent a fear of the unknown and the potential danger posed by powerful entities from beyond our world.
Norse Mythology: Frost Giants and the Fimbulwinter
The frost giants, or jötnar, from Norse mythology bear resemblance to the White Walkers. As ancient enemies of the gods, the frost giants are associated with the destructive forces of winter and ice. The White Walkers' association with a period of darkness and cold called "The Long Night" is similar to the Norse concept of Fimbulwinter, a great winter that precedes the apocalyptic event known as Ragnarok. These myths reflect the human fear of an overwhelming, unstoppable force that could bring about the end of the world.
Wendigo: Starvation and the Horrors of Winter
The Wendigo, a creature from Algonquin folklore, is a malevolent, cannibalistic spirit associated with winter, ice, and starvation. Its appearance and behavior may have influenced the White Walkers' predatory nature. The Wendigo embodies the fear of scarcity and the lengths to which humans might go in the face of extreme deprivation.
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: Harbingers of the End
The White Walkers' role as harbingers of death and destruction in Westeros can be compared to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse from the Book of Revelation in the Bible, who are said to bring war, famine, pestilence, and death. The Four Horsemen symbolize humanity's dread of cataclysmic events and the potential collapse of civilization.
Gog and Magog: Prophesied Chaos and Destruction
In biblical and Islamic traditions, Gog and Magog are prophesied to be a force of chaos and destruction, similar to the role of the White Walkers in the narrative of Game of Thrones. These figures represent the fear of an unstoppable enemy that threatens the very fabric of society and the world.
Universal Anthropological Conclusions
The White Walkers, as an amalgamation of various myths and legends, reveal deep-seated fears that have persisted across human societies throughout history. The similarities between these myths and legends demonstrate a shared human experience and highlight universal concerns that have haunted the human imagination.
Fear of the unknown: Many of the myths and legends related to the White Walkers involve mysterious, otherworldly beings that possess immense power. This fear of the unknown and the potentially dangerous forces lurking beyond our understanding unites cultures and has shaped many of their myths and folklore.
Fear of the apocalypse: The White Walkers and their mythological counterparts often signify the end of the world or a catastrophic event that could bring about the collapse of civilization. This fear of a cataclysmic event and the potential loss of humanity's achievements is a recurring theme across cultures.
Fear of scarcity: The Wendigo and the themes of starvation and deprivation present in the White Walkers' story demonstrate humanity's fear of scarcity and the challenges it presents. This fear is deeply rooted in the human psyche and reflects the harsh realities our ancestors faced.
Fear of chaos and disorder: The Wild Hunt, the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and Gog and Magog all symbolize chaos and disorder, which threaten the stability and safety of human societies. These myths underscore the universal desire for order and control, as well as the anxiety that arises when these constructs are threatened.
Conclusion
The White Walkers, as a unique blend of myths, legends, and historical groups, serve as a powerful symbol of the shared fears that have haunted human societies across time and cultures. By examining these sources of inspiration, we can draw universal anthropological conclusions about the human experience and the themes that unite us in our shared struggle against the unknown, chaos, and the potential end of the world. George R.R. Martin's creation not only entertains us but also allows us to explore the collective fears that have shaped human civilizations and continue to influence our stories and beliefs today.
