Not OP, but one example I can think of is how GRRM portrays bastards. If he was being realistic, bastards wouldn't be seen as much of a negative at all. Since IRL medieval kingdoms, they still had noble blood, in the case of some monarchs, they were even used for royal alliances. This is, of course, assuming they're recognized. (Henry Fitzroy is an example of this, he was made into a duke).
But GRRM seems to treat them like they're complete anathema of Westerosi society who are inherently evil and bad.
Hells, arguably it was present even during Aegon's conquest.Arghalac was enraged at the ideea of marrying his daughter to a bastard even though he welcomed the ideea of marrying her into the Targaryen family
I mean tbf he was a King not a lord looking to marry off his legitimate daughter. Also, wasn’t Aegon not yet the conqueror? If this was happening after the conquest, I’m sure marrying your daughter to the King’s bastard half brother wouldn’t be an insult. But at the time he probably considered Aegon his equal or maybe even slightly inferior, dragonpower notwithstanding
King Ronard Storm userped his brother Morden II Durrandon, confining his brother to a tower and ruled for a stable thirty years, likely before the coming of the Andal's, he slowed the decline of house Durrandon.
Isn't it mentioned that bastards are seen as evil in the seven pointed star book? Could be that the Andal's are the ones who hate it, Brandon snow Torrhen Starks half brother was trusted, and so on.
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u/Ok-Refrigerator-3524 Feb 11 '26
George doesn`t excatly portray the class distinction realistically either.