Step aside Littlefinger and Varys, Canterbury and Ely were the first O.G's at scheming

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In anticipation of the final season of Game of Thrones coming in April, I thought a post about how the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Ely are eerily similar to Lord Varys and Little finger from Game of thrones, especially in the Film adaptation we watched.

The first scene, after the chorus, shows Canterbury and Ely plotting on how they can hold on to church lands, but still look as if they are serving the realm.  They devise a plan to create a war between England and France.  Sound familiar?  Stark vs. Lannister? Great Lords of the realm going to war?  Few people profit from it?  Lots of Death?  Sounds like there is a connection.  Game of Thrones, lots of death, war, twisted love triangles.  Henry V, death, war, weird love story.  Seems to fit the mold to me.  Ely and Canterbury are the first O.G's when it comes to scheming a king or kings into war! 

In Game of Thrones Littlefinger and Varys have a conversation very similar to the one Canterbury and Ely have. Littlefinger tells Varys in Season 3 Episode 6,  “Chaos isn’t a pit. “Chaos is a ladder. Many who try to climb it fail and never get to try again. The fall breaks them. And some are given a chance to climb, but they refuse. They cling to the realm or the gods or love. Illusions. Only the ladder is real. The climb is all there is.”  This quote from Littlefinger demonstrates his knowledge of what men in power will do to stay in power.

Similarly, Canterbury and Ely know Henry's ambition so they can exploit his desires for power.  They note, "...Of his true titles to certain dukedoms, and generally to the crown and seat of France, derived from Edward, his great-grandfather" (793).  The plan is set. They now have all the justification they need to move Henry's eye of off Church land and toward France.

 As I watched the film version in class, Canterbury's and Ely's opening scene made me think of Varys and Littlefinger speaking in Season 3.  Varys and Littlefinger know that war, or in their case civil war will destabilize Westeros, so it will be easy for their respective camps to take power.  I wonder if George R.R. Martin brushed up on his Shakespeare before he wrote the books and helped write the script for the T.V. show.  The similarities between the two religious men and the two counselors are just so similar, it can only be Shakespearean.

 Finally, the manipulation of the Henry and the manipulation of many kings in Game of Thrones helps these individuals get what they want.  For Canterbury and Ely, it is a preservation of church property. Varys and Littlefinger want something greater, the Iron Throne!

Shakespeare, William. The Norton Shakespeare: Histories. Edited by Stephen Greenblatt et al., W.W. Norton & Company, 2016

 Littlefinger and Varys Gif Found on https://media.giphy.com/media/ZROZCKF94ctr2/giphy.gif

 Littlefinger quote - HBO Season 3, Episode 6, "The Climb"

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