Conclusion (a.k.a. tl;dr)
GRRM is making a statement on how the suppression and repression of the feminine in the World of Ice and Fire can lead to unintentional consequences for the realm, the individual and ones own psyche. He does this through a consistent use of the sacred feminine archetypes throughout the stories in all her various facets.
One of these archetypal facets is that of the “whore”, which GRRM associates with its homonym “hoar”. The whores and hoars both symbolize the encroachment or seduction of the Great Goddess onto (often but not always) a man in a transactional manner. The man may be caught unawares because he has repressed his feminine nature so as to not be prepared to face the dark abyss of his soul, which is rooted within the sacred feminine. His marriage to the Great Goddess gives him great wisdom in transcendence, but he also becomes trapped in suffering and death. The only way to break away from this dilemma is to strip one down to ones bare essence, to die and become reborn within the Goddess herself.
In order to prevent or reduce the effect of this enslavement, a man must come to terms with the feminine unconsciousness inside himself and integrate it with his masculine consciousness. He must become aware of the inevitability of his death and suffering by accepting his own weakness and mortality. This effort requires humility, prudence and compassion, all positive feminine traits as traditionally defined, in conjunction with the traditionally ascribed masculine qualities of courage, justice and self-sacrifice.
C.G. Jung called this process individuation. By accepting the Great Goddess in himself, the individuated man can act and behave in a manner that more likely brings forth goodness and prosperity to himself, his companions and his environment.
Songs of Experience
I will conclude this essay by quoting a passage from William Blake’s “Songs of Experience” known as “Earth’s Answer”:
Earth raised up her head
From the darkness dread and drear.
Her light fled:
Stony dread!
And her locks cover’d with grey despair.
”Prisoned on watery shore,
Starry Jealousy does keep my den
Cold and hoar;
Weeping o’er,
I hear the father of the ancient men.
”Selfish father of men!
Cruel, jealous, selfish fear!
Can delight,
Chain’d in night,
The virgins of youth and morning bear.
”Does spring hide its joy,
When buds and blossoms grow?
Does the sower
Sow by night,
Or the ploughman in darkness plough?
”Break this heavy chain,
That does freeze my bones around!
Selfish! vain!
Eternal bane!
That free love with bondage bound.”
Call your mother. She misses you.