The Subversion of the Concept of Disability in George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire: A Foucauldian Analysis

Abstract

Rather than serving as a source of identity and pride through the celebration of difference, disability has historically been characterised by subjugation in nearly every sphere of life. Representations of people with impairments are often framed in tragic terms, with language that is consistently negative or passive. This pattern has only begun to be resisted in literature over the past few decades. George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire stands out in this regard, as it destabilises conventional portrayals of disability and repositions it as integral to human existence. Characters such as Tyrion Lannister and Bran Stark appear as complex figures, shaped by resilience, intellect, and contradictions that challenge the boundaries of ‘normalcy,’ rather than mere symbols of pity. By employing a Foucauldian perspective, this paper examines how Martin critiques the disciplinary power structures that enforce conformity, exposes the illusion of the able/disabled binary, and ultimately subverts the conventional narrative of disability as deficit.