Valar Dohaeris is an expression used during the HBO series Game of Thrones and corresponds to a greeting from the inhabitants of Braavos. It also appears in the book A Song of Ice and Fire by George RR Martin. These words first appear in the first chapter of the third season of the production.
This series was released on March 31, 2013 and was written by producers David Benioff and DB Weiss. However, it should be noted that this phrase becomes important again at the end of the fourth and the beginning of the fifth season, when Arya Stark decides to accept the training to become a Faceless Woman under the care of Jaqen H'ghar.
According to RR Martin's work, Valar Dohaeris is a written and spoken greeting in High Valyrian that results in response to Valar Morghulis. It alludes to the God of Many Faces and his followers, the Faceless Men.
Important data
One of the most important characteristics of the series is that the plots and subplots of several of the characters are picked up at different points as the story unfolds.
Valar Dohaeris is the continuation of the unfinished story related to Valar Morghulis. In addition, it is clear that these terms will continue to be relevant in the future, especially for one of the characters.
For this, it is important to highlight some important elements of this chapter (depending on the series):
- The White Walkers fight their way through the members of the Night's Watch with an army ready to destroy everything in their path. However, some survive after the attack.
- After the battle with Halfhand, Jon Snow witnesses the appearance of a giant and is then presented to the King of the Wild Men, who seems to doubt a bit about his loyalty but then accepts him into his ranks.
- Tyrion Lannister is still recovering from his injuries after the Battle of Blackwater and has to tolerate that his father, Tywin, receives all the attention for defeating Stannis Baratheon.
- Eventually, Tyrion and his father meet in what was a hostile conversation. Tywin confesses his intentions to disinherit him, at the same time that he does not give him credit for his participation during the Battle of Blackwater.
- The new allies of the Lannisters, House Tyrell, begin to settle in King's Landing.
- Robb Stark receives the news of the alliance between the Lannisters and the Tyrells. The leadership of the King of the North is noticeable by achieving victories in small but important battles, so the members of the Lannister family prepare to develop a plan and thus end the threat that it represents.
- After returning from Qarth, Daenerys Targaryen is responsible for monitoring the growth of dragons. She realizes that these are not yet in the capacity to become a powerful weapon to use in Westeros, which would be necessary to take the Iron Throne.
- Both she and Sir Jorah head to Slave Bay to purchase the Unsullied, an army of eunuch men of great strength and skill.
- Daenerys discovers the potential of the Unsullied and begins the process of strengthening her position.
In the House of Black and White
Following the rejection of Jaqen H'ghar's invitation (in the season two finale), Arya receives an iron coin as a symbol of the encounter and as an aid that she can use in the future, in case she wishes to meet him. Meanwhile, she uses it to make prayers wishing the death of her enemies.
At a later point in the series - late in season four and early in season five - Arya decides to go to Braavos to meet Jaqen. She makes the attempt to embark when a man refuses the request. However, show the coin and say hello to Valar Morghulis. It is there that the man responds with Valar Dohaeris and allows her to go up.
The youngest of the Stark women finally arrives in Braavos to go to the House of Black and White. Unable to enter, he remains on the stairs while hunting pigeons to survive.
Finally, after days of waiting and after a confrontation with thieves, the man who denied him entry discovered himself as Jaqen H'ghar, responding at the same time that this was not his identity. Finally, he is shown as the Man Without a Face to then welcome him to the House of Black and White, and start training.
Meaning
Valar Dohaeris is the response made to the Valar Morghulis greeting and also corresponds to High Valyrian, an ancient language that is known to the citizens of Braavos. It means: "All men must serve."
These salutations are awarded to the Faceless Men, lethal assassins and individual followers of the Many-Faced God.
Some followers of RR Martin's work and of the series indicate that this answer refers to the fact that all men will have to live in the best possible way in anticipation of death, which will be the end of the suffering and pain that will arise. suffers.
Actors
Regarding the Valar Dohaeris chapter, the main players are the following:
- Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister.
- Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen.
- Kit Harrington as Jon Snow
- Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister.
- Iain Glen as Jorah Mormont.
- Charles Dance as Tywin Lannister.
In subsequent encounters and at the start of Arya's training, the following characters appear:
- Tom Wlaschiha as Jaqen 'Hghar (later known as the Man Without a Face or the Kind Man).
- Maisie Williams as Arya Stark.
Which is the answer?
As noted above, Valar Dohaeris is the answer to the Valar Morghulis salute. After this, the person who understands this expression will proceed to help or indicate the way to the most important figure of the Faceless Men.
In this video you can see a scene in which this expression is used:
References
- Arya Stark. (sf). On a Wiki of Ice and Fire. Retrieved: March 23, 2018. On Ice and Fire Wiki by ice and fire.wikia.com.
- Fernandez, Pablo. (sf). Games of Thrones: the curious theory about the reappearance of Jaqen H'ghar. In Vix. Retrieved: March 23, 2018. In Vix de vix.com.
- The House of Black and White. (sf). On a Wiki of Ice and Fire. Retrieved: March 23, 2018. On Ice and Fire Wiki by ice and fire.wikia.com.
- The House of Black and White. (sf). On Game of Thrones Wiki. Retrieved: March 23, 2018. On Game of Thrones Wiki at gameofthrones.wikia.com.
- Valar Dohaeris. (sf). On Game of Thrones Wiki. Retrieved: March 23, 2018. On Game of Thrones Wikia at gameofthrones.wikia.com.
- Valar Dohaeris. (sf). On Wikipedia. Retrieved: March 23, 2018. In Wikipedia at en.wikipedia.org.
- Valar Dohaeris. (sf). On Wikipedia. Retrieved: March 23, 2018. In Wikipedia at es.wikipedia.org.
- Valar Morghulis. (sf). In What does it mean. Retrieved: March 23, 2018. In What does it mean from quesignifica.com.