Sandor Clegane

Personality

The Hound was hard and brutal, filled with hatred, especially for his brother. He frequently drank himself into a stupor and suffered from pyrophobia, a crippling fear of fire, brought about by his brother holding his head into a fireplace while playing with one of his toys. He sometimes displayed a tender side, as shown almost exclusively with Sansa Stark. Despite his vicious personality and intense hatred of his brother, Sandor Clegane was a very honorable man, as shown when he courageously went to the aid of Ser Loras when Gregor attacked him in a violent rage. Throughout the fight, the Hound did not attempt to strike his brother dead at all. He admitted, though, that he still had a fiery hatred of Gregor. The Hound's embittering experiences with his older brother led him to have extremely nihilistic and brutally negative views of the world: Gregor mutilated him for life, and he was protected by his father all the same. Not only that, Gregor was the one who was knighted for his murderous and sadistic actions, which led to Sandor viewing the prospect and idea of knighthood as hypocritical and callous. He would never accept being addressed as a knight, even if he was addressed out of honour, respect, or gratitude. The Hound had a cold, brutal sense of humour, and would often make inappropriate and callous jokes in uncomfortable situations. He is very fond of his big black stallion Stranger, a very dangerous and wild animal full of rage who behaves quietly only in his master's presence. He is named after the death aspect of the Seven-Faced God. In the TV series, after facing a near-death experience at the hands of Brienne of Tarth, Sandor grows remorseful of his past crimes and attempts to start over and live a peaceful life. He is shown living with some villagers under the guidance of Brother Ray, a former warrior turned septon. However, after the Brotherhood without Banners massacres the entire village and hangs Brother Ray, the Hound decides to get revenge.

Appearance

The Hound is described as a huge and heavily muscled man. The right side of his face is gaunt, with sharp cheekbones and a heavy brow. His nose is large and hooked, and his hair is long, dark, thin, and brushed so that it covers his burned left side, where no hair grows. The left side of his face is a ruin. His left ear is gone, leaving only a hole. His eyes are grey, and his left eye is covered by a twisted mass of scars. Slick black flesh is pocked with craters, and deep cracks that ooze red and wet mark the left side of his face. On his jaw, bone shows. He wears plain armour and is denoted by his distinctive helmet, sculpted into the shape of a snarling dog's head. He classically carried an enormous greatsword, which suited his incredible strength and brutal nature.