Why She Burned Kings Landing, Daenerys Targaryen and The Mad Queen
The merciless attack on King's Landing by Daenerys Targaryen in the penultimate episode of Game Of Thrones left viewers wondering why once a cherished hero turned into the Mad Queen. Appropriately called "The Bells," the episode highlighted Daenerys's merciless triumph at King's Landing. On board Drogon, Daenerys destroyed the Golden Company, easily sank Euron Greyjoy's Iron Fleet, and wrecked the city's defenses. Still, Daenerys carried on her attack, firing dragonfire upon the city and its defenseless residents even after the bells run, signifying Cersei Lannister's surrender. Reflecting the terrible rule of her father, Aerys II Targaryen, also known as the Mad King, this deed confirmed Daenerys' metamorphosis into the feared Mad Queen.
The Mad Queen, by Daenerys Targaryen, Descent into Madness
Many viewers were startled by Daenerys' sudden change in character—from a determined conqueror trying to free Westeros from its repressive feudal system to a merciless destroyer. Although Daenerys's behavior seemed abrupt, her path toward madness was not totally erratic. Though usually hidden by her dreams for a better world, her actions in the last season of Game Of Thrones revealed the latent possibility for cruelty that had always been there within her.
Why Daenerys Burned King's Landing: Trust Lost and Betrayal
Although Daenerys's ultimate aim of burning King's Landing to the ground had been clear from the start of her war with Cersei, Tyrion's advice had first discouraged her. Daenerys seemed unbeatable early in season 7, leading a remarkable army of devoted followers. Tyrion was Hand of the Queen, the relentless Grey Worm guiding the Unsullied, the formidable Dothraki army, and her strong dragons Rhaegal, Viserion, and Drogon.
But a string of terrible losses sapped Daenerys' will and determination. Tyrion left herself vulnerable since her miscalculations produced regular losses. During the Great War against the Night King, Daenerys's army suffered a notable fall losing important leaders including Ellaria Sand, Olenna Tyrell, and her dear friend Jorah Mormont. Her military capacity was further diminished by Viserion's death and Yara Greyjoy's capture.
Another tragedy accompanied Daenerys' return to Dragonstone as Euron Greyjoy killed Rhaegal and abducted Missandei. The last blow, Missandei's horrific death before Daenerys, broke her faith in Westeros and its people. Daenerys came to see the Westerosi—including those closest to her—were working against her. Her sense of treachery was heightened when Jon Snow's actual parentage as Aegon Targaryen—a stronger claim to the Iron Throne—was revealed.
Her Westerosi advisers, who gave their own interests and the current power systems top priority over Daenerys' vision for a better future, profoundly betrayed her. Losing her closest friends from Essos and under the weight of Westeros' mistrust, she felt alone and isolated. This betrayal and the unrelenting rejection Daenerys endured in Westeros directly led to her spiral into madness.
Daenerys's Ultimate Betrayal: Westeros's Failure
Daenerys's path across Game of Thrones shows the ingrained cynicism and opposition to change that permeate Westeros. She was greeted with mistrust, suspicion, and finally treachery even after proving her leadership qualities and conquering many cities. The strong families fighting for dominance of the Iron Throne regularly undermined her attempts to build alliances and unite the Westeros. Her disenchantment with Westeros finally resulted from the lack of trust and support from people she thought to be allies.
Daenerys's choice to burn King's Landing was not only an act of lunacy but also a desperate, though misguided, attempt to exercise her power and force those who had turned away her to fear her. The ingrained power systems of Westeros that kept her from realizing her dreams of shattering the wheel of oppression and her ideals led to the destruction of the city.
Daenerys's Complex legacy
Although Daenerys's behavior in the last season of Game of Thrones was divisive and quite disturbing, her narrative is a sobering mirror of the terrible power of mistrust, betrayal, and opposition to change. Her narrative emphasizes the complicated and usually sad results of ambition, power, and the hope for a better world. Though terrible, her actions finally acted as a sobering reminder of the frailty of hope and the possibility for cruelty everyone carries.
Contextualizing Daenerys' Madness: House of the Dragon
Showcasing the history of the Targaryen family and the recurring theme of "Targaryen Madness," the prequel series House Of The Dragon offers more background for Daenerys's plunge into madness. Within the Targaryen bloodline, the show examines the complicated interaction between lineage, blood magic, and the cyclical character of madness. From prophetic insight and dragon dreaming to impulsive bloodlust and an inability to separate good from evil, it shows how this craziness might show itself in many different ways.
House Of The Dragon makes clear that although Daenerys's craziness in Game of Thrones seems abrupt, it is a familiar pattern in her family. This background supports her claim that her acts were not only a random departure but also the result of her family's sinister past and the extreme pressure she experienced in Westeros.
Final Thought: Daenerys Targaryen's Tragedy
The arc of Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones reminds us strongly that the corrupting effect of their surroundings and the darkness of power can overwhelm even the most well-meaning leaders. Her path emphasizes the careful balance among ambition, empathy, and forgiveness capability. Although her acts in the last season were unquestionably cruel, they were finally a sad result of the society she aimed to transform—one that finally failed her and left her without any other option.
