Joffrey Baratheon: An Ethical

Character
By: Tristan Griggs
Background Information
Joffrey Baratheon, villain of the hit tv show
Game of Thrones, is the eldest son of King
Robert Baratheon and Queen Cersei Lannister
Heir to the throne of the Seven Kingdoms,
Joffrey is best characterized by his quick temper
and cruel nature
Because of his upbringing, the young prince
often succumbs to random acts of heinous
violence, torturing and degrading not just his
own people, but his own family at times in the
interest of satisfying his anger
Although horrifying and often hard to justify,
these acts can be seen to follow a very specific
ethical code across all contexts, illuminating the
inner workings of the characters moral views
Ethical Code: Egoism
Joffrey subscribes most obviously to the ethical code of egoism
Egoism holds that the action that is best for the self is always the right action, regardless of its effects on the
general welfare
Joffrey has displayed his adherence to this code in many instances, three of which are impossible to ignore
(Warning: Spoilers Ahead):
1.) The beheading of Ned Stark - Joffrey oversaw the execution of one Lord Eddard Stark, King of the North and
Father of his wife-to-be, Sansa. He did this not because he had to, but because Lord Stark posed a threat to his
oncoming rule, and, frankly, annoyed Joffrey to no end.
2.) The refusal to battle at Casterly Rock - In what is now known as one of the most infamous battles in Game of
Thrones history, the battle of the three kings, Joffrey, despite knowing that this will paint him a coward to the
people he governs. Having no regard for the safety of his men, he leaves them to finish the battle without their
king in tow, seeing to it that his own well-being comes first.
3.) The execution of the bastards - After realizing that he may have undiscovered siblings which may threaten his
kingship, Joffrey unleashes a force of soldiers to find and mercilessly kill scores of young children throughout the
land. This results in the drowning, stabbing, and strangling of multiple kids, which Joffrey is able to overlook from
his secured position on the iron throne.
 The vast majority of Joffreys personal beliefs about life
and morality circle around the concepts of
self-preservation and personal pleasure. He doesnt
abide by traditional standards of right and wrong, as
the feelings and opinions of other people dont factor
into what he thinks right and wrong are. His
perspectives on ethics can be gathered by just a few
simple quotes:

Everyone is mine to torment. Youd do well to

Personal Beliefs
remember that.

What good will my sympathies do them? The boy

means nothing to me. And I cant stand the wailing of
women.

So long as I am your king, treason shall never go

unpunished.
Other Characters: Varying Ethics
When it comes to other characters in the Game of Thrones series, almost all people of note oppose Joffreys
philosophy of egoism completely, most notably John Snow, Tyrion Lannister, and Daenerys Targaryen:

John Snow adheres to the segment of ethical codes having to do with Natural Rights
Theory. He is opposed to any decision which infringes on the rights of or harms any
innocents, regardless of the majority opinion or what it could do for his personal standing.

Tyrion Lannister also subscribes to the principles of Natural Rights Theory. A first-hand
witness of multiple failures in human nature, he acts as a protector of the individual over
the community. Though he knows societal happiness matters, Tyrion would never allow the
wrongful suffering of even one person to bring that societal happiness to light.

Daenerys Targaryen most closely follows the ethical code of utilitarianism. She believes that
any decision which brings about the most happiness to the greatest amount of people
should be taken, as the good of the community should come first in foremost in any
functional kingdom.
 My Views
When it comes to my personal opinions on Joffreys way of doing things, I can only say that Im conflicted.
Though I dont often agree with the methods he uses to implement his actions, I can acknowledge that the goal
of those actions (self-preservation) is, in a lot of ways, logical. Looking out for ones own best interest is
productive and admirable when done correctly, but I feel that Joffreys choices tend to go outside the realm of
self-defense and into the realm of cruelty more often than not. If he could resist his urges to torture and
mutilate, wed be very much alike all in all. If I were to receive any advice from Joffrey himself, it would most
likely to be to stop inhibiting my own ruthlessness. Letting it take over would yield so many more rewards than
suppressing it for the good of the group.