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Across the Game Of Thrones series, the most common kind of character fans can come across is the schemer. Almost everyone in the series has some kind of lofty goal that all of their actions take them toward, and unfortunately, many of those same people have evil in mind. Game Of Thrones is filled with manipulators, but few are as cunning and effective as Petyr Baelish, perhaps best known as Littlefinger.
The most notable member of the House Baelish, Littlefinger, and later Lord Baelish, may seem like a fairly standard, if incredibly interesting, villain in the television series but he is rather different in the books. In the show, his schemes ultimately aid in the beginning of the massive War of the Five Kings, all with a single goal in mind. In the books, Littlefinger’s goals and motivations are much more mysterious, but even still, everyone knows that almost everyone in Game Of Thrones is after one thing, the Iron Throne.
Littlefinger Sets His Plan In Motion
Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish: | |
|---|---|
Born: | The Fingers, the Vale of Arryn |
House: | Baelish |
Titles: | Master of Coin, Lord of Harrenhal, Lord Protector of the Vale |
First Appearance: | Season 1, Episode 3, "Lord Snow" |
Last Appearance: | Season 7, Episode 7, "The Dragon and the Wolf" |
Portrayed By: | Aidan Gillen |
Thanks to his cunning nature, Littlefinger was able to prove his worth to some of the most powerful people in the land in a hurry. Being named Master of Coin under King Robert Baratheon of House Baratheon, Littlefinger was near all the right people (or had access to them through his many brothels and spies) to begin a web of lies and manipulation to get to the top. Beginning with the Starks, Littlefinger prods Ned Stark to begin looking into the death of Jon Arryn, something that will eventually lead to the death of his rival in love. He then voices his support for the assassination of Daenerys Targaryen, wanting her potential threat dealt with long before she can get anywhere near himself.
Most importantly, Littlefinger openly makes it clear he’s not to be trusted as he sets his entire plan in motion in Game Of Thrones Season 1, Episode 4, “Cripples, Bastards, And Broken Things":
"Distrusting me was the wisest thing you've done since climbing off your horse."
Littlefinger continues to aid Ned Stark in his search for answers, leading him to one of the mothers of one of King Baratheon’s bastards. With Ned uncovering the truth about Joffrey, he makes a fatal error in trusting in Littlefinger, who immediately betrays the Stark, resulting in Ned’s arrest. Only acting in his self-interest, Littlefinger would go on to defend Arya Stark, but it wouldn’t matter what he did as, with Joffrey in control of the Iron Throne, Ned Stark would be executed, officially beginning the War of the Five Kings.
Littlefinger's Obsession With Catelyn Stark
An important aspect of Littlefinger’s manipulation of Ned Stark is the rivalry that the two men had in their affection for Catelyn Stark. While it is plain to see that Ned loved his wife, Littlefinger took on much more of an obsession over Catelyn. Meeting her when he was just a young boy, Littlefinger would soon desire nothing more than power and Catelyn Stark. His obsession with her was so great that he even challenged her original husband-to-be, Brandon Stark, to a sword fight, one that Littlefinger would lose handily. In order to improve his standing in the land, Littlefinger manipulates Catelyn’s sister Lysa until he is a key figure in King’s Landing, all the while letting Catelyn believe that he is a close friend and ally.
Right after delivering the bones of her late husband to her, Littlefinger tries to move in on Catelyn Stark, though that works about as well as one might expect. Being unable to claim Catelyn as his own, he begins his manipulation of Sansa instead, someone who, as he makes clear, reminds him of Catelyn. The imense chaos he creates to move up the ladder goes so far that he ends up killing Lysa in order to protect Sansa. In Game Of Thrones season four, episode seven, “Mockingbird,” Littlefinger makes his feelings clear just before he finally assassinates his false love:
“I have only ever loved one woman. One woman, my entire life. Your sister.”
While Littlefinger and Sansa are separated throughout the show, he has no fear of invoking either Sansa or Catelyn’s names for his own devices. Unfortunately, Littlefinger’s ambition gets the better of him and he eventually makes the wrong move, finally paying for his crimes at the hands of Arya Stark all while Sansa stares him down. Littlefinger dies, alone, failing to have truly accomplished whatever his final goal truly was.
What Was Littlefinger's Ultimate Goal?
In the Game Of Thrones TV series, Littlefinger’s goals really aren’t shrouded in any kind of mystery or nuance, he explicitly states what he wants in the very first season, episode seven, “You Win or You Die”:
Everything, my dear. Everything there is.
With it clear that Littlefinger is yet another party interested in ruling the land, all of his schemes and lies make perfect sense. He’s willing to step on or over anyone in his path to the top, and he came shockingly close on a number of occasions. If it weren’t for the likes of figures like Cersei and Sansa, Littlefinger may have very well been successful in one day laying claim to the Iron Throne, though he’d likely do so by installing some kind of puppet ruler.
It is fair to say that he was obsessed with Catelyn Stark and later Sansa Stark to some degree, but it is clear that they are nothing more than some additional prize to Littlefinger. Obsession is not love, and the way that Littlefinger treats both women shows precisely why they don’t end up with him. Littlefinger even shows that he’d be willing to use either woman to his advantage throughout the series whenever he finds himself in tight spots.
It is worth noting that, in the books at least, Littlefinger’s true end goal hasn’t been revealed. Thanks to the way the story is handled, less time is spent with the character, and he’s much more subtle in his treachery. It may be the case that Littlefinger is simply interested in being the most powerful man in the land, but it’s also possible that his bruised ego simply wants some kind of twisted revenge against all the Starks thanks to his loss in a duel decades ago. Whatever the reason, all anyone can assume is that Littlefinger’s ultimate goal is, as he puts it, everything.
Game Of Thrones is available to stream on MAX.
Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones, based on the Song of Ice and Fire book series by George R.R. Martin, tells the sprawling story of warring families in Westeros. This includes the Starks, the Lannisters, the Baratheons, and the Targaryens. Along with human conflicts, Westeros is also threatened by the re-emergence of dragons, and an undead enemy from beyond the Wall.
