Games of Thrones - Jamie Lannister character analysis

Since Games of Thrones, based on the book series "A Song of Fire and Ice" by G.R.R. Martin hit the silver screen in 2011 it has been the centre of numerous discussions, while fans all over the world eagerly await new episodes. 

One of the main attractions of the show are the complex and well written characters. One of the most layered characters of the show is Jamie Lannister, who is played by the Danish actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. 

Jamie Lannister is the eldest son of Tywin Lannister Warden of the West and twin brother of the queen. His decision to join the Kingsguard and therefore renouncing his position caused a major rift with his father, who never fails to point out that Jamie is nothing but a glorified bodyguard. He is nicknamed "The Kingslayer" because he murdered the Mad King during the sacking of King’s Landing. A fact he dislikes.

When we first meet him, he is a smug and arrogant douchebag who constantly looks down on other people and humiliates them whenever he can. On top of all he has an affair with his married sister the queen. He quickly graduates to a full-blown villain when he pushes Bran Stark out of a window to keep the affair a secret. At this point the viewer has a firm opinion of Jamie, which is not going to be challenged significantly until season 2, although there are already several hints during season 1 indicating that the smug facade might be just that, a facade.

The first indication happens in episode 3 (Lord Snow). King Robert questions his Kingsguard on the first men they killed, when he suddenly asks Jamie about the last words Aerys Targaryen said when Jamie killed him. The look on Jamie's face immediately darkens. When he replies to the King there is no trace of arrogance and the viewer gets the feeling he just wants to get out of there as quickly as possible. The scene is beautifully played by Coster-Waldau, as he performs the change very subtly and we can see how the others in the room might overlook it. 

What we learn is this scene is that Jamie is not as careless as he wants everybody to believe. He clearly resents the King's comment most likely for two reasons:

First of all Robert reminds him that he killed a man stabbing him in the back, which is a disgrace for every fighter and in particular a knight and secondly and most important the fact that Jamie killed the king her had sworn to protect. Having broken his word by committing an act of cowardice is not something Jamie is proud of. But what does this tell us about his character? That he cares about what people think of him in the sense that he doesn't want them to think badly of him. He even admits to this in episode 7 (You win or die) during a conversation with his father. Conversely this means that Jamie wants for people to approve of him.

In episode 5 (The Wolf and the Lion) we see again a tiny flicker of what we could be called morality. Why is dueling Lord Stark one of his men injures Eddard and instead of taking advantage of that Jamie hits his man and retreats. Maybe it was due to his pride, that he didn't want people to think he need help in a duel or maybe it was a hint to him being knightly after all and trying "to do the right thing" by not killing an injured man. 

These events however are very rare during the first and larger part of the second season. Most of the time Jamie seems to be just your average douchebag with a touch of malice. 

It is his encounter with Brienne of Tarth who triggers the major change in him or gives him the courage to show his true self.

Although he mocks her constantly about her "knightly behaviour" there is a certain admiration underlying. Probably due to the fact the she embodies something he believed to be lost. This paired with the loss of his fighting humbles Jamie and he begins to be kinder to others. He even starts to realize how vicious Cersei is and that his obsession with her is unhealthy. 

But the scene that reveals most happens already in season 1. It is during his conversation with Jon Snow about the Night's Watch when we learn the most about Jamie. Again he mocks what he craves. He comments sarcastically on the Night's Watch and on Jon's dreams of protecting the wall, although this is very similar to Jamie's past. 

Jamie Lannister joined the Kingsguard at a very young age, against his father's wishes and renouncing his position as heir to the Warden of the West. The only reason for doing this was that he was looking for honour and trying to become a knight in the true sense of the word: honourable, kind, brave and honest.

What he encountered in the Red Keep however was quite different. He was there to protect a king, who was insane and cruel. He witnessed the deaths of Rickon and Brandon Stark and how the Mad King was willing to burn down the city. This disappointment ultimately led him to killing Aerys in an act that can only be considered desperate.

After this he might have hoped for an improvement, however the king that followed was in some ways worse than Aerys. Robert would spend his drinking and whoring. That he was married to Jamie’s sister made things worse, as he felt the humiliation, every time Robert cheated on his sister. Jamie even states so during season 1, when he explains to Jory that Robert always has prostitutes with him, when Jamie is on duty to make him listen.

His disappointment over knighthood and life has made him a cynic. It is only when he meets Brienne that this changes because he realizes that what he had been looking for actually exists and if it exists he can aspire to it.

Do you agree with my analysis? Leave your opinion in the comments section!