Septon Meribald's "Broken Men" Speech (ASOIAF reading)
Summary
TLDRThe script explores the tragic transformation of common folk into 'Outlaws,' driven by war's brutality. Initially, they join with dreams of glory, but the harsh realities of battle, loss, and survival lead them to steal and betray their own kind. The narrative emphasizes the transition from hopeful warriors to desperate, broken men, highlighting the compassion needed for these individuals while acknowledging the danger they pose.
Takeaways
- 🦅 Outlaws are diverse, much like birds, with some being noble and others driven by greed and malice.
- 🎵 The romanticized image of outlaws as good men fighting against tyranny is a common theme in songs and stories.
- 🏰 Many outlaws are common folk who were forced into a life of crime due to war and hardship.
- 🛡️ War can turn simple villagers into soldiers, often poorly equipped and unprepared for the realities of battle.
- 💔 The emotional toll of war is immense, with soldiers witnessing the death of loved ones and comrades.
- 🗡️ The brutality of war can lead to a breakdown of morality, with soldiers resorting to theft and violence for survival.
- 🏹 Outlaws often start as soldiers who have lost their way, becoming disconnected from their homes and families.
- 🛡️ The transition from soldier to outlaw can be marked by a loss of identity and a struggle for basic necessities.
- 🏹 The harsh realities of war can transform men into 'faceless men', clad in steel and devoid of their humanity.
- 🏞️ Home becomes an abstract concept for outlaws, as they are left to survive in a world that no longer recognizes them.
- 🥺 There is a call for empathy towards these 'broken men', recognizing their plight and the circumstances that led them to their current state.
Q & A
What is the main theme of the script?
-The script explores the theme of 'Outlaws,' contrasting the romanticized view of outlaws as heroes fighting against tyranny with the harsh reality of broken men driven by desperation and circumstance.
How does the script describe the transformation of common folk into outlaws?
-The script describes a process where common folk, poorly equipped and led into war, experience the horrors of battle, loss, and hardship, which eventually leads them to break the law out of survival, turning from men into 'beasts.'
What role do the 'Wicked Lords' play in the narrative?
-The 'Wicked Lords' are portrayed as figures of authority who exploit the common folk, leading them into wars and leaving them to suffer, which contributes to their transformation into outlaws.
Why do the common folk initially join the war?
-The common folk join the war out of a sense of duty, influenced by songs and stories that romanticize the idea of war as an adventure, without fully understanding the brutal reality of battle.
What are the physical hardships faced by the soldiers in the script?
-The soldiers face numerous physical hardships, including inadequate clothing and footwear, lack of proper weapons, injuries from battle, and illness from drinking bad water.
How does the script depict the psychological impact of war on the soldiers?
-The script depicts the psychological impact as severe, with soldiers experiencing trauma from witnessing death and violence, losing their sense of identity, and eventually succumbing to fear and despair.
What is the significance of the 'Faceless Men clad all in steel' in the script?
-The 'Faceless Men clad all in steel' symbolize the overwhelming force of the knights, whose charge is described as the 'Iron Thunder,' causing the soldiers to break and flee, further illustrating their vulnerability and the brutality of war.
How does the script differentiate between the romanticized outlaw and the reality of a broken man?
-The script contrasts the romanticized outlaw, who fights against injustice, with the reality of a broken man, who turns to crime out of necessity and becomes more beast than man due to the harshness of war.
What is the final state of the soldiers described in the script?
-The final state of the soldiers is one of despair and dehumanization, where they live day to day, focusing solely on survival, with all thoughts of home and former identities gone.
What advice does the script give regarding the 'Traveler' and 'broken men'?
-The script advises the 'Traveler' to be wary of broken men due to their potential danger but also to feel pity for them, acknowledging the tragic circumstances that led to their downfall.
What does the script suggest about the nature of war and its effect on individuals?
-The script suggests that war is a brutal and dehumanizing experience that can transform ordinary people into outlaws, driven by survival instincts rather than moral or societal norms.
Outlines
🏹 The Plight of Outlaws and War-Weary Soldiers
This paragraph delves into the diverse nature of outlaws, contrasting the romanticized image of heroes forced into rebellion with the harsh reality of common soldiers driven to thievery and violence by the brutalities of war. It describes the transformation of simple folk into hardened warriors, who, disillusioned by the loss of comrades and the futility of their battles, resort to looting and desecration to survive. The narrative emphasizes the tragic journey from eager enlistment to the breaking point of a soldier, illustrating the dehumanizing effects of war and the descent into lawlessness.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Outlaws
💡Piper
💡Sea Eagle
💡Wicked Lord
💡Ravening Hound
💡War
💡Broken Men
💡Despising the Gods
💡Iron Thunder
💡Faceless Men
💡The Traveler
Highlights
The variety of outlaws is compared to the diversity of birds, emphasizing the different motivations and natures of those who break the law.
Outlaws are often romanticized in songs, but the reality is that most are driven by greed and malice, not noble causes.
The harsh reality of war is depicted through the experiences of common folk who are poorly equipped and unprepared for battle.
War is initially seen as an adventure by those who are naive about its true nature and consequences.
The brutal experience of war, including witnessing death and suffering, can break even the strongest of men.
Survivors of numerous battles may still succumb to the psychological and physical toll of war, leading to a breaking point.
The loss of comrades and the constant change of allegiances in war contribute to a sense of disorientation and loss of identity.
The harsh conditions of war, including lack of food and proper clothing, force soldiers to resort to theft and looting.
Desperation in war leads to the violation of moral boundaries, as soldiers steal from and harm the innocent civilians they once were.
The transformation from a man to a 'beast' is described through the degradation of a soldier's humanity due to war.
The narrative highlights the tragic journey of a soldier from naivety to disillusionment and eventual breakdown.
The loss of a sense of home and the disconnection from the cause of war are key factors in the breakdown of a soldier's spirit.
The fear and desperation of a broken man are portrayed through his focus on basic survival needs over higher ideals.
Lady Brienne's perspective on the danger and pity of broken men is introduced, adding a layer of moral complexity.
The narrative concludes with a warning about the dangers of broken men in times of war, urging both caution and empathy.
Transcripts
there are many sorts of Outlaws just as
there are many sorts of birds a sand
Piper and a sea eagle both have wings
but they are not the same the singers
love to sing of good men forced to go
outside the law to fight some Wicked
Lord but most Outlaws are more like this
ravening Hound than they are the
lightning Lord they are evil men driven
by greed soured by malice despising the
gods and caring only for themselves
broken men are more deserving about our
pity though they may be just as
dangerous almost all are common born
simple folk who had never been more than
a mile from the house where they were
born until the day some Lord came round
to take them off to war poorly Shaw and
poorly clad they marched away beneath
his banners oftimes with no better arms
than a sickle or a sharpened hoe or a
mole they made themselves by lashing a
stone to a stick with strips of hide
Brothers march with Brothers Sons with
fathers Friends With Friends they've
heard the songs and the stories so they
go off with eager Hearts dreaming of the
Wonders they will see of the wealth and
Glory they will win war seems a fine
Adventure the greatest most of them will
ever
know then they get a taste of
battle and for some that one taste is
enough to break them
others go on for years until they lose
count of all the battles they have
fought in but even a man who has
survived a 100 fights can break in his
101st Brothers watch their brothers die
fathers lose their sons friends see
their friends trying to hold their
entrails in after they've been gutted by
an
axe they see the Lord who led them there
cut down and some other Lord shouts that
they are his now they take a wound and
when that's still half healed they take
another there is never enough to eat
their shoes Fall to Pieces from the
marching their clothes are torn and
rotting and half of them are [ __ ] in
their britches from drinking bad water
if they want new boots or a warmer cloak
or maybe a rusted iron half Helm they
need to take them from a corpse and
before long they are stealing from the
living as well from the small folk whose
lands they're fighting in men very like
the men they used to
be they slaughter their sheep and steal
their chickens and from there it's just
a short step to carrying off their
daughters
too and one day they look around and
realize all their friends and kin are
gone that they are fighting beside
strangers beneath a banner that they
hardly
recognize they don't know where they are
or how to get back home and the lord
they're fighting for does not even know
their name
yet here he comes shouting for them to
form up to make a line with their Spears
and scythes and sharpened hes to stand
their
ground and then the knights come down on
them Faceless Men clad all in steel the
Iron Thunder of their charge seems to
fill the
world and the man breaks he turns and
runs or crawls off afterward over the
corpses of the slain
or steals away in the black of night and
he finds some place to
hide all thought of home is gone by then
and kings and Lords and gods mean less
to him than a haunch of spoiled meat
that will let Him Live Another Day or a
skin of bad wine that might drown his
fears for a few
hours the broken man lives from day to
day from meal to meal more Beast than
man
Lady Brienne is not wrong in times like
these The Traveler must beware of broken
men and fear them but he should pity
them as
[Music]
well
[Music]
oh
Ver Más Videos Relacionados
Hapag ng Pag-Asa
Как российские матери и жены заставляют родных идти на войну против Украины
Summary Of The Devil’s Highway By Luis Alberto Urrea. - The Devil’s Highway By Luis Alberto Urrea
Warrior Cats - Into the Wild: Episode 1 - "Fire Alone"
Men who win with women, trigger instant attraction like this.
Hamog: A Rappler documentary
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)