Why did Viserys sell Daenerys?

In the epic fantasy series "A Song of Ice and Fire," by George R.R. Martin, and its television adaptation "Game of Thrones," the complex, interwoven character dynamics often shed light on deeper themes of power, family, and the corrosive effects of ambition. One of the most contentious and thought-provoking relationships in the series is the one between Viserys and Daenerys Targaryen. This blog post will delve into Viserys Targaryen's intentions towards his sister Daenerys and analyze what it reveals about his character.

Viserys and Daenerys are the last known surviving members of House Targaryen, a once-dominant force in the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. The siblings are living in exile at the series' start, driven from their homeland after their father's overthrow in Robert Baratheon's rebellion. This backstory frames the character of Viserys, a man desperate to regain his perceived birthright, and it significantly shapes his relationship with Daenerys.

At a surface level, Viserys uses Daenerys as a political pawn in his quest for power. He is the one who arranges her marriage to Khal Drogo, the leader of the Dothraki, in exchange for an army to invade Westeros and reclaim the Iron Throne. He commodifies Daenerys, leveraging her beauty and royal lineage to broker alliances, and showing a blatant disregard for her personal happiness or wellbeing.

The depth of Viserys's intentions towards Daenerys, however, goes beyond mere political maneuvering. His behavior towards his sister reveals a profound sense of entitlement, selfishness, and an unsettling disregard for her autonomy. Viserys sees Daenerys not as a person, but as an extension of his own ambitions and claims. His deep-seated sense of superiority and rightful entitlement to the throne is so pervasive that it blurs his ability to empathize with others, including his own sister.

On several occasions, he threatens, demeans, and even physically abuses Daenerys. His volatile temper and quickness to violence are indicators of his deeply flawed character, further intensified by his singular obsession with regaining the throne. He values his personal quest for power above all else, even familial ties, and this severely mars his judgment and morality.

This cold, manipulative behavior towards Daenerys reveals Viserys as a classic antagonist, a character unable to look beyond his self-interest. His disregard for his sister's feelings and needs paints a stark picture of a deeply troubled individual, a manifestation of a monomaniacal lust for power that is ultimately his downfall.

Viserys's dynamic with Daenerys also draws attention to his sense of desperation and delusion. Even as Daenerys grows into a powerful queen with loyal followers, Viserys is unable to acknowledge the change in their status. He clings to an outdated image of Daenerys as a meek, submissive sister and himself as the superior, rightful king. His inability to perceive the evolving power dynamics around him leads to catastrophic decisions, revealing him as a profoundly flawed strategist.

Viserys's intentions towards Daenerys reveal a theme central to "A Song of Ice and Fire" and "Game of Thrones" – the corrupting influence of unchecked ambition. Viserys is a character consumed by the past, by dreams of power and glory that were once his family's but now remain tantalizingly out of reach. His desire to reclaim his perceived birthright overrides every other aspect of his life, including his relationship with his sister.

In conclusion, Viserys Targaryen's intentions towards Daenerys are symptomatic of a deeply flawed and corrupted character. His actions are driven by selfish ambition, entitlement, and an inability to adapt to changing circumstances. By analyzing his character through the lens of his relationship with Daenerys, we gain deeper insight into the tragic and corrosive effects of unchecked ambition and the perils of power obsession. The siblings' dynamic serves as a reminder of the moral complexities and the human cost inherent in the struggle for power – a theme that resonates throughout Martin's series.