With the release of the new HBO series Game of Thrones. One of the most beloved characters, of course, was Brienne of Tarth, the woman who was determined to be a knight, no matter the many cultural pressures against her.
Throughout her time on the series, she uttered a number of quotes that, remarkably, manage to provide viewers with a complex encapsulation of her entire personality, as rich and contradictory as it was.
Tough Love
"I Don't Care, I'm Not Your Mother."
Many friendships emerged during the course of Game of Thrones, but one of the best was that between Podrick and Brienne. As close as they were, however, this didn’t keep Brienne from being bluntly honest with him at times, such as when she disavowed being his mother (or even mother-like figure).
Brienne cares for others deeply and will protect them with her life, but she doesn't suffer fools and teaches those with her to look after themselves. It's an important moment that defines the relationship between the two and starts Pod's journey of becoming more than just Brienne's squire.
That’s No Lady
"I'm No Lady, Your Grace."
Time and again throughout her time on the series, Brienne demonstrated the extent to which she was one of the most formidable warriors in Westeros. However, this came at something of a cost, as she also desired to distance herself from any trace of femininity, knowing that unfortunately the more womanly she appeared, the less she would be respected or acknowledged by other fighters.
That’s precisely what makes this quote such a powerful one, as it shows the extent to which she no longer sees herself as a lady, who she recognizes has different skills, but as, instead, a female warrior. It’s for this reason that Brienne becomes one of the series’ most compelling and complicated individuals.
Absolute Loyalty
"I Will Shield Your Back And Keep Your Counsel And Give My Life For Yours If Need Be."
Part of what makes Brienne one of the best characters in Game of Thrones is her absolute loyalty to others. Once she swears to Catelyn that she will watch over her daughters, she pursues that purpose with a single-minded determination.
When, in this quote, she swears her loyalty to Sansa, it is a powerful moment, in which she demonstrates her steadfast loyalty, not just to the memory of the woman she served but also to her daughters. She will go on to prove just how valuable of a protector she truly is.
She Takes No Nonsense
"All My Life Men Like You Have Sneered At Me, And All My Life I've Been Knocking Men Like You Into The Dust."
There are many fearsome swordfighters in Game of Thrones, but Brienne is certainly one of the best. There are relatively few people who can best her on the field of battle, as she shows time and again. With this quote, she reveals just how aware she is of her own fighting abilities. More to the point, she also shows how much she realizes how men look down on her.
Rather than being discouraged by this, however, she wields it like a badge of honor, and it ultimately becomes one of the keys to her strength. A woman who wants to fight in Westeros must be strong, stronger than the men who challenge her, and Brienne, like Arya, has worked hard to ensure she always comes out on top.
No Mercy
"I, Brienne Of Tarth, Sentence You To Die. Do You Have Any Last Words?"
Stannis Baratheon may not be the most likable Game of Thrones character, but there is still something jarring about seeing him executed by Brienne, especially given her earlier devotion to his brother. However, there’s also no question that Brienne is an honorable person, even when she is poised to take the life of someone who had a claim to the throne of the Seven Kingdoms.
It’s a quote that reminds the audience, and Stannis, that she is a figure who will always be motivated by justice and that, as a result, there will be times when she shows no mercy.
A Keen Judge Of Character
"You Have Courage. Not Battle Courage, Perhaps, But, I Don't Know... A Woman's Kind Of Courage. And I Think That When The Time Comes, You Will Not Hold Me Back."
The bond between Catelyn and Brienne is a vital one in Game of Thrones, as they are each in their own way a woman trying to survive in a world dominated almost exclusively by men. It’s precisely their bond as women that makes them such an extraordinary pair.
This quote reveals the extent to which Brienne deeply ires the matriarch of the Starks and, just as importantly, it shows that she is one of the series’ keenest judges of character.
Everlasting Loyalty
"Nothing's More Hateful Than Failing To Protect The One You Love. One Day, I Will Avenge King Renly."
Few people mean as much to Brienne as Renly, and it is his death that proves to be one of the most important motivating factors in her life. In fact, it is her perceived failure to save him from death that drives her to avoid a similar failure when it comes to others, particularly the two Stark daughters.
For Brienne, honor is more important than almost anything else. Given the extent to which so many other characters are willing to abandon theirs, this makes her loyalty all the more extraordinary.
The Epitome Of Humility
"I Did Next To Nothing."
Though she might be formidable as a warrior, that doesn’t mean that Brienne is arrogant. Far from it. There are, in fact, times when it can seem as if she is deliberately understating her own skills, as this quote makes clear.
While some might think that this is just cynicism on her part, the truth is that Brienne truly means it. She isn’t someone who will take false credit, and it is this, more than anything else, that makes her such a likable character for so many of her fans.
Do They?
"I Think We Can All Agree That Ships Take Precedence Over Brothels."
There’s no doubt that Brienne is one of Gwendoline Christie’s best roles, and part of that stems from her ability to deliver great lines like this one. From the moment that she appears, Brienne makes it clear that she is going to be a very sensible and clear-eyed person, with a practical mind that makes her a valuable adviser.
Though this line is, to an extent, played for laughs, it is also very much in keeping with Brienne as a character, who tends to cut right to the heart of a given matter and demonstrates her lack of patience for false priorities.
A Guardian Angel
"Sansa's In Danger Even If She Doesn't Realize It."
Sansa is one of the best of House Stark, and she manages to inspire loyalty, both among the characters and among the audience. Brienne is one of those who is steadfastly loyal to her, largely as result of the oath that she swore to her mother.
Though others might see it as a good thing for Sansa to return to the north, Brienne is honorable enough, and smart enough, to realize that this is actually one of the worst things that could happen to her. This line shows she is always aware of the danger and always protecting those she has sworn to.