Power, politics and the play of perspective in the series ‘Game of Thrones’

This paper explores the nuanced interplay of power, politics, and perspective in the HBO television series Game of Thrones, adapted from George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire. The study interrogates the series’ portrayal of political dynamics and power struggles through shifting narrative perspectives and moral ambiguities. By applying Michel Foucault’s theory of power and postmodern narrative strategies, the paper analyses how Game of Thrones deconstructs the traditional binaries of hero and villain, authority and rebellion. The show’s multifocal storytelling foregrounds how perception shapes truth, and how power operates not merely through force but through discourse, identity, and control over narratives. This examination reveals that in Westeros, the Game of Thrones is not won solely by might, but by mastering the play of perception and political manoeuvring.