Did Daenerys Sacrifice Herself to ‘Rid the World of Tyranny?’

Last night, millions of us watched — mostly in horror — as Daenerys Targaryen heard the clamoring of bells, which signalled the surrender of King’s Landing, and took it as a cue to torch the city. For years now, A Song of Ice and Fire author George R.R. Martin and showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss have been telegraphing loudly that Dany would go insane like her father did, and potentially burn the city, like her father wanted to do.

But what if she’s not crazy? What if she’s doing what it takes to truly “break the wheel?”

“Daenerys: Baratheon, Stark, Tyrell: They’re all just spokes on a wheel. This one’s on top, then that one’s on top, then on and on it spins.

Tyrion: That’s a beautiful dream: stopping the wheel. You’re not the first person who’s ever dreamt it.

Daenerys: I’m not going to stop the wheel. I’m going to break the wheel.”

King’s Landing, the capital of Westeros, was founded when Daenerys’ ancestor, Aegon Targaryen (Aegon the Conqueror) landed at the mouth of the Blackwater Rush and built a fort of earth and wood. He conquered Westeros and named himself king of the Seven Kingdoms. As the city of King’s Landing grew up around his settlement, he ordered the construction of the Red Keep, a stone castle to honor House…