We all know how complex and intricate the characters born out of George R.R. Martin’s brilliant mind are. Nobody is how they seem at first, with everything scheming and conspiring towards a larger goal in mind. However, in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, we see Peter Claffey’s Dunk being starkly different from the other characters in the Game of Thrones universe.
He is kind, noble, and innocent, untouched by the vices that reign supreme in the mucky lands of Westeros. Ser Duncan the Tall tells the tale of an everyman, an aspiring knight who wishes to make a difference in the world rather than a power-hungry bottom-feeder who will do anything for power.
Peter Claffey explains Dunk’s idea of chivalry and honor
Credits: HBO
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms began on a somber note with Dunk burying his old master, Ser Arlan of Pennytree. He is grieving the loss of the only person he had close to family, and now Dunk is left all alone, left to fend for himself. However, he quickly collects himself and marches on to discover the next chapter in his life. Claffey portrays these underlying emotions quite well.
Throughout his time with Ser Arlan, Dunk is told great tales of knights and their heroism, how lords are mighty and powerful, people worth looking up to. But the reality could not be far from different. While requesting lords to support his entry into the tournament list, Dunk sees the selfishness and the haughty attitude of the lords who refuse to acknowledge his master’s contributions to their past victories. Claffey explained,
“He has been taught by Ser Arlan all the way through about all these great knights and chivalry and honor and treating people with respect and different things and just general goodness. And I think, like in those first two episodes, you get a sense of you get to see all these different families that we’re quite aware of through being fans of Game of Thrones, and he kind of is looking at all these knights that he looked up to and was told that were amazing and stuff by Ser Arlan, and he’s kind of looking at them going like, “You’re not as moral as I was told. You’re not as chivalrous.” And I suppose he has this conflicting thing inside him that he’s wondering, was his master right? Was he true?”
Dunk comes across various lords and knights who do not live by the honorable code and this irks the young knight. He wants people to honor their word because, without that, what’s the use of the code and being a knight?
Peter Claffey’s Dunk wants to honor his master’s memory
Credits: Steffan Hill/HBO
Though we are shown conflicting memories of Dunk with Ser Arlan, we believe he wants to honor his master’s memory and walk in his footsteps. He saw what a kind and brave man his master was, even though he was a bit crooked; he remained good at heart. Without the presence of any other role model in his life, Dunk wishes to become a knight, just like his master.
The journey he has embarked on in the show is all to find his place in society and become a knight himself. As more episodes premiere, we are excited to see how Dunk sticks to his moral code and goes on to become a great knight of the seven kingdoms.
Read More: “I was a massive, huge fan”: Peter Claffey on joining the Game of Thrones universe
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