Why did the Hound kill Mycah?
The harsh world of "Game of Thrones" is littered with allegories and metaphors that underscore the series' fundamental truths – and few are as poignant and impactful as the episode that unfolds in the first season’s second episode, where we witness the brutal killing of Mycah, the butcher’s boy, at the hands of Sandor Clegane, known as 'The Hound'. This pivotal moment serves as a powerful reminder of the indiscriminate and unforgiving nature of survival in Westeros and becomes a thematic pillar upon which much of the narrative tension is constructed.
In the vast annals of television and literature, the trope of the powerful preying on the weak is far from novel. Yet, the execution (quite literally) in "Game of Thrones" veers off the traditional path, in its willingness to expose its audience to a harsh reality that is usually kept off-screen or alluded to subtly in other narratives. The brutal death of the innocent Mycah underlines the callousness of a society driven by power and obedience to those in authority.
The character of Sandor Clegane, the grizzled, scarred warrior loyal to House Lannister, is the embodiment of this harsh societal hierarchy. As a man made monstrous by his experiences, Sandor acts as the executioner of the power structures' whims. The Hound is no common villain; instead, he is a product of a world where the survival of the fittest is the rule of the day, the strong thrive, and the weak meet cruel ends.
Consider the parallels with Jack London's "The Call of the Wild," where Buck, a domesticated dog, gradually becomes a fierce, independent creature, surviving and thriving in a world that is brutal and unforgiving. The transformation of Buck is a stark reminder (no pun intended) of the transformation that characters undergo in "Game of Thrones". Sandor, like Buck, is a product of his harsh surroundings, shaped and moulded by the cruelty and mercilessness of Westeros.
When asked by Ned Stark if he rode Mycah down, the Hound simply responds, "He ran, but not very fast." It's a chilling statement that signifies the grim truth of their world - survival depends not only on strength but speed, cunning, and sometimes, the sheer luck of being born into power. The Hound's response symbolizes the unvarnished reality of Westeros, where life and death hinge on such trivialities.
This event also serves as a critical turning point for the Stark children, especially Arya, who is forced to confront the stark realities of her existence. The death of Mycah illustrates that the world beyond Winterfell's walls is not bound by honour and nobility but by raw, unchecked power.
Through this horrific incident, the audience is made to understand the grim reality of the world of "Game of Thrones." This is not a typical medieval fantasy with clear delineations of good and evil. Instead, it's a complex, nuanced world where morality is often a luxury few can afford.
To conclude, the tragic tale of the butcher's boy serves as a grim allegory of survival. Like the survival of the fittest in Darwinian terms or the transformation of Buck in "The Call of the Wild," the incident emphasizes the inherent brutality and unforgiving nature of the world of "Game of Thrones." The strength of this narrative element lies in its stark contrast to traditional fantasy norms, reminding us that in the pursuit of power, innocence and morality are often the first casualties.
