Other Perspectives (non Theon/Reek) of Ramsay (Spoilers Extended)
In addition to the grayness of the world (seriously you can find something somewhat dishonorable about almost every adult and most teens/kids in this series) another thing I find awesome is the layers to the character relationships.
In this post I just wanted to discuss how Theon's views of Ramsay are so much different than most of the major players in the game.
If you have read and/or watched the series you are well aware of Theon/Reek and Ramsay's relationship (so i don't think I need to rehash it here, if you haven't read/watched I admire your gusto to post/read spoilers extended type threads).
It should be noted that show Ramsay and book Ramsay are quite different, for instance show Ramsay is a talented fighter/commander (twenty good men) but in contrast:
"He fights for you," Reek blurted out. "He's strong."
"Bulls are strong. Bears. I have seen my bastard fight. He is not entirely to blame. Reek was his tutor, the first Reek, and Reek was never trained at arms. Ramsay is ferocious, I will grant you, but he swings that sword like a butcher hacking meat." -ADWD, Reek III
In contrast to his relationship (where Ramsay is the big evil villain), lets look at how some of the other characters view Ramsay:
Stannis
"Lord Ramsay," Theon hissed. "The son, not the father. You must not let him take him. Roose... Roose is safe within the walls of Winterfell with his fat new wife. Ramsay is coming."
"Ramsay Snow, you mean. The Bastard."
"Never call him that!" Spittle sprayed from Theon's lips. "Ramsay Bolton, not Ramsay Snow, never Snow, never, you have to remember his name, or he will hurt you."
"He is welcome to try. Whatever name he goes by." -TWOW, Theon I
Barbrey Dustin
"It should have been you who threw the feast, to welcome me back," Ramsay complained, "and it should have been in Barrow Hall, not this pisspot of a castle."
"Barrow Hall and its kitchens are not mine to dispose of," his father said mildly. "I am only a guest there. The castle and the town belong to Lady Dustin, and she cannot abide you."
Ramsay's face darkened. "If I cut off her teats and feed them to my girls, will she abide me then? Will she abide me if I strip off her skin to make myself a pair of boots?"
"Unlikely. And those boots would come dear. They would cost us Barrowton, House Dustin, and the Ryswells." Roose Bolton seated himself across the table from his son. "Barbrey Dustin is my second wife's younger sister, Rodrik Ryswell's daughter, sister to Roger, Rickard, and mine own namesake, Roose, cousin to the other Ryswells. She was fond of my late son and suspects you of having some part in his demise. Lady Barbrey is a woman who knows how to nurse a grievance. Be grateful for that. Barrowton is staunch for Bolton largely because she still holds Ned Stark to blame for her husband's death." -ADWD, Reek III
Wylla Manderly
She's awesome. I love it.
Rhaegar Frey acknowledged the compliment with a bow. He was thirty, or nigh unto, round-shouldered and kettle-bellied, but richly dressed in a doublet of soft grey lambswool trimmed in cloth-of-silver. His cloak was cloth-of-silver too, lined with vair and clasped at the collar with a brooch in the shape of the twin towers. "Lady Wylla," he said to the girl with the green braid, "loyalty is a virtue. I hope you will be as loyal to Little Walder when you are joined in wedlock. As to the Starks, that House is extinguished only in the male line. Lord Eddard's sons are dead, but his daughters live, and the younger girl is coming north to wed brave Ramsay Bolton."
"Ramsay Snow," Wylla Manderly threw back.
"Have it as you will. By any name, he shall soon be wed to Arya Stark. If you would keep faith with your promise, give him your allegiance, for he shall be your Lord of Winterfell." -ADWD, Davos III
Roose
This line from Roose is utterly terrifying:
"An invitation will accomplish the same thing. Power tastes best when sweetened by courtesy. You had best learn that if you ever hope to rule." The Lord of the Dreadfort glanced at Reek. "Oh, and unchain your pet. I am taking him."
"Taking him? Where? He's mine. You cannot have him."
Roose seemed amused by that. "All you have I gave you. You would do well to remember that, bastard. As for this … Reek … if you have not ruined him beyond redemption, he may yet be of some use to us. Get the keys and remove those chains from him, before you make me rue the day I raped your mother." -ADWD, Reek III
While there are other characters who see him as cruel and a "monster", it truly is interesting to see how low of an opinion most of the "true players" have of Ramsay.
TLDR: Ramsay Snow/Bolton is a minor annoyance to numerous characters, unlike his relationship with Theon
Posted May 28, 2020, 6:40 PM UTC