Post by Leo of Red Keep on Jun 30, 2017 7:26:59 GMT
Narcissism: an exceptional interest in or admiration for oneself, especially one's physical appearance.
A consuming self-absorption or self-love; a type of egotism. Narcissists constantly assess their appearance, desires, feelings, and abilities.
Cersei is renown as "the most beautiful woman in the Seven Kingdoms", in her father's words, a slogan he made up when he wanted to marry her first to the Targaryen Prince then to the new Baratheon King. She is certainly proud of it, as any woman would, and she cares for her appearance but do we see her make it the center of her life? Not at all.
Does she spend time talking about how she feels, what she wants or what she can do? Is she boasting about herself, showing off? Do we see her spend time in front of a mirror? Does she parade herself? Does she question the way people see her?
No. None of this applies.
When we first see Cersei, she is worrying about her secret relationship with her twin brother being discovered. In her next scene, we see her annoyance at her younger brother giving a bad image of the family and her pain at her husband being in a hurry to visit the tomb of his first and only love. All these are very normal, relatable concerns. She shows contentment at the beauty of the young woman set to marry her son.
Later, we see her recall the death of her first born and regret the failure of her marriage in spite of her original enthusiasm for her husband. We learn both hate their present situation but find some comfort in the realisation it contributes to "hold things together". When told to flee before her adultery is brought up to light, she decides to fight instead and retain her status. She puts her son on the throne and offers the potential traitor a chance to accept the situation. She will work to find a peaceful solution to the unfolding drama, in a setup making her son look magnanimous and wise.
When Tyrion criticises her rule, mistaking her son's decision for hers, she reacts defensively, frightened, almost overwhelmed by the task she feels her brother ought to be taking more seriously. "It's all fallen on her", she says, then she bemoans the loss of her mother. None of this displays the self-satisfaction of a narcissist. At no time is she trying to have people see how good she is at anything. Cersei is a struggling, reactive character doing what she can in a hostile situation.
There is a great deal of pride in Cersei, she is a Lannister and she wants to live up to what her father taught her it is supposed to mean. She doesn't care for people outside of a small circle, yet she professes undying love for those inside and will never consciously betray them. On the contrary, she will forgive them anything. Mourning her daughter, she will praise her for not displaying the faults she sees in herself: "I thought if I could make something so good, so pure... maybe I'm not a monster".
Cersei can be called many things but she is not a narcissist.
A consuming self-absorption or self-love; a type of egotism. Narcissists constantly assess their appearance, desires, feelings, and abilities.
Cersei is renown as "the most beautiful woman in the Seven Kingdoms", in her father's words, a slogan he made up when he wanted to marry her first to the Targaryen Prince then to the new Baratheon King. She is certainly proud of it, as any woman would, and she cares for her appearance but do we see her make it the center of her life? Not at all.
Does she spend time talking about how she feels, what she wants or what she can do? Is she boasting about herself, showing off? Do we see her spend time in front of a mirror? Does she parade herself? Does she question the way people see her?
No. None of this applies.
When we first see Cersei, she is worrying about her secret relationship with her twin brother being discovered. In her next scene, we see her annoyance at her younger brother giving a bad image of the family and her pain at her husband being in a hurry to visit the tomb of his first and only love. All these are very normal, relatable concerns. She shows contentment at the beauty of the young woman set to marry her son.
Later, we see her recall the death of her first born and regret the failure of her marriage in spite of her original enthusiasm for her husband. We learn both hate their present situation but find some comfort in the realisation it contributes to "hold things together". When told to flee before her adultery is brought up to light, she decides to fight instead and retain her status. She puts her son on the throne and offers the potential traitor a chance to accept the situation. She will work to find a peaceful solution to the unfolding drama, in a setup making her son look magnanimous and wise.
When Tyrion criticises her rule, mistaking her son's decision for hers, she reacts defensively, frightened, almost overwhelmed by the task she feels her brother ought to be taking more seriously. "It's all fallen on her", she says, then she bemoans the loss of her mother. None of this displays the self-satisfaction of a narcissist. At no time is she trying to have people see how good she is at anything. Cersei is a struggling, reactive character doing what she can in a hostile situation.
There is a great deal of pride in Cersei, she is a Lannister and she wants to live up to what her father taught her it is supposed to mean. She doesn't care for people outside of a small circle, yet she professes undying love for those inside and will never consciously betray them. On the contrary, she will forgive them anything. Mourning her daughter, she will praise her for not displaying the faults she sees in herself: "I thought if I could make something so good, so pure... maybe I'm not a monster".
Cersei can be called many things but she is not a narcissist.