Rewriting Historical Characters: Henry Tudor and Elizabeth of York as Daenerys Targaryen and Jon Snow

Abstract

[eng] This essay examines the relationship between the historical figures Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, and the fictional characters Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen from the popular TV series Game of Thrones. Through the analysis of the similarities between their lives, this project attempts to prove how both fictional characters are based and influenced by Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. Moreover, there is very little previous literature about the life of Elizabeth of York, obscuring and undermining her important role in putting an end to the Wars of the Roses. Thus, besides proving the relationship between these historical characters and the fictional ones, the aim of this paper is also to emphasise the historical importance given to Elizabeth of York in Game of Thrones by means of using her as a main source of inspiration for two of the most important an relevant characters of the series. As a result, this work also intends to prove how Game of Thrones demolishes gender boundaries by using characteristics of both Henry VII and Elizabeth of York to shape the characters of Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen.