Varys Vs Littlefinger

Published August 17, 2017 · Updated July 6, 2022

So, I’ve been mulling these two over for a while this season and I’m not going to put forward a theory per se but rather some thoughts on what these two characters represent.

In the beginning of the series, we see that these two are the “eyes and ears” of whatever monarch they currently serve. They seem like they are the same type of person in that they both have a web of people securing information. But they also seem to have no love lost with each other. Early on, it seems like that is because they are simply vying for power.

Now however, in season 7 we have had a long time to get to know these characters and there have been some reveals of each character in the interim. Naturally, my understanding of who these men really are and what they represent has morphed along with the new information. To be fair, we still don’t know exactly what is going on with Littlefinger’s continued presence at Winterfell and we did not get a dialog of explanation as we have with Varys to Dany when she questions his loyalties.

Right now (and this could change) it seems to me that Littlefinger is still making a power grab. That his motivation is still to rise to power in whatever way he can. That may be getting Sansa to marry him, it may be to report back to Cercei to leverage information for elevated station or it could be some other thing we haven’t yet seen. I know there is a theory that he will turn out to be a good guy in the end but week to week, so far, I’ve seen no evidence of that. I feel that Littlefinger still represents all that is wrong with monarchical rule. That the only person he really cares about is himself.

Now to Varys. Over the years we’ve seen him act similar to Littlefinger for the most part. Different means used to, seemingly, the same end. But getting to see his exchanges with major characters in Season 7, I think his endgame is completely different than that of Littlefinger.

First, Varys history is being born a slave and being sold off to a sorcerer for a large sum of money. Admittedly he does not like anything to do with sorcery or witchcraft as a result of the ritual performed using his severed genitalia. He also spends his life rising to greater and greater station and prominence until he finds himself next to a King serving as his Master of Whispers. In the season 7 dialog with Dany he says that it’s not true that his allegiance has changed depending on who sat the throne. He tells us, for the first time, what I think his true motivation to be. He says he has always been in favor of what is best for the people of Westeros. He talks a bit about his past and how he sees the masses trampled by the games of the rich and the powerful. We are led to believe in this exchange that he is backing Dany because he thinks she is different than the others and will be the best option for the people. Dany believes this and retains his council.

But here’s the rub, as I see it…. there is clearly a mole in Dany’s council. We have seen this several times in what appears to be leaked information to Cercei/Jaime. You guys have spoken about it at length on your podcast. I agree with you that the mole is likely Varys. This led me to question why that would be. Why not help Dany get rid of Cercei knowing what a horrible Queen Cercei is and will continue to be? Why not unseat her for a better Queen? He knows that for the most part Dany has a heart and will likely be a just, even if tough, ruler.

I think it’s because Varys wants no monarchy at all in Westeros. I think he wants a DEMOCRACY…. of the people, by the people, for the people. If he is the mole in Dany’s council this explains why. Not only would his sale and castration have turned him against witchcraft but also against subjugation of the poor by the rich. The powerless by the powerful. Wouldn’t the greatest screw you to it all be that the boy whose genitals were severed and offered to the Lord of Light becomes the man who gives the power to the people?

George R.R. Martin has said that the end of this saga is bittersweet. Perhaps the bitter is that none of our beloved characters attains the Iron Throne and the sweet is that the people of Westeros become a free and Democratic people with the Night King defeated and all of the would-be monarchy. Perhaps they are free to live and worship as they wish.

So as it stands right now Littlefinger seems to embody all that is wrong with the power struggle of a monarchy. Despite his humble beginnings, he has decided to play the game to attain power for himself without care for the others who still toil below. Varys seems to want the people to prevail. For them to have a better life and to have greater control over their own destiny.

I think it would be fantastic if, in the end, we see a democracy emerge from all the fighting and power-grabbing. If this happens it would finally be an end to a power struggle that started with the Children of the Forest and the First Men and has continued on, unabated for something like 12,000 years. Perhaps this is all the author’s commentary on the value of Democracy. Perhaps the slave boy finally hands the keys to the kingdom to the people…..

-Christina

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