If it's Monday, it means it's time to introduce a master class, that's right, I'm introducing

a new mini podcast that will only come out on Mondays and these things will not be more

than 10 minutes long. It'll either be me offering some bit of observation from an academic

perspective or I will have a guest on to answer a single listener question. This is irregular.

And yes, well, I suppose that life is irregular.

Welcome to my first ever master class. If it helps you close your eyes and pretend we're in old

town and I've got a big old chain around my neck and you're wearing a gown.

Today, we're discussing Westerosy wedding rituals, nightly capes, and possible

industrial connection between Sansa and the Hound. Just a quick alert that part of what follows

will include discussions of child abuse. So warning for that. A few chapters back,

Joffrey was doing Joffrey things and he was holding court and in retribution for her brother's

victories in battle. Joffrey brings Sansa before court and has her beaten and has her stripped.

That's the child abuse part. Then Sansa's future husband walks in and saves the day. That's right.

Tyrion Shouts, what's the meaning of this? And our favorite hand the king,

Chide Sermirin and King Joffrey for their lack of chivalry. And I think it's important that he

actually uses the word chivalry in this context. And from Sansa's perspective, it says,

someone give this girl something to cover herself with. Sandor Clegane unfastened his cloak

and tossed it at her. Sansa clutched it against her chest, fists bunched hard in the white wool.

The coarse weave was scratchy against her skin, but no velvet ever felt so fine.

So I observed that it's the Hound who offers his cloak to Sansa. And it's not. This is crucial,

I think. It's not her future husband, Tyrion. Now given that Martin never misses a chance for

symbolism, I think this is a glaring omission. Why not have Tyrion cover the girl?

...