Littlefinger: The equilibrium breaker in Game of Thrones [Spoiler’s Alert]
With viewership figures skyrocket across the globe, Game of Thrones is definitely one of the most popular tv shows HBO ever produced. Known for its horror, gore, and magnificent fight scenes, the show also creates some of the most well-developed characters, one of which is, of course, Lord Petyr Baelish, aka, Littlefinger. Littlefinger is a born politician. He lives an American dream of “from rag to riches”, climbing up the Westeros’ social ladder through manipulation and creating chaos. A lot of articles have analyzed this cunning character and his subtle manipulation on major houses in playing the game of thrones. Of the two articles linked below, one explains the use of game theories in the show, and the other demonstrates all the strategies Littlefinger has chosen and their impacts throughout his time on the show.
In class, we learnt about pure and mixed strategy Nash equilibrium. In both cases, the players have very rational assessment of the situation and each other’s strategies. Nash equilibrium demonstrates the situation where both players use strategies that are best responses to each other when there is no dominant strategy existent. While great houses in the show, like the Lannister, the Stark and the Targaryen are active game players, smaller vassal houses like the Frey and the Bolton are very often to be left struggling in the prisoner’s dilemma: whether to stay faithful (cooperate) or betray the great house they sworn fealty to. It is suggested in the article “Game Theory of Thrones: how strategy might decide who rules Westeros” that, the uncertain payoffs to the players complicate the player’s choices and the game’s outcome. This uncertainty creates so much freedom for characters who are from a more humble background, granting them a more subtle part in the game by pushing major players off the existing equilibrium. Now let’s focus on Littlefinger’s ability to change the game.
One very simple example is how he breaks the equilibrium between House Stark, House Lannister and House Baratheon. At first, the three great houses are at a Nash Equilibrium delicately tied by marriage and loyalty. However, by murdering Jon Arryn, luring Ned Stark to the South, and starting conflicts between the Stark and Lannister, Littlefinger is able to turn the houses against each other and wage wars without setting foot in the battlefield. Littlefinger’s keen eye for uncertain payoffs and interest conflicts, the fact that Nash Equilibrium (in this case, peace) most of the times does not reflect the optimal interest for each individual, enable him to break the equilibrium and survive in the game of thrones.
Sources:
[Game theory of Thrones: how strategy might decide who rules Westeros](http://theconversation.com/game-theory-of-thrones-how-strategy-might-decide-who-rules-westeros-39963)
[Game of Thrones Season 7 Finale: Arya vs. Littlefinger Comes to an End – Thrillist](https://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/nation/game-of-thrones-season-7-finale-spoilers-littlefinger)