Game of Thrones: Arya Stark's Survival Skills

By Tim Gamble

   Between Shadows and Light.

 

Let's do something fun and a little different with this article. I want to do a character analysis of one of my favorite fictional protagonists, Arya Stark from Game of Thrones. In particular, I want to take a deep dive into her survival skills. How did a young girl, only 13 at the start of the series, survive a brutal world after being orphaned? What lessons can we learn from her story?

Combat Skills:

• Sword Fighting: Trained by Syrio Forel in the art of Water Dancing, Arya became proficient with Needle, her now iconic slender sword. Her skills are further refined under the tutelage of the Hound and later with the Faceless Men, where she learns to fight in various styles.
• Hand-to-Hand Combat: Her training with the Faceless Men includes unarmed combat, enhancing her ability to fight without weapons.
• Stealth and Assassination: Arya's time with the Faceless Men turns her into a skilled assassin. She learns to move silently, use disguises effectively, and execute targeted kills.

Lessons: Learning basic self-defense or combat can be vital in situations where physical threats are present. Arya's skills had to be learned, and she spent much time training in order to develop them. 

Survival Tactics:

• Adaptability: Arya shows an extraordinary ability to adapt to new environments. From the streets of King's Landing to the harsh, unfamiliar lands of Braavos, she learns to blend in, survive, and even thrive.
• Resourcefulness: Arya demonstrates resourcefulness in finding food, shelter, and allies. Her ability to survive on her own, even as a young girl, speaks to her quick thinking and use of available resources.
• Disguise and Deception: Trained by the Faceless Men, Arya masters the art of disguise, changing her appearance and identity to fit different situations, which is crucial for survival in hostile territories.
• Psychological Resilience: Arya endures significant trauma and loss but turns these experiences into a drive for survival, showcasing mental toughness and the ability to keep moving forward despite life-threatening adversity.

Lessons: Mental toughness and resilience are needed in coping with stress, fear, and adversity, helping maintain focus on long-term goals and survival. Arya never gave up. She never said things were too hard or too unfair. She never waited around for someone else to help her or to solve her problems for her. How is your mental toughness and resilience? What adjustments do you need to make to your attitude and your thinking?

Social and Strategic Skills:

• Observation and Analysis: Arya always pays close attention to what is going on around her. She has a keen eye for detail, which helps her understand people's motivations, predict their actions, and navigate complex social situations.
• Manipulation: Arya learns to manipulate people when needed, whether through direct confrontation, as with the Hound, or through subtlety, as seen in her roles in Braavos.
• Alliances: Despite her solitary nature, Arya knows when to form alliances, like her uneasy partnership with the Hound or her early friendship with Hot Pie and Gendry, which provide her with temporary safety and support.

Lessons: Manipulation probably sounds like a harsh word to modern ears. Perhaps a softer word like "influence" would be better received. Either way, Arya learned how to evaluate her circumstances, to read people, and then to take control the situation for her survival and to her benefit. This points to an understanding of human psychology as an important survival skill.

Even if most people perceive her as a "lone wolf" type, it is interesting to note that Arya was quite willing to build new relationships and to work with others when needed.

Other Survival Skills and Tools:

• Weapons Handling: Beyond swords, Arya uses daggers, staffs, and even her environment as weapons, showing versatility in combat scenarios.
• Navigation: Her travels across different terrains in Westeros and beyond teach her about geography and navigation, potentially crucial for survival.
• Survival in Harsh Conditions: Whether it's surviving in the wilderness, in cities during war, or in a society like Braavos with its own set of rules and dangers, Arya adapts to extreme conditions.

Lessons: Throughout the series, Arya learns from a wide variety of people, from high-born to low, from killers to philosophers. Being open to learning from anyone, regardless of their status or background, can provide valuable survival skills or insights. Her willingness to constantly learn new skills was a major part of her adaptability and survival. Are you open to learning new skills?

Ethical and Moral Adaptability:

• Moral Flexibility: Arya's journey involves grappling with morality, especially in her role as an assassin. This moral flexibility allows her to make hard choices when survival is at stake.

Lessons: Arya's journey explores identity and morality. She learns to let go of her past to gain new skills and perspectives, which are crucial for her survival, but she also struggles with the moral implications of her actions. In survival, we might need to redefine ourselves or even compromise on morals, but it is also important to maintain some core values. Know your "lines in the sand" before they are tested. Know what is truly important to you, and what is not. Build your moral character now, so that you can withstand the chaos to come.

What do you think of this type of article? I am eager for your feedback in the cooments section below. Also, please sign up for the free Dystopian Survival newsletter by clicking here.  

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