Psychology of TYWIN LANNISTER | therapist breaksdown Game of Thrones character

Hope you all enjoy this one! Considering the limited information about his past, there was a lot to discuss. If you want ones on Tyrion, Jaime, and Cersei, give the video a like or some sort of supportive action...I dunno, just glad you're watching, really. Patreon link: patreon.com/mylittlethoughttree Instagram link: instagram.com/little_thought_tree

I think for someone who needs to feel in control of everything, losing a beloved wife in childbirth to a disabled baby would be his worst nightmare. He didn't have any power to save his wife, and he didn't have any power over Tyrion's dwarfism, it, like many disabilities, just happened by chance. It's sad he can't see Tyrions value because of this, insanely intelligent, charming and good hearted. Tyrion not only makes Tywin angry and disappointed but he is also a living reminder of Tywins biggest fear; impotence.

I was particularly thrilled to see you noted that Tywin's "stealing" of Shae from Tyrion was an acknowledgement that Tyrion is actually a rival and threat. I remember having a huge "a-HA!" moment while reading the book and encountering that scene.

I imagine Joanna must have been something like Margaery Tyrell, someone who is also ambitious but in her own arena that would just bolster him and not take away from him.

The passage I always remember about Tywin was "He threatened to smile," and its such a terrible thing!! Gives me goosebumps to remember.

I enjoyed this analysis but I do think there were a couple things missed. Genna Lanister (Tywin's sister) speaks to Jamie about how she loved Tywin after his death, because he was the only one who spoke out against their father betrothing her to one of the Freys. The marriage proposal was so bad that other lords laughed at it, but Tywin was the only one to actually object. I think perhaps too much symapthy is given to Tytos in the beginning here. I don't think it's entirely fair to characterize Tywin's hatred of his own father as ego. On some level I think that's correct, but Tytos wasn't just a gentle ruler that other lords laughed at. He was doing real harm to the Lannister family. I've always found Tywin's relationship with his siblings to be quite interesting in that you might expect someone who was so cold, and cruel to be feared by his siblings, but both seem to give him a great deal of respect and not out of fear, and they genuinely seem to mourn his passing. To me this indicates that he wasn't always cold and cruel and perhaps started out with better intentions than he is often given credit for. That's not to say he is in the right by flooding a castle and drowning everyone inside, but I think younger Tywin may not have been as willfully cruel or petty as older Tywin. Something else to note is that there is a theory that Tyrion is actually the son of Joanna and Aerys II as it's mentioned that Aerys always lusted after Tywin's wife, and that Tywin tried to resign as Hand of the King after Aerys "insulted" his wife during a tournament. Less than a year later Tyrion was born. While this may or may not be the case I think it makes a lot of sense that Tywin may have believed, or have been suspicious of this himself. Tyrion's an insult to him not just because he's a dwarf, but because it's Aerys killing his wife.

I think the depths of his denial speak volumes of his character. Tywin never, for 20 years made any contingency plans for his inheritance. Jaime become a Kingsguard at 15 and remained one. Yet, Tywin seemingly refuses to acknowledge that Jaime will not inherit from him at some point. He scoffs at Cersei's ambition and is repulsed by Tyrion's claim. Yet, he doesn't remarry to sire more worthy sons. He sees marriages as bargaining tools, a transaction, yet he doesn't do the obvious thing himself. Nor does he favours one of his nephews to train up for the role. That's some narcissistic delusions right there.

Tywin's treatment of Arya in the show I think was meant to build on Cersi's back story. Since she either says in the show, or it's mentioned in the books that She used to dress as if she was Jaime, and because they were twins she could get away with being a man. Arya is dressed as a Boy, when she first becomes Tywin's cup barer and he catches her. He tells her that she reminds him of someone he used know. Probably his Daughter, or maybe Joanna was the same way, which would paint a complete picture. Cersi remarks later how she would have been the son her Father wanted, if she had only been a man. Because she listened to every word he ever said. she learned to Sword fight like Arya, since she used to pretend to be Jaime, and could do things that boys did or men do. Even in the books she takes on sort of being the man in her relationship with the one Lady she sleeps with. So I think Tywin, at least in the show prized women sort of over stepping the more female roles. For Challenging him the way you were saying. over all though this was a great Video, thanks for the entertainment.

I always considere Tywin to be one of the most tragic characters in ASoIAF. Born in a rich but failing family because of his father's poor leadership, he essentially spent his entire childhood suffering slights, insults and getting stepped over while being powerless to do anything about it because of his father. He worked really hard to raise his house from the ashes, gathering the respect of his friends and foes alike, and even the love of his brothers like Genna and Kevan, but most importantly he could marry his beloved Joanna and have a happy life with her. But as the time goes on, his own great capabilities as a ruler end up working against him, gathering the envy of King Aerys, one who once called him a good friend, who ended up becoming very similar to Tytos in a couple of ways, aka becoming the reason why he couldn't stop suffering slights and mockeries, only that this time Aerys partook in humiliating Tywin and also Joanna. And then, the hard earned happiness he had was ripped away from him when Tyrion was born. Joanna died giving birth to a ''little monster made to remind Tywin that he shouldn't have put himself above the King''. Pretty much something inside Tywin broke and he literally didn't care anymore about anything but Lannister's legacy, becoming blind to anything else, something that in the end costed him both his life and his legacy as well. Compared to a lot of brutal and corrupt characters in the book and the show, Tywin is probably the one you can understand the most. Is it really a surprise that he became such a brutal, uncaring and petty man considering how much shit he had to endure since birth? It's the beauty of his tragedy: a man who reacted in the worst way possible to the misfortune he received, and ended up spreading the same misfortune he suffered tenfold.

I think a large part of Tywin's dislike of Aerys had to do with Joanna. He made lewd jokes and "took liberties" with her. Most people think that means felt up at the bedding ceremony. Plus naming Jamie to the King's guard.

Could you do a video on Stannis? He’s personaly my favorite character, and i just love the way he keeps going no matter the circumstances. I’d say his personality is very interesting, especially since his two brothers are the polar opposites of him and each other

Your insight comparing the stability of the Lannisters and the Starks after the deaths of their patriarchs is brilliant and could be a video on its own, especially in the broader scope of fiction in general. Authoritarian, insecure power is ethereal because it lacks the key ingredient to sustained strength: distribution. A leader has to be willing and able to build up those around them, especially the next generation, if the progress they've made is to be sustained. By its nature that practice can lead to challenges to the leader's authority, which Tywin is loth to tolerate. That is so cool and the contrast had never occurred to me before. You rock. Please never stop making these.

I think the manner of Tywin’s death was fitting. It was such an undignified, ridiculous death, killed while sitting on the toilet by his own son. What an ironic demise for a man that was so preoccupied by power, having influence, and family legacy, and his concern with other people’s opinion of House Lannister (despite the saying “a lion does not concern itself with the opinion of sheep”). Even during Season 8 (which everyone gives out about), although unsatisfying, I do think Cersei and Jamie’s deaths were somewhat fitting, as it was so unceremonious.

I was sad when Tywin got shot because his unique complexity added depth to the Lannister’s story.

I think Tywin's punishment of women reflects a seething hatred of women. It was Lady Tarbeck who planted the seeds of rebellion on the Castemeres and the Tarbecks, she used the wealth of Casterly Rock to rebuild her family and Twin must've known she had been trying to marry into the family for years. His father's mistress humiliated him by lording over everyone in Casterly and using his mother's clothes. Tyrion's first marriage made him feel less because his lowly son had the guile to marry a low born woman. And of course, Cersei's incompetence. He has a very deep misogynistic attitude, that goes beyond what is expected of a common Westerosi noble. And that rubbed off on Cersei to a degree, who views her own gender as less and is pretty hateful towards any other woman.

"The rains of castamere, his wrestler intro music"

The laughing. He never laughs or smiles. He distrusts both. A direct result of everyone always laughing at his Father and Family. So glad you pointed that out as that fact in and of itself led to the death's of thousands. The butterfly effect at it's most brutal.

Thank you for the video. In the show I was really enjoying Tywin, thanks to the marvellous Charles Dance. I saw him in many productions and he always, as an actor, is a force to be reckoned with...

On Tywin's humiliation weakness: I always imagined one of Olenna Tyrell's motivations for the Purple Wedding, beyond opportunity and "hiding in plain sight", was to have a public "hit" on Tywin's grandson. "To kill a man at a wedding, what sort of monster would do such a thing?" is not foreshadowing but relishing and bragging about her plans. So, while I never thought of Tywin that way, it does make sense.

This timing is perfect cause I just finished reading the series a couple months ago. I always thought that Tywin deserved more appreciation for how good of a character he is because he's just as flawed and emotional as all the Lannisters (or anyone else) but then people always just only noticed how he portrayed himself when they talk about him. I liked your thoughts on it. Great video, can't wait for more Song of Ice and Fire!