Cersei occupies a dualistic position, wielding both institutionalised and manipulative power. She serves as the Queen Regent of Westeros to her son. As Queen Regent she is vested with political authority indeed, she owns a seat at the Small Council. Simultaneously, she has been seen to manipulate her son, who has even greater institutionalised power, to do her bidding. In the first episode of season two, Cersei demonstrated her institutionalised power in an exchange with Littlefinger after he claims knowledge is power. She has her guards seize him, orders them to cut his throat, and then has them let him go claiming that she changed her mind. She then has her guards turn around and close their eyes. This entire charade serves to demonstrate that Cersei derives her power in her ability to legally manipulate the Kingsguard. She has the explicit authority, due to her position as the Queen Regent, to order a man's death. These guards are physically powerful, but they are merely Cersei's pawns. While her institutionalised power is potent, her manipulative provenance is even greater. She has influenced Joffrey merely in that she is his mother. But her control over the demented young king was seen already in the first season when she urged him not to have Ned executed. Over the previous two seasons, her influence over the king as dwindled, especially with the growing presence of Margaery Tyrell. In the first episode of season three, Joffrey argued with Cersei concerning Margaery, who had swayed the population to her favour. He adamantly defended Margaery while criticising Cersei, who ruled mostly via fear. In this way, Cersei's manipulative power has dwindled and her institutional position is in danger with the looming threat of Margaery.
Joseph is a student at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA, double majoring in Ancient Greek and Religious Studies. He has a deep passion for TV and consumes as much of it as possible.
