Game Of Thrones: 10 Life Lessons We Can Learn From Margaery Tyrell

Margaery Tyrell led a decorated life of wealth and ambition throughout Game of Thrones. Viewers first meet the budding queen in season 2’s “What Is Dead May Never Die,” as the bride of Renly Baratheon. Margaery’s first husband is killed by Stannis and Melisandre, but that doesn’t halt her aspirations. Littlefinger capitalizes on the opportunity to create an alliance between the Tyrells and the Lannisters, leading to a union of marriage.

Margaery gets her wish in season 5’s “High Sparrow,” when she marries Tommen and becomes Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Throughout the HBO series, the Tyrell queen charmed and schemed her way to the top. Her rise to power — and fiery demise — offers several significant life lessons for viewers.

10 Don’t Be A Queen, Be The Queen

In season 2’s “The Ghost Of Harrenhal,” Margaery lets Littlefinger know that she doesn’t want to be a queen; she wants to be the queen. Her ambitious approach is successful. The talented schemer gets what she wants when she marries Tommen and becomes Queen Consort.

Many queens fought for the Iron Throne throughout the series, including Cersei Lannister, Daenerys Targaryen, and Sansa Stark. The Tyrell queen may not have ruled for the longest, but she remains one of Westeros’ most beloved monarchs.

9 Learn How To Manipulate And Scheme

Margaery accomplished a feat that few characters in Game Of Thrones could pull off: taming terrible King Joffrey. The budding queen wastes no time establishing her presence in King’s Landing after arriving in the city. Part of her schemes includes charming her future husband as she learns how to manipulate him.

Margaery succeeds where others like Cersei, Sansa, and Tyrion fail. Joffrey listens to his queen against the advice of his mother, highlighting Margaery’s influential abilities.

8 Win People With Kindness

Unlike Cersei, Margaery understands that ruling via love can be even more effective than ruling through fear. The Tyrell queen charms the people of the court when she arrives in King’s Landing, including the captive Sansa Stark.

Margaery strikes up a friendship with Sansa that teaches the future Queen in the North valuable life lessons in preparation for her reign. Margaery’s kind and generous nature endear her to the people of King’s Landing, who rise in support of their queen.

7 Be Charitable

The Tyrell queen was different from the other players in the game of thrones in many ways. Unlike Cersei, Joffrey, and Tywin, Margaery expresses care and consideration for the common people. In season 3’s “Valar Dohaeris,” she visits an orphanage and promises to care for the children of the fallen Blackwater combatants.

Margaery’s generosity could have been just a ploy to win people over. Nevertheless, it was effective, resulting in her legacy as a brief-reigning but beloved queen.

6 Don’t Let Other People Intimidate You

Margaery and Cersei face off in a subtle war of queens throughout their time together in King’s Landing. Unnerved by her younger successor, Cersei schemes against her daughter-in-law and threatens to have her killed when Margaery broaches a friendship.

Cersei is a chilling figure with the power of House Lannister behind her, though she meets her match in Margaery. The other queen doesn’t let her rival’s intimidation tactics get to her and goes toe to toe with her on multiple occasions.

5 Understand What Your Enemies Are Capable Of

Unfortunately, Margaery makes a single, grave mistake when dealing with Cersei. The Lannister queen takes drastic measures to defeat her enemies during season 6. In “The Winds Of Winter,” Cersei destroys the Sept of Baelor with wildfire, killing the High Sparrow, Margaery, and the rest of the Tyrells.

The Tyrell queen underestimates the depravity of her mother-in-law, resulting in her explosive death. If Margaery had understood her rival better then perhaps she could have saved herself from her fiery fate.

4 Stand By Your Family

The Tyrells understood the importance of family like few other noble houses in Westeros. Unlike the Lannisters, Margaery, Loras, and Olenna worked together instead of against each other. Their solid family dynamic made them a force to be reckoned with throughout their rapid rise to power.

Margaery stayed loyal to her family, despite her imprisonment by the Faith Militant. In season 6’s “Blood Of My Blood,” she slips Olenna a secret note to remind her grandmother of her loyalty.

3 Perfect Your Poker Face

Season 5 saw the High Sparrow solidify his influence as Cersei revives the Faith Militant. The Lannister queen’s schemes lead to Margaery’s arrest alongside her brother, Loras. As a prisoner, Margaery is forced to perfect her acting skills as she pretends to bow to the High Sparrow’s charisma.

Margaery manages to fool everyone in King’s Landing with her new, pious act. The Tyrell queen continues to hold sway over Tommen, convincing him to convert to the High Sparrow’s new ways and work towards freeing Loras.

2 Use Your Charms To Your Advantage

Throughout Game of Thrones, Margaery wasn’t afraid to use her charms to her advantage. The young queen beguiled those around her, setting new trends in King’s Landing with her unique wardrobe while turning heads and winning hearts.

Margaery’s charming nature led to her friendship with Sansa and tenuous manipulation of Joffrey. Witty and savvy, the new queen’s warm nature made her instantly more liked than her predecessor.

1 There’s Nothing Wrong With Ambition

The Tyrells took their house words to heart. Margaery and her family grew strong throughout the series, becoming the wealthiest house in the Seven Kingdoms as well as one of the most influential. The Tyrells join forces with the Lannisters in season 2, leading to Margaery marrying two Lannisters kings.

Margaery acknowledges her aspiration during her conversation with Littlefinger in season 2, from one ambitious schemer to another. The budding queen sets her sights on the coveted crown of her dreams and lets nothing deter her. Margaery may have perished in the end, but her life left plenty of life lessons for Game of Thrones fans.

About The Author