Quick ASOIAF A Clash of Kings question (SPOILER)

[Lord Pendragon]

Martin has set up a lot of characters for possible surprise comebacks from supposed deaths. Invariably, some of them will come back, and others won't. It seems fairly clear that Theon is one of these possible comebacks, but whether he's one of those whom Martin actually brings back, or one of those who actually stays dead/missing, remains to be seen.

Character-wise I'm not sure how much redemption there is in Theon Greyjoy. He had a lot of psychological baggage which made him interesting, but which would require a lot of serious work to crawl out from under. And now that Ned and Balon are both dead, it's even harder. How can he learn what his problem is, when the source of it is gone? How can a person be "redeemed" from a parentless childhood?

No, I think that, for better or for worse, Theon is what he is. That doesn't mean he won't come back. Williams' Cadrach was never redeemed either, and yet had a significant role to play in Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, as did an unredeemed Gollum in The Lord of the Rings. Theon may yet have a role.

But I don't think redemption is it. Look to Jaime Lannister for that, or Tyrion, or the Hound, all of which have aspects of that theme running through their stories.

 

[Endur]

He was alive and taken prisoner.

That doesn't mean he wasn't tortured to death after being taken prisoner.

 

[ghettognome]

It was in the books that he was being skinned/flayed. I am pretty sure he isn't dead yet. Whether he will make a come back is yet to be known, I guess it depends on where the Greyjoy story goes.
As for Sansa, her chapters annoyed me to a certain degree, but I still like the character and how different she is from all the other characters. I imagine she will change a LOT over the next book or so.
A character I have a lot of interest in though is Arya. There has been some great development there and I imagine it has a lot more to go. Her and Jon Snow, I wonder what will happen with him now that there has been so much to happen to the Night's Watch. I like his character a lot too.
What about Tyrion...... I liked him too, though I was annoyed when he told Jamie that he killed Joffery even though he didn't. Jamie was starting to be a character I liked too, a lot of individual development after his time with Brienne.
I should stop before I speculate endlessly. These books are ones I can't get enough of!

 

[The_lurkeR]

I agree that you have to assume he is still alive.

As a noble he has political value, also I'm guessing he may be used as a POV character in the future to show what's happening with the Boltons.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

As a noble [Theon] has political value

With whom, exactly, does Theon have political value? Do you think Euron Crowseye will ransom him? The Bastard of Bolton, (presumed) Lord of Winterfell?

also I'm guessing he may be used as a POV character in the future to show what's happening with the Boltons.

For that to be the case, though, he'd have to be free enough to witness things, not tied to a rack with his skin being flayed off.

I suppose anything's possible. I just don't see any reason for us to assume this is going to be the case.

 

[nikolai]

With whom, exactly, does Theon have political value? Do you think Euron Crowseye will ransom him? The Bastard of Bolton, (presumed) Lord of Winterfell?

The info is all in the Red Wedding chapter cited above. Theon has been taken back to the Dreadfort by Ramsey Bolton (nee Snow), and is being flayed. Robb wants Theon killed. But Lord Bolton says it would be wiser to hold him hostage. Theon is the rightful King of the Iron Islands. Whoever claims the Seastone Chair will not be able to rest easily with Theon alive and with a greater claim than them. Lord Bolton intends to use Theon to extract concessions from the Ironmen in return for his release or execution.

 

[KnowTheToe]

But I don't think redemption is it. Look to Jaime Lannister for that, or Tyrion, or the Hound, all of which have aspects of that theme running through their stories.

Outside of Jon, Tyrion may be the one least needed for redemption. GRRM gives a great line in the first book, that forshadows much about Tyrion's personal character.

"When he opened the door, the light from within threw his shadow clear across the yard, and just for a moment Tyrion Lannister stood as tall as a king" - GRRM - A Game of Thrones

Now this could forshadow Tyrion becoming king, or more likely that his character and moral fiber is kingly. Tyrion is a character that has held to his beliefs, not usually acted only on what is personally beneficial. He did an excellent job as The Hand to the King, often focusing on what would best benefit the city. He is true to his whore and is usually not verly brutal. He uses thought more than emotion. No, outside of being a Lannaster, he has little to apologize for. It is what makes his character interesting and different than his father.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

No, outside of being a Lannaster, he has little to apologize for. It is what makes his character interesting and different than his father.

Spoilers, highlight to read:

Spoiler

You seem to be forgetting the parts where Tyrion allows his wife to be gang-raped by guards at Casterly Rock, murders Shae, and murders his father. At least a dozen times throughout the series, someone comments that "the gods despise a kinslayer" or "a kinslayer is cursed in the eyes of the gods."

He may have lied to Jaime about killing his nephew, but he has killed his dad, and that's going to come back to haunt him.

While it's true that Tyrion has many noble qualities, you cannot ignore the very powerful dark side to his character. It's the fact that he's not as different from his father as he'd like to believe that makes Tyrion so interesting.

 

[KnowTheToe]

Spoilers to follow

IMO it is Tyrions reasons/motivations for actions that make him different than his father. His father is all about personal power and glory and will do whatever it takes to gain his goals. Tyrion takes much more than personal glory or his family's power (although this does have its place) when making decisions. I did forget about Shae's murder, but Tyrion's fathers murder was a fit of anger and passion that boiled over. It was not a calculated risk in which Tyrion thought his father's death would benefit him. At the end of the last book, Tyrion's world collapses around him and he gets lost in its destruction, so you are correct, Tyrion has some redemption and rebuilding to do and it will be interesting to see where he lands. Tyrion is not a character that is ready to disappear yet. I feel he may make some great sacrafice during the story, but I do not think it will be until near the end.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Tyrion is not a character that is ready to disappear yet.

I agree wholeheartedly. I question whether or not we'll see Theon again. Tyrion will clearly continue to be a part of the story for a while.

I merely disagree with your assertion that Tyrion has little cause to be redeemed. At this point in his life, he's done some truly atrocious things. To ignore that is to deny the character a large part of his complexity.