Marginalization of Disability as Alterity in George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire

Abstract

This paper explores George R. R. Martin’s high epic fantasy saga, A Song of Ice and Fire, through the intersecting lenses of postcolonial alterity and the social model of disability. It concentrates on two key disabled figures—Tyrion Lannister and Bran Stark—considering disability not merely as a physical or medical state, but as a condition defined and intensified by social exclusion, prejudice, and entrenched cultural values. Using qualitative textual analysis across all five published volumes, the discussion focuses on three interrelated themes: marginalization, inclusion and participation, and autonomy. The analysis shows that although Martin subverts certain genre conventions by granting disabled characters political authority, narrative presence, and symbolic weight, he also employs compensatory traits—such as heightened intelligence or supernatural abilities—to explain their centrality. By exposing these contradictions, the study argues that fantasy fiction can simultaneously disrupt and reproduce ableist narratives, offering alternative insights into questions of power, identity, and the human body while contributing to wider conversations on the portrayal of disability in literature.