Post by stdaga on Apr 4, 2019 18:49:34 GMT
All of the "lingering look"s in the series.
The 1st one was Robert with Lyanna's statue so I was instantly with you. And the way the wagons and Sansa are lusted after. Dany seems sad and of course she loves her "children". But Obara and Ser Balon seem to be looking with dislike/distrust. Allaras seems to be with pity.
I have looked at all the times it comes up in the text, and honestly, the only one that seems to any hint of a dark intent is the men looking at the wagons. Sansa is lusted after by Marillion, but love and lust can be very similar, and it certainly doesn't indicate dark intent, although Marillon has already tried to rape Sansa. He is not successful and since I appreciate the echo's in this story, I see a singer/bard who did not have sexual relations with a Stark maid, even if he wanted to. I think it will important that Alleras studied Pate's face because I think Alleras had some idea of what was going to happen to Pate, and pity is one interpretation but not one I ever got from reading that passage. We all certainly see things differently, which is why it takes many thoughts and perspectives to try to figure stuff out. Ser Balon is studying Doran to see the truth in his words, that could be distrust but that isn't malice. Obara is looking at Areo, I suppose to see if she can take him in battle if ever needs be, but it's calculated, not necessary with dark intent. The only one of these looks that can even be argued with dark intent or malice is the men looking at the wagons go by, but that could also just be calculating their odds.
But Barbrey is using a "lingering" look at Ned's likeness. Her words are full of dark intent and malice but her look is not, or only if you really squint at it. Squint hard! Her look does not fit her words and that is why I find it suspicious. Dany's lingering look applies to her "children" who she loves, which certainly fit's how Robert looks at Lyanna's statue, or even how Cersei is looking at Jaime, almost as if she is impressed with him. We know she loves him!
So we establish the word is used a couple times for love or admiration, a couple times to study someone in an attempt to figure something out (this could fit the wagon situation, as well) and one possible time with malice or dark intent (the men studying the wagons).
Now, I did mention that I thought that Barbrey could be studying Ned's likeness in an attempt to decide if f(Arya) is truely Arya Stark, based on a reported likeness between Ned and Arya. But this would be calculated but not malicious.
It could be that she's trying to recall his face, saying a silent prayer, thinking about what she thinks he took from her. I kind of take her at face value. She's spurned and bitter. But then again, I have issues figuring our who is reliable narrators and who isn't
I don't take her at face value anymore and have not for quite some time. Certainly her true intent is a mystery as we are never in her head, so anything she reports verbally could be skewed based on her perception and her own motivations to manipulate. I find Barbrey Dustin quite a complex mystery, as well as the story's link to a red stallion being quite a mystery.
Of course, we also have to consider that this "lingering" is defined from Theon/Reek's POV, and this might be more of a hint at Theon's inner turmoil than Barbrey's!