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Some time late last year, I was in the middle of reading the series ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’, by George R. R. Martin, when the fourth book of the ‘Inheritance Cycle’, by Christopher Paolini, was released. So after finishing the Ice and Fire book I was reading, I went to read Inheritance and it immediately came to my attention: both these series contain a strong female character named Arya.
Spoiler warning: The following article contains spoilers from the two series mentioned above.
If the two Arya’s went into battle, I’d have to give the edge to Arya Shadeslayer. She is an elf, so the reflexes and senses are much more acute than a human’s. Her skill with a blade, as well as magic, makes her a deadly adversary to anyone. Arya Stark too has skills with a blade, having been taught by the masterful Syrio Forel, but her experience in actual battle is fewer than Arya the elf. Not to mention that Arya Shadeslayer, as her name implies, has slayed a Shade, and also has a dragon.
In terms of mentality, I think the two would be a lot closer. Arya Stark is still a little girl who has experienced the loss of many of the people who were close to her. She then spent a long time fending for herself, hardening her mind and demonstrating her courage, determination and mental strength, especially in the House of Black and White. Given the time to develop and mature, Arya Stark could be as fierce of mind and soul as anyone. Arya Shadeslayer has demonstrated her mental strength on numerous occasions. It was put to the test during her capture and torture; even when close to death she would not give away any information. The fighting of the minds which is seen in the Inheritance Cycle is the art to blocking your mind against exterior attack and also attacking with your mind. It takes years to perfect and requires the strongest of minds – any lapse in concentration could mean the end. Arya Shadeslayer was a master at this, and so would probably win in this regard as well.
However, my own personal preference would be Arya Stark. Though she has no supernatural aspects and may not be able to defeat an 100 year old elf, she is human and is someone we can relate to a lot more. The elf seems a lot more distant and somehow foreign; we don’t always get her. Don’t get me wrong though, I love elves (such as Legolas from the Lord of the Rings, and Dobby from Harry Potter), but Arya is so young, yet badass and strong of character, someone that many of the other characters in Westeros should aspire to be like.
So what about you? Who do you prefer?
(Pictured above: Ayra in Game of Thrones and Ayra in Eragon)
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