Anger of Alicent Hightower at Criston Cole: Beyond the Surface
In the most recent House of the Dragon episode, viewers saw Alicent Hightower's simmering wrath toward Criston Cole resulting from her apparently innocuous behavior addressing her by her first name. But what's the actual backstory behind this eruption? Why is Alicent so disturbed? We must thus explore the complexity of their relationship and the power dynamics inside the court in order to grasp this.
Value of Respect and Titles in Westeros
In Westeros, particularly in relation to the Targaryens and their royal court, titles and forms of address are absolutely vital. They stand for not only one person's perspective but also the respect one is due. Imagine a society in which everyone—from all walks of life—is greeted by their first name. Simply said, it is not how things operate. Consider the royal court as an exquisitely tuned politeness machine. A cog that is out of place might cause the entire system to stop. Even the height of rebelliousness, Daemon Targaryen, loses it when he is not treated with the due respect.
Alicent's might and Criston's transgression
Alicent is still the Dowager Queen, a title with great weight and demands the same degree of respect even though she is no more Queen. Rising to prominence through his affiliation with Alicent, knight Criston Cole is well-versed in these social mores. In this context, his choosing to address her by her first name is a conscious transgression. It's like a little slap in the face, a reminder he no longer feels dependent on her.
Alicent's Turnabout and The Fallout
Alicent currently feels betrayed. She thought Criston had a unique bond—even a romantic one—and backed his ascent to authority. When the council chooses who should be the Prince Regent, he nevertheless decides to support Aemond over Alicent, her own son. This choice cuts far back. It is a personal betrayal rather than only political.
Alicent has been excluded from council activities. The men around her reject her points of view and treat her disrespectfully. She left feeling alone and helpless, and in Criston she had seen an ally—someone she trusted. Now that faith has been destroyed. Criston's casual approach, "Alicent," starts to represent her annoyance. It's like a last straw, a public alert of her precarious posture.
Alicent's Forbidden Relationship and Self-Loathing
Alicent's ire at Criston transcends her present sense of powerlessness and betrayal. It permeates her own self-loathing. Renowned for her morality and rule-abiding behavior, Alicent secretly had an affair with Criston—a transgression against all she believed in. Her relationship with Criston is a secret cause of guilt; now, as their relationship is failing, she has to face her own hypocrisy.
Being called "Alicent" by Criston emphasizes her own transgression. She remembers the moral concessions she has made and the rules she broke. Her response reflects her self-disgust as much as Criston's lack of respect.
House of the Dragon: A Name's Power
Alicent's wrath at Criston has more meaning than just a basic conflict over formality. It addresses the intricate network of power, loyalty, betrayal, and self-deception central to the Targaryen court. Alicent's emotional outburst reminds us strongly that the truth always finds a way to surface even in a society fixated on appearances and credentials.
