The Estranged Son: Rhaegar, Theon, Jaime

This isn't on Melisandra 's initial list. Or maybe it fits with the Prince. 

But the parallels and potential inversions seemed like they might fit here.

So: here we go:

Part I: List of General Similarities

RHAEGAR:
--Promising firstborn son.

--Rejected/suspected by his father—though his sister idolizes him.

--Best friend/closest confidant is OUTSIDE the family: Arthur Dayne

--Ends up taking on a role (warrior) out of duty vs. what he really wants.

--Father: Mad and plotting

--Sent out after a the Knight of the Laughing Tree (probably a Stark); “known” to have “fallen on” and taken Lyanna.

--Action of “taking” a Stark child resulted in the deaths of Brandon and Rickard.

--Wants to fix past family problems caused by his father and build a better future. But the plan is doomed.



THEON:
--Not firstborn, but only living son.

--“Stolen” child: by the Starks, enemies to Balon.

--Best friend/brother is outside his family: Robb.

--Rejected by father and sister—and uncle.

--Ambitious, not too rational father—plotting against Starks.

--Father—advancement through a daughter (Asha).

--Takes Winterfell and Stark children (Bran and Rickon) in part because of his father.

--Hunting Bran and Rickon but failing to find them results in the deaths of faux Bran and Rickon.

--Maimed to humiliate.

--Knows Jeyne isn’t Arya--sees through the disguise: but regains his courage/self partly through her.

--Wants to fix past problems with the Greyjoys (give them back their power) AND broker peace between Starks and Greyjoys. And advance himself. But the plan is doomed.



JAIME:
--Promising firstborn son.

--“Stolen” child: by Aerys (enemy to Tywin).

--Identifies more as Kingsguard and knight by the end than Lannister.

--Closest confidant/best “friend” becomes Brienne.

--Rejected by father and sister.

--Ambitious father: plotting aginst the Starks.

--Father wants advancement via Cersei—her marriage and her child.

--Maimed to spite father and devalue the hostage and create a fight.

--Sent by Cersei to “fall upon” Arya—knows he would have hurt her if he had found her.

--Knows Jeyne isn’t Arya: sees through the disguise, but says nothing.

--Regains his courage via a woman to save her. And via a Stark daughter: Sansa.

--Trying to find middle ground to save and promote the family. But the plan is doomed.


Part II: Potential Inversions

1. Rhaegar's taking Lyanna and the murder of Rickard and Brandon left the Targaryens decimated. But Theon's taking of Winterfell and the murder of faux Rickon and Bran have NOT decimated the Greyjoys--or the Ironborn. Not yet. So, will they recover, or go the way of the Targs?

2. Jaime was sent after Arya, then maintained the lie for Jeyne. And sends Brienne to help her. Theon sent himself out after Bran and Rickon, but helps save Jeyne. And protects her disguise. So, did Rhaegar also "hurt then help" a Stark child?

We do have the potentially horrifying inversion of Theon's role in Jeyne's "wedding" night. Which is a potential inversion for Rhaegar--though I'm not all that sure what to do with it.

3. Both Jaime and Theon are stolen sons, eventually rejected by their fathers for over-sympathizing with those who "stole" them. So--Rhaegar, the son of whom Aerys is so suspicious--was he also a "stolen" child? To Tywin? 

And that's as far as I got this weekend. 

So, what are you seeing?