Walk of atonement

Cersei Lannister disrobing before the walk of shame, by Magali Villeneuve © Fantasy Flight Games

A walk of atonement^[1] is a punishment in the Seven Kingdoms. Historical walks have had women walk naked through the streets of cities.^[2][1] While the custom can be a penance,^[1] it is also a way to degrade a woman and rob her of her pride and power.^[1][3]

History

After Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen fled King's Landing during the Dance of the Dragons, Ser Garth the Harelip surrendered the Red Keep to Ser Perkin the Flea and his gutter knights. Mysaria, Rhaenyra's hated mistress of whisperers, was taken while attempting to flee the castle. Perkin informed Mysaria that if she could travel naked through the city to the Gate of the Gods while being whipped, she would be allowed to live. Mysaria only made it halfway before dying on the city's cobblestones.^[2]

Lord Tytos Lannister's mistress was a common-born woman and the daughter of a chandler. She had dominated Tytos utterly, ordered the household knights about, dismissed servants, and sat in attendance at court when Tytos was absent.^[4][3] When Tytos died, his son Tywin Lannister returned to Casterly Rock to find the woman wearing one of the gowns of his late mother, Jeyne Marbrand, as well as her jewelry.^[5] Tywin had her stripped naked and forced the sobbing woman to walk through the streets of Lannisport into exile at the docks, confessing to every man she met that she was a thief and a harlot.^[5][1][3]

Recent Events

A Dance with Dragons

Cersei Lannister's walk from the Great Sept of Baelor to the Red Keep, by Marc Simonetti ©

In King's Landing, Dowager Queen Cersei Lannister, imprisoned by the Faith of the Seven, confesses to fornication (sleeping with Lancel Lannister and the Kettleblack brothers after the death of her husband, King Robert Baratheon).^[6] While she still must stand trial for the crimes she denies (incest, adultery, Robert's murder, and the murder of the previous High Septon), Cersei's uncle, Lord Regent Kevan Lannister, arranges with the High Septon for Cersei to perform a walk of atonement for her admitted sins.^[6][3] Cersei does not want to agree, but eventually accedes, as it is the only way to leave her imprisonment and return to her son, King Tommen Baratheon.^[1]

Cersei is shaved of hair from her head and her entire body by silent sisters, then stripped naked, before beginning her barefoot walk from the Great Sept of Baelor to the Red Keep. An escort of Warrior's Sons, Poor Fellows, and several septas protect her from the leering and jeering crowds that have flocked to see her shame. Septa Scolera follows behind Cersei, ringing a bell and singing, "Shame, shame, shame upon the sinner, shame, shame." Cersei tries to hang on to her pride during the humiliating walk, in spite of the people throwing filth at her and yelling bawdy insults. But she eventually begins to hallucinate, then breaks down in tears and runs while trying to cover herself, stumbling and crawling up the hill to the Red Keep. Once Cersei enters the gates, her handmaid Jocelyn Swyft covers her with a blanket, and Ser Robert Strong carries her into the castle.^[1]

Afterwards, Ser Kevan feels his niece has lost her power and that he has "pulled her claws". Kevan tells himself he has no reason to feel guilty, as he acted for the good of House Lannister.^[3]

Quotes

Kevan: I have spoken with His High Holiness. He will not release you until you have atoned for your sins.

Cersei: I have confessed.
Kevan: Atoned, I said. Before the city. A walk—

Cersei: No. Never. Tell him that, if you speak again. I am a queen, not some dockside whore.^[6]

—Kevan Lannister and Cersei Lannister

Moelle: This sinner has confessed her sins and begged for absolution and forgiveness. His High Holiness has commanded her to demonstrate her repentance by putting aside all pride and artifice and presenting herself as the gods made her before the good people of the city.
Scolera: So now this sinner comes before you with a humble heart, shorn of secrets and concealments, naked before the eyes of gods and men, to make her walk of atonement.^[1]

—Moelle and Scolera

I have sinned and must atone, must parade my shame before the eyes of every beggar in the city. They think that this will break my pride, that it will make an end to me, but they are wrong.^[1]

—thoughts of Cersei Lannister

This is my penance, Cersei told herself. I have sinned most grievously, this is my atonement. It will be over soon, it will be behind me, then I can forget.^[1]

—thoughts of Cersei Lannister

All the self-seekers who had named themselves her friends and cultivated her favor had abandoned her quickly enough when Tywin had her stripped naked and paraded through Lannisport to the docks, like a common whore. Though no man laid a hand on her, that walk spelled the end of her power. Surely Tywin would never have dreamed that same fate awaited his own golden daughter.

—Kevan Lannister, thinking of Tytos Lannister's second mistress^[3]

Behind the Scenes

George R. R. Martin may have been inspired by penitential walks, such as the three barefoot walks of Eleanor Cobham and the kirtle-clad walk of Jane Shore.

References