Hello all!
Margaery is my favorite character from the series. But I wanted to hear what people think about her!
To what degree is she authentic or aware of the larger Tyrell plans? What is George saying about femininity? And what role does her PR have in translating into actual power in the series?
Just like listening to people’s thoughts on her character.
I think she’s aware of a good chunk of Tyrell plans. She wastes no time in needling Cersei when she makes mistakes, and seems ready to take up the mantle of being queen, controlling Tommen.
It’s interesting because I find book!Margaery and show!Margaery to be such different characters in some ways (for example, the poisoned wine feels like something book!Margaery would be in on) but I also think about how George said that show!Marg is basically book!Marg if she were 10 years older.
She’s also a great example of what it looks like when a family involves daughters in the family business/politicking, so that they’re not left to try and figure stuff out on their own later.
Your later point also gets into how the Tyrells act as foils to the Lannisters in a lot of ways
Absolutely! That’s what I had in mind, and even the Starks. (Which is interesting considering that Catelyn was raised with a lot of knowledge about politics and running a household, because she was heir to House Tully until Edmure was born—a good portion of her life.)
Did Catelyn have more training on the subject when she was Sansa’s age? I’m honestly pretty confused about how much training in universe women get on gender politics as kids. Margaery almost feels like the exception for having her family so extremely well supporting of ensuring her success here.
I think the key here is that Olenna Tyrell is the real lord of their house and sees Margaey as her successor. She every bit as much Olenna’s pupil as Sansa is Little Finger’s and Bran is Bryden River’s, I don’t know how much she currently know, but it seems likely that Olenna would reveal more and more to her has time goes on.