George R. R. Martin's Simulation of the East and West

In the book series, A Song of Ice and Fire, and the TV series, A Game of Thrones, George R. R. Martin simulates the divide between East and West in the real world. In fact, he names an entire continent Westeros, and portrays many characters from Westeros with Orientalist mindsets. Across the narrow sea from Westeros lies the continent Essos, which conveniently starts with the letter 'E' ('E' as in East). Though knights and medieval lifestyles prevail in Westeros, Essos is painted with an exotic brush. It is a land filled with merchants, slaves, and barbaric horseman, known as the Dothraki. Magic and spiritual rituals are taken seriously. Religion has a strong foothold. Just as Westerners in the real world stereotype the East as exotic, barbaric, and mystical, Westeros people stereotype those from Essos with similar qualities. George R.R. Martin, no doubt intentionally, established an Oriental world in his novels.

In my opinion, there is one distinct difference from the Orientalist mindset in our world and the one in Game of Thrones. People of the East tend to reinforce the Orientalist mindset by conforming to Western culture and viewing Western culture as superior to their own. In Game of Thrones, however, people from Essos, particularly the Dothraki, are prideful of their lifestyles and look down upon the practices of people from Westeros. For instance, the Dothraki - people who are used to roaming the plains with their tribe without defined geographic boundaries - despise the castles of Westeros, viewing them as an indicator of western people's cowardliness. Furthermore, slave owners in the far east of Essos intentionally turn away from Westeros traditions, fearful of the slave uprising that might entail embracing of those traditions. 

George R. R. Martin also attempts to gather respect among his readers for the 'barbaric' traditions of Dothraki. By showing the growth of Daenerys Targaryen from a adolescent marrying a Dothraki Prince to a confident Dothraki Princess, the reader can see through Daenerys' eyes the context and beauty behind many (but not all) of the Dothraki's rituals. Daenerys and her brother are from Westeros. Though Daenerys' brother continues to look upon the Dothraki with disdain, Daenerys' transformation is a healthy contrast. Perhaps the contrast gives the reader more determination to understand Eastern cultures in the real world through a more realistic, respectful lense.