Franklin Dean
The Red Wedding is a pivotal moment in both George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire book series and its TV adaptation, Game of Thrones. The event, which occurs in the third book, A Storm of Swords, sees the massacre of Robb Stark, his mother Catelyn, and his bannermen at Edmure Tully's wedding. The TV depiction of the Red Wedding shocked viewers, but the books offer a different, more psychological horror experience, with subtle foreshadowing and an intense, disorienting portrayal of the massacre.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Emotional impact | The Red Wedding is emotionally draining and heartbreaking to watch and read about. |
| Character deaths | Robb Stark, Catelyn Stark, Robb's pregnant wife Talisa (Jeyne in the books), Robb's bodyguards from various Northern houses, including Smalljon Umber, Dacey Mormont, and Wendel Manderly. |
| Differences between the books and show | Talisa's character does not exist in the books; she is named Jeyne and is not present at the wedding. Catelyn's internal monologue and actions differ slightly between the books and show. The pacing of the Red Wedding scene is also different, with the violence lasting only three pages in the book. |
| Direwolves | Robb's direwolf, Grey Wind, is executed by the Freys during the Red Wedding. |
| Character reactions | Catelyn is cautious and pessimistic about the wedding in the books, and her wolf growls at the Frey lords, indicating a warning. |
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What You'll Learn
Differences in character involvement
While the Red Wedding sequence is emotionally draining and heartbreaking in both the books and the show, there are differences in the characters involved, how the massacre unfolds, and its aftermath.
Jeyne Westerling/Talisa
In the books, Robb Stark's wife, Jeyne Westerling, is not present at the wedding and is spared any punishment as her family is related to the Lannisters. However, in the show, Robb's wife, Talisa, is brutally murdered, which comes as a shock to both book readers and show watchers.
Catelyn Stark
Catelyn's portrayal in the books differs from her depiction in the show. In the books, she is cautious and pessimistic about the wedding, rarely showing her emotions. When disaster strikes, she thinks of Robb's safety before her own and puts herself in harm's way to protect him. She kills Walder Frey's grandson and descends into madness, clawing at her skin and laughing. This internal struggle is absent from the show, where Catelyn takes cover under a table.
The Northmen and Bodyguards
In the books, Robb has several bodyguards from various Northern houses, including Smalljon Umber, Dacey Mormont, and Wendel Manderly. These characters are killed alongside Robb, making the event even more devastating. During the chaos, Catelyn experiences a moment of relief as the Northmen charge in, only to have her hopes dashed when one of them decapitates Smalljon, revealing their treachery.
The Blackfish
In the books, Brynden Tully, also known as the Blackfish and Catelyn's uncle, does not attend the wedding and holds Riverrun Castle. While he eventually loses the castle, he escapes with his life and seeks vengeance.
The Direwolves
The Stark children's direwolves play a more prominent role in the books, acting as protectors and often sensing danger. Robb's direwolf, Grey Wind, meets a valiant end in the books, fighting back against his executioners.
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More deaths in the books
The Red Wedding was a pivotal event in the Game of Thrones series, and it left readers and viewers reeling from the brutality and loss of beloved characters. While the show's depiction of the event was heart-wrenching, the books introduced several differences, including additional deaths that made the event even more devastating.
In the books, Robb Stark had several bodyguards from various Northern houses, including Smalljon Umber, Dacey Mormont, and Wendel Manderly. All of these characters were killed alongside Robb at the Red Wedding, increasing the tragedy of the event. The death of Robb's direwolf, Grey Wind, is another painful moment for readers, as the loyal protector meets a valiant end while fighting against the Freys.
Catelyn Stark's actions and fate also differ in the books. In the literary version, she remains composed and thinks of Robb's safety before her own, putting herself in harm's way to protect him. After witnessing Robb's death, Catelyn kills Walder Frey's grandson and descends into madness, clawing at her skin and laughing. The books also mention that Catelyn does not kill Walder Frey's wife, Joyeuse Erenford, as depicted in the show.
The Red Wedding in the books is described as emotionally draining and heartbreaking, with readers racing through the pages to discover the fates of their favourite characters. The pacing of the event is different from the show, with the violence confined to just three pages in a book spanning over a thousand pages. This abrupt and shocking portrayal leaves readers reeling, highlighting George R.R. Martin's intention to create an emotionally powerful scene.
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Differences in pacing
The Red Wedding is a pivotal moment in both the book series and the TV adaptation, but there are some notable differences in pacing between the two. In the books, the violence of the Red Wedding unfolds across just three pages, whereas the TV show lingers on this scene, making it more drawn-out and giving it more time to build tension. The show uses long, sweeping crane shots and slower cuts to emphasise the savage violence on screen.
The pacing of the Red Wedding in the books has been described as more of a psychological horror, whereas the show leans into shock horror. The books also feature more deaths of beloved characters, including Robb Stark's bodyguards from various Northern houses, such as Smalljon Umber, Dacey Mormont, and Wendel Manderly.
The structure of the chapters in the books is also notable, with the four chapters centred on the Red Wedding overlapping in time and place, providing the reader with two separate perspectives on the same event and building suspense. The book also includes more foreshadowing and hints at the impending tragedy, with Robb Stark's direwolf, Grey Wind, acting as a protector and sensing the danger, although the character is executed by the Freys before the massacre begins.
In the TV show, the depiction of Robb Stark's wife, Talisa, and her brutal murder, is another significant difference. Talisa is not a character in the books and is replaced by Jeyne Westerling, who is not present at the wedding and is spared due to her family's connection to the Lannisters. The show's creators likely included Talisa's pregnancy and murder to evoke a stronger emotional response from the audience. The cinematography of the scene also contributes to the pacing and emotional impact, with close-ups of Robb and Talisa, emphasising the intimacy and despair of the moment.
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Differences in character portrayal
The Red Wedding is depicted differently in George R. R. Martin's book series *A Song of Ice and Fire* and its TV adaptation, *Game of Thrones*. The event is narrated from Catelyn Stark's perspective in the books, including her internal monologue, which makes her character more empathetic. In the TV show, the portrayal of the event is more omniscient.
Catelyn's character behaves differently in the two mediums. In the books, she is well-composed and rarely shows her emotions. After hearing the Rains of Castamere, she immediately thinks of Robb's safety and puts herself in harm's way to protect him. She then grabs one of Walder Frey's grandsons and threatens him. After witnessing Robb's death, she goes into shock and claws at her own skin, thinking they are ravens, before descending into madness and laughing. In the TV show, Catelyn hides under a table after the music begins.
Another notable difference is the portrayal of Robb Stark's wife, Talisa in the TV show and Jeyne Westerling in the books. Jeyne is not present at the Red Wedding, and her family's connection to the Lannisters spares her any punishment. Talisa, on the other hand, is brutally murdered at the Red Wedding in the TV show, and her pregnancy adds an emotional dimension to the scene.
The Red Wedding in the books also features the deaths of several other characters, including Robb's bodyguards from various Northern houses, such as Smalljon Umber, Dacey Mormont, and Wendel Manderly. The direwolves of the Stark children, which act as their protectors, are also more prominent in the books. Grey Wind, Robb's direwolf, goes out fighting in the books, whereas he is quickly executed by the Freys in the TV show.
The pacing of the event also differs, with the violence in the books spanning only three pages, while the TV show lingers on the scene with slow cuts and crane shots to emphasise the savage violence.
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Differences in the depiction of violence
While the Red Wedding is a devastating event in both the books and the TV show, there are some notable differences in the depiction of violence between the two mediums.
One of the most significant differences is the inclusion of Robb Stark's pregnant wife, Talisa, in the show. In the books, Robb's wife, Jeyne Westerling, is not present at the wedding and is spared due to her family's connection to the Lannisters. Talisa's brutal murder in the show, including a close-up of Robb's reaction to her death, adds an extra layer of violence and emotion to the scene.
The pacing of the violence is also handled differently. In the books, the violence of the Red Wedding unfolds over just three pages, leaving readers shocked and disoriented. In contrast, the show lingers on the scene, using long camera shots and slower cuts to emphasise the savage violence and create a successful tone poem.
The books also feature a larger number of character deaths, including Robb's bodyguards from various Northern houses, such as Smalljon Umber, Dacey Mormont, and Wendel Manderly. This makes the event even more devastating for readers who have grown attached to these characters.
Another difference is the portrayal of Catelyn Stark's descent into madness after witnessing her son's death. In the books, Catelyn experiences a sharp descent into madness, clawing at her own skin and laughing. This moment, including her internal monologue, is notably absent from the show's depiction.
Additionally, the direwolves of the Stark children play a more prominent role in the books, acting as protectors and often sensing danger. While Robb's direwolf, Grey Wind, meets a similar demise in both the show and the books, his execution while confined in kennels adds another layer of violence to the show's portrayal.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Red Wedding is depicted in George R.R. Martin's book "A Storm of Swords".
In the books, Robb Stark's wife is named Jeyne Westerling and she is not present at the wedding. The book also features the deaths of several of Robb's bodyguards, including Smalljon Umber, Dacey Mormont, and Wendel Manderly. The pacing of the event is also different, with the violence taking place over just three pages.
Catelyn is well composed and rarely shows her emotions. After hearing the Rains of Castamere, she immediately thinks of Robb's safety and puts herself in danger to try and protect him. She kills one of Walder Frey's grandsons and then descends into madness, clawing at her own skin and laughing.
