Fire and Blood Lights The Way

Joffrey’s villainous character is due to nature and nurture! Joffrey was born of incest between siblings Cersei and Jaime which leads to him being more vulnerable to being mentally unstable similar to Mad King Aerys. However, that isn't the deal-breaker. Joffrey’s father is drunkard abusive warmonger man and Joffrey’s mother is an arrogant, cruel, vain, and selfish woman. Joffrey has inherited the worst traits of Robert and Cersei unfortunately. Child Joffrey cuts cats open to impress Robert as a hunter. Teen Joffrey beat Sansa his fiance for “stepping out of line” by talking back against him just like Robert does Cersei. Myrcella and Tommen are kind because of the Handmaids, Septa and Maesters being more of an influence on them than Robert and Cersei. Joffrey probably would have been decently competent and cleverly intelligent yet arrogant and cruel due Tywin Lannister’s tutelage or become a great compassionate and virtuous man under Eddard Stark’s guidance and mentorship.