Can we just talk for a minute how freaking awesome George from Tamora Pierce’s Song of the Lioness quartet is, and how his relationship with Alanna is everything we should be telling young girls to want?
Look at all the ways George demonstrates what healthy love looks like:
-He likes Alanna for Alanna, both her good and her bad. In Trickster’s Queen Aly even notes that “the pricklier her mother, the happier her father”.[1] Alanna is infamous for having outbursts of temper and favoring bluntness over politeness, and George embraces and loves that about her (in fact, I’d wager that after spending most of his life tangled up in complicated webs of trickery and deceit it’s a blessed relief to be married to someone as obvious and forthright as Alanna).
- He doesn’t view Alanna as “prickly” or difficult, though. In Wild Magic he tells Daine, “She’s easy to love”.[2]
- He is basically the opposite of a “Nice Guy”. In In The Hands of the Goddess George tells Alanna that he has feelings for her[3], with no expectation of reciprocation.[4] When he finds out that she loves Jon he’s hurt, but he respects her choice.[5] They continue to be friends, and although he is open about having feelings for her, he doesn’t disparage Jon or try to talk Alanna out of it. He also continues to be friends with Jon.
- He treats her the way she likes to be treated. He coddles and protects her[6], and in the context of Alanna’s life this is exceptional.[7] George respects her, he respects her ability as a warrior, but he also treats her like a lady. He sees her as a whole person, not just a spot on some sort of woman vs. warrior dichotomy.
- He never shames her for her sexual choices. In a world where female sexual purity is prized (among the nobles), George notably has nothing to say about Alanna’s sexual agency. I mean, this is to be expected considering many of George’s close friends are prostitutes, but still worth noting.
- He understands when Alanna leaves in LR that it’s not personal to him. He’s upset about the circumstances, but doesn’t begrudge her the opportunity.[8] He’s upset that she started seeing someone new, but again, it’s not anger directed at Alanna. George correctly identifies that circumstances are keeping them apart, and doesn’t place blame on Alanna for moving forward with her life.
- 23 years of marriage later and they’re still in love, and passionate about each other.[9] He continues to support her career (while still maintaining his own interests), and respect her.
I don’t know how anybody could read about the Tortall universe and not fall in love with George. The older I get the more amazing I think he is, and the more I realize how revolutionary their relationship is. Thank you, Tamora Pierce, for giving young girls a role model for how a man should love and respect you.
[1] Tamora Pierce, Trickster’s Queen, 330.
[2] Tamora Pierce, Wild Magic, 211.
[3] Although I would be remiss if I didn’t note that there are some consent issues with the way he communicates that to her.
[4] “‘We can go on being friends like before?’…‘Friends, and good ones I trust’ ” Tamora Pierce, In The Hands of the Goddess, 71.
[5] Tamora Pierce, In The Hands of the Goddess, 151.
[6] However I do think it sucked that he lied about Aly being missing. Come on George, get it right.
[7] “Never before had she been coddled and treated like something precious… George gave her that courtesy, as well as treating her like a comrade, and she liked the mixture”. Tamora Pierce, The Woman Who Rides Like A Man, 156.
[8] “I try not to ask the impossible of her, Mother. She’s not a lass who waits at home for her man.” Tamora Pierce, Lioness Rampant, 156.
[9] Tamora Pierce, Trickster’s Choice, 7.
George is one of those characters that I love more every time I read his character. I second the thanks to Tamora Pierce for writing this character when so many male characters (that girls seem to love) are so much less.
