It’s not hard to love and hate the characters in the popular HBO series, Game of Thrones. The realm of the Seven Kingdoms is very well-developed since the characters in the series are not created for a sole purpose. Each has their personality and motivations that drive them towards certain behaviors.
Watching the characters on GOT might also be reminiscent of the real world. Some people have hidden agendas that we can’t discern, and some are as easy to read as a book. Nevertheless, in this article, we attempt to type some of the most beloved (or hated) characters in GOT to understand them more. Who knows, you might be surprised at how much in common you have with Cersei!
Jon Snow: Type 9 (Diplomat)
Diplomats would endure anything as long as it doesn’t disturb the peace. Throughout his whole time in Winterfell, he was held in contempt by Catelyn Stark for being a bastard son. Despite that, he is very understanding and knows how to avoid her in order to avoid conflict. When he had the chance, he joined the Night’s Watch to not aggravate his relationship with the Starks. But since Jon has had education, he is perceptive and more tolerant than the rest of the Night’s Watch. When he was in the Night’s Watch, he served as the mediator between the wildlings and the Night’s Watch even though both sides dislike one another.

Diplomats are highly grounded in their instincts and the physical world. Jon Snow is heavily guided by Ned’s influence on him. From a young age, Jon admired his father’s clear moral compass. When he was the commander of the Night’s Watch, he made decisions based on his instincts and the clear ideals his father taught him. His trusting nature and kindness are his strengths and flaws. When he realized that most men in Night’s Watch are not as lucky as him, he swallowed his pride and took it upon himself to teach them proper sword fighting techniques. His faith for the brotherhood proves to be his downfall since he was stabbed to death by his own men, even though he was brought back to life by Melissandre in the end.
Daenerys Stormborn: Type 4 (Artist)
Throughout her life, she has been shuttled from one person to the other as a tool for others to advance their cause until she married Khal Drogo. During this time, she was quiet and reserved, which manifests in the same way in Artists when their individuality is stripped. Artists want to feel special and unique but at the same time, they are their harshest critics. It could be from a place of insecurity or because they are acutely aware of their flaws. Although Dany acquired a great deal of power through her dragons and her intellect, she still relies on her circle of trusted advisors. She understands that she is young and inexperienced, and therefore needed the counsel of more experienced politicians.

Despite feeling like they are different from others, Artists don’t want to be alone. This manifests in the form of tender emotion shared with those who understand them. She is often vulnerable around her counsel. She had also shown compassion towards the oppressed since she relates to them. An Artist’s individuality may become dangerous when they insist to do everything their way regardless of repercussions. After she freed all the slaves in Slaver’s Bay, the Great Masters of Meereen crucified 163 children along the road. In retaliation, she crucified 163 of them despite opposition from many of her counsel.
Bran Stark: Type 9 (Diplomat)
Bran was a carefree, easy-going child before Jaime pushed him off the tower. He’s extremely curious and adventurous, a trait that led to many discoveries throughout the series. Diplomats are spiritual seekers and would often attempt to strike a balance between inner peace and the physical world. Under the Three-Eyed Raven’s tutelage, his curiosity helped him understand the circumstances surrounding all the characters in the world.
Although Diplomats are generally very connected to the physical world, they like to retreat into their minds and emotional fantasies. When Bran is bed-ridden because of his disability, he had recurring dreams about the Three-Eyed Raven. Instead of letting it discounting it as a normal dream, he becomes determined to figure out the meaning. This becomes a recurring theme until he finally learned the extent of his powers. In addition, Bran has also shown a preference to stay in his visions. In Bran’s vision about Hodor, the Three-Eyed Raven had to pull Bran out to prevent Bran from being stuck in the past.

Diplomats’ tendency to “numb out” is also present in Bran. After becoming the Three-Eyed Raven, Bran became detached to the world and his family. He is self-aware and calm most of the time as if he is observing events from the outside. When Meera Reed was heading back to Greywater Watch, Bran merely thanked her even though many had sacrificed for Bran. That said, this tendency in Bran might manifest because he can see the events of the past and the future and therefore can’t be surprised anymore.
Tyrion Lannister: Type 7 (Explorer)
Tyrion Lannister is a perfect example of a healthy Explorer.
Tyrion has a sense of excitement about the world which is typical of Explorers. Even Cersei expressed her disbelief when Tyrion announced that he’s going to the Wall. Tyrion simply chastized his sister’s lack of wonder. His little adventure with Varys proved that he’s adventurous as well. When given the choice to partake in his favorite activity or seek out Daenerys, he chose the latter despite the unknown future.
Explorers are highly verbose and intelligent, even though they might not show their intelligence through formal studies. Tyrion is the most intelligent among the Lannister siblings as he is able to maneuver his way out of most things. He has also shown the Explorer strength of digesting huge amounts of information at once. In fact, he is a master strategist because he is able to research and deduce information correctly.

Like Ramsay and all other Explorers, Tyrion lives in indulgence. They also tend to be exuberant and put up a front when they are dealing with pain. But instead of flaying other people, Tyrion prefers to frequent the brothel or drink a copious amount of alcohol instead. After he killed his father, he resorted to drinking his days away. During this time, he stopped caring about the welfare of Westeros and renounced his lordship. This could also be a method for Tyrion to seek refuge from his long-standing pain of being shunned by his family. He told Jon Snow that the only way to deal with being an outcast is to wear it proudly, implying that that’s how he dealt with his dwarfism.
Cersei Lannister: Type 6 (Strategist)
Cersei is the embodiment of suspicion. She sees enemies and danger everywhere she goes. This could have originated from Strategists’ anxious nature. In a world as tumultuous as Westeros in addition to Maggy’s prophecy, there’s no guarantee of power and security. In self-preservation, Cersei often chooses to take care of matters before they become problems. Her demanding of Jaime to push Bran out of the tower in the first episode proves that. Instead of talking to Bran, she chose to kill him in order to bury her secret.

Strategists are also deathly afraid of being abandoned or unneeded, which fuelled their loyalty towards other people. For Cersei, her loyalty lies with her children and her house. She even admitted to Tyrion that she would rather fling herself off the Red Keep than to not have her children. Strategists cling on to whatever they value to not feel abandoned or unneeded. In her rationale, if one of her children seizes power of Westeros, she would never be cast aside.
To secure her power in Westeros, she chose brides she perceives easy to control like Sansa. When Margaery threatened her power, she tried to turn Joffrey and Tommen against her with no avail. Feeling like she was boxed into a corner, she eventually killed Margaery in a wildfire she orchestrated. Margaery is not the only death resulted from her loyalty to her children, house and power. She’s sacrificed a lot in the process of protecting her loved ones, including Robert Baratheon, Ned Stark, and Margaery Tyrell.
Arya Stark: Type 8 (Fighter)
Fighters are run by a basic fear of being controlled or harmed by others. They often shy from gaining power through alliances or influence and would rather be independent. In the first episode, Arya refused to conform to the feminine standards her mother desperately tries to instill in her. She believes that she can be a warrior instead of marrying someone of power, which is traditionally expected of her. When her father made a remark of her having children to be lords and rulers, she remarked that it is not her destiny.

Because they are so independent, fighters expect difficulties and are very resilient towards harm. After her father was executed by the Lannisters, she survived a string of losses and trauma. During her time as a Faceless Man, she was subjected to multiple beatings and turned blind, although she regained her sight in the end. In the end, she was unable to discard her identity to become no one, which is one of the most admirable traits of a Fighter – the surety of their identity and in themselves.
Fighters go about their business in
Sansa Stark: Type 9 (Diplomat)
More often than not, Peacemakers are optimistic and trusting. They are willing to go along with anything as long as peace is not disturbed. At the beginning of the series, Sansa’s only goal in life is to be swept off her feet by her knight-in-shining-armor. She went into her engagement with Joffrey blindly and naively, believing that Joffrey is the right one for her. When Arya attacked Joffrey, she chose to lie so to not disrupt her engagement with Joffrey. She had also written a letter to Robb, her brother, as a mediator for peace between the Lannisters and the Starks.

Diplomats also have the tendency to withdraw into their minds when they are distraught by the physical world. After Eddard Stark and Septa Mordane’s beheading, she showed no emotional response when Joffrey forced her to look at their heads. During her imprisonment in King’s Landing, she maintained a nonchalant façade to secure her safety.
Varys: Type 1 (Perfectionist)
Varys is a mysterious man, thanks to his calm and stoic demeanor. Perfectionists tend to be that since a certain amount of level-headedness and rationality in order to make the right decision. The right decision for Perfectionists, however, varies in their interpretation. Perfectionists often wish to bring their high standards and ideals to reality. Although Varys loyalty wavers throughout the series, he has always been consistent in his hope for good across the realms.

Perfectionists are highly capable and would use whatever influence they have to improve the world according to their idealization. Varys extensive network of “little birdies” allowed him to stay on top of everything and plot his next moves. Their higher calling could also compel them to give up their power for the greater good of the world. He is one of the few characters who doesn’t want to sit on the throne. On the contrary, he aspires to put “the right one” on the throne. It wasn’t until late in the series when he revealed that his allegiance lies with Daenerys. Varys’ ruthless nature is atypical to the Perfectionists’ right and just disposition. However, it’s worth noting that he rarely unleashes his wrath unless it’s necessary.
Jaime Lannister: Type 3 (Medalist)
Much of the Medalists’ personality depends on their ability and competence. They want to be admired by others, and therefore can sometimes be status-conscious. Jaime places great importance on his reputation as one of the greatest swordsmen in the realms. He can seem cocky and arrogant at first glance, especially when he is interacting with people he perceives as incompetent or beneath him. When he lost his sword hand, he becomes humbled, since his skills as a swordsman are integral to his identity.

Unlike the other Medalist in this list, Margaery, he is not well-liked in spite of his prowess as a warrior since he killed the Mad King, which is against his oath as a Kingsguard. This earned him the moniker “Kingslayer”, further driving him into disillusions regarding honor and greatness. Instead, he paved his own way to greatness and lived by his own standards to distinguish himself from his family. His own idea of honor involves his honor as a warrior. For example, he ended the duel with Eddard Stark because Stark was disarmed by someone else other than himself. He also feels remorse for a lot of deaths surrounding his actions, like freeing Tyrion that eventually led to his father’s death.
Jorah Mormont: Type 2 (Caregiver)
Jorah’s backstory is the nightmare of every friend zoned person in the world. He used to be married to Lynesse Hightower until his ex-wife’s expensive tastes drove him into selling poachers into slavery. His self-sacrificial nature extended to Daenerys. He proved himself to be an excellent protector to Daenerys, first guiding her into the Dothraki lifestyle and eventually started helping her claim the Iron Throne. He stuck by Daenerys through thick and thin.

Caregivers’ deepest fear is to not feel wanted. When Jorah was exiled by Daenerys, he showed up despondent in Volantis. Tyrion Lannister and Varys’ appearance at the brothel became Jorah’s way of going back to Dany. Even when Tyrion taunted him and questioned his loyalty to Dany, he chose not to respond and knocked Tyrion out, showing his dedication in redeeming himself to Dany. In the process, he contracted greyscale. Despite that, he’s still adamant about going back to Dany’s side.
Margaery Tyrell: Type 3 (Medalist)
Medalists’ charm, charisma, and ambition are imperative when it comes to paving their way to success. Margaery’s strength lies in her gifted manipulation coupled with her beauty. In her pursuit of queenship, she often changes her persona to achieve her goal. For example, she pretended to muse over killing someone in order to win favors with Joffrey. When he was poisoned, she bonded with Tommen by adopting a maternal figure since he responds well to it.

Medalists are often well-liked and are perceived as role models because of their ability to practice socially-accepted ideals. Contrary to Cersei who is often perceived as blunt or rude, Margaery represents the ideals of a feminine ruler. She is tactful and gracious, noted by her surprising detour on the way to the Sept of Baelor with Joffrey where she interacted with orphans and had her servants distribute food to the people.
Petyr Baelish: Type 5 (Detective)
Detectives display a thirst for knowledge. They try to understand the world as much as possible. Born from a lowly family, Baelish has a keen understanding of the society and use that as leverage to maneuver his way into high society. His network of spies, rivaled by only Varys’, asks his questions for him and helps him plan his next move.

Detectives are also afraid of testing their knowledge in the world. Instead, they prefer collecting knowledge from the world and piece them together in their minds. This might lead to some warp ideas about what reality actually is. In many instances, he genuinely feels that he is the victim even though he personally orchestrated the events. Baelish’s obsession with Catelyn is a good example of this. He makes it about his social status instead of Catelyn’s disinterest in him.
Ramsay Bolton: Type 7 (Explorer)
On the other hand, Ramsay Bolton is an Explorer gone wrong.

An Explorer is fun-loving with a child-like enthusiasm towards anything that catches his eye. While these qualities are usually portrayed in a positive light, it goes horribly wrong when it comes to describing Ramsay Bolton. He is pleasure-seeking as well, but he revels in torture and violence for no reason other than it made him happy. His perverse child-like delight when it comes to afflicting pain on others still brings shivers down our spine. Explorers are bold and unapologetic, which is great when this energy is used to channel joy. Bolton, however, channeled that energy towards flaying his enemies alive and playing sick mind games. Not once throughout the whole series did he feel remorseful about the atrocities he had committed until the end where he displayed an inkling of genuine fear.
Explorers can generate ideas on the spot and are generally quick thinkers. Although Ramsay is reckless in his approach and rarely thinks of the long-term consequences, he displayed this trait. Theon Greyjoy/ Reek is the best example of this. He plays along to Theon Greyjoy’s guess about his lineage even though he had no way of predicting Theon’s guess. Ramsay justified his torture of Reek to his father by exclaiming that torture is a way to secure Reek’s loyalty, much to his father’s rage.
Do you agree with our typing? Which Game of Thrones character are you the most similar to? Take our free assessment or tell us in the comments below!
Hi,
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Greatest show on earth. Thank you for breaking their personalities down to a T!
I’m currently reading Eneagral litterature and watching GoT !
You have provided a very interesting analysis of the film
I would appreciate a suite with key remaining actors of GoT
Cheers
Definitely Tyrion is a 7, as am I! I think pretty spot-on with the types of characters. Very fun.
Sansa seems 4 to me. Hoping to be rescued or to be saved by a savior is more 4 than 9. Her moodiness is also uncharacteristic of a 9 but typical of a 4.