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Tywin Lannister
Varys is the master-of-whisperers in King’s Landing, which means he is in charge of gathering information from informants throughout the realm. He serves on Robert’s small council (a group of advisors to the king) and, after Robert dies, on Joffrey’s small council. Varys was also a member of Aerys II Targaryen’s small council. Varys tells Ned that Jon Arryn was poisoned and that the Lannisters are trying to kill Robert. After Ned is arrested, Varys visits him in disguise and tells Ned that he should confess to treason for Sansa’s sake and so Cersei allows him to serve as a member of the Night’s Watch. Ned seems to follow Varys’s advice, but that results in Ned’s execution. Varys also receives information from Jorah about Daenerys’s pregnancy, which leads to Robert’s attempts to have Daenerys and her unborn child killed.
Varys Quotes in A Game of Thrones
The A Game of Thrones quotes below are all either spoken by Varys or refer to Varys. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 49: Eddard
Quotes
Ned produced Robert’s letter. “Lord Varys, be so kind as to show this to my lady of Lannister.”
The eunuch carried the letter to Cersei. The queen glanced at the words. “Protector of the Realm,” she read. “Is this meant to be your shield, my lord? A piece of paper?” She ripped the letter in half, ripped the halves in quarters, and let the pieces flutter to the floor.
“Those were the king’s words,” Ser Barristan said, shocked.
“We have a new king now,” Cersei Lannister replied.
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Chapter 58: Eddard
Quotes
He damned them all: Littlefinger, Janos Slynt and his gold cloaks, the queen, the Kingslayer, Pycelle and Varys and Ser Barristan, even Lord Renly, Robert’s own blood, who had run when he was needed most. Yet in the end he blamed himself. “Fool,” he cried to the darkness, “thrice-damned blind fool.”
Cersei Lannister’s face seemed to float before him in the darkness. Her hair was full of sunlight, but there was mockery in her smile. “When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die,” she whispered. Ned had played and lost, and his men had paid the price of his folly with their life’s blood.
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Varys Quotes in A Game of Thrones
The A Game of Thrones quotes below are all either spoken by Varys or refer to Varys. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 49: Eddard
Quotes
Ned produced Robert’s letter. “Lord Varys, be so kind as to show this to my lady of Lannister.”
The eunuch carried the letter to Cersei. The queen glanced at the words. “Protector of the Realm,” she read. “Is this meant to be your shield, my lord? A piece of paper?” She ripped the letter in half, ripped the halves in quarters, and let the pieces flutter to the floor.
“Those were the king’s words,” Ser Barristan said, shocked.
“We have a new king now,” Cersei Lannister replied.
Related Characters:
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Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 58: Eddard
Quotes
He damned them all: Littlefinger, Janos Slynt and his gold cloaks, the queen, the Kingslayer, Pycelle and Varys and Ser Barristan, even Lord Renly, Robert’s own blood, who had run when he was needed most. Yet in the end he blamed himself. “Fool,” he cried to the darkness, “thrice-damned blind fool.”
Cersei Lannister’s face seemed to float before him in the darkness. Her hair was full of sunlight, but there was mockery in her smile. “When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die,” she whispered. Ned had played and lost, and his men had paid the price of his folly with their life’s blood.
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
