Let's Read - Game of Thrones - Chapter 5 - Jon

Jon - Chapter 5

Summary

Tyrion Lannister meets Jon Snow. Tyrion is portrayed by Peter Dinklage

This chapter is told through the eyes of Jon Snow, Lord Stark’s bastard son. He’s attending the welcoming feast hosted by his lord father in honor of King Robert’s visit to Winterfell.

Jon is trying to make himself happy by getting drunk on as much wine as possible and we learn he’s been segregated from the rest of the Stark family because of his bastard status.

He observes the important people in the room: Queen Cersei Lannister, who he sees as beautiful but not genuine of heart. King Robert as a great disappointment because he thought him more awesome as his lord father had described. He doesn’t like Princess Myrcella Baratheon (8 years old) and thinks her mousy and unattractive while he notices that his brother Robb Stark revels in the girl’s attention. We are introduced to the Stark girls: Arya Stark and Sansa Stark. Arya is 9 years old and paired with chubby prince Tommen Baratheon, Myrcella’s younger brother. Sansa is paired with the crown prince Joffrey Baratheon, 12 years old, who looks spoilt and uninterested by anything. Sansa looks happy to be walking with him.

Jon then notices the queen’s Lannister brothers: Ser Jamie Lannister who is Cersei’s twin brother and the midget Tyrion Lannister. Jon thinks Ser Jamie is super cool and thinks he looks like a true king. He pities Tyrion who is the ugly one who has all the bad genes handed to him.

Benjen Stark, Jon’s uncle, are last in the procession together with Theon Greyjoy. After all the toasts are made, the party really begins.

Jon keeps drinking to drown his sorrows. He grabs an entire chicken off the table and feeds it to his Direwolf pup who he names Ghost. While Ghost is enjoying his meal, an angry black female dog challenges him and Ghost stands his ground defiantly. After a while, the angry dog leaves and Ghost keeps eating.

Benjen Stark portrayed by Joseph Mawle

 Benjen Stark joins Jon at the table and we know he’s from the Night’s Watch as mentioned in previous chapters. We learn that Jon has been segregated on purpose, as requested by Lord Stark’s wife, Catelyn Tully. Jon notices his father looking quite troubled and the King obviously looks like he‘s enjoying himself too much. He also notes that the Queen looks  angry because his Lord father took the king to the Stark crypts and she didn’t want him to go.

Benjen Stark makes a comment that Jon Snow should join the Night’s Watch and Jon treats it as a compliment. He feels excited and wants to go, treating like an adventure and a kind of heroic destiny. Jon’s hero is Daeren Targaryen, one of the Targaryen conquereors of ages past. We learn he was only 14 when he took over the city of Dorne, but he died at 18 trying to hold the city from invaders.

Benjen knows what the Night’s Watch really entails but Jon, being young and naïve doesn’t and wants to leave Winterfell because he feels he has no future, because he is a bastard. Benjen warns that the men of the Night’s Watch cannot marry or have children. They are married to their duty and Benjen tries his best to discourage Jon to join. In a drunken rage, Jon creates a scene and leaves the party, crying in frustration.

In the yard, Jon meets the midget Tyrion Lannister, sitting on a ledge high above the door to the hall. Unlike Jon, he is confident, witty and sarcastic and is not afraid of mingling with Jon and his wolf.

Tyrion knows that Jon is the bastard son of Lord Stark and gives him some curt advice that instead of wallowing in the fault of his bastard status, embrace it and make it his strength. Like what Tyrion does about his flaws. Tyrion knows he can’t change his  physical appearance but he plays up his other strengths. We learn that Tyrion’s mother died birthing him and he isn’t loved by his lord father, Tywin Lannister.

Tyrion goes back to the party in the hall and Jon admires him for his courage and self-confidence.

Analysis

Themes and Topics

-Being an outsider
-family relations and tension
-idealism vs. reality
-masked emotions
-conflict of duty vs. self
-embracing faults instead of wallowing in them
-courage and destiny
-the sight motif: colors of character's eyes and viewing the story from the eyes of various characters

In this chapter, we see the welcoming feast through the eyes of 14 year old Jon Snow, Lord Stark’s bastard son.

Right from the first paragraph, we know he’s an unhappy kid. He’s drowning his sorrows with wine and he says this is probably the only few moments he's glad he's bastard because he can drink all the wine he wanted. 

We know Jon is a very observant chap from the previous chapter and we see him pick apart people through his eyes. He sees the Queen as beautiful but arrogant and can tell that her emotions are not genuine ‘His father helped her up the steps to the dais and led her to her seat, but the queen never so much as looked at him. Even at 14, Jon could see through her smile’

He sees King Robert as a disappointment because his father had described him as an awesome warrior but all Jon could see was a ‘fat man, red-faced under his beard, sweating through his silks. He walked like a man half in his cups.’ King Robert to Jon was just a drunk, fat dude.

Rickon Stark portrayed by Art Parkinson

Arya Stark portrayed by Maisie Williams

Sansa Stark portrayed by Sophie Turner

Prince Tommen portrayed by Callum Wharry

Crown Prince Joffery portrayed by Jack Gleeson

Jon goes on to pick apart his siblings and the queen’s children. He sees Myrcella Baratheon as ‘insipid’, lacking in taste and mousy of character. Robb his half-brother loves the attention from the little girl however. ‘Robb didn’t even have the sense to realize how stupid she was, he was grinning like a fool.’

Jon perhaps, is somewhat jealous of his half-brother Robb, because he knows he will be Lord of Winterfell eventually while Jon the Bastard will get nothing. For this, he despises him. Even though Robb is the same age as him, he sees him as immature and lacking in people reading skills.

We are briefly introduced the Stark girls, Arya and Sansa. Sansa likes Prince Joffrey Baratheon, the crown prince, but Jon reads him as spoilt and cocky. ‘Jon did not like Joffrey’s pouty lips or the bored, disdainful way he looked at Winterfell’s Great Hall.’

Now here’s something of note: Princess Myrcella, Prince Tommen and Joffrey are all described as having blond hair. They are all said to be King Robert’s children. We know that in genetics, a kid comes out having a mixture of his mum’s features and dad’s features. In this case, all of Cersei’s kids are all blond like her, while King Robert is described as having dark black hair. Now why doesn’t any of his kid’s have dark hair? Hmmmmmmm

Prince Joffrey is described as having ‘his sister’s hair and his mother’s deep green eyes.’ He looks more like his mother and doesn’t seem to share any features to King Robert. Something fishy seems to be going on…?

Jon observes Queen Cersei’s Lannister brothers, Ser Jamie Lannister, her twin brother, and the midget Tyrion Lannister. Jon thinks Ser Jamie is super cool because he commands presence. ‘tall and golden, with flashing green eyes and a smile that cut like a knife’ He even thinks ‘this is what a king should look like’

We do learn however that Ser Jamie Lannister is the ‘Kingslayer’. He was responsible for the death of the previous king, Mad King Aerys Targaryen. ’Kingslayer’ is a derogatory title and an insult in Westeros society.

Jon then observes Tyrion Lannister, a sharp contrast to his brother Ser Jamie. He pities him. ‘waddling along half-hidden by his brother’s side… the youngest of Lord Tywin’s brood and by far the ugliest. All the gods had given to Cersei and Jamie, they had denied Tyrion.’ Tyrion even had different colored eyes, ‘one green eye and one black one peered out from under a lank fall of hair so blond it seemed white.’

After Benjen Stark, Jon’s uncle and Lord Stark’s ward, Theon Greyjoy arrives, the party starts for real.

Jon spoils his dire wolf pup by letting him have an entire honeyed chicken from the dinner table. He notes that even though there were other regular dogs running about the hall, the Stark kids were not allowed to bring their wolf pups to the party, except him.

We learn that Jon has called his albino Dire wolf ‘Ghost‘. The name seems like a reflection of him: Jon Snow feels like a ghost in the Stark family. Despite growing up with the Starks, he feels invisible and unloved, because he’s the bastard. Ghost is also an outsider, a freak of a Direwolf with blood red eyes and pure white coat. If we remember from the previous chapter, Ghost was found wandering away from the dead Direwolf mother, determined to survive.

Ghost is challenged by a ‘black mongrel bitch with long yellow eyes.’ and despite the larger female dog threatening the Direwolf pup, Ghost stands defiant and doesn’t back down, guarding his food. Eventually the older dog goes away and Ghost continues his meal. There is a significance to this incident as we read on. After Benjen Stark joins Jon at his table, he asks why Jon isn’t at the regular table with his brothers. Jon answers ‘tonight Lady Stark thought it might give insult to the royal family to seat a bastard among them.’

Oh. So it seems Catelyn Tully, Ned’s wife, specially requested that Jon Snow not be allowed to sit at the main family table. It’s quite clear and understandable why she does this. Because Jon Snow is not her son and she sees him as a disgrace to her family.

The black dog that challenges Ghost is almost like a personification of Catelyn Tully in Jon’s eyes. The black dog is said to be ‘three times the size of the dire wolf pup’, it has yellow eyes. Yellow, in western culture, is said to be the color of cowards. (the expression ’yellow-bellied coward’) it is black, black being a color most associated with darkness and evil. And also, the dog is a female. We can sort of make the connection that Jon has a lot of issues with his foster mother. But like Ghost, who is smaller and a freak, he still stands his ground bravely and is defiant, and eventually, he wins and gets to keep his meal.    

Jon talks about Ghost being a different wolf ‘he never makes a sound'. Ghost is really a personification of Jon. Because despite everything, being the bastard and all. Jon never complains or voices his displeasure.

We learn from Benjen Stark that Direwolves aren’t uncommon beyond the Wall. But as we learned previously, they’re a rare sight south of the Wall. But of course, no one really cares about what goes on beyond the Wall, except the Night’s Watch guys and even then, most of them don’t make it alive to tell anyone else what they really see.

Benjen Stark notices that his brother Ned isn’t enjoying the festivities and even Jon notices this too. We as readers of course know that its because Ned is uneasy about the Hand of the King position offered to him by King Robert in the previous chapter.

Jon notes that queen Cersei is angry too because of King Robert’s visit to the Stark crypts and she didn’t want him to go. We as readers also know that King Robert went to visit Ned's dead sister, Lyanna Stark, the woman he truly loved. Cersei didn’t want him to go because she’s jealous and upset that Robert doesn‘t love her. Note that Cersei’s eyes are previously described in the chapter are green. Green is commonly described as the color of envy. She’s quite the green eyed monster isn’t she?

Benjen drops a suggestion that Jon should join the Night’s Watch. Jon takes this as a compliment and wants to go. He sells to his uncle that he’s nearly 15, nearly a man grown, and makes the naïve comparison that Daeren Targaryen, his war hero idol, conquered a city of Dorne at the age of 14. But Benjen slaps Jon back to reality. Saying ‘The Wall is a hard place’ and Daeren Targaryen the Boy King ‘lost 10,000 men taking the place and another 50 trying to hold it. Someone should have told him that war isn’t a game.’ we also learn that Daeren was ‘only 18 when he died.’

This is a conflict between idealism and reality. Jon being young and naïve, thinks it brave and awesome to be in the Night’s Watch while Benjen, is much older and more experienced, has seen a lot more bad stuff on his Night’s Watch job. Benjen cautions Jon that working at the Night’s Watch is serious stuff and its not fun and games and tall stories of heroism. 

Jon has thought long about his future though and he knows that there’s nothing for him in Winterfell. ‘Robb would someday inherit Winterfell,.. Bran and Rickon would be Robb’s banner man and rule holdfasts in his name… his sisters Arya and Sansa would marry the heirs of other great houses… but what place could a bastard hope to earn?’ But Benjen knows the price of being in the Night’s Watch is no laughing matter. ‘We have no families. None of us will ever father sons. Our wife is duty. Our mistress is honor.’ Benjen knows he had to give up his entire self to duty in the Night’s Watch. He feels that Jon still has freedom and a choice as to how to live his life and tells him to choose wisely. Because Benjen no longer has any freedom. He's a prisoner of the Wall.

Jon gets angry that he’s being discouraged to join the Night’s Watch and makes a childish drunken scene. He leaves the hall crying, upset that his destiny is being denied of him.

Tyrion Lannister

Outside, he encounters the midget, Tyrion Lannister, observing the party from a tall ledge above the hall. ‘looking for all the world like a gargoyle’. Tyrion isn’t in the hall partying, but outside, observing, overseeing everything above like a hawk. Again, this is a sight motif, that someone is always watching, always seeing, always observing. We see the story through various character's eyes and perspectives and as for Tyrion, he's watching everything from a bird's eye view. He sees everything as a whole and not by narrow perspective.


Note that Tyrion has mismatched eyes: one is green, the Lannister color and the other black. Tyrion doesn’t see the world by taking sides. He sees the world as a whole. Which is why, he’s not afraid to interact with Jon or his wolf. Jon being the outsider and the wolf being the Starks. He extends his friendship willingly unlike others who have ulterior motives or force themselves to be friendly to others for personal gain.

Tyrion isn’t afraid of Jon’s wolf and asks to see him. When Jon asks why he isn’t at the feast, he says he’s drank too much, and makes a hilarious remark, ‘I learned long ago that it is considered rude to vomit on your brother.’ Tyrion, for his small size and ugly appearance, is humorous, confident and witty.

When Jon offers to bring him a ladder to climb down from the ledge, Tyrion simply vaults off, somersaults and lands on the ground gracefully, with an air of awesome and confidence. Jon is taken aback and so is Ghost.

Tyrion interacts with Ghost who is shy in front of Tyrion but Jon assures him its ok. Ghost’s psychology reflects Jon’s own as he’s guarded in front of Tyrion. Tyrion can sense this uneasiness in Jon as well because he’s good at reading people.

Tyrion then asks Jon outright is if he’s Ned Stark’s bastard. Jon gets angry at the comment and says nothing. Tyrion quips sarcastically that “Dwarfs don’t have to be tactful. Generations of capering fools in motley have won me the right to dress badly and say any damn thing that comes into my head.”, in other words, Tyrion doesn’t give a shit about what anyone thinks of him because he accepts his physical flaws.

After Jon admits that he is Ned Stark’s son, Tyrion decides to give him a small word of advice. “Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armor yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you.” A wonderful piece of advice. Tyrion tells Jon to accept his bastard status and embrace it.

Jon doesn’t quite understand and questions Tyrion about being a bastard. Tyrion simply replies ‘All dwarfs are bastards in their father’s eyes’. Tyrion knows he will always be an outsider and unloved by his father. Even though Jon knows that Tyrion is a trueborn Lannister, Tyrion knows he will always be a disgrace and an omen of bad luck to his father. ‘Do tell my lord father. My mother died birthing me, and he’s never been sure.’

But he tells Jon one more thing “All dwarfs may be bastards, yet not all bastards need be dwarfs”. Tyrion tells Jon that unlike him, Jon Snow still has a chance at destiny, unlike himself who he feels, doesn’t.

Tyrion then happily walks back to the great hall, whistling a tune. As he opens the door ‘the light from within threw his shadow clear across the yard, and for just a moment Tyrion Lannister stood tall as a king.’ Jon , and us readers, are left to admire this little man who oozes attitude and confidence.

Chapter Impressions

Quite a cool chapter as we get to hear more about Jon Snow and get the first glimpse of how awesome Tyrion Lannister is. We learn more about the Lannisters, get suspicious about Cersei’s and Robert’s children as well as know more about the Night’s Watch from Benjen Stark. But most importantly, we get to see how much of a badass Tyrion Lannister is, the half-man who shows no fear despite his small size. He’s witty, confident and a dispenser of cool advice. But he also has his issues, he knows he will always be a freak and unloved by his father whose admiration he will always fight to gain.

Jon Snow is a poor frustrated bastard child who knows he has no future in Winterfell because of his status. His foster mum hates him and he dreams big dreams of daring adventure and heroism which he hopes to find in the Night’s Watch but he feels his dreams are dashed when his uncle Benjen discourages him to join the Night's Watch because he's not old enough, Jon rushes out the hall and cries like a spoilt angry child. But we also empathize with him because what future does he have in Winterfell?

Was it perhaps a mistake that Ned Stark allow Jon Snow into his family instead of turn him away?

Benjen Stark on the other hand has no more freedom at the Night’s Watch. He can’t get married, can’t have kids, can’t even have a woman to bed. His life is dedicated to duty and he has no choice but to defend the Wall. The Night’s Watch is like a glorified prison and he’s doing Jon Snow a favor by saying that he shouldn’t choose to be in the Watch yet because he knows its a death sentence for him.

As we read earlier, many of the Night’s Watch had to join because they had no choice. Will from the prologue was forced to because he was caught poaching, he had to choose either his hand to get chopped off or take the black. In other chapters, disgraced men were told to be sent to the Wall as punishment. We learn that the Wall is a horrible place to be because its so far away from everything and no one cares that you’re there.

So we get a main idea who the big players in the story are and we all feel them as real people. Even Cersei Lannister gets a bit of our sympathy because King Robert doesn't love her and we understand why looks like an bitter angry person on the outside. We also learn that Catelyn Tully has a dark side - she hates Jon Snow because he's a disgrace to the Stark family and not her son.

Let's Read - Game of Thrones - Chapter 4 - Eddard

Eddard- Chapter 4

King Robert Baratheon visits Winterfell. He's portrayed by Mark Addy

 
Summary
This chapter is told through the eyes of Lord Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell. Last we read from the previous chapter, King Robert Baratheon and his entourage were coming to visit Winterfell.

The sigil of House Baratheon is a stag

The Lannister sigil is that of a lion

We are finally told that the crowned stag is the sigil of House Baratheon. We also learn that the Lannister sigil is that of a lion. Ned meets King Robert again whom he had last seen 9 years ago during another battle - the Greyjoy rebellion.

We learn how Theon Greyjoy came to be Ned Stark’s ward: Balor Greyjoy, Theon’s father, made himself King of the Iron Islands and tried to rebel against King Robert. Ned aided King Robert and fought back the rebellion. Balor Greyjoy finally surrendered and Ned took Theon as hostage and ward.

Ned recalls Robert 15 years ago when he was much younger, a fierce warrior and a force to be reckoned with. Now he’s a fat aging man who hardly looks heroic at all.

After greeting Ned and Catelyn like old family, he asks Ned to take him down to the Stark crypt to pay respects. We learn that King Robert is really just a dude. A big man who loves life, food and most importantly, women.

We learn a bit more about Ned’s father, older brother and his sister who have all died. Ned’s father was Lord Rickard Stark who was probably killed via assassination. Brandon Stark was 20 years old when he died, strangled to death by Mad King Aerys Targaryen days before he was supposed to marry Catelyn Tully, now Ned‘s wife. Lyanna Stark died at 16, and was to be married to Robert who loved her very much. She died of fever but Robert blames Rhaegar Targaryen (Viserys and Danny’s older brother) for her death. Robert was also responsible for killing him in battle.  But even though Robert avenged her death, he was never satisfied. We also learn that Robert doesn’t like his wife, Cersei Lannister.

Cersei Lannister portrayed by Lena Headey

Ned and Robert talk about Jon Arryn’s death. Robert knows that Jon Arryn death is suspicious because he got sick and died so quickly. They discuss about Catelyn’s sister, Lysa Tully who did not take her husband’s death well and has gone mad. She didn’t want to listen to Robert’s advice and let Tywin Lannister, Cersei’s father, foster her son. Lysa’s son, Robert Arryn is only 6 years old and sickly but she took him back to the Eyrie anyway.

We learn Ned really doesn’t like the Lannisters and doesn’t like to have anything to do with him, while Robert doesn’t have a choice because his wife, Cersei, is a Lannister.

We then learn that Jon Arryn was Robert’s Hand of the King, the 2nd most powerful position in the realm next to the King. Literally his right hand man. Robert needs someone to fill the Hand of the King position. He offers it to Ned because he trusts him.

Ned initially turns it down because he doesn’t want the responsibility or the power but he says he will discuss the matter with Catelyn. Robert then says perhaps Ned’s daughter Sansa can marry his son Prince Joff and join houses. Sansa is only 11 now and maybe can be married later.

The chapter ends with Ned feeling a horrible sense of dread having to deal with this powerful and dangerous position that‘s being thrust on him.

Analysis

Themes and Topics

-Friendship
-Meeting long lost friends only to see they’re a shadow of their former self.
-Politics
-History
-Mercy vs. Justice
-Power and Position
-Conflict between Duty and Self
-Death and Overcoming Grief
-Power granted by birthright or by earning it?
-Everyone is untrustworthy
-Omens

This chapter is told through the point of view of Lord Eddard Stark. King Robert Baratheon has come to Winterfell with his entourage. Just as we suspected, the sigil of house Baratheon is the crowned stag. If we remember correctly, the dead Direwolf omen seen in the previous chapters was killed by a stag. So we know this omen is an obvious foreshadowing of bad things to come: The Starks could be killed by the Baratheons or in this case, the King.

Ned hasn’t seen Robert in a long time and barely recognizes him until the King comes down his warhorse and bear hugs him. Just from this first interaction, we can tell that Ned and Robert are best buddies and Robert is the more friendly, jovial friend in contrast to Ned who is more reserved. We can also tell that King Robert doesn’t really take his position very seriously because Kings aren’t meant to behave so informally.

Ned recalls a time when Robert was a total badass, 15 years ago. ‘Fifteen years past, when they had ridden forth to win a throne, the Lord of Storm’s End had been clean-shaven, clear-eyed and muscled like a maiden’s fantasy… he’d had a giant’s strength too, his weapon of choice a spiked iron war hammer that Ned could scarcely lift…’ but now, Robert was a shadow of his former past. ‘A beard as coarse and black as iron wire covered his jaw to hide his double chin and the sag of the royal jowls, but nothing could hide his stomach or the dark circles under his eyes.’ Ned is clearly disappointed that his best friend had grown old and become a fatass, but of course, he doesn’t say this to his friend. 

We learn how Theon Greyjoy ended up becoming Ned’s ward: Theon’s lord father, Balor Greyjoy, decided to crown himself King of the Iron Islands and rebelled against King Robert. Ned rallied the Stark forces to help the King quell the rebellion and Balor Greyjoy surrendered. Theon ended up being Ned’s hostage and ward. This happened 9 years ago.

Ned Stark is very kind. He could have just let Theon be hostage and treat him badly but instead, he chose to adopt him as a ward, like a surrogate son. Theon is kind of part of the Stark family. This is the first instance we see in the chapter about the conflict of duty and self. As duty, Theon Greyjoy is a hostage of Starks, he’s still the enemy, but instead, Ned Stark chooses kindness and treats Theon as a son.


After the usual pleasantries, Robert asks Ned to take him to the Stark crypt, much to the chagrin of Robert’s wife, Cersei Lannister. She protests but Robert doesn’t care and he follows Ned down to the crypt. This is the second instance of duty vs. self conflict. As a King, Robert is supposed to go along with his wife to do the usual kingly stuff but instead, he chooses to accompany his friend Ned to the Stark crypts to pay respects to his friend’s family. As we read on, we understand why...

While they talk, Ned is very formal because of Robert’s change in status. His best buddy is King now and he treats him like so. Robert on the other hand, doesn’t act like a King and behaves as he is. King Robert is revealed to be a man who lives large: he appreciates fine food, fine drink and most importantly, beautiful women. The King is just a dude who wants to party and have fun. He doesn’t seem very kingly at all. This is another instance of duty vs. self conflict - King Robert has the King position but he rather just party and have fun. He doesn’t want to take on the duties of the position.

They walk pass the many tombs Lord Starks ancestors. We learn abit about Stark history that Eddard’s ancestors were tough men and even after ‘the Dragon lords (the Targaryens) came over the sea, they had sworn allegiance to no man, styling themselves the Kings in the North’. The Starks have a stubbornness in them and it was in their blood to rule in the North and bow to no one. We also find out that Lord Stark has empty tombs prepared for him and his children in the event they do die, they can be buried in the crypt immediately. It's as if he's already planned in advance that something bad will happen to them. 

We learn about Eddard’s dead father and siblings: Lord Rickard Stark, his father, had died possibly by assassination ’stone fingers holding tight to the sword across his lap, but in life, all swords had failed him’.  Ned’s elder brother, Brandon Stark, was strangled to death by the Mad King Aerys Targaryen in front of his father. Brandon was meant to wed Catelyn Tully, who is now Ned’s wife. He was only 20 when he died.

Lyanna Stark, Ned’s sister was only 16 when she died. She was meant to marry Robert but she died before then. Robert loved her to bits and he still mourns her death after so many years. ‘his eyes lingered on Lyanna’s face, as if he could will her back to life.’

Ned recalls the painful last moments with his sister before she died of fever. Her death still haunts him and affects him deeply. ‘He could hear her still at times. Promise me, she had cried, in a room that smelled of blood and roses. Promise me, Ned.’

We learn that Rhaegar Targaryen was to blame for her death and Robert avenged her by killing him at the waters of the Trident with his war hammer. But even then, Robert was never satisfied ‘In my dreams, I kill him every night…a thousand deaths will still be less than he deserves’.

Robert hasn’t gotten over Lyanna’s death and he dislikes his current wife Cersei Lannister. After Ned prompts that they should head back to his wife, he complains. ‘The Others take my wife.’. This is another instance of duty vs. self. We learn that Robert really loves Lyanna and even though she’s dead and he has a new wife, he doesn’t love her. As a duty of a husband and king, he’s supposed to, but he doesn’t. He chooses self over duty again.

Ned and Robert talk about the death of Jon Arryn, their shared foster father. He knows surely there was foul play involved because Jon died too quickly ‘I have never seen a man sicken so quickly. We gave a tourney on my son’s name day, you would have sworn he would live forever. A fortnight later he was dead. The sickness was like a fire in his gut. It burned right through him.’

We also know from previous chapters that Jon Arryn was married to Catelyn’s sister, Lysa Tully. Robert says that Lysa was not taking his death well and ‘losing Jon has driven the woman mad.’ Robert suggested she leave her child to Cersei’s father, Tywin Lannister to foster him, but Lysa refused and took her son back to the Eyrie. This is Lysa’s duty vs. self conflict. She could have left her son to Tywin Lannister to look after but she didn’t. She chose self over duty and in this society, it is crucial that sons grow up with a father figure but she disregards this because she loves her son too much.

Ned is kind enough to offer to take Lysa’s son, Robert Arryn to be his ward, but Lord Tywin had already allowed Lysa to take her son back so there was nothing to be done. Ned complains that he rather take care of his nephew’s welfare than listen to Lannisters, showing his obvious dislike of them. Robert on the other hand knows his position and knows he has to be friendly to them because of his wife. This is Ned’s self vs. duty conflict. He personally hates the Lannisters and would rather he foster Robert Arryn himself but Robert understands his duty that he can’t change this arrangement now because his wife is a Lannister and he needs to support them.

While Ned talks to Robert about matters of The Night’s Watch and the Wall, Robert rather talk about pressing matters at King’s Landing: Jon Arryn was Hand of the King and now that he’s dead, Robert needs someone to fill that position.

He also talks about Jon Arryn’s son, who he’s stripped the title of Lord of the Eyrie, because he’s too young and he knows the child is not a war leader and is sickly. While Ned disagrees that the boy should just get the title in honor, Robert feels that ‘the son is not the father. A mere boy cannot hold the east.’

This is kind of a conflict of power. To Lord Stark, honor is everything and he feels that Jon Arryn’s son, Robert Arryn, should automatically be instilled as Lord of the Eyrie as face value since he’s Jon Arryn’s heir. But King Robert feels that Robert Arryn doesn’t deserve it because he’s too young and doesn’t show leadership qualities and he’s also a sickly child. He can get all his father’s incomes but he isn’t Lord of the Eyrie. This is a question of birthright: should an heir automatically be given a leadership position just because of his Lord father, even though he doesn’t deserve it or should he only get a title when he earns it?

In a sense, Ned Stark is more straight edge and he doesn’t question authority or birthright. He’s very much a traditionalist who obeys the system and reverently believes in honor and granting it to others. While Robert Baratheon believes that if someone is not worthy to lead, he shouldn’t get the position automatically just because he’s born into it. And if he wants that title and honor, he’s got to work for it. King Robert is quite the non-conformist in this feudal society.

Robert then confesses that he hates the kingly responsibilities of being a king. ’I swear to you, sitting a throne is a thousand times harder than winning one.’ he finds it boring doing the finances, listening to people and finds it hard to trust anyone because ’half of them don’t dare tell me the truth, and the other half can’t find it.’ He wants Ned to be his Hand of the King to help him out.

We learn that the Hand of the King position is extremely powerful. ’the Hand of the King was the second-most powerful man in the 7 Kingdoms. He spoke with the king’s voice, commanded the king’s armies, drafted the king’s laws. At times, he even sat upon the Iron Throne to dispense king’s justice, when the king was absnet, or sick, or otherwise indisposed.’ Literally, the position entails being the King’s right hand man.

Ned kneels before the King at the Stark crypts

And Ned doesn’t want the position or the responsibility. ’it was the last thing in the world he wanted.’ and then we find out why the King wants Ned to be the Hand ’I am planning to make you run the kingdom and fight the wars while I eat and drink and wench myself into an early grave.’ King Robert just wants to have fun! He even jokes about the position ’the king eats, they say, and the Hand takes the shit.’ Which, is literally the main summary of what the position is. 

King Robert goes on to say perhaps the Starks and the Baratheons could join houses. Sansa, Ned's older daughter, could marry the crown Prince Joff. But Sansa is only eleven at the moment and perhaps they will wed when she’s older.

Ned finds it all very hard to process this overwhelming amount of information and tells Robert that he needs to discuss this 'promotion' with the wife before saying yes.

Ned feels almost sick to his stomach that he knows he will probably have to say yes to the position. A sense of dread washes over him. ’For a moment Eddard Stark was filled with a terrible sense of foreboding. This was his place, here in the north…. He could feel the eyes of the dead. They were listening, he knew. And winter was coming.’  Once again, this is another duty vs. self conflict. Ned doesn’t want the position because all he wants is to be happy and do his thing in Winterfell. But now that this duty thing has come up, he knows he will have to accept it and he hates the thought of it. It's not just about him, his entire family could be at risk because the position entails so much - he will be the 2nd powerful man in the realm and everyone will be out to get him.


Chapter Impressions

This chapter is all about Robert Baratheon and we learn how un-kingly he truly his. He’s just a warrior dude who wants to party, have fun while someone else manages all the kingly stuff. We also learn he’s a man who feels strong emotions - he loves Ned’s sister Lyanna deeply and still can’t get over her death even though he killed the man responsible. He’s also a non-conformist and believes in meritocracy rather than people given positions of power by birthright. Robert is also quite shrewd in certain political affairs and understands a little of how to please others and how others can be silenced for political reasons - he knows that he has to please the Lannisters and knows that Jon Arryn died unnaturally. He also suggested Lysa Tully to let Tywin Lannister look after her son because he knows that it is important he have a father figure.

But we also know that Robert’s love for partying and having fun is extremely dangerous especially for his position because he doesn’t take the King’s duty seriously at all. And Ned Stark knows that he will be doing a lot of work for his best buddy when he accepts this 'Hand of the King' position and this truly frightens him.


We also learn why Eddard Stark is such a melancholic: his father, older brother and sister were all murdered by the Targaryens (directly or indirectly) their deaths still haunt him and he is affected by them. So we can't exactly blame the man for having such a serious and grim view of life. He has experienced much unpleasantness and it has taken a tole on his system. 

Perhaps the prophecy of the Direwolf being killed by the Stag could come true after all… that Ned Stark could be that Direwolf and the Stag could be Robert Bartheon…

Let's Read - Game of Thrones - Chapter 3 - Daenerys

Daenerys- Chapter 3

Viserys and Daenerys Targaryen portrayed by Harry Lloyd and Emilia Clarke

Summary

This chapter is told through the eyes of Daenerys the Targaryen princess. She’s 13 years old and lives with her 21 year old brother, Viserys Targaryen in the free city of Pentos, far away from the main Westeros continent across the Narrow Sea.

They are living in temporary accommodation provided by Magister Illyrio, a wealthy but untrustworthy merchant. We learn that the Targaryens are a deposed house and that Viserys and Danny are the only 2 Targaryens left alive. Dany is about to be sold to a powerful Dothraki barbarian named Khal Drogo as a kind of business deal: The Khal gets a wife while Viserys is promised an army so that he will be powerful enough to take back the Iron Throne, that was usurped by Robert Baratheon, who is now the current King. 

We learn more about the sacking of King’s Landing from the Targaryen’s perspective:

The previous King, Mad King Aerys Targaryen, Viserys and Dany’s father, fought back a rebellion from Lord Robert Baratheon with Lord Stark and Lord Lannister coming to his aid. Rhaegar Targaryen, Viserys and Dany’s eldest brother fought valiantly but died in battle. His wife, Princess Elia was also killed and so was her child. The Mad King was eventually slain by a Lannister and he earned the title of Kingslayer. All this happened when Dany wasn’t born yet. She was only born after Viserys and his mother fled King’s Landing. She was born in Dragonstone in a storm (which explains her Stormborn title) her mother died as she came into the world.

The Targaryen heirs lived a traveling life living from city to city to escape assassination and lived on whatever savings they had left from their mother. Now, they’re both poor as anything. Viserys has been given the nickname ’The Beggar King’. Viserys is extremely determined to claim back the Iron Throne at all costs because he feels it is his destiny. We learn the Targaryen sigil is that of the Dragon. We also learn that the Targaryens practice incest in an attempt to preserve their bloodline. It is custom for Targaryen brothers to marry their sisters and also produce children. 

Dany is brought before Khal Drogo and his council. She notices the knight Ser Jorah Mormont and learns that he is a fugitive on the run from King Robert.

Dany protests that she doesn’t want to be sold to the Khal but her brother threatens her and tells her this is the only way they’ll get home to Westeros and claim ‘their’ destiny. She makes the decision to man up and go along with the plan.

Analysis

Themes and Topics

-Arranged marriage for political reasons
-Death
-Survival
-The consequences of War
-History from another perspective
-Power, manipulation and control
-Sibling relations
-Incest in an attempt to preserve blood purity
-Fear and lost of innocence
-Customs and culture
-Geography

We zoom to another part of the world: Pentos, which is far away from the main story and are introduced to Daenerys and Viserys Targaryen. They have been living in a wealthy merchant’s, Magister Illyrio’s, home for 6 months.

Dany is 13 years old  and is being made beautiful for a special arrangement that her brother has made with the Magister. We learn that it’s for a political reason telling from viserys ’The magister knows that I will not forget my friends when I come into my throne’

If we remember correctly from the previous chapter, the previous king was Mad King Aerys Targaryen. We can therefore deduce that these are his deposed Targaryen heirs.

Dany talks about Magister Ilyrio and notes that he is powerful but also extremely untrustworthy. "He had friends in all of the Nine Free Cities… it was also said that he’d never had a friend he wouldn’t cheerfully sell for the right price." She’s quite good at people reading and knows that "gifts seldom come without a price" after she receives a dress from the Magister to wear.

Dany knows that her brother is an extremely ambitious dreamer but is also fearful of his terrible temper. “she knew better than to question her brother when he wove his webs of dream. His anger was a terrible thing when roused. Viserys called it ‘waking the dragon’.”

To our horror, we witness Viserys sexually abuse Dany, and it probably isn't the first time because she doesn't fight back. “His fingers brushed lightly over her budding breasts and tightened on a nipple. ‘you will not fail me tonight. If you do, it will go hard for you. You don’t want to wake the dragon, do you?’ His fingers twisted her, the pinch cruelly hard through the rough fabric of her tunic. ‘Do you?’ he repeated.’ Poor poor Dany. We immediately empathize for this young girl, being taken advantage of her cruel, monstrous jerk of a brother.

Dany doesn’t fight back either because she’s afraid of him. “ ‘No’ Dany said meekly. Her brother smiled. ‘Good’. He touched her hair, almost with affection.’ ‘When they write the history of my reign, sweet sister, they will say that it began tonight’”
Viserys is clearly manipulating his sister just so he can regain power and sit himself on the throne.

Dany wants to escape but she knows she can’t and daydreams looking out of the window. ‘For a moment she wished she could be out there with them, barefoot and breathless and dressed in tatters, with no past and no future and no feast to attend at Khal Drogo’s manse.’

She talks about the stories she’s heard about the great land on the other side which almost sounds like some sort of promised land. We also learn that her brother is clearly obsessed with taking back the Throne and believes its his destiny to do so. ‘Somewhere beyond the sunset, across the narrow sea, lay a land of green hills and flowered plains and great rushing rivers…’ ‘Her brother had a simpler name. ‘Our land’ he called it’ ‘The words were like a prayer with him. If he said them enough, the gods were sure to hear.’ ‘Ours by blood right, taken from us by treachery, but ours still, ours forever. You do not steal from the dragon, on, no. The dragon remembers.’

Dany on the other hand, can’t relate to this promised land he speaks of because she hasn’t seen any of it. She wasn’t born yet. Her brother was 8 when he fled King’s Landing with her pregnant mother who was carrying her.

She relates the tragic story of what happened at King’s Landing according to what her brother had told her. Viserys and his pregnant mother (carrying Dany) fled to Dragonstone on a ship. Her older brother Rhaegar fought the usurper Robert Baratheon and died in battle. King’s Landing was sacked by Robert Baratheon’s men as well as Lord Eddard Stark and the Lannister lord. Rhaegar’s wife, Princess Elia had her son killed in front of her and she too was killed. In another room, her father was slain by the Kingslayer.

Dany says she was born on Dragonstone during a terrible storm. The Targaryen ships were smashed while the storm raged and her mum died giving birth to her. For this ‘her brother Viserys had never forgiven her.’ We could say that Dany’s birth can either be read as ominous or one of victory. Ominous because she was born in a storm, which was tumultuous, scary and dangerous. Her mum died giving birth to her, so she’s viewed as a bad omen. On the other hand, the fact is, she survived the storm and lived, so you could say, she was a fighter.

She goes on to say that she doesn't remember much of Dragonstone because they had to leave quickly to escape Robert Baratheon’s brother’s army. She and her brother were about to be sold to Robert Baratheon but a loyal Targaryen knight, Ser Willem Darry helped them escape to Braavos.

Ser Willem was like a father figure to Dany. ’He called her ’Little Princess’ and sometimes ’My Lady’ and his hands were soft as old leather.’ she spent happier times in Braavos as she describes in reminiscence. ’That was when they lived in Braavos, in the big house with the red door. Dany had her own room there, with a lemon tree outside her window.’ but after Ser Willem died of illness, they had to leave. ’Dany had cried when the red door closed behind them forever.’

As time went by, Dany and her brother were forced to move from various places because Robert Baratheon had hired assassins to try to kill them. They had to live selling their treasures and eventually became poor. Her brother was given the humiliating name of ‘the beggar king’ as whispered in the streets. While Viserys is hell bent on reclaiming the Iron Throne, Dany really just wants to go back to a happier time of preserved innocence ‘All that Daenerys wanted back was the big house with the red door, the lemon tree outside her window, the childhood she had never known.’

We know that perhaps, Dany is kind of a special girl. She can bath in scalding hot water and not burn or flinch. ‘The water was scalding hot, but Daenerys did not flinch or cry out. She liked the heat. It made her feel clean. … her brother had often told her that it was never too hot for a Targaryen. ‘Ours is the house of the dragon’ he would say. ‘the fire is in our blood.’

But now she is going to be sold to a powerful barbarian warlord, instead of the usual Targaryen affair of marriage between brother and had children between each other to keep their bloodline pure. Viserys reasons that  ‘theirs was the kings blood, the golden blood of old Valyria, the blood of the dragon. Dragons did not mate with the beasts of the field, and Targaryens did not mingle their blood with that of lesser men.’ but Dany notes that out of desperation, her brother was going to sell her away and she thinks this dishonorable and low. ‘Yet now Viserys schemed to sell her to a stranger, a barbarian.’ .

Hm incest. Incest is always a huge taboo and as crazy as it sounds to the rest of us, it sounds perfectly fine to the Targaryens who are obsessed with keeping blood purity. Let's not judge and respect the Targaryen culture as what it is.

Dany is dolled up to look the absolute best for the Khal and she’s afraid. ‘She felt a sudden chill, and gooseflesh pimpled her bare arms.’ Viserys on the other hand, treats her like a product and has no thought for her feelings ‘Stand there.’ he told her, ‘Turn around. Yes. Good.”

Magister Illyrio portrayed by Roger Allam

We get a better description of Magister Illyrio, who sounds like some sleazy pimp. ‘Beneath loose garments of flame-colored silk, rolls of fat jiggled as he walked. Gemstones glittered on every finger, and his man had oiled his forked yellow beard until it shone like real gold’.

Viserys is so poor, he doesn’t even own his own sword. It’s a borrowed one from Illyrio. ‘He rested his hand on the hilt of the sword that Illyrio had lent him’. He questions that the barbarian Khal Drogo likes his girls so young and Illyrio replies its fine because Dany’s old enough to have children. She’s had her period. And Viserys doesn’t care and finds the barbarian culture weird. It is clear he looks down on them. ‘The savages have queer tastes. Boys, horses, sheep…’

On there way to meet the Khal, Viserys dreams his big dreams of not wanting the Khal’s entire army and saying his usual bragging crap that once he gets his army savages, everyone will bow to him etc. the Magister plays along and flatters him further to stroke his ego. ‘In holdfasts all across the realm, men lift secret toasts to your health while women sew dragon banners and hide them against the day of your return from across the water.’… of course Dany knows this is all bullshit. ‘she mistrusted Illyrio’s sweet words as she mistrusted everything about Illyrio.’ but she knew her brother is an idiot and drank it all in. ‘her brother was nodding eagerly however.’

Its almost comical how Dany describes him ‘I shall kill the usurper myself’ he promised, who had never killed anyone’ She knows he just talks big and does nothing. He's not even skilled in using a sword as she says later 'his fingers toyed with the hilt of his borrowed blade, though Dany knew he had never used a sword in earnest'. 

We learn that the magisters of Pentos have been very nice to the Khal so that they won’t trash their city. They gave him an entire 9 towered manse. ‘It had been given to the Khal by the magisters of Pentos, Illyrio told them. The Free Cities were always generous with the horse lords.’ We learn that Magister Illyrio is really a eunuch telling from Viserys muttered insult.

It’s interesting to note that when Illyrio announces Viserys’s presence, he says something familiar. ‘King of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the 7 Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm’. This was said by Ned Stark in the first chapter when he killed Gared the deserter. Viserys is clearly not the king but Illyrio announces him as the king. Most likely just to butter his ego. Dany is introduced as ‘Daenerys Stormborn, Princess of Dragonstone.’ he doesn’t even call her a Targaryen.

Dany is very afraid as she’s presented to all these strange foreign men, not only that, she’s the only girl in the room. ‘and realized with a sudden start of fear, that she was the only woman there.’

Ser Jorah Mormont portrayed by Iain Glen

As she’s introduced, she notices one man among them is a knight, Ser Jorah Mormont and she’s curious as to why he’s in the room. We learn from Illyrio, it’s because King Robert Baratheon wants to kill him. He sold some poachers to a slaver instead of giving them over to the Night’s Watch. He broke the law and is now a fugitive.

Dany notices that Ser Jorah is a different kind of knight, not the usual armored sort. She finds him fascinating because he comes from the promised land she has never been. ‘Dany found herself looking at the knight curiously. He was an older man, past forty and balding, but still strong and fkit. Instead of silks and cottons, he wore wool and leather. His tunic was a dark green, embroidered with the likeness of a black bear standing on 2 legs. She was still looking at this strange man from the homeland she had never known.’

And then we learn about Khal Drogo, a tall, fierce warrior who is an expert at combat. He has never lost a battle telling from his hair braid being long and uncut. ‘When Dothraki are defeated in combat, they cut off their braids in disgrace… Khal Drogo has never lost a fight. He is Aegon the Dragonlord come again, and you will be his queen.’ says Viserys.

Khal Drogo portrayed by Jason Momoa

But all Dany could see before her is a fearsome barbarian warrior and she is afraid of him. ‘His face was hard and cruel, his eyes as cold and dark as onyx. Her brother hurt her sometimes, when she woke the dragon, but he did not frighten her the way this man frightened her.’ 

She pleads with her brother in fear. ‘I don’t want to be his queen’ she heard herself say in a small, thin voice. ‘please, please Viserys, I don’t want to. I want to go home.’ Poor Dany.

But of course, Viserys doesn’t care. All he cares about is reclaiming the Throne. He even threatens and hurts her out of desperation so she’ll listen to him. ‘How are we to go home, sweet sister? They took our home from us!’ he drew her into the shadows, out of sight, his fingers digging into her skin. ‘how are we to go home?’ he repeated, meaning King’s Landing, and Dragonstone, and all the realm they had lost.’

Poor Dany just wants out of the situation, in her mind, Viserys was an equally lost soul as her. He has no home either. ‘there was no home there for him. Even the big house with the red door had not been home for him.’ Dany cries and doesn’t know how to answer him.

And Viserys, really gives her the cold hard truth, that he really doesn’t give a shit about her and is simply using her to get what he wants. All he cares about is himself. ‘We go home with an army, sweet sister. With Khal Drogo’s army… and if you must wed him and bed him for that, you will. ‘I’d let his whole khalasar (army) fuck you if need be, sweet sister, all forty thousand men…. Be grateful it is only Drogo. In time you may even learn to like him. Now dry your eyes.’

This is actually the first time we see ‘fuck’ in the book and as a reader, you just feel a stab in the heart. This is his sister he’s talking about. He really doesn’t give a shit about her. What an awful monster of a man.

Dany hears this truth and knows that there’s no way out of this deal. But instead of being crushed, she grows up, brushes herself off and agrees to play the game. ’Dany turned and saw that it was true. Magister Illyrio, all smiles and bows, was escorting Khal Drogo over to where they stood. She brushed away unfallen tears with the back of her hand. ’Smile’ Viserys whispered nervously, his hand falling to the hilt of his sword. ’and stand up straight. Let him see you have breasts. Gods know, you have little enough as is.’ Daenerys smiled, and stood up straight.

Chapter Impressions

I really like this chapter. It tells the story from the losers point of  view from the deposed Targaryens. It paints them in an incredibly sympathetic light because Dany’s father, eldest brother and his wife were killed, and her mum died giving birth to her. They had to flee their home and she and her brother had to travel about to escape assassination etc. We also understand from Viserys perspective: life, power and everything was snatched from him and it has traumatized him to a degree that he’s obsessed with getting it all back, to the point that he abuses his sister and treats her like an object in order to achieve his goals.

We also see life through poor Dany’s eyes: she’s under so much oppression from her brother, she’s going to be sold to a barbarian against her will but she also knows, she has no choice. She forces herself to grow up, chucks away her innocence and decides to play the game. For a 13 year old girl, that’s a lot to handle and I admire her courage.

Dany is the 2nd female leading character introduced in the book other than Catelyn Stark and we can tell, this girl is going to be awesome. I can't help but root for her.

Let's Read - Game of Thrones - Chapter 2 - Catelyn

Catelyn - Chapter 2

Catelyn meets Ned at the godswood. Catelyn is portrayed by Michelle Fairley and Ned Stark by Sean Bean

Summary
This chapter is told from the perspective of Catelyn Tully, Lord Stark’s wife. She is in the godswood,  a sacred religious place specially for worshiping the old gods.

However, she doesn’t like the godswood of the Starks. The godswood she remembers at the Tully home of Riverrun in the South, was brighter, more pleasant and one she’s more familiar with. The Stark godswood was darker, brooding and more depressing in her opinion.

We are introduced to a special ancient tree known as ‘The Heart Tree’ which is said to be hundreds of years old and the symbol of Winterfell. Every castle has its own godswood and heart tree.

Catelyn meets her husband in the godswood cleaning his sword, Ice, in repentance. We learn that the youngest Stark boy, Rickon Stark, is only 3 years old. The girls, Arya and Sansa, like their Direwolves but Rickon is afraid of his. Lord Stark We learn that the Stark motto is ‘Winter is Coming’.

Eddard ‘Ned‘ Stark, mentions that the man he beheaded (aka Gared) died full of fear. He also says that his brother Ben, based in the Night’s Watch , says lots of men are dying on missions. Ned blames this on the Wildlings beyond the Wall and states that the Starks should ride up north one day and kill them all. We also learn that creepy Others and mystical beasts live north of the Wall but they haven’t been sighted for a long time so they’re a thing of the past.

Catelyn breaks some unpleasant news to her husband that his foster father, Lord Jon Arryn is dead. Lord Jon Arryn was based in the Eyrie and had no children of his own. He fostered Ned Stark and Robert Baratheon, who is now the current King. Later, Lord Jon Arryn also became Ned’s brother-in-law when they both married the Tully sisters - Catelyn Tully was married to Ned while, Lysa Tully was married to Jon. Lysa, now widowed, has a son and they live in the Eyrie.

After Ned tells Catelyn to go to her sister in the Eyrie, she reveals other news: King Robert is visiting Winterfell and they have to receive him. He didn’t really give them any prior notice. Catelyn is uneasy because of the Omen of the dead Direwolf that was killed by a Stag. We can assume that the Stag sigil is that of House Baratheon.

We learn that King Robert Baratheon’s wife is Cersei Lannister and the Starks don’t get along with the Lannisters. They’re based in Casterly Rock and their entourage will be coming to visit too. Despite everything, Ned Stark is glad to see King Robert as he has not seen him in years.


Analysis

Themes and Topics

-Religion
-History
-Family relations
-Customs and traditions
-Death/ fear of it
- Culture shock/ home sickness - Catelyn is homesick and thinks of her home in Riverrun. She’s not quite adapted to Stark customs and culture as she’s a Tully.
- Omens and Mysteries of the Unknown
-War mongering for the sake of ’homeland security’ - the Starks want to kill off the Wildlings beyond the war.
-Fear leads to Hate - the Starks fear the Wildlings and blame the deaths of the Night’s Watch on them. 
-Power and Politics/ arranged marriages of people of same social status (Lords marry Ladies)

 We are introduced to Catelyn Tully, wife of Ned Stark. She’s a foreigner from the South and is clearly homesick. She misses her home in Riverrun and describes the great contrast between the godswood in her home vs. the one the Starks have at Winterfell. “The godswood there was a garden, bright and airy, where tall redwoods spread dappled shadows across tinkling streams…. The gods of Winterfell kept a different sort of wood. It was a dark, primal place…. It smelled of moist earth and decay.”

This also shows the difference in mindset between the Tullys and the Starks. The Tullys seemed to be a brighter, more pleasant household vs. the Starks that were more brooding, grounded and sullen. Lord Stark would go to his godswood to seek remorse every time he took a man’s life. It’s a more reflective place for him. While for Catelyn, the godswood was said to be more personable. The Tullys are more people oriented people ‘Her gods had names and their faces were as familiar as the faces of her parents.’ while the Starks treated the old gods like a natural force. ‘his own gods were the old ones, the nameless, faceless gods of the greenwood…’

‘The Heart Tree’ is like the sacred life force of Winterfell. And it was a creepy aged tree. ‘a face had been carved in the trunks of the great tree, its features long and melancholy, the deep-cut eyes red with dried sap and strangely watchful. They were old, those eyes; older than Winterfell itself.’ Catelyn doesn’t like this tree and she felt unease as if those eyes were always watching her.

 
Catelyn tells Ned that her daughters, Arya and Sansa like their Direwolves, except Rickon, who's 3 years old and is a little afraid of them. Ned broods and says his son needs to grow up fast "He must learn to face his fears, He will not be 3 forever." We thus learn that Stark upbringing encourages that boys should toughen up fast because its a dangerous world out there, full of death and things out to get you.

We learn the Stark family motto is ‘Winter is Coming’, which Catelyn finds weird and foreign. ‘Every noble house had its words. Family mottoes, touchstones, prayers of sorts, they boasted of honor and glory, promised loyalty and truth, swore faith and courage. All but the Starks. Winter is coming, said the Stark words. Not for the first time, she reflected on what a strange people these northerners were.’

Winter is Coming, is kind of a warning of doom and dread. Winter, is a dangerous season as we read in the prologue, the cold is enough to kill people. So the Stark motto is more like an ominous toiling bell that bad stuff is coming. Sounds awfully depressing.  

We learn more about Ned Stark’s mystical sword, Ice. It’s a sight to behold that even Catelyn, who doesn’t like swords, admits that it is a beautiful weapon. ‘Catelyn had no love for swords, but she could not deny that Ice had its own beauty’.  The sword was forged in Valyria and the ironsmiths would forge the blade with magic  as well as hammers. Ice is said to be 400 years old and is still sharp till present day. The sword is a family heirloom and has been around since Ned’s ancestors were Kings in the North.

Ned talks about the man he executed, saying that this was the fourth guy who deserted the Night’s Watch. He also notes that the man was mad with fear. ‘The poor man was half-mad. Something had put a fear in him so deep that my words could not reach him.’. He blames the recent deaths and losing of men on Night’s Watch missions to that of the Wildlings, the ‘creatures’ beyond the Wall. He’s determined to ride up there one day with an army and kill them off.

Ned’s understanding of Wildlings is also very limited, all he knows is they’re a force to be reckoned with and should be eradicated. A rather simplistic view of foreigners but I suppose the Wildlings are based so far north and no one has much information about them, all they know is they’re been branded an enemy and should be destroyed.

Catelyn believes in the supernatural and is fearful of it. She talks about ’darker things beyond the Wall’ and chooses to believe in the Others and other creepy things beyond the Wall as described by Old Nan. Ned on the other hand, thinks its all hogwash and rather believe in facts. ‘The Others are as dead as the children of the forest, gone eight thousand years…. No living man has ever seen one.’

Catelyn breaks some unfortunate news: Ned’s foster father, Lord Jon Arryn has died.
Lord Arryn, based in the Eyrie, had no children. He fostered Ned Stark and Robert Baratheon, who is now the current King. When the previous king, Mad King Aerys Targaryen demanded for Ned and Robert’s heads, Lord Jon Arryn rose up and revolted against the Mad King. Eventually, Lord Jon Arryn also became Ned’s brother-in-law as he married Catelyn’s sister, Lysa Tully. Lysa is now widowed and has one child, a boy.

Ned tells Catelyn to go to Eyrie to see her widowed sister because he understands she means a lot to her. ‘Take the children. Fill her halls with noise and shouts and laughter.’

But Catelyn knows she can’t.. because she also breaks the news that King Robert is coming to visit Winterfell, and they have to receive him. He didn’t give any prior notice. Ned hasn’t seen his half-brother for many years and is excited.

Catelyn wants to be happy at the news but her fear of the dead Direwolf omen disturbs her. ‘but she had heard the talk in the yards; a Direwolf dead in the snow, a broken antler in its throat. Dread coiled within her like a snake, but she forced herself to smile at this man she lived.’

We are sort of led to put two-and-two together, if the Direwolf is the sigil of House Stark, the Stag must be the sigil of House Baratheon, the house of King Robert. Catelyn fears something really bad could go wrong but she hopes for the best.

We also learn that King Robert’s wife, Queen Cersei, is from House Lannister. The Lannisters do not get along with the Starks because they came late to aid Robert Baratheon in war, they only came when ‘victory was all but certain‘. In other words, the Lannisters were kind of cowardly dicks who only came round to help when things looked favorable, well, according to Lord Stark anyway.

Catelyn warns her husband to guard his tongue because the Queen is a powerful woman. ‘The Lannister woman is our queen, and her pride is said to grow with every passing year.’


Chapter Impressions

Another power packed chapter with lots of history, info about religion, family relation stuff and more info about the prominent families related to the characters.

It’s sweet that Catelyn and Ned love each other in a formal, business like way like a good ol married couple. They have been married for 15 years and they’re still doing ok. But despite that, Catelyn is still resistant of Stark custom and culture but she loves Ned and he loves her too.

This is the first time we hear Ned lose someone close to him. The death of Jon Arryn does affect Catelyn too as her sister is now a widow. The death has also brought the both of them together and now with the King’s visit, they’ll have to work together to entertain King Robert and also his queen, Cersei Lannister.

That nagging feeling of the Dead Direwolf being killed by a stag is kind of ominous. Like something could happen, there’s a warning sign there.

Let's Read - Game of Thrones - Chapter 1 - Bran

Bran - Chapter 1

Bran Stark portrayed by Isaac Hempstead

Summary

the discovery of the dead Direwolf

This chapter is told from the perspective of 7 year old Bran Stark. He’s one of the sons of Lord Eddard Stark of House Stark. Their sigil is that of a Direwolf and their estate is known as Winterfell.

It’s morning and Bran is traveling with his lord father and brothers to witness his first execution. We learn more about the Wildlings as mentioned in the prologue: According to Bran’s Old Nan, Wildlings are said to be ruthless savages who are described more as monsters than men. We discover that the man to be executed is Gared from the prologue. (his name is not mentioned but it is implied)

We are also introduced to the men of House Stark - Robb Stark, 14 years old is the eldest son. Jon Snow, also 14 years old is the bastard son, Rickon Stark, only mentioned, is the youngest son, Theon Greyjoy, Lord Stark’s ward is 19 years old .

Lord Eddard Stark is 35 years old. His sword is known as ‘Ice’, a specially crafted blade of Valyrian steel, a mystical high quality metal. Under his command is Jory Cassel, captain of his household guard, Hullen, the master of horse and his son, Harwin.

We learn that Gared was executed for deserting the Night’s Watch. Robb and Jon have a discussion if Gared died bravely. Robb believes he did but Jon believes he died afraid. Lord Stark talks to Bran about the execution and reveals that he was simply upholding the law as instructed by King Robert Baratheon, whom their family aids. Lord Stark teaches Bran about the Stark code of honor: death sentences must be dealt honorably and by the sentencer’s own hand. Bran is promised to be his brother Robb’s bannerman when Robb becomes Lord.

Later, Robb and Jon chance upon a dead Direwolf mother. Direwolves are a rarity in the world and everyone is shocked to find one. This Direwolf was killed by a Stag. They miraculously find a litter of puppies still alive on the dead beast. The grownups  and Theon want to kill the puppies because Direwolves are wild beasts and are dangerous but Robb and Bran protest. Jon finds there are 5 pups, each one for the Stark kids, 3 male and 2 female. (It is revealed that Bran also has 2 sisters). We learn the meaning behind Jon Snow’s last name. ’Snow’ is a derogatory label given to bastards because they have no true name of their own. Lord Stark agrees to take in the Direwolf pups.

Just as they are leaving, Jon discovers 1 more pup. Its an albino and Jon claims it as his own.

Analysis

Themes and Topics

-Mercy or Death and the decision of it
-Decisions will lead to consequences - Gared dies for deserting, Something bad could happen after the kids adopt the Direwolf pups.
-Coming of Age - for Bran who man’s up by watching the execution
-Empathy or the lack of it - Jon’s response vs. Theon’s response to the dead man.
-Fear of the enemy and use of propaganda - I.e Wildlings are described like monsters
-Crime and Harsh Punishment - Gared deserts the Night’s Watch and has to die.
-Family relations and social conflict - father and son, the bastard and the other Starks, Greyjoy and Jon.
-Honor and the Stark Code of Honor
-History and Heritage
-Politics - an early mention. Lord Stark exacts the King’s law against Gared. His hand is forced. The Starks have to aid House Baratheon because its political.
-Power - the King is described as the most powerful man in the realm.
-Omens  - the death of the Direwolf by stag antler and the finding of the pups

Lord Eddard Stark portrayed by Sean Bean

Robb Stark portrayed by Richard Madden

Jon Snow portrayed by Kit Harington

Theon Greyjoy portrayed by Alfie Allen

We are introduced to House Stark from the perspective of Bran Stark. Bran is 7 years old and will be accompanying his brothers for the first time to witness his lord father publicly execute someone.

Allowing a 7 year old boy to see someone’s head get chopped off seems perfectly normal according to Stark custom. Death is not viewed as a taboo affair to them: it’s real, all around them and children are exposed to it very early.

The weather is quite pleasant in this chapter, a sharp contrast to the nasty cold in the prologue. A sign of happier times despite the execution and all.

Bran thinks the man to be executed is a Wildling because he had sworn allegiance to the King of the Wildlings, Mance Rayder, the King-beyond-the-Wall. Bran then recalls the stories his Old Nan told him about Wildlings. They’re described as monsters more than humans. “The wildlings were cruel men, she said, slavers and slayers and thieves. They consorted with with giants and ghouls, stole girl children in the dead of night, and drank blood from polished horns.”   

The description of Wildlings sounds so ridiculous when you think of it as an older person because it makes them out to be like this absolute evil enemy. It sounds like propaganda and every Stark has been educated to hate them. What one doesn’t understand, one fears. The Starks obviously don’t run in with Wildlings very often so they conjure stories about them, which most likely aren’t true about them at all.

 As we read on, telling from the description, we know this man to be executed: It’s Gared from the previous chapter! “He had lost both ears and a finger to frostbite, and he dressed all in black, the same as a brother of the Night’s Watch…” poor Gared got found deserting the Night’s Watch and now he’s about to be executed.

Bran describes his father, Lord Eddard Stark. We can tell he’s a loving father but also a stern Lord who means business.  “He seemed not at all the man who would sit before the fire in the evening and talk softly of the age of heroes and the children of the forest. He had taken off Father’s face..and donned the face of Lord Stark of Winterfell.”

Lord Stark is painted as a cool father figure according to Bran, as how a son idealizes his father. He also describes Lord Stark’s personal blade, ‘Ice’. We learn it’s a pretty big and long blade. It is also forged in a special rare material, Valyrian steel. “The blade was Valyrian steel, spell-forged and dark as smoke. Nothing held an edge like Valyrian steel.” ‘Ice’ is like a kind of mystical awesome weapon and Bran is proud of this. Proud that his awesome dad has this weapon.

Before Lord Stark chops Gared’s head off, he announces the sentence. “In the name of Robert of the House Baratheon, the First of his Name, King of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm…” Just by reading this, we can tell the King, King Robert of House Baratheon has TONS of power and sounds ridiculously important. He is tasked as King of the human ancestors, the ruler of 7 kingdoms and overall ‘protector of the realm’. He sounds like the most powerful man of the realm. And than Lord Stark sentences the man to die.

So we learn that Lord Stark is exacting the King’s law of death upon this guy who deserted the Night’s Watch. That’s a pretty severe punishment.

Jon Snow, Bran’s bastard brother gives a pointer to Bran to tell him to man up and watch the beheading because his lord father will be watching him. Bran listens and witnesses the gruesome deed. Watching the beheading is like a rite of passage for boys of the Stark family. It’s like after they witness it, they mature as boys and will only grow stronger. They’re made to confront death in the face and accept it as a part of life. Bran is able to do this and has thus passed the test but he is disturbed by it “Bran could not take his eyes off the blood. The snows around the stump drank it eagerly, reddening as he watched.”

And on the other hand, we have Theon Greyjoy, Lord Stark’s ward, who’s just an unfeeling dick. He laughs at the dead man’s head puts his boot on it and kicks it away. That man was just alive about a minute ago and he’s just mucking around and not feeling a twinge of empathy for the dead guy. Then again, he’s 19 and has seen a lot more death, but still. Pretty dick move.

Jon Snow, unlike Theon, has empathy. He scoffs at Theon’s action and calls him an ’Ass’. He also is an encouraging brother to Bran who praises him and tells Bran that he did well at the test. Jon, despite being a bastard, is actually quite nice to his half-brother and treats him like a real brother and Bran appreciates this.  

Robb Stark, Bran’s older brother, discusses the execution with Jon Snow. Robb feels that Gared died bravely but Jon disagrees. “It was not courage. This one was dead of fear. You could see it in his eyes, Stark”. Robb perhaps isn’t that good at reading people’s facial expressions or body language unlike Jon who seems to be more attentive to these things. Either way, Robb treats his bastard brother Jon like a brother and good mate as they race each other to the bridge on their horses, as guys like a good bout of healthy competition.

Lord Stark then approaches Bran and asks how he is, and also questions him why he had to kill Gared. Bran questions his dad about Robb and Jon’s discussion “Robb says the man died bravely, but Jon says he was afraid.. Can a man still be brave if he’s afraid?” Lord Stark tells his son something very profound “That is the only time a man can be brave.” When a man is about to die  and he’s afraid, that is the only time he can be brave. We can also tell that Bran is a pretty smart kid for a 7 year old. He questions things and not just accepts things as they are, he can analyze.

Lord Stark asks Bran if he understands why he had to kill Gared, Bran isn’t sure but he takes a stab and says “King Robert has a headsman”. which Lord Stark admits is correct. Lord Stark killed Gared because he was following the law that King Robert had exacted because House Stark supports the King. But Lord Stark goes on to explain the deeper meaning behind the execution. “Yet our way is the older way. The blood of the First Men still flows in the veins of the Starks, and we hold to the belief that the man who passes the sentences should swing the sword. If you would take a man’s life, you owe it to him to look into his eyes and hear his final words. And if you cannot bear to do that, then perhaps the man does not deserve to die.” This is the Stark code of honor. If you sentence a man to die, you do it nobly and by your own hand.

Lord Stark goes on to explain that when Robb becomes king, Bran will be his banner man and when it becomes his turn to exact justice upon others, he must “take no pleasure in the task, but neither must he look away. A ruler who hides behind paid executioners soon forgets what death is.” A rather idealistic statement to some extent.

Robb and Jon than discover a dead Direwolf. It’s a giant monstrous creature. “It was bigger than Bran’s pony, twice the size of the largest hound in his father’s kennel.” It’s also an incredibly rare animal. “There’s not been a dire wolf sighted south of the Wall in 200 years.” says Theon. Robb and Jon find Direwolf puppies on the dead creature.

Lord Stark finds out how the animal died: it was killed by a Stag. This somehow causes unease to the rest of the men. “The men looked at the antler uneasily, and no one dared to speak. Even Bran could sense their fear, though he did not understand.” Ok this is kind of a foreshadowing thing and we will only understand the meaning of this omen in later chapters. Note that the Stark house sigil is that of a Direwolf.

Lord Stark has to decide what to do with the pups. Robb and Bran want to keep them but Theon and the men want to kill them because they know the Direwolf is a dangerous beast. Robb is stubborn and does have a hint of leadership in him when he tells Greyjoy off and declares he will keep the pups. “For a moment he sounded as commanding as their father, like a lord he would someday be.” according to Bran.

Jon Snow saves the situation by saying there are 5 pups in all. Each one for the Stark kids. 3 boys and 2 girls. He nobly gives up a pup because he knows his place: He’s not a Stark, he’s the bastard child. Jon is really a very nice guy who is selfless. No one likes the bastard child because he’s an illegitimate one. He doesn’t even deserve a proper last name, in his case, bastard children of the North are called ’Snow’.

And so Lord Stark agrees to let the Stark kids keep the Direwolf pups. He chooses mercy over death, in a kind of metaphorical way, but he also knows, he might have made a grave mistake allowing his kids such dangerous beasts. “These are not dogs to beg for treats and slink off at a kick. A Direwolf will rip a man’s arm off his shoulder as easily as a dog will kill a rat.” as he tells Robb and Bran.

Just as they are riding back to Winterfell, Jon thinks he hears something. (Once again, we can tell Jon is very sensory attentive. He’s good at reading people, feels empathy and is very attuned to his senses) he goes back to the dead Direwolf and finds 1 last pup that had wandered away from the others. It’s an albino and he claims it for his own. 

The Direwolf pups are an obvious extension of the Stark kids including the albino one which represents the bastard Jon Snow. Like the pups, the Stark kids are young and naïve to the cruel harsh world out there and in later chapters, we will see the kids and their wolves grow up together with them as extensions of their personalities.

Chapter Impressions

There’s a lot going on in this first chapter. We see death through the eyes of 7 year old Bran who’s forced to grow up fast.

We’re introduced to the main Stark men and they’re all very interesting characters.

Jon Snow, is a real nice guy despite the fact he’s a bastard. He looks out for Bran, cares for him like a real brother, is selfless, sensitive to others and knows his place in the family.

Bran is a smart kid and questions things but because he’s young, he still wants to believe Old Nan’s tales of creepy evil Wildlings, just because perhaps he likes a good horror story once in a while. Bran admires his father very much and thinks he’s the coolest dad ever.

Lord Stark is a good father and a stern Lord but also a rather idealistic man. He expects others to be honorable and uphold their code. He’s also a merciful man in a way that he accepts Jon Snow into his family despite his bastard status and also has a ward, Theon Greyjoy, unexplained as of yet how he came to the family. Lord Stark also let's his kids keep the Direwolf pups instead of killing them, showing his mercy, even though he knows it could be a dangerous decision.

Theon is kind of a dick. A mischievous boisterous figure who isn’t empathic and isn’t very nice to Jon, but he’s practical man in a sense he knows the Direwolf is a dangerous creature and shouldn’t be reckoned with. He, like the other men, suggest they kill the wolf pups than let them live. Well there’s probably a hidden meaning to that because Theon is not a Stark.

Despite the dread of death from the execution and the rather suspicious ominous message about the dead Direwolf and the pups, it’s a brilliant introductory chapter that is power packed with information. We are told the king is the most powerful man in the realm, the Starks are forced to exact his law even if they don’t want to, the Stark code of honor is kind of a sacred vow, the hint of succession that Bran is to be Robb’s right hand man when he’s king one day. All that stuff is pretty solid information, especially witnessing this through the eyes of a 7 year old boy.