And when the Bran incident happens, that practically вЂњconfirmsвЂќ what had been hinted at until then: this man is no good. In later chapters, EddardвЂ™s misgivings about the Lannisters as a clan and Jaime as a man seep into the readerвЂ™s mind as well, with JonвЂ™s positive remarks easily framed as superficially looks-based. We are told quite graphically that he killed young DaenerysвЂ™ father, and thatвЂ™s what Martin intends us to focus on. And what is said does paint him as a monster, with the cherry on top being that we hear this from Dany, whom weвЂ™re inclined to empathise with in her plight. HeвЂ™s not even called by his name but itвЂ™s his foul reputation as Kingslayer that ushers him in, before we even learn his name is Jaime. There you have it: the introduction is a negative one. The polished skulls of the last dragons staring down sightlessly from the walls of the throne room while the Kingslayer opened FatherвЂ™s throat with a golden sword. Princess Elia of Dorne pleading for mercy as RhaegarвЂ™s heir was ripped from her breast and murdered before her eyes. The sack of KingвЂ™s Landing by the ones Viserys called the UsurperвЂ™s dogs, the lords Lannister and Stark. Her brother Rhaegar battling the Usurper in the bloody waters of the Trident and dying for the woman he loved. The midnight flight to Dragonstone, moonlight shimmering on the shipвЂ™s black sails. Yet sometimes Dany would picture the way it had been, so often had her brother told her the stories. That is well and true, but look further back in time and concentrate on the first mention of him in the entire series, in AGOT Daenerys I, because that sets up the tone for him: His defenestration of Bran is popularly identified as the moment when he became a really bad apple in the publicвЂ™s eyes. For the purpose of illustration and comparison, IвЂ™ll use the examples of Jaime Lannister and Theon Greyjoy together with Sandor, as these three are the poster children of вЂњredemptiveвЂќ plotlines in ASOIAF and provide with ideal case studies.ДЄs Example I, consider Jaime. LetвЂ™s start with an examination of the way he introduces them, which is where he formulates his intent about how he wants a determined character to be viewed, a trail very likely to be followed, even if unconsciously. Therefore, knowing his literary techniques for creating character bias is a key element for comprehending the readershipвЂ™s attitude towards events and characters.

The ancient adage that first impressions matter and that we size up people within minutes of meeting them is true also for fictional people, and few authors are more skilful than Martin in manipulating their readership through the crafting of apparently solid first impressions only to kick the stool from under us afterwards. Why would it be significant? Because in light of the upward progression after a start as a negatively-assessed Lannister liegeman, it sets up the foundation for readersвЂ™ perception of Sandor Clegane, upon which our initial opinion of him rests. If something leaps out from the quoted scene in the first book thatвЂ™s our initial sighting of the Hound, itвЂ™s the neutrality of Lord StarkвЂ™s comment. The tall boy beside him could only be the crown prince, and that stunted little man behind them was surely the Imp, Tyrion Lannister. There came Ser Jaime Lannister with hair as bright as beaten gold, and there Sandor Clegane with his terrible burned face.

AGOT Featured Commentary: Murder as a Plot Device.

A Literary Inspiration for Sandor Clegane.

Sandor IV: A Hound amongst lions and wolves.

Agot century of blood