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A Game of Thrones
based on Hadrian’s Wall. Construction on Hadrian’s Wall began
INTR
INTRODUCTION
ODUCTION in 122 in Roman Britain, and that wall was intended, like the
Wall in A Game of Thrones, as a defensive fortification to protect
BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF GEORGE R. R. MARTIN
against potential invaders from the north.
George R. R. Martin was born in Bayonne, New Jersey, on
September 20, 1948. His father, Raymond Martin, was a
RELATED LITERARY WORKS
longshoreman, working in ports to load and unload ships, and
his mother was Margaret Brady Martin. In 1953, the family A Game of Thrones is the first book in George R. R. Martin’s
moved into federal housing projects, where Martin lived for the series A Song of Ice and Fire. J.R.R Tolkien’s series The Lord of the
next 14 years. As a child, Martin wrote stories about monsters Rings is one of the most often cited influences for the novels in
that he would sell to classmates and other children from his Martin’s series. Both A Song of Ice and Fire and The Lord of the
neighborhood. He attended Northwestern University, where Rings are epic high fantasy series that touch on questions of
he received a degree in journalism. During the Vietnam War, right and wrong in worlds inspired, in part, by medieval Europe.
Martin became a conscientious objector and served as a VISTA While The Lord of the Rings is primarily concerned with
volunteer at the Cook County Legal Service Foundation for two metaphysical concepts of good and evil, A Game of Thrones
years in place of military service. During his 20s, Martin wrote delves into the complexities of political narratives and political
short stories before publishing his first full-length work of intrigue that lead people to act immorally. In that sense, A Game
fiction, Dying of the Light, in 1977. He went on to publish several of Thrones depicts characters as neither innately good nor evil
subsequent novels, which often delved into horror and science (as is often the case in The Lord of the Rings) but as facing
fiction genres. Martin has also worked in TV, including time choices about whether to act morally or immorally depending
spent as a writer on a 1985 remake of the Twilight Zone. He is on different factors at play in the complex situations they find
most well-known for his series A Song of Ice and Fire. A Game of themselves in. George R. R. Martin has also cited Shakespeare
Thrones, published in 1996, was the first book in that series. as a major influence on A Game of Thrones. Much of A Game of
The latest novel in the series, A Dance with Dragons, was Thrones takes inspiration from the Wars of the Roses, and
published in 2011. A Song of Ice and Fire then became a Shakespeare’s play Henry VI has been credited with inspiring
successful, Emmy-award-winning television series. the phrase “Wars of the Roses.” Another series of novels that
influenced Martin is The Accursed Kings, a set of seven books
HISTORICAL CONTEXT about the 14th-century French monarchy by Maurice Druon.
A Game of Thrones takes place in an entirely fictional world with

its own fictional history. However, several real-life historical
KEY FACTS
events inspired events and settings in A Game of Thrones. The • Full Title: A Game of Thrones
story of royal succession in A Game of Thrones is loosely based • When Written: 1990s
on the Wars of the Roses, a series of civil wars in England that
• Where Written: United States
took place from 1455 to 1487. The conflict was fought
between two rival royal houses, the Yorks and the Lancasters. • When Published: 1996
The mental instability of Richard IV, of House Lancaster, led • Literary Period: Contemporary
Richard, the Duke of York, to pursue the throne. Though the • Genre: High Fantasy Novel
houses and families involved in the War of the Roses do not • Setting: The fictional continents Westeros and Essos
correspond exactly to the houses and families in A Game of
• Climax: After Ned Stark announces that Joffrey is not
Thrones, certain similarities are evident. For example, the
Robert’s heir, the City Watch arrests Ned and kills his men.
capricious reign of Aerys II Targaryen earns him the moniker
the “Mad King,” reminiscent of Richard IV’s reputation. The fall • Antagonist: Jaime Lannister, Cersei Lannister, Joffrey
Baratheon
of Aerys II Targaryen ultimately leads to a competition for
power that ends in a devastating war, similar to what happened • Point of View: Third-Person Limited
in the War of the Roses. A Game of Thrones also takes place in a
feudal society. Feudalism was the prevailing form of EXTRA CREDIT
government in Europe from the 5th century to the 15th Incomplete. At this point, Martin has two more novels planned
century. Several other historical parallels can be found in A for the A Song of Ice and Fire series, though he has not said when
Game of Thrones. For example, the Wall in A Game of Thrones is those novels will be published.
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Chess Tournaments. In his 20s, Martin worked as the director sent to serve on the Night’s Watch. The number of people
of chess tournaments. serving on the Night’s Watch has been rapidly declining and
those who do serve have been disappearing when they venture
beyond the Wall at alarmingly high rates.
PL
PLO
OT SUMMARY After Ned leaves, someone sneaks into Bran’s room and tries to
A Game of Thrones opens with a description of three men from kill him. Catelyn is there and stops the attack with help from
the Night’s Watch traveling beyond the Wall. The Wall is a Bran’s direwolf (a wolf larger than a horse). Catelyn decides to
700-foot tall structure that protects Westeros from the find out who tried to kill Bran. She travels to King’s Landing and
Others, who haven’t been seen in 8,000 years. The men are brings the dagger used in the attack with her, hoping that it can
attacked by the Others, creatures with piercing blue eyes and be identified. In King’s Landing, Catelyn tries not to attract
ice-cold skin. After one of the men is killed by the Others, he attention, but her old friend, Littlefinger, finds out she’s there.
rises with piercing blue eyes and kills another member of the Littlefinger brings Ned and Catelyn together and tells them
Night’s Watch. The third man on that expedition runs away and that the dagger was his before he lost it in a bet to Tyrion
is later charged with deserting the Night’s Watch, the Lannister. Ned and Catelyn then suspect that the Lannisters
punishment for which is execution. Ned Stark carries out the not only killed Jon Arryn but also attempted to kill Bran.
execution. Catelyn decides to return to Winterfell to avoid attracting any
more attention.
Ned Stark is the Lord of Winterfell, a castle in the north of the
continent Westeros. His wife, Catelyn, tells him that the king, Ned stays in King’s Landing, where he struggles in his role of
Robert Baratheon, will be visiting him following the death of Hand of the King. He gets into an argument with Robert when
Jon Arryn. Jon Arryn had been Robert’s advisor as the Hand of Robert insists that they should kill Viserys and Daenerys
the King, and Ned and Robert had both been mentored by Jon Targaryen—even though Daenerys is only 14—as well as
Arryn when they were younger. During that time, Ned and Daenerys’s unborn child. Robert took the throne after the
Robert formed a close bond and came to think of Jon Arryn as a former king, Aerys II Targaryen was killed (by Jaime Lannister),
father figure. so Robert is concerned that Aerys’s heirs, including Viserys and
Daenerys’s unborn child, will have a claim to the throne if
Robert arrives in Winterfell with the queen, Cersei Lannister, they’re not killed. Ned thinks that it’s vile to consider killing
and Cersei’s brothers, Jaime and Tyrion Lannister. While children, and he quits the role of Hand of the King in protest.
visiting, Robert asks Ned to take Jon Arryn’s role as the Hand
of the King. Ned is reluctant. He wants to stay in Winterfell In Essos, a continent to the east of Westeros, Viserys makes
with his family instead of going to live in King’s Landing, where Daenerys marry Khal Drogo, the ruler of a large army of
the king and his small council (his group of advisors) reside. Ned Dothraki people. Viserys is trying to trade Daenerys’s hand in
asks to think about it. Catelyn then receives a note from her marriage for the support of Khal Drogo’s army in his attempt to
sister, Lysa, who is Jon Arryn’s widow. In that note, Lysa says reclaim the Crown in Westeros. After the marriage, Viserys and
that the Lannisters killed Jon Arryn. Catelyn says that, knowing Daenerys travel with Khal Drogo’s nomadic group, and
this information, Ned has to accept Robert’s offer to make Ned Daenerys becomes pregnant. Viserys is an ineffectual leader,
the Hand of the King, both to protect Robert from the and he alienates Khal Drogo and the Dothraki people. When
Lannisters and to find out if they killed Jon Arryn. Khal Drogo sees Viserys threatening Daenerys and her unborn
child, Khal Drogo kills Viserys. Daenerys continues to live with
While Robert and the Lannisters are still in Winterfell, one of Khal Drogo and his nomadic group, and the Dothraki people
Ned’s sons, Bran, goes climbing. Climbing is his favorite believe that her unborn son will be the king of kings that
pastime. When Bran is near the top of an abandoned building, prophecies have promised. After Viserys’s death, an assassin
he hears two people talking. They’re saying that Ned shouldn’t tries to kill Daenerys before an exiled knight who lives with the
be the Hand of the King. When Bran gets a glimpse into the Dothraki, Jorah Mormont, steps in to stop the attempted
window, he sees Cersei having sex with her brother Jaime. poisoning. In response, Khal Drogo vows to use his army to
Jaime hauls Bran in through the window and then shoves him ensure that Daenerys’s unborn son will one day be the king of
back out. Bran falls several stories to the ground. Bran goes Westeros.
into a coma after the fall and awakens weeks later, paralyzed
and with no memory of what happened. Meanwhile, as Catelyn travels back to Winterfell from King’s
Landing, she coincidentally meets Tyrion Lannister in an inn.
Ned accepts Robert’s offer to become the Hand of the King. He Catelyn places Tyrion under arrest for conspiring to kill Bran
sets out for King’s Landing (where the king and royal family and brings him to the Eyrie, the castle where her sister Lysa
live) with his two daughters, Arya and Sansa. Ned’s sons Robb, traveled to after Jon Arryn’s death. Tyrion arranges to have a
Bran, and Rickon stay at Winterfell with Catelyn. Jon Snow, a trial by combat at the Eyrie. A soldier for hire, Bronn, fights in
child who Ned had out of wedlock and who Catelyn resents, is his stead. Bronn wins the fight, and he and Tyrion are free to go.

In King’s Landing, in retaliation for Catelyn’s arrest of Tyrion, tried for treason, Joffrey says he wants his head. Ned is then
Jaime attacks Ned and his men. He spares Ned’s life but kills executed in front of Sansa.
Ned’s men. Ned falls into a coma from injuries sustained during After Jon Snow hears of Ned’s execution, he considers
the fight. When he wakes up, Robert tells Ned that he has to be deserting the Night’s Watch to fight alongside Robb and the
the Hand of the King again or else the role will go to Jaime Starks. Jon leaves and makes it one town down the road before
Lannister. Ned reluctantly accepts. his friends catch up with him and bring him back. Jon’s
While Robert is gone on a hunting trip, Ned hears complaints commander then tells him that they’re planning an expansive
from people who say that the Lannisters have been conducting expedition beyond the Wall to find out why men of the Night’s
raids on their land. No one can prove that the Lannisters are Watch have been disappearing, and Jon decides to stay in the
behind it, but it seems clear that one of the Lannisters’ most Night’s Watch.
well-known knights, Gregor Clegane, is involved. Ned orders The Stark army continues to march to fight the Lannister army.
Gregor’s execution. The Stark army loses its first major battle. Robb deploys a
Ned also continues his investigations into Jon Arryn’s death. He strategy to split the Lannister army in two and captures Jaime
puts the pieces together and learns that Jon Arryn was killed Lannister in a second battle. When deciding what to do next,
because he found out that Robert and Cersei’s son Joffrey is Robb’s bannermen declare him the “King of the North” and say
actually Cersei and Jaime’s son. Ned confronts Cersei with the they will follow him rather than recognizing whoever is king in
truth. Cersei says that her two other children are Jaime’s as King’s Landing.
well and not Robert’s. Ned demands that Cersei take her In Essos, Khal Drogo’s khalasar (a band of nomadic Dothraki
children and flee to live in exile, but Cersei doesn’t listen. people) attacks a town of shepherds. In the aftermath,
When Robert returns from the hunting trip, he has been fatally Daenerys steps in to stop Khal Drogo’s men from raping
wounded during an encounter with a boar. He dictates his last women. One of those women is Mirri, who says she is a healer.
will to Ned. In that will, Robert appoints Ned to be the Khal Drogo is injured in the attack, and Mirri applies a salve to
protector of the realm until his son Joffrey comes of age. Ned help him heal. Khal Drogo rips off that salve and falls into a high
knows that Joffrey is not Robert’s biological son, so he changes fever. When Drogo is on the brink of death, Daenerys calls
the name “Joffrey” to the word “heir.” According to Ned, Mirri to help save him. Mirri says he will die unless she
Robert’s oldest brother, Stannis, is the rightful heir to the performs a spell in which death will be exchanged for life. Mirri
throne. does the spell, and Daenerys miscarries her pregnancy. Khal
After Robert dies, Ned wants to ensure that Joffrey doesn’t Drogo survives but is in a catatonic state. Realizing that Khal
inherit the crown. He and Littlefinger decide to bribe the City Drogo will never wake up, Daenerys smothers him with a
Watch (those in charge of law enforcement in King’s Landing) pillow. She then burns Mirri alive on Khal Drogo’s funeral pyre,
to make sure they support Ned when he and Cersei make hoping she can use the same logic that death can be exchanged
competing claims about who is the rightful heir to the throne. for life. Daenerys walks into the flames holding three petrified
When the moment comes, Ned says that Stannis is the rightful dragon eggs that she received as a wedding gift. When she
heir to the throne because Joffrey is not Robert’s son. Cersei emerges from the flames, she is unharmed, and the dragon eggs
says that it is nonsense. Littlefinger holds a dagger to Ned’s have hatched.
throat. The City Watch kills Ned’s men before arresting Ned,
making it clear that Littlefinger betrayed him. After Ned is
taken prisoner, Arya runs away from Lannister men who try to
CHARA
CHARACTERS
CTERS
capture her. Sansa is engaged to Joffrey and thinks that Joffrey
MAJOR CHARACTERS
will listen to her when she pleads with him to show her father
mercy. Ned Stark – Ned Stark is Jon Snow, Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran,
and Rickon’s father. He is also Catelyn’s husband, Rickard’s son,
Robb amasses the Stark bannermen (the people in the north
Ben’s brother, and a close friend of Robert. After Jon Arryn’s
who pledge fealty to the Starks) to march south and fight the
death, Robert names Ned the Hand of the King, and Ned
Lannister army, which has continued to conduct raids in the
becomes the second in command in the realm. Ned serves as a
Riverlands. After leaving the Eyrie, Tyrion forms alliances with
symbol of honor and integrity throughout the novel. When
representatives of several mountain clans, and he travels with
faced with difficult choices, he almost always prioritizes
them to meet up with the Lannister army.
morality over self-interest. He teaches his children similar
In King’s Landing, Ned is formally accused of treason. Sansa lessons. For example, after Ned executes Gared (as punishment
pleads with Joffrey to spare her father’s life and send him to for deserting the Night’s Watch), Ned tells his son Bran that he
serve out the rest of his days as a member of the Night’s Watch. needed to perform the execution himself because “if you would
Joffrey appears to consider what she wants, but when Ned is take a man’s life, you owe it to him to look into his eyes and hear

his final words.” That ethos reflects Ned’s propensity to value birth mothers. Thus, while Jon becomes a steward to the
integrity and personal responsibility when facing challenging commander of the Night’s Watch, Rob is anointed the King in
moments. Ned’s honor and integrity meet their most difficult the North.
test after Robert dies. Ned discovers that Joffrey is not Catelyn Stark – Catelyn is Ned’s husband and Robb, Sansa,
Robert’s biological son, and Ned’s honor dictates that he must Arya, Bran, and Rickon’s mother. She was also engaged to
put his neck on the line to ensure that the Crown passes to Brandon Stark before Brandon died. Catelyn is portrayed as
Robert’s rightful heir, his oldest brother Stannis, instead of fiercely protective of her children. After Bran’s fall, Catelyn sits
Joffrey. To do that, Ned agrees to bribe the City Watch, vigil at his bedside and hardly sleeps for weeks on end. When
reinforcing the novel’s views that power is incompatible with someone tries to kill Bran, she undertakes a risky journey to
virtue, as even someone as virtuous as Ned cannot play the King’s Landing to investigate the assassination attempt. She is
“game of thrones” without getting his hands dirty. Ned’s bid to also portrayed as courageous and self-possessed, as she makes
wrest power from Joffrey and the Lannisters fails, and the a speech in the inn to ensure allies of her father will support her
Lannisters arrest and execute Ned, which causes the war and arrest Tyrion. Like Ned, she is perhaps too trusting, as she
between the Lannisters and the Starks. bases her arrest of Tyrion on little more than Littlefinger’s word
Jon Snow – Jon Snow is Ned’s son who was born out of that the dagger used in the attempted assassination of Bran
wedlock. His mother is Wylla, and he is Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran, was most recently in Tyrion’s possession. Like Cersei and
and Rickon’s half-brother. As a character, Jon Snow provides an Daenerys, Catelyn’s character shows the limitations of
examination of the rigid hierarchical structure that dictates women’s power within a strictly patriarchal society. While Ned
socioeconomic standing in King’s Landing. Because Jon is not and Robb value her opinions when they are in command,
Ned’s “trueborn” son, he enjoys some of the privileges of a royal Catelyn does not have the same power they do. For example, at
upbringing without experiencing the full benefits. He is treated the end of the novel, Catelyn pushes for peace to try and
like a member of the family by his siblings, but Catelyn views ensure that her children can grow up free from violence—but
him with contempt. Jon is sent to serve in the Night’s Watch, a nobody takes her suggestion seriously. When faced with this
fate that gradually comes to seem to him like a form of exile lack of power, unlike Cersei and Daenerys, Catelyn does not
from the family he once considered his own. Jon is extremely seize power for herself.
loving and loyal. After Ned is executed, love compels Jon to Arya Stark – Arya is Ned and Catelyn’s daughter and Robb,
fight alongside Robb to defeat the Lannisters, while duty Sansa, Bran, and Rickon’s sister. She is also Jon Snow’s half-
requires Jon to stay and fulfill his oath to the Night’s Watch. sister. Arya is portrayed as fiercely independent. She finds the
Jon ultimately decides to stay in the Night’s Watch only when gender norms of Westeros frustratingly restrictive. She and
Commander Mormont tells him of his plan to travel beyond the her sister Sansa are foils to each other. Instead of enjoying
Wall to determine why men have been going missing. That is, needlework and dresses, like Sansa, Arya wants to explore with
Jon chooses duty over love when his duty to the Night’s Watch friends and learn how to fight with swords. Ned and Jon Snow
allows him to pursue the same kind of recognition and renown both encourage Arya, and Jon gives her the sword, Needle,
he was deprived of as part of the Stark family, suggesting that which leads Arya to pursue sword fighting with her teacher,
Jon has the same leadership qualities as Ned, though he will Syrio Forel. In contrast to Ned and Jon, Sansa finds Arya’s lack
never be given a chance to exercise those abilities within the of desire to conform maddening. Arya not only spurns
prevailing hierarchy of Westeros. Westeros’s gender norms but also its strict socioeconomic
Robb Stark – Robb is Catelyn and Ned’s son and Sansa, Arya, hierarchy. She befriends people like her friend Mycah, the son
Bran, and Rickon’s brother. He is also Jon Snow’s half-brother. of a butcher, and casually dismisses people like Cersei and
After Ned is arrested and executed, Robb becomes the Lord of Myrcella. With that in mind, Arya is also similar to characters
Winterfell and leads the Stark army and bannermen into war like Tyrion and Jon Snow, whose lack of ability to fit into
against the Lannisters. Robb is only 15 years old at the time, established hierarchies and norms leads them to be suspicious
and many consider him too young to be an effective leader. of those hierarchies and to embrace their own sense of who
Robb gradually proves many of those who doubt him wrong, they are.
though, and Catelyn sees him as a direct continuation of Ned’s Sansa Stark – Sansa is Ned and Catelyn’s daughter and Robb,
legacy. As a character, Robb serves as a subtle foil to Jon Snow, Arya, Bran, and Rickon’s sister. She is also Jon Snow’s half-
illustrating the inherent injustice of the feudal system of sister. She is engaged to Joffrey. Sansa is initially enamored
Westeros in which the circumstances of one’s birth determine with Joffrey because he’s everything she thinks a prince should
one’s fate. Jon and Robb are about the same age and have be: tall, handsome, and strong. Elsewhere, Sansa displays a
almost identical upbringings. Both are considered to be people romantic view of the world and wishes that it would conform to
of upstanding character with potential for leadership. The the songs she has heard that commemorate legendary
primary difference between them is that they have different historical events. Later, when Joffrey executes Ned despite her

pleas to have mercy on her father, Sansa realizes that Joffrey is Robert to be fatally wounded during an encounter with a boar.
not at all what she thought he was. Instead, he’s cruel and The contrast between Cersei and Robert underlines the novel’s
despotic, which leads Sansa to a pivotal moment in her coming- point that patriarchal power is based not on any inherent
of-age story. At that moment, Sansa realizes that the world is quality that makes men more suited to power than women, as
not like the romantic songs she heard while growing up. Instead several characters contend. Instead, patriarchal power is the
of the heroes achieving victory, the monsters often win. With result of morally indefensible misogyny and gender-based
that in mind, as a character, Sansa reinforces the book’s violence directed against women and girls. Cersei also tells Ned
argument that true heroes often come from the most unlikely that when playing the “game of thrones, you win or you die.
places, while those who seem like they might meet one’s There is no middle ground.” When Ned faces Cersei in that
superficial ideas of what a stereotypical hero might be are game of thrones, he loses and subsequently dies, proving
sometimes villains at heart. Sansa also provides a commentary Cersei’s assertion true. Ned’s death also makes Cersei the
on the novel itself. While fantasy novels are often associated winner of the game of thrones, even if only temporarily.
with fairy tales, Sansa’s painful awakening to the harsh reality Robert Bar
Baratheon/the
atheon/the Usurper – Robert is Stannis and Renly’s
of the world underlines the idea A Game of Thrones is anything brother and Cersei’s husband. He is close friends with Ned and
but a fairy tale. served as Jon Arryn’s ward when younger. Most people believe
Br
Branan Stark – Bran is Ned and Catelyn’s son and Robb, Sansa, him to be Joffrey, Tommen, and Myrcella’s father, though they
Arya, and Rickon’s brother. He is also Jon Snow’s half-brother. are in fact Cersei and Jaime’s children. Robert becomes king
Jaime pushes Bran out of a window after he sees Jaime and after overthrowing the previous king, Aerys II Targaryen, with
Cersei having sex, and the fall puts Bran in a coma. In that coma, the help of the Starks and Lannisters. Robert is an ineffectual
Bran communicates with a three-eyed crow, who tells Bran to and uninterested leader who frequently vacates the throne and
wake up from the coma and seems to, by doing that, save Bran’s would much rather drink and hunt than deal with the details of
life. That interaction, and Bran’s increasing propensity to spend governance. Robert also repeatedly physically abuses his wife,
time in the godswood (a sacred forest) after he awakens from Cersei. As a character, Robert is an example not only of inept
the coma, suggest that Bran may have a latent capacity to leadership but of how power invariably corrupts. In Robert’s
communicate extra-sensorially with spiritual or magical beings. case, power has transformed him from a once towering and
And while most people are dismissive of the idea that the formidable fighter to a lazy and frightened old man. That power
Others could pose a threat—considering that they haven’t has eroded his capacity for morality as well, as he sets in motion
been seen in over 8,000 years—Bran listens intently to Osha a plan to kill Daenerys and her unborn child. Ned strongly urges
when she discusses the threat the Others pose. After, Bran against killing children and quits his role as the Hand of the
seems to seriously consider telling Robb that he is marching in King in protest. Robert’s vices ultimately catch up to him, as a
the wrong direction when he takes his army south to meet the boar fatally injures him while he is drunkenly hunting. However,
Lannisters, suggesting that Bran has a more holistic view of the this was no accident: Cersei arranged to have one of her
world. After Bran is paralyzed in the fall, Tyrion designs a relatives ply Robert with wine in the hope that his drunkenness
specially made saddle so that Bran can ride horses. Bran also would cause an injury or death, showing how power opens a
faces ridicule following his paralysis. With that in mind, though person up to betrayal and backstabbing.
Tyrion stands accused of plotting to kill Bran, the novel draws Tyrion Lannister – Tyrion is Jaime and Cersei’s brother and
parallels between the two, suggesting that they have more in Tywin’s son. He is portrayed as witty and has a quick retort
common than either might think. ready for almost every situation. He has dwarfism, which
Cersei Lannister – Cersei is Tywin’s daughter, Robert’s wife, resulted in his father’s rejection. As Tyrion tells Jon Snow, “All
and Tyrion’s sister. She is also Jaime’s twin sister and lover. dwarfs are bastards in their father’s eyes.” Tyrion’s trajectory
Most people believe that Robert is the father of her children, shows that adversity, while often horrific to endure, can have a
though in actuality Jaime is Joffrey, Tommen, and Myrcella’s transformative impact on those who face it head-on rather than
father. She is the queen of the realm while Robert is king. Like avoiding it. Tyrion argues that by embracing one’s perceived
Catelyn, Cersei demonstrates the lack of power that women weaknesses, one can turn those supposed weaknesses into
have in a rigidly patriarchal society. Cersei concertedly sources of strength. Tyrion teaches those lessons directly to
attempts to gain power and autonomy in a society that Jon Snow, and Jon takes them to heart. Those lessons arguably
systemically disempowers her, despite her competence. Cersei enable Jon to overcome the frustration he feels at being left
is the ultimate tactician, while Robert doesn’t seem to think out of the Stark family in order to embark on a new path in life
past his personal gratification. Robert also physically abuses and embrace his inherent capacity for leadership. Tyrion’s
Cersei, using his elevated status as a man in a patriarchal lessons make a broader point about life in Westeros as a whole.
society to literally bludgeon Cersei. Cersei dispatches Robert As Tyrion shows, one’s status in Westeros is determined by
by having him plied with wine during a hunting trip, which leads strictly defined expectations about who is worthy of power and

respect. Tyrion shows how defying those narrow expectations unborn child, Rhaego. After Drogo is injured in a battle,
by embracing one’s true self can lead a person to be the most Danaerys calls Mirri to revive him. But when this leads to
empowered version of themselves. Danaerys miscarrying her pregnancy and Drogo being
Daenerys T Targary
argaryen
en – Daenerys is Viserys and Rhaegar’s “revived” in a catatonic state, Daenerys smothers Drogo with a
sister and Aerys II Targaryen’s daughter. When Daenerys is 13, pillow.
Viserys trades her hand in marriage to Khal Drogo in hopes Jor
Jorah
ah Mormont – Jorah is Commander Jeor Mormont’s son.
that Khal Drogo’s army will support him in his quest to reclaim Jorah fled Westeros in disgrace after he sold two poachers to a
the Crown. The transactional nature of Daenerys’s marriage slaver instead of sending them to the Night’s Watch. Ned was
illustrates the patriarchal society in which Daenerys lives. She in charge of enforcing Jorah’s punishment, and Jorah holds a
has no say in her own marriage, and Viserys ignores her grudge against Ned as a result. Jorah meets Viserys and
protests against the marriage. Viserys also repeatedly abuses Daenerys at Daenerys’s wedding to Khal Drogo. Jorah then
Daenerys and blames her for the abuse. Though Daenerys is works for Viserys, whom he seems to despise. Jorah sends
powerless in many ways, including in her own marriage, she information to Varys about Viserys and Daenerys in hopes that
also shows a tendency to adapt to trying situations and find he can secure a pardon from the king that will allow him to
ways to gain and maintain power. Daenerys gains significantly return to Westeros. Jorah tells Varys when Daenerys becomes
more power shortly after Viserys’s death. The fact that pregnant, which results in Robert’s plot to kill Viserys,
Daenerys gains power once her ineffectual brother is out of the Daenerys, and Daenerys’s unborn child. Despite his role as an
way shows that the impediments to women’s power in A Game informant to the king, Jorah becomes one of Daenerys’s most
of Thrones don’t come from the inborn superiority of men to trusted confidants and saves Daenerys from a wine merchant’s
women, as several characters contend, but from the morally attempt to poison her. At the end of the novel, Jorah pledges his
indefensible—though no less prevalent for that fact—misogyny fealty to Daenerys as his queen.
and gender-based violence directed against women and girls. Joffre
Joffreyy Bar
Baratheon
atheon – Joffrey is Tommen and Myrcella’s brother,
Additionally, while Danaerys is initially sullen in her life with Tywin’s grandson, and Tyrion’s nephew. He is engaged to Sansa.
Khal Drogo, she gradually grows attached to him. after Khal Most of the realm (including Joffrey) believes that he is Robert
Drogo’s death, she takes command of his khalasar (a band of and Cersei’s son, though he is in fact Cersei and Jaime’s son.
nomadic Dothraki people), though it is significantly smaller than When Sansa first meets Joffrey, she is smitten with him
it had been before Drogo’s death. because he seems like everything a prince should be. He’s tall,
Viserys TTargary
argaryen
en – Viserys is Daenerys and Rhaegar’s brother handsome, and strong. Sansa’s realization that he is in fact cruel
and Aerys II Targaryen’s son. He trades Daenerys’s hand in and despotic is a pivotal moment in Sansa’s coming-of-age
marriage to Khal Drogo when Daenerys is 13 years old, despite story. After Robert dies, Joffrey becomes king. Ned argues that
her objections. He is intent on reclaiming the Crown, which he Joffrey is not Robert’s rightful heir because he is not Robert’s
believes was stolen from his family by the Usurper, Robert biological child, a view that leads Joffrey to arrest Ned.
Baratheon. Viserys hopes that Khal Drogo will use his army to Contradicting Cersei and Sansa’s wishes, Joffrey has Ned
support his quest to regain the throne, but he is an ineffectual executed, reinforcing the novel’s portrayal of Joffrey as an
leader and becomes the object of widespread derision when he uncontrollable child who wields power chaotically and
and Daenerys join Khal Drogo and his khalasar (or band of irresponsibly.
nomadic people). Viserys frequently abuses Daenerys. When Jaime Lannister/the Kingsla
Kingslayyer – Jaime is Tyrion’s brother and
she tries to speak up, he warns her not to “wake the dragon.” Tywin’s son. He is also Cersei’s twin brother and her lover.
Viserys frames his violence toward Daenerys in that way to Most of the realm believes Jaime to be Joffrey, Tommen, and
claim that whatever abuse he subjects her to is her fault. When Myrcella’s uncle, though he is in fact their father. When Bran
Khal Drogo witnesses Viserys pointing a sword at pregnant sees Jaime and Cersei having sex, Jaime pushes him out of a
Daenerys, Khal Drogo kills Viserys. Daenerys gains more window, which causes Bran to be paralyzed. Jaime earned the
power after Viserys’s death. nickname the Kingslayer by killing Aerys II Targaryen, the king
Khal Drogo – Khal Drogo is Daenerys’s husband. He is the khal before Robert, despite the fact that Jaime was a member of the
(or king) of a Dothraki khalasar (a band of nomadic people) of Kingsguard at the time and had therefore sworn an oath to
about 40,000 people. He is portrayed as an unmatched warrior protect Aerys. Jaime is depicted as a fearsome warrior, though
who has never been defeated in battle. Daenerys initially his desire to be part of the fray may cause him to make
objects to her marriage to Khal Drogo and becomes depressed impulsive decisions on the battlefield—to disastrous effect.
after they marry. Ultimately, though, Daenerys becomes That is what happens at the end of the novel when Jaime fights
attached to Khal Drogo and deeply mourns his eventual death. on the front lines against Robb’s fighters. Robb captures Jaime
Khal Drogo also becomes fiercely protective of Daenerys and during that battle, which is a serious blow to the Lannister
kills Viserys when he sees him threatening her and their army.

Petyr Baelish/Littlefinger – Littlefinger serves on Robert’s Catelyn, Edmure, and Lysa’s uncle, and Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran,
small council (a group of advisors to the king) and then on and Rickon’s great-uncle. Catelyn encounters Brynden at the
Joffrey’s small council after Robert dies. Littlefinger grew up in Bloody Gate in the Vale when she is taking Tyrion to Lysa at the
Riverrun with Catelyn, Lysa, and Edmure and fell in love with Eyrie. After Tyrion is set free, Catelyn and Brynden travel
Catelyn. When Catelyn travels to King’s Landing with the together to meet up with Robb and the Stark army.
dagger used in the attempt on Bran’s life, Littlefinger says the Jon Arryn – Jon Arryn was Lysa’s husband and, before his
dagger once belonged to him until he lost it in a bet to Tyrion. death, was the Hand of the King for Robert. He also served as a
Littlefinger’s assertion that Tyrion had the dagger becomes the mentor for both Ned and Robert when the two were wards at
basis for Catelyn’s arrest of Tyrion. At the end of the novel, the Eyrie. Robert and Ned both view Jon Arryn as a father
Littlefinger says that he’ll support Ned by bribing the City figure. Jon Arryn’s death serves as a catalyst for much of the
Watch but ultimately assists the Lannisters in taking the action of the novel, as it leads Robert to ask Ned to replace Jon
throne, underling Littlefinger’s duplicitous nature and casting Arryn as the Hand of the King, bringing Ned to King’s Landing
doubt on his claim that the dagger used to try and kill Bran and making him a reluctant participant in the “game of thrones.”
belonged to Tyrion. Lysa accuses the Lannisters of killing Jon Arryn, and Ned later
Renly Bar
Baratheon
atheon – Renly is Robert and Stannis’s brother. He discovers that the Lannisters indeed killed him to try and make
serves on Robert’s small council (a group of advisors to the sure he didn’t disclose his knowledge that Joffrey was not
king). After Robert dies, Renly abruptly flees King’s Landing, Robert’s biological son and was instead Jaime and Cersei’s son.
leaving Ned to face the Lannisters on his own. At the end of the Ben Stark – Ben Stark is Ned and Lyanna’s brother, Rickard’s
novel, Renly seems to be angling for the Crown instead of his son, and Jon Snow, Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran, and Rickon’s uncle.
brother Stannis, who is Robert’s rightful heir. No one is exactly He is a ranger on the Night’s Watch. He leads a party of rangers
sure why Renly does this and what Stannis’s response might be. to search for Will and Waymar after they go missing only for
Tywin Lannister – Tywin is Jaime, Cersei, and Tyrion’s father, him and his party to go missing as well. The bodies of two of the
and Joffrey, Tommen, and Myrcella’s grandfather. He is the men in his party are found and brought back to Castle Black,
Lord of Casterly Rock, the home of the Lannisters. After the where they reanimate as Others. At the end of the novel,
Starks and Lannisters go to war, Tywin commands one half of Commander Mormont tells Jon Snow that he plans to go
the Lannister army while Jaime commands the other half. After beyond the Wall to find Ben or Ben’s body and determine what
Robert dies and Joffrey becomes king, Joffrey names Tywin the happened to him.
Hand of the King. Near the end of the novel, Tywin appoints Jory Cassel – Jory is Rodrik’s nephew and the captain of Ned
Tyrion the Hand of the King in his place. Stark’s guards. He travels with Ned to King’s Landing when
Varys – Varys is the master-of-whisperers in King’s Landing, Ned becomes the Hand of the King. There, Jory helps Ned
which means he is in charge of gathering information from investigate Jon Arryn’s death. Jory is killed when Jaime
informants throughout the realm. He serves on Robert’s small confronts Ned and his men in the streets of King’s Landing
council (a group of advisors to the king) and, after Robert dies, after Catelyn arrests Tyrion.
on Joffrey’s small council. Varys was also a member of Aerys II Sandor Clegane/The Hound – Sandor Clegane is Gregor
Targaryen’s small council. Varys tells Ned that Jon Arryn was Clegane’s brother. He is Joffrey’s personal bodyguard, and
poisoned and that the Lannisters are trying to kill Robert. After when Joffrey becomes king, he promotes Sandor to the
Ned is arrested, Varys visits him in disguise and tells Ned that Kingsguard (a group charged with protecting the king). Sandor
he should confess to treason for Sansa’s sake and so Cersei shares a vulnerable moment with Sansa when he tells her about
allows him to serve as a member of the Night’s Watch. Ned being terrorized by Gregor as a child. He follows up that
seems to follow Varys’s advice, but that results in Ned’s vulnerability by threatening to kill Sansa if she tells anyone
execution. Varys also receives information from Jorah about what he told her.
Daenerys’s pregnancy, which leads to Robert’s attempts to
have Daenerys and her unborn child killed. Gregor Clegane/The Mountain – Gregor Clegane is Sandor
Clegane’s brother. He is a gargantuan knight who is portrayed
Lysa Arryn – Lysa Arryn is Jon Arryn’s widow; she’s Catelyn as especially vicious and cold. When Ned suspects that Gregor
and Edmure’s sister. She sends a message to Catelyn early in took part in a raid of a town in the Riverlands, he strips Gregor
the novel saying that she suspects the Lannisters killed Jon of his land and title and sentences him to death, a sentence that
Arryn. Later in the novel, Lysa is portrayed as mentally is not carried out before Ned dies.
unstable, and Catelyn becomes frustrated when Lysa grants
Tyrion a trial by combat, a decision that ultimately leads to Sam
Samwell
well T
Tarly
arly – Sam is a recruit who enters the Night’s Watch
Tyrion’s freedom. after Jon Snow. Several trainees in the Night’s Watch ridicule
Sam, and Alliser embarrasses Sam during combat training. In
Brynden T
Tully
ully – Brynden Tully is Hoster Tully’s brother, response, Jon Snow sticks up for Sam and makes sure no one

will make fun of him. Sam and Jon become close friends. After Bravos. He presumably dies defending Arya when Lannister
taking his vows for the Night’s Watch, Sam becomes Maester men come to take her prisoner after Ned is arrested. Arya
Aemon’s steward. recalls Syrio’s teachings as she makes her escape.
Maester Luwin – Maester Luwin is the maester (which is a kind Gr
Grand
and Maester PyPycelle
celle – Grand Maester Pycelle is the
of scholar, healer, and scientist) at Winterfell. Luwin provides maester (which is a kind of scholar, healer, and scientist) of
guidance to Ned and Catelyn after Catelyn receives a message King’s Landing, a role in which he has served for over 40 years.
from her sister Lysa saying that the Lannisters killed her He has also been on the king’s small council for most of that
husband, Jon Arryn. After Bran is paralyzed, Luwin often time, spanning the rule of several different kings. Pycelle tells
accompanies him around Winterfell. He cautions Bran against Ned that though Jon Arryn’s death came surprisingly quickly,
believing what he considers tall tales about the Others beyond there was nothing particularly suspicious about it.
the Wall. Illyrio – Illyrio is a magister in Pentos, a free city on the
Maester Aemon – Maester Aemon is the son of Maekar I continent of Essos, which is east of Westeros across the
Targaryen, which makes him the uncle of Aerys II Targaryen and Narrow Sea. Illyrio provides help and shelter to Viserys and
the great-uncle of Viserys, Daenerys, and Rhaegar. He is the Daenerys when they are in Pentos with the expectation that
maester (which is a kind of scholar, healer, and scientist) at he’ll be rewarded if Viserys reclaims the Crown. As a wedding
Castle Black, where he serves the Night’s Watch. Sam becomes gift, he gives Daenerys three petrified dragon eggs. Daenerys
his steward after he takes his vows for the Night’s Watch. later performs a spell that leads dragons to hatch from those
Aemon also discusses the tension between honor and duty eggs.
with Jon Snow. Maester Aemon tells Jon that he felt compelled Lor
oras
as T
Tyrell/the
yrell/the Knight of Flowers – Loras Tyrell is a knight
to join his relatives to fight against Robert when Robert seized from House Tyrell. He is a skilled jouster, which has made him
the throne from the Targaryens. But, Aemon says when well-known in King’s Landing. In the tournament
advising Jon, he let duty guide him and stayed at Castle Black, commemorating Ned’s new role as the Hand of the King, Loras
implying that Jon should do the same. Tyrell defeats Gregor Clegane. Gregor responds by killing his
Stannis Bar
Baratheon
atheon – Stannis Baratheon is Renly and Robert’s horse before trying to kill Loras. Gregor’s brother, the Hound,
older brother. He resides at Dragonstone (the Targaryen’s then steps in to stop Gregor. At the end of the novel, Loras and
former castle) for the entirety of the novel. After Ned discovers the Tyrells form an alliance with Renly as Renly makes a claim
that Joffrey is not Robert’s biological child, Ned says that for the throne.
Stannis is Robert’s rightful heir and should inherit the Crown. Yoren – Yoren is a member of the Night’s Watch who travels
Near the end of the novel, the Starks hear that Renly is making with Tyrion after Tyrion leaves Castle Black and heads to King’s
a play for the Crown instead of Stannis. No one is exactly sure Landing. After Catelyn arrests Tyrion during that trip, Yoren
why that is happening or what Stannis’s response might be. rides to King’s Landing to alert Ned about what happened.
Mirri Maz Duur – Mirri Maz Duur is a woman from a town of During Ned’s execution, Yoren grabs hold of Arya to keep her
shepherds that Khal Drogo’s army raids. After the raid, from witnessing the execution.
Daenerys intervenes to stop Khal Drogo’s men from raping the Aerys II T
Targary
argaryen
en – Aerys II Targaryen is Viserys, Daenerys,
women from the town, including Mirri. Mirri says that she is a and Rhaegar’s father. He was the king before Robert seized the
healer, though Drogo’s men call her a maegi, meaning a throne from him. Aerys became known as the “Mad King” due
practitioner of dark magic. Mirri corrects them and says that to his capriciousness and mental instability. Jaime killed Aerys
the word maegi actually means “wise.” Daenerys thinks that during Robert’s Rebellion, even though Jaime had sworn to
protecting Mirri from Khal Drogo’s men will lead to goodwill protect Aerys as a member of the Kingsguard. That murder
from Mirri, but Mirri ultimately tricks Daenerys into sacrificing earns Jaime the nickname “Kingslayer.”
her unborn son Rhaego so that Khal Drogo can have another
Rhaego – Rhaego is the name of Daenerys and Khal Drogo’s
lease on life. Khal Drogo’s new life, though, turns out to be a
unborn son. The name comes from Daenerys’s brother
catatonic state. Mirri says she wanted to punish Drogo for
Rhaegar. To save Khal Drogo, Daenerys agrees to let Mirri
invading her town and ensure that his unborn son wouldn’t
perform a spell in which a death will be traded for Khal Drogo’s
follow in his footsteps. In response, Daenerys burns Mirri alive
life. Later, Daenerys learns that she traded Rhaego’s life for
on Drogo’s funeral pyre. She thanks Mirri for teaching her a
Khal Drogo’s.
valuable lesson about the limits of trust and the necessity of
strategic thinking. My
Mycah
cah – Mycah is a friend of Arya’s who she meets during the
trip from Winterfell to King’s Landing after Ned becomes the
Syrio F
Forel
orel – Syrio Forel is Arya’s sword-fighting instructor. He
Hand of the King. Mycah is the son of a butcher, and Arya’s
is from Bravos and calls sword fighting a kind of dance,
decision to befriend him shows the lack of importance she
referring to the water dance style of sword fighting practiced in
places in Westeros’s strict socioeconomic hierarchy. Arya and

Mycah are practicing sword fighting when Joffrey sees them and Jaime’s biological son. He is also Joffrey and Myrcella’s
and threatens Mycah. A fight ensues, and Arya and Mycah run. brother and Twyin’s grandson. Ned’s discovery that Joffrey,
The Hound, Joffrey’s personal bodyguard, ultimately kills Myrcella, and Tommen are not Robert’s children sets in motion
Mycah, which contributes to Arya’s hatred for the Lannisters. Ned’s plan to ensure that the Crown passes to Stannis
Theon Gre
Greyjo
yjoyy – Theon Greyjoy is Balon Greyjoy’s son and Baratheon instead of Joffrey.
Ned Stark’s ward. Theon was taken to Winterfell as a hostage Waymar RoRoyyce – Waymar Royce is a knight who joins the
following Balon’s unsuccessful rebellion close to a decade ago. Night’s Watch when he is 18. He goes with Gared and Will to
Theon is portrayed as arrogant, and he makes light of situations investigate the bodies of a group of wildlings that Will saw.
that others find serious, including the execution of Gared early Waymar is portrayed as somewhat arrogant, and he dismisses
in the novel. As a result, Jon Snow and Bran don’t think highly of Will and Gared’s concerns, even though they have both been
him, though Robb seems to respect Theon and frequently tries on the Night’s Watch for much longer than he has. The Others
to earn Theon’s approval. ultimately find Waymar and kill him, which turns him into one of
Walder F Fre
reyy – Walder Frey is the Lord of the Crossing and the Others.
oversees the river crossing at the Twins, two identical castles Gared – Gared is a 40-year veteran ranger on the Night’s
on either side of the Green Fork River. Robb and his army need Watch. He travels with Waymar Royce and Will to investigate
to cross the river to gain a strategic advantage over the the mysterious deaths of a group of wildlings. After the Others
Lannisters after the two families go to war. Catelyn negotiates kill Will and Waymar Royce, Gared deserts the Night’s Watch.
with Walder Frey to ensure that Robb and his army can cross. The punishment for desertion is death, and Ned Stark executes
In that negotiation, Catelyn promises that Robb and Arya will Gared after Gared is caught. Ned uses that execution to teach
both marry children of Walder Frey. Bran a lesson about the importance of integrity and personal
Osha – Osha is one of the free folk, or wildings, who is part of a accountability.
group that assaults Bran the first time he ventures outside of Will – Will is a ranger on the Night’s Watch. He’s been on the
Winterfell after he is paralyzed. She is captured during that Night’s Watch for four years. He spots the bodies of a group of
fight and brought back to Winterfell. She is kept in shackles at wildlings on a trip beyond the Wall and brings Gared and
first but those are eventually removed as a reward for good Waymar Royce to investigate. The bodies are missing when
behavior. She becomes a servant in the kitchen and tells Bran they return to the scene. Will subsequently climbs a tree and
about life beyond the Wall and the Others. witnesses the Others attacking Waymar Royce below. When
Grenn – Grenn is one of Jon Snow’s friends on the Night’s Will descends from the tree, Waymar Royce, now an Other
Watch. He and Jon Snow are initially enemies, as Jon Snow himself, kills him, ostensibly turning Will into one of the Others.
uses his combat training to humiliate other recruits in his class, Greatjon – Greatjon is a bannermen of the Starks. He joins
including Grenn. Ultimately, Jon Snow helps train Grenn, and Robb in battle when the Starks go to war with the Lannisters.
the two become good friends. Grenn is part of the group of At first, Greatjon considers Robb too young to lead and is
Jon’s friends who stop him from deserting the Night’s Watch reluctant to accept Robb’s command. Ultimately, though, Robb
after Ned’s execution. wins over Greatjon, who becomes one of Robb’s closest allies.
Hugh – Hugh is Jon Arryn’s former squire. He becomes a Greatjon is the first person to pledge fealty to Robb and call
knight when Jon Arryn dies. Ned wants to question Hugh about him the “King in the North” at the end of the novel.
Jon Arryn’s death, but Gregor Clegane kills Hugh during a
jousting tournament. Since Gregor is one of the Lannisters’ MINOR CHARACTERS
soldiers, Ned wonders if the death was accidental or if Gregor Alliser Thorne – Alliser is the master-at-arms at Castle Black,
intentionally killed Hugh to keep Ned from speaking to him. the castle where members of the Night’s Watch live. He is in
Varys also suggests that Hugh may have played a role in charge of training recruits of the Night’s Watch. He and Jon
poisoning Jon Arryn. Snow have a contentious relationship, and Jon often thinks that
Myrcella Bar
Baratheon
atheon – Most people believe that Myrcella is Alliser is trying to sabotage him.
Robert and Cersei’s daughter, but she is actually Cersei and Commander Jeor Mormont – Jeor Mormont is Jorah
Jaime’s biological daughter. She is also Joffrey and Tommen’s Mormont’s father. He is the Lord Commander of the Night’s
sister and Tywin’s granddaughter. When Ned discovers that Watch, which makes him the Watch’s highest-ranking official.
Joffrey, Tommen, and Myrcella are not Robert’s biological Jon Snow becomes Commander Mormont’s steward. Sam
children, Ned sets in motion a plan to ensure that the Crown argues that Commander Mormont takes Jon as his steward to
goes to Robert’s rightful heir, Stannis Baratheon. train Jon to one day command the Night’s Watch.
Tommen Bar
Baratheon
atheon – Most people in the realm believe that Septa Mordane – Septa Mordane is the septa of Winterfell. A
Tommen is Cersei and Robert’s son, though his actually Cersei septa is a clergy member of the Faith of the Seven. Mordane

often serves as a caretaker for Arya and Sansa. Mya Stone – Mya is one of Robert’s children born out of
Vayon PPoole
oole – Vayon Poole is the steward of Winterfell and wedlock. She lives in the Vale and helps guide Catelyn up the
travels with Ned from Winterfell to King’s Landing when Ned treacherous path to the Eyrie.
becomes the Hand of the King. Though Vayon is a steward and Gendry – Gendry is one of Robert’s children born out of
therefore doesn’t carry a weapon, the Lannisters kill him along wedlock. He works as a blacksmith’s apprentice in King’s
with Ned’s other men after Ned is arrested. Landing. Visiting Gendry helps Ned realize that Joffrey is not
Barristan Selm
Selmyy – Barristan is the Lord Commander of the Robert’s son because Gendry has brown hair (like Robert and
Kingsguard for Robert. When Joffrey becomes king, he Mya) while Joffrey has blonde hair (like Cersei and Jaime).
removes Barristan from that position and installs his uncle (and, Rick
Rickon
on Stark – Rickon Stark is Ned and Catelyn’s youngest son.
unbeknownst to him, father) Jaime in his place. He is also Robb, Sansa, Arya, and Bran’s brother and Jon
Rhaegar T Targary
argaryenen – Rhaegar is Viserys and Daenery’s brother Snow’s half-brother. He is three years old at the beginning of
and Aerys II Targaryen’s son. Robert Baratheon killed Rhaegar the novel and has a direwolf named Shaggydog.
in the Battle of the Trident, and Robert says that he killed him in Mance RaRayyder – Mance Rayder is known as the King-beyond-
part to avenge Rhaegar’s abduction and rape of Ned’s sister the-Wall. He has amassed a following of free folk, or wildlings,
Lyanna, to whom Robert was engaged before her death. and seems to be preparing to meet a threat that those south
Bronn – Bronn is a soldier for hire who initially joins Catelyn’s are as yet unaware of.
party to help guard Tyrion when Catelyn has him arrested at an Robert Arryn – Robert Arryn is Lysa and Jon Arryn’s son and
inn. When Lysa grants Tyrion a trial by combat, Bronn fights as Catelyn’s nephew. He is named after Robert Baratheon. After
Tyrion’s champion and wins, giving Tyrion his freedom. Jon Arryn dies, Robert Arryn becomes the Lord of the Eyrie at
Edmure TTully
ully – Edmure is Catelyn and Lysa’s brother and six years old. The novel suggests that Lysa’s mental instability is
Hoster’s son. Edmure is the heir to House Tully and Riverrun. taking a hefty toll on him.
He takes over command of Riverrun when Hoster falls ill. Jaime Hoster TTully
ully – Hoster Tully is Catelyn, Lysa, and Edmure’s
Lannister captures Edmure in one of the battles in the father and Brynden’s brother. He is the Lord of Riverrun. Near
Riverlands. the end of the novel, when Catelyn sees Hoster, Hoster seems
Vardis – Vardis is a knight who Lysa chooses to fight as her to be so ill that he is near death.
champion when she grants Tyrion a trial by combat for his Wylla – Wylla is the mother of Jon Snow, who she had with
alleged involvement in killing Jon Arryn and conspiring to kill Ned Stark out of wedlock.
Bran. Vardis loses the fight to Tyrion’s champion, Bronn, and Kevan Lannister – Kevan Lannister is Tywin’s younger brother
Tyrion and Bronn are subsequently set free. and Jaime, Cersei, and Tyrion’s uncle. He is also Joffrey,
Doreah – Doreah is one of Daenerys’s servants who is in Tommen, and Myrcella’s great uncle. Kevan joins his brother
charge of instructing Daenerys in the “arts of love.” Tywin when Tywin goes to war with the Starks.
Shae – Shae is a sex worker who Tyrion pays for sex and Br
Brandon
andon Stark – Brandon Stark is Rickard Stark’s son, Ned
companionship when he joins Tywin’s battalion in the war with Stark’s brother, and Jon Snow, Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran, and
the Starks. Tyrion plans to take Shae with him to King’s Landing Rickon’s uncle. He was engaged to Catelyn Stark before he died
after Tywin appoints Tyrion the Hand of the King. at the hands of Aerys II Targaryen. After Brandon died, Ned
Ilyn P
Paayne – Ilyn Payne is Robert’s executioner and becomes became engaged to, and married, Catelyn.
Joffrey’s executioner after Robert dies. Ilyn executes Ned with Rickard Stark – Rickard Stark was Ned and Brandon Stark’s
Ned’s own sword, Ice. father and Jon Snow, Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran, and Rickon’s
Old Nan – Old Nan is Hodor’s great-grandmother and the grandfather. He was the Lord of Winterfell during the reign of
oldest person in Winterfell. She is known for her stories, Aerys II Targaryen.
particularly the stories she tells about the Others and the Rodrik Cassel – Rodrik is Jory’s uncle and the master-at-arms
world beyond the Wall. at Winterfell. He travels with Catelyn to King’s Landing after an
Hodor – Hodor is Old Nan’s great-grandson. He works in the assassin attempts to kill Bran.s
stables at Winterfell. After Bran is paralyzed, Hodor helps Bran
move around the castle using a device Maester Luwin builds
and straps to Hodor’s back. Osha says that Hodor is part giant.
THEMES
Pyp – Pyp is one of Jon Snow’s friends on the Night’s Watch. In LitCharts literature guides, each theme gets its own color-
He is among the group that stops Jon from deserting the coded icon. These icons make it easy to track where the themes
Night’s Watch after Ned’s execution. occur most prominently throughout the work. If you don't have

a color printer, you can still use the icons to track themes in the threat the Others pose hangs over all of the other events of
black and white. the novel. Given this, one may interpret the Others as a symbol
for the potentially apocalyptic impact that climate change could
POLITICS AND POWER have on humanity.
Throughout A Game of Thrones, several characters In the world of the novel, “the Wall “was originally built 8,000
claim they have a right to the throne. These include: years ago to protect humans from the Others. In recent years,
Joffrey and the Lannisters, Ned (as protector of the though, the number of people in the Night’s Watch (a military
throne), Stannis, Renly, Viserys, and Daenerys. Each character order that guards the Wall) has decreased dramatically, and
then makes strategic moves to try and ensure that they will Castle Black (the Night Watch’s headquarters) has fallen into
have power when the chips fall and the game is over. The novel disrepair. The people of the Seven Kingdoms are too busy
likens the machinations of politics and power to a game not fighting with one another to concern themselves with the
because the stakes are inconsequential but because winning Others and the threat of destruction they represent. In this
(or gaining power) becomes the most important thing once a way, then, the novel shows how political conflicts have turned
person enters the world of politics. As Cersei says, “When you humans against one another to the point where they have
play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle become atomized and lost a sense of collective purpose. The
ground.” With the stakes so high, when playing that game of novel thus suggests that people must overcome their
thrones, power becomes more important than morality, duty, interpersonal and political conflicts to band together and face
integrity, or concern for others. For example, Jaime shoves the existential threat of the Others, which symbolize climate
seven-year-old Bran out the window to ensure that the secret change.
of his relationship with Cersei doesn’t get out. If it did, then
people would learn that Joffrey is Jaime’s child, not Robert’s, GENDER AND POWER
and Joffrey would have no rightful claim to the throne. In world A Game of Thrones takes place in a rigidly
of the novel, Jaime’s actions make clear, a young child’s life is patriarchal society. The people in power are almost
inconsequential next to the enormous claim to power that always men, and the ultimate ruler is a king, while
would be at stake were they to let Bran live. the queen often serves as nothing more than a figurehead.
By depicting the corruption and immorality that people use to Throughout the novel, several women and girls challenge that
gain and hold power, A Game of Thrones suggests that power is patriarchal structure. When Daenerys’s brother Viserys is
fundamentally and unavoidably corruptive. In the novel, Martin alive, she repeatedly endures violence and abuse at his hands.
depicts a world in which power is incompatible with virtue. For After Viserys is killed, Daenerys claims that she is his rightful
example, as soon as Ned enters the “game of thrones” he heir and therefore has a legitimate claim to the Iron Throne. In
compromises his otherwise upstanding character by agreeing the process of accruing power, Daenerys challenges patriarchal
to bribe the City Watch. Ned ultimately loses the “game of Dothraki norms and ultimately convinces Dothraki men to be
thrones” and is killed, proving Cersei’s assertion that when you her “bloodriders,” who are sworn to protect her to death, even
play the game of thrones, you either win or die. With that in though bloodriders have traditionally only served men.
mind, A Game of Thrones argues that politics is a game with life- However, when Daenerys first declares herself the rightful heir
or-death stakes, and the reward for winning—power—is to the throne, Jorah hesitates for a moment before kneeling
inherently corruptive and incompatible with virtue and and calling Daenerys his queen. That hesitation is another
morality. example among many of the misogynistic world in which
Daenerys lives. To gain power in this world, Daenerys needs to
CLIMATE CHANGE AND COLLECTIVE not only amass a following, but she must also convince that
ACTION following that a woman is fit to rule. In the end, though, she is
able to do that much more effectively than her brother Viserys
A Game of Thrones depicts a world riven by conflict ever could.
and war. The Lannisters fight against the Starks,
Similarly, Cersei is both personally and politically powerless as
and the Baratheons are poised to enter the conflict. Daenerys
the queen when Robert is king. She endures violence at
sits on the outside of the action, but she represents the
Robert’s hands, and the king’s council deprives her of a voice.
attempts of the Targaryen family to retake power from all those
She then undertakes a shadow campaign to gain power. She
who are currently fighting each other in the Seven Kingdoms.
tells a relative to ply Robert with wine during a hunting trip, and
The novel, though, opens not with a description of the warring
Robert’s resulting drunkenness contributes to his death. Cersei
families but with an attack by the Others, ominous figures with
then takes steps to install her son Joffrey on the throne with
icy skin and piercing blue eyes. The Others represent a global
the goal of exercising her power through him. Notably, the
catastrophe that the impending winter seems to promise, and
novel pairs women like Daenerys and Cersei, who are

intrinsically suited for power, with incompetent men who abuse motives of those nearby in order to deploy honor and integrity
them from positions of power. The ineffectuality of those men in strategic ways.
undermines the argument, voiced by several characters, that
the basis of patriarchy is an inherent quality in men that makes IDENTITY
them more suited than women to wield power than women. A
Several characters in A Game of Thrones do not
Game of Thrones uses this discrepancy to critique patriarchy
conform to others’—or sometimes their own—ideas
and to show how the very foundation of patriarchal power is
of who they should be. For example, because Jon
morally indefensible misogyny and gender-based violence
Snow was born out of wedlock, he is not Ned’s “trueborn” son.
directed against women and girls.
As a result, Jon knows he will never be the heir of Winterfell or
be of the same standing as his half-siblings, a fact that causes
HONOR AND INTEGRITY Jon considerable anguish. Similarly, because of her gender,
Ned serves as a symbol of honor and integrity in A someone like Arya faces additional obstacles to achieve all the
Game of Thrones. When faced with difficult things she wants to do, like learn to fight. Tyrion, though,
decisions, he almost always chooses what is morally challenges many of those assumptions about who one should
right rather than what is personally advantageous. Ned’s honor be. He tells Jon Snow to avoid denying hard truths and to
faces its ultimate test after Robert dies. At that point, Ned’s embrace exactly who he is. That way, others won’t be able to
conscience dictates that he must tell the truth: Stannis is use something they perceive as a weakness—like the status of
Robert’s next in line to the throne because he is Robert’s oldest Jon’s birth—against him. Tyrion has experience doing just that.
brother and because Joffrey is not Robert’s son. Saying this, Though he is from a wealthy family, his father rejects him
though, entails risking reprisal from the Lannisters, who want because he is a dwarf. Tyrion then tries to regain a sense of
to see Joffrey on the throne no matter the cost. Littlefinger dignity by accepting and embracing who he is, despite what
tells Ned that he should act in his self-interest: that he should others might think of him.
put his honor aside and affirm Joffrey’s right to the throne, Tyrion’s advice to Jon, and how he puts that advice into practice
which would lead Ned to stay in power as Hand of the King and in his own life, points to the novel’s ideas about adversity and
spare himself and his family from further threats by the struggle. Namely, Jon and Tyrion become who they are because
Lannisters. Ned rejects self-preservation, though, in favor of they have had to struggle in life. The novel argues that
honor. He even goes so far as to let Littlefinger bribe the City adversity, while sometimes horrible to endure, can have an
Watch, compromising his integrity to support his larger goal. edifying effect on those who face it head-on instead of trying to
Littlefinger ultimately betrays Ned, though, which leads to avoid it. According to Tyrion, that capacity to confront and
Ned’s imprisonment and death. Notably, Ned’s fatal mistake accept difficult truths requires a kind of mental courage, which
wasn’t compromising his honor to bribe the City Watch but is often overlooked in a world that is frequently defined by
trusting Littlefinger. If Ned had anticipated Littlefinger’s physical courage. But that mental courage is no less important
betrayal, he could have devised another plan to achieve his because of that fact, Tyrion says. With that in mind, the novel
honorable goals. argues that facing difficult truths helps one embrace one’s true
Daenerys’s impulses toward integrity meet a similar test. identity to become the most empowered version of oneself. By
Daenerys defies longstanding Dothraki customs to stop Mirri embracing one’s identity rather than letting other’s criticisms
and others from being raped. She intervenes because she seal one’s fate, one can transform what others may perceive as
believes that the soldiers’ sexual assault of women is morally one’s greatest weakness into one’s greatest source of strength.
reprehensible, and she assumes that her intervention will
translate to goodwill from Mirri. But Mirri repays Daenerys’s
action (and the raid on her city by Khal Drogo’s Dothraki army) SYMBOLS
by tricking Dany into sacrificing her unborn child. She also puts
Symbols appear in teal text throughout the Summary and
Khal Drogo into a vegetative state after saying she would save
Analysis sections of this LitChart.
his life. In retaliation, Daenerys burns Mirri alive. As she does
that, Daenerys thanks Mirri for teaching her a valuable lesson.
That lesson summarizes the novel’s views on honor and THE OTHERS
integrity: in essence, the novel argues that while honor and
The Others, also called “white walkers,” symbolize
integrity are laudable qualities, in the arena of politics and
the potentially apocalyptic threat of climate change
power, relying on integrity can be shortsighted and naïve, and it
that humanity faces. The novel opens with a description of the
can undermine one’s ability to achieve honorable goals. Instead
Others killing two Night’s Watchmen, causing another to flee.
of relying solely on a sense of right and wrong to realize one’s
Because the novel opens with that scene, the threat of the
goals, one must rely on cunning and intelligence to decipher the
Others hangs over the ensuing political infighting and resultant

war in Westeros. The threat the Others pose, the novel thus relative to ply him with wine when he is on a hunt and causing
suggests from the very beginning, is huge—and is perhaps even him to become drunk, putting him in a situation that leads to his
bigger than any of the novel’s political concerns. death. When Ned gets close to the throne as the protector of
Seasons in Westeros are unpredictable, and the current the realm, Littlefinger betrays him, an act that ultimately leads
summer has lasted for close to a decade. The warming to Ned’s death. With that in mind, the Iron Throne is a literal
temperatures lead some to believe that they are enjoying the representation of the idea that when someone has power, they
Great Summer, an interminable season of warmth supposedly are always at risk of being stabbed in the back. Those swords,
promised by the gods as a reward for universal good human and the throne, also reinforce the threat of violence in Cersei’s
behavior. In contrast to that view—which the novel portrays as statement, “When you play the game of thrones, you win or you
willfully naïve—the Starks utter the slogan of their House: die. There is no middle ground.”
“winter is coming.” Winter promises to be cruel and punishing in Notably, the narration describes the Iron Throne as a “beast
and of itself, but the presence of the Others makes the made of razor edges and barbs and ribbons of sharp metal”
impending winter potentially catastrophic because winter will with “points of twisted swords fanning out like talons from the
enable the Others to venture beyond the currently colder arms of the throne.” Both descriptions employ animal imagery
climes north of the Wall into the territory humans occupy in the to portray the throne as something menacingly alive. Those
south. With that in mind, the literal change in climate in A Game descriptions imply that power is a kind of wild animal that
of Thrones (represented by the impending change from summer threatens to attack if someone cannot tame it. The novel
to winter) portends catastrophic disaster for humanity, describes the political machinations used by various characters
symbolizing the threat that climate change poses to humanity to try and make power more manageable and less likely to
in our contemporary moment. consume them. Those efforts, though, are rarely successful. For
As the threat of the Others increases, the Night’s Watch, which example, Ned fails to mollify the beast of power for long
is supposed to guard Westeros against the Others, has been enough to achieve his aim of installing Stannis on the throne.
rapidly losing recruits. Its numbers have dwindled from about Instead, in the form of Littlefinger’s betrayal, the “talons” of the
5,000 men to 500, and Castle Black (where members of the throne seize Ned, and Ned is executed. Similarly, Cersei also
Night’s Watch live) has fallen into disrepair. People have seems unable to tame and constrain power. Though she
become so caught up in their lives and conflicts south of the successfully installs Joffrey as king, she quickly loses control of
Wall that they have forgotten about the Others. They feel like him. He executes Ned against her wishes, and his actions
it’s unimportant to defend against a threat they cannot see and destabilize the entire realm by escalating an already
which they don’t believe is real, reflecting contemporary devastating war.
skepticism regarding the danger of climate change and the lack
of coordinated global action. As the Others continue to kill
people they find, thus increasing their ranks as those people are
QUO
QUOTES
TES
revivified as Others themselves, the threat they pose to Note: all page numbers for the quotes below refer to the
humans only grows. The novel suggests that the Others, and Bantam edition of A Game of Thrones published in 2011.
the climate change they represent, pose an existential threat to
humanity, and that they could feasibly destroy all of humankind
unless people overcome their political and interpersonal Prologue Quotes
conflicts to band together to collectively address that threat. “It was the cold,” Gared said with iron certainty. “I saw men
freeze last winter, and the one before, when I was half a boy.
Everyone talks about snows forty foot deep, and how the ice
THE IRON THRONE wind comes howling out of the north, but the real enemy is the
The Iron Throne symbolizes the life-or-death cold. It steals up on you quieter than Will, and at first you shiver
stakes of politics, power, and the “game of thrones.” and your teeth chatter and you stamp your feet and dream of
The throne is made of several swords welded and hammered mulled wine and nice hot fires. It burns, it does. Nothing burns
together. When one sits on the throne, those swords are like the cold. But only for a while. Then it gets inside you and
literally at one’s back, symbolizing how vulnerable power makes starts to fill you up, and after a while you don’t have the
a person to “backstabbing” and betrayal. That idea plays out strength to fight it. It’s easier just to sit down or go to sleep.
through several characters in the novel. Jaime Lannister kills They say you don’t feel any pain toward the end. First you go
King Aerys II Targaryen, the king before Robert, betraying him weak and drowsy, and everything starts to fade, and then it’s
even though Jaime was a member of the Kingsguard and had like sinking into a sea of warm milk. Peaceful, like.”
therefore sworn an oath to protect Aerys with his life. Cersei
betrays Robert when he is on the throne, arranging for her

Chapter 1: Bran Quotes

Related Characters: Gared (speaker), Waymar Royce, Will
“Robb says the man died bravely, but Jon says he was
Related Themes: afraid.”
“What do you think?” his father asked.
Related Symbols: Bran thought about it. “Can a man still be brave if he’s afraid?”
Page Number: 3-4 “That is the only time a man can be brave,” his father told him.
Explanation and Analysis

Related Characters: Ned Stark, Bran Stark (speaker), Jon
Gared, Will, and Waymar Royce go to investigate the Snow, Robb Stark, Gared
wildlings whose bodies Will saw. Gared contends that the
wildlings froze to death, but Waymar will later prove this Related Themes:
theory incorrect, pointing out that the temperatures haven’t
been cold enough to cause that kind of freezing. Gared’s Related Symbols:
description of extreme cold becomes prophetic, though, as
Waymar references the intense cold just before the Others Page Number: 13
find him and kill him. With that in mind, Gared’s description
of the impact of extreme cold also underlines the threat the Explanation and Analysis
Others pose to the Starks and the Lannisters and to all of After Ned executes Gared as punishment for deserting the
humanity. Night’s Watch, Robb and Jon give Bran conflicting accounts
Gared’s statement, “The real enemy is the cold,” becomes a about the man’s courage, and Bran asks Ned what he thinks.
kind of guiding philosophy for the rest of the novel. As the Ned’s response—that a person can only be brave if they’re
Starks and Lannisters become engaged in a war that quickly afraid—points to the idea that adversity can have an
involves the entire realm, they lose sight of the fact that the edifying impact on a person’s life, laying the foundation for
“real enemy is the cold,” or the Others. That is, people south one of the book’s central themes. To be brave, Ned
of the Wall become so distracted by interpersonal and suggests, one must face life’s greatest difficulties head on.
political conflicts that they lose sight of the existential By facing challenges instead of avoiding them, one can learn
threat the Others pose to all of humanity. If people lose from those challenges, which will enable one to learn and
sight of that threat, they’ll allow the Others to steal upon grow. People who never encounter fear or adversity in their
them “quieter than Will” and sap humanity’s strength to life, on the other hand, have not learned to be brave
fight, reflecting Gared’s description of how extreme because they’ve never been in a situation to confront their
coldness impacts the human body. fears directly.
Waymar acts arrogantly and brazenly in the face of Gared’s Gared’s thoughts on bravery also give readers insight into
warnings: he believes the Others don’t exist until it’s too the threat the Others pose to humanity in the world of the
late, and they kill him. This quote suggests the people south novel. Notably, Gared faces death bravely, even though he
of the Wall are acting like Waymar. They arrogantly and has just fled from the Night’s Watch after he, Will, and
foolishly believe the Others don’t pose a threat and might Waymar faced the Others. With that in mind, Gared’s
not believe it until it's too late. In this way, the novel bravery in the face of death suggests that the Others are
implicitly compares the Others to climate change to suggest more terrifying than death itself. When the Others kill a
that in humanity’s contemporary moment, it has similarly person, that person is reanimated as an Other. Gared’s fear
disregarded the true threat that climate changes poses to at that prospect suggests that becoming an Other is a fate
life on Earth and thus failed to adequately band together as worse than death. That idea further highlights the threat
a collective force to defend humanity against that that the Others pose and underlines how important it is
existential threat. that humanity bands together to face that threat.
“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.”

Related Characters: Ned Stark (speaker), Bran Stark, acknowledged that King Robert and the Targaryen kings
Gared both have used executioners to avoid carrying out death
sentences themselves. With that in mind, Ned’s
Related Themes: commentary here suggests that his philosophy of personal
accountability, honor, and integrity is at odds with the
Page Number: 14 philosophy of King’s Landing. Following Ned’s logic, those in
King’s Landing have forgotten what death is, which is
tantamount to overlooking the sacredness of each human
After Ned executes Gared as punishment for deserting the life.
Night’s Watch, he explains to Bran why he carried out the
With that in mind, Ned’s statement also provides a
execution himself. Ned’s statement outlines his philosophy
commentary on the “game of thrones.” Politics, as they are
about what people owe to one another. According to Ned,
practiced in King’s Landing, are a game with life-or-death
each person is worthy of dignity and respect, regardless of
stakes. Ned’s remarks to Bran suggest that perhaps the
their position in a socioeconomic hierarchy. That is true
stakes are life or death because those in King’s Landing
even for criminals who have been sentenced to death. In
have forgotten how momentous it is to take a person’s life
Ned’s worldview, community (and, by extension, politics) is
and how sacred each human life is. Ultimately, the
based on that mutual understanding that people owe one
Lannisters’ executioner kills Ned at Joffrey’s orders. At that
another dignity and respect. Without that, then the ties that
point, by Ned’s logic, Joffrey has forgotten what death is
bind people together can fray.
and wields his power wantonly and unscrupulously as a
Ned’s explanation emphasizes the importance of personal result.
accountability and integrity. According to Ned, one must
face life’s most difficult moments directly. If one can’t do
that in the case of a death sentence, Ned suggests, then Chapter 2: Catelyn Quotes
perhaps the person does not deserve to die. But Ned also
suggests the opposite might also be true. He does not go so “Ben writes that the strength of the Night’s Watch is down
far as to say that if one can’t bear to execute a guilty man below a thousand. It’s not only desertions. They are losing men
themselves, then perhaps that man does not deserve to die on rangings as well.”
as punishment for their crime. His statement does suggest, “Is it the wildlings?” [Catelyn] asked.
though, that honoring one’s commitments and facing the “Who else?” Ned lifted Ice, looked down the cool steel length of
difficulties of life head-on is essential to life, and if one does it. “And it will only grow worse. The day may come when I will
not do that, then one is living a diminished life. have no choice but to call the banners and ride north to deal
with this King-beyond-the-Wall for good and all.”
“Beyond the Wall?” The thought made Catelyn shudder.
“One day, Bran, you will be Robb’s bannerman, holding a
Ned saw the dread on her face. “Mance Rayder is nothing for us
keep of your own for your brother and your king, and
to fear.”
justice will fall to you. When that day comes, you must take no
pleasure in the task, but neither must you look away. A ruler “There are darker things beyond the Wall.” She glanced behind
who hides behind paid executioners soon forgets what death her at the heart tree, the pale bark and red eyes, watching,
is.” listening, thinking its long slow thoughts.
His smile was gentle. “You listen to too many of Old Nan’s
stories. The Others are as dead as the children of the forest,
Related Characters: Ned Stark (speaker), Bran Stark,
gone eight thousand years. Maester Luwin will tell you they
Robert Baratheon/the Usurper, Joffrey Baratheon, Gared
never lived at all. No living man has ever seen one.”
Related Themes: “Until this morning, no living man had ever seen a direwolf
either,” Catelyn reminded him.
Page Number: 14
Explanation and Analysis Related Characters: Ned Stark, Catelyn Stark (speaker),
After Ned executes Gared as punishment for deserting the Robert Baratheon/the Usurper, Maester Luwin, Old Nan
Night’s Watch, he talks with Bran about the importance of
Related Themes:
carrying out death sentences himself. Previously, Ned

Chapter 4: Eddard Quotes

Related Symbols: “I want you down in King’s Landing, not up here at the end
of the world where you are no damned use to anybody.” Robert
Page Number: 20 looked off into the darkness, for a moment as melancholy as a
Stark. “I swear to you, sitting a throne is a thousand times
harder than winning one. Laws are a tedious business and
When Catelyn tells Ned that King Robert is coming to counting coppers is worse. And the people … there is no end of
Winterfell, they discuss Ben, who is a ranger on the Night’s them. I sit on that damnable iron chair and listen to them
Watch and will want to visit Winterfell to see Robert when complain until my mind is numb and my ass is raw. They all want
he arrives. Ben’s written observations about the dwindling something, money or land or justice. The lies they tell … and my
number of men in the Night’s Watch suggest that those lords and ladies are no better. I am surrounded by flatterers
south of the Wall have forgotten the importance of and fools. It can drive a man to madness, Ned. Half of them
defending against the Others. Ned’s comments that the don’t dare tell me the truth, and the other half can’t find it.” […]
Others don’t pose a threat and may not have ever existed
Robert was offering [Ned] a responsibility as large as the realm
shows the perspective that an “everyman” in Westeros has
itself.
on the Others. Ned’s opinion is meant to represent the
general opinion of those south of the Wall, signaling that It was the last thing in the world he wanted.
there is a widespread belief that the Others no longer pose
a threat (which has contributed to the falling number of Related Characters: Robert Baratheon/the Usurper
men on the Night’s Watch). Because in the book the Others (speaker), Ned Stark, Jon Arryn
symbolize climate change, Ned’s opinion also points to a
moment in history when people regularly denied the Related Themes:
existence of climate change.
Notably, this quote seems to portray Ned and Maester Related Symbols:
Luwin, who are men, as rationalistic and sensible while
Catelyn and Old Nan, who are women, are reactionary and Page Number: 38-39
overly prone to fear. That portrayal is a reflects the
misogynistic and patriarchal society in which the characters
live, where men like Ned and Maester Luwin are granted Following Jon Arryn’s death, Robert visits Ned in Winterfell,
authority by virtue of their gender. The novel challenges where he asks Ned to become the Hand of the King.
that portrayal, though, by showing that Old Nan and Robert’s litany of complaints about being king signals the
Catelyn are correct about the Others while Ned and complacency and lack of interest he feels about the role and
Maester Luwin are wildly incorrect. That reversal reinforces about governing. In Robert’s view, being king means that
the novel’s argument that the basis of patriarchal power is everyone wants something from you, and he views the
misogyny. responsibility that comes with power as a tedious
imposition. Notably, Robert suggests that everyone else is
at fault for his problems. That includes the people of the
realm as well as his advisers. In Robert’s assessment, he
bears no responsibility for his own problems. This speech
provides one of the first instances of Robert’s tendency to
avoid any kind of responsibility. With that in mind, while
Robert intends his complaints about being king to be a
description of why the role is unappealing, it perhaps more
effectively shows why he is unfit for the role.
Notably, being the Hand of the King and having power is the
last thing that Ned wants. The quote contrasts Ned’s
disposition with Robert’s. While Robert claims he doesn’t
want power, in truth, he wants the privileges that come with
power without any of the responsibility that comes along
with those privileges. Ned, on the other hand, wants neither
the privilege nor the responsibility that comes along with
power in King’s Landing.

Chapter 5: Jon Quotes

“Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Explanation and Analysis
Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. As Tyrion and Jon Snow travel from Winterfell to Castle
Armor yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you.” Black, Jon Snow talks with Tyrion. This conversation is one
of the first between Jon and Tyrion and marks the beginning
of their somewhat unlikely friendship, considering that
Related Characters: Tyrion Lannister (speaker), Ned Stark,
while the Starks and Lannisters hurtle toward imminent
Jon Snow, Catelyn Stark, Arya Stark, Samwell Tarly
conflict, Jon and Tyrion develop a close bond.
Related Themes: Tyrion’s statements point to the nature of the “game of
thrones” and how that game of politics and power plays out.
Page Number: 47 On the one hand, participants in the “game of thrones”
utilize physical force against warring armies. On the other
Explanation and Analysis hand, it’s also a game of strategy. Tyrion points out that
When Robert visits Winterfell, Catelyn banishes Jon Snow utilizing one’s mental faculties to gain strategic advantages
to the outskirts of the proceedings. She tells Jon that the is just as important, and just as dangerous, as the physical
king and queen might be offended if they were joined by weapons that Jaime and Robert wield. The later sections of
Jon, who is not Ned’s “trueborn” son. Tyrion’s advice to Jon the novel will prove Tyrion’s comments true as Cersei
about how to handle the alienation Jon feels shows Tyrion’s ultimately relies on more political strategy than force to
approach to life. Tyrion’s father rejects him because he is a defeat Ned. Tyrion’s comments also point to the idea that
dwarf and does not fit neatly into society’s rigid hierarchies embracing one’s perceived faults can lead one to become
or its narrow expectations of what a person should be. In the most empowered version of oneself. While Tyrion
response, Tyrion promotes a philosophy of radical self- knows that he will never be as good of a swordsman as his
acceptance, which calls for facing the truth head-on to brother or be able to wield an axe like Robert, he embraces
defend oneself against the world’s harsh judgments. who he is and uses an understanding of his own identity to
Tyrion argues that if one embraces a trait that broader realize his true strengths.
society might consider a weakness, then that supposed
weakness can become a source of strength. While Tyrion
directs this advice to Jon in the above quote, his message Chapter 17: Bran Quotes
becomes a recurring theme throughout the novel and Bran was falling faster than ever. The grey mists howled
applies to several characters who don’t fit neatly into the around him as he plunged toward the earth below.
rigid social expectations of Westeros, including Arya and
“What are you doing to me?” he asked the crow, tearful.
Sam. The novel shows how those characters rebel against
established hierarchies and embrace their true natures to Teaching you how to fly.
become the most empowered versions of themselves. “I can’t fly!”
You’re flying right now.
Chapter 13: Tyrion Quotes “I’m falling!”

Every flight begins with a fall, the crow said.
“I have a realistic grasp of my own strengths and
weaknesses. My mind is my weapon. My brother has his sword,
King Robert has his warhammer, and I have my mind … and a Related Characters: Bran Stark, Bran Stark, Cersei
mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep Lannister, Cersei Lannister, Jaime Lannister/the Kingslayer,
its edge.” Tyrion tapped the leather cover of the book. “That’s Jaime Lannister/the Kingslayer
why I read so much, Jon Snow.”
Related Themes:
Related Characters: Tyrion Lannister (speaker), Ned Stark, Page Number: 135
Jon Snow, Cersei Lannister, Robert Baratheon/the Usurper,
Jaime Lannister/the Kingslayer Explanation and Analysis
Jaime pushes Bran from a tower when Bran sees Jaime
Related Themes: having sex with his sister Cersei. Bran then goes into a
Page Number: 103

coma, where he has a vision of a three-eyed crow that Bran sees the truth of the winter that will inevitably come.
speaks to him. The crow’s statement that “every flight That winter will be different from the previous winters. The
begins with a fall” points to the literal fall that Bran took quote implies that when Bran looks into the “heart of
after Jaime shoved him out of the tower, but it also has winter,” he sees the Others, and their presence horrifies
symbolic resonance. The crow essentially suggests to Bran him. The crow’s warning about winter’s inevitable arrival
that if he can endure his debilitating and painful fall, then he points to the idea that once winter overtakes Westeros, the
will grow stronger and learn how to “fly,” as it were. With Others will have free reign to travel south of the Wall
that in mind, the crow’s advice points to the novel’s theme because the colder temperatures will make that territory
that adversity, while sometimes excruciating, can lead to habitable for them. Notably, the crow tells Bran that he
personal growth and have an edifying effect on those who must live precisely because “winter is coming” and because
experience it. the Others will come with it. With that in mind, the Crow
Before the fall, Bran wanted to be a knight and loved suggests that Bran, in some yet unforeseen way, will be
climbing. After the fall, Bran wakes up paralyzed, making it pivotal in countering the threat the Others pose to
unlikely that he’ll ever be a knight or climb again. While the humanity.
fall robs Bran of the ability to pursue his previous dreams
and desires, the crow suggests that the fall may also enable
him to “fly”—that is, to attain even greater powers. Later in Chapter 20: Eddard Quotes
this dream, Bran has visions of the entire globe and displays
Remember why I came here, my love. If I find proof that
an ability to commune with the spiritual realm, suggesting
the Lannisters murdered Jon Arryn …”
that “flying” for Bran might mean an ability to perceive the
world in extra-sensorial ways. He felt Catelyn tremble in his arms. Her scarred hands clung to
him. “If,” she said, “what then, my love?”
That was the most dangerous part, Ned knew. “All justice flows
from the king,” he told her. “When I know the truth, I must go to
North and north and north he looked, to the curtain of
Robert.” And pray that he is the man I think he is, he finished
light at the end of the world, and then beyond that curtain.
He looked deep into the heart of winter, and then he cried out, silently, and not the man I fear he has become.
afraid, and the heat of his tears burned on his cheeks.
Now you know, the crow whispered as it sat on his shoulder. Related Characters: Ned Stark, Catelyn Stark (speaker),
Now you know why you must live. Bran Stark, Robert Baratheon/the Usurper, Jon Arryn
“Why?” Bran said, not understanding, falling, falling. Related Themes:
Because winter is coming.
Page Number: 170
Related Characters: Bran Stark, Jaime Lannister/the Explanation and Analysis
Kingslayer Catelyn travels to King’s Landing with the dagger used in
the attempt on Bran’s life. When she and Ned speak, they
Related Themes:
discuss how they will proceed in trying to find justice for Jon
Arryn’s death. Ned’s assertion that “all justice flows from
Related Symbols:
the king” points to the high stakes of the game of politics
and power that several characters play, whether they mean
Page Number: 136-137
to play it or not. Specifically, Ned’s comments make clear
Explanation and Analysis that there is not a firm set of defined laws, regulations, and
norms that each king must abide by. Instead, kings decide to
When Bran is in a coma after Jaime pushes him from a
rule how they see fit, and everyone else must accept their
tower, he has a vision in which he sees a three-eyed crow
whims. That idea underlines the problems with monarchical
and the entire globe. The three-eyed crow tells Bran that he
rule, even when the king might not be especially despotic. If
must live because “winter is coming.” Bran’s vision takes him
the king is simply well-meaning but ineffectual, like Robert,
beyond the “curtain of light at the end of the world.” Looking
that can also make justice impossible to find.
beyond that curtain of light means that Bran is looking into
the future. Westeros is in the midst of a summer that has Ned’s private thoughts at the end of the conversation with
lasted for close to a decade, but by looking into the future, Catelyn highlight the inherently corruptive forces of power.

When Ned and Robert knew each other when they were weakness—her inability to be a “lady”—into a source of
younger, Robert was a fearsome warrior. Now, though, his strength, as she consistently rebels against restrictive
power as king has corrupted him to the point where Ned gender norms to become the most capable and empowered
does not know if he is the man with honor and integrity he version of herself.
once knew or if he has become the ineffectual leader who
spurns his duties. In time, Ned will find out that it’s the
latter, but by that point, it will be too late for Ned to find the “Let me tell you something about wolves, child. When the
justice he seeks.
snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies, but
the pack survives. Summer is the time for squabbles. In winter,
we must protect one another, keep each other warm, share our
Chapter 22: Arya Quotes strengths.”
“Your mother and I have charged [Septa Mordane] with
the impossible task of making you a lady.”
Related Characters: Ned Stark (speaker), Arya Stark, Sansa
“I don’t want to be a lady!” Arya flared. Stark
Related Themes:
Related Characters: Ned Stark, Ned Stark, Arya Stark, Arya
Stark (speaker), Jon Snow, Jon Snow, Catelyn Stark, Catelyn
Stark, Sansa Stark, Sansa Stark, Tyrion Lannister, Tyrion Related Symbols:
Lannister, Septa Mordane, Septa Mordane, Myrcella
Baratheon Page Number: 187

Related Themes:
Ned counsels Arya about her ongoing fight with Sansa,
Page Number: 185 suggesting that they will need to come together as a family
when winter arrives. That comment can be interpreted as a
Explanation and Analysis general analysis of how to survive life’s most difficult
When Arya arrives in King’s Landing, she pushes back moments. Following Ned’s logic, one can perhaps make it
against the lessons that Septa Mordane teaches her and through happy and unchallenging times alone, but in life’s
gets frustrated about not fitting in with Sansa and Myrcella. darkest moments, one needs family and community to
Arya’s comments here shed light on the restrictive gender survive.
norms of Westeros. Septa Mordane’s lessons point to the Though Ned doesn’t know it at the time, his statement also
idea that there is only one correct way to be a girl and a points to the threat that the next winter will bring. That next
woman. While Sansa and Myrcella’s personalities and winter will enable the Others to travel south of the Wall as
dispositions align with that narrow idea of gender, Arya the colder temperatures of winter will make that territory
refuses to contort herself to try and fit into that image. In habitable for them. With that in mind, Ned’s comments
essence, Westeros society contends that high-ranking suggest that to defeat the existential threat the Others
women and girls should be “ladies,” meaning that they poses to humanity, people will need to overcome their
should devote themselves to household tasks and be gifted political differences and conflicts and join together to
in social graces. Arya finds that kind of life stultifying and defeat a common enemy. The Others symbolize climate
wants to pursue activities typically reserved for boys, like change in the novel, so Ned’s statement also points to the
sword fighting. ways that humanity must band together and use collective
Notably, Ned says that the task of making Arya “a lady” is action to face the existential threat of climate change.
“impossible,” suggesting that there is something intrinsic in
who Arya is as a person that makes meeting society’s
expectations about gender contrary to who she is. That puts Chapter 23: Daenerys Quotes
Arya, as a character, in league with characters like Tyrion “The common people pray for rain, healthy children, and a
and Jon Snow, both of whom are situated outside of the summer that never ends,” Ser Jorah told her. “It is no matter to
prevailing hierarchies of Westeros. Like Tyrion and Jon, them if the high lords play their game of thrones, so long as
Arya finds a way to transform what others perceive as a they are left in peace.” He gave a shrug. “They never are.”

Related Characters: Jorah Mormont (speaker), Daenerys Related Characters: Jon Snow, Samwell Tarly (speaker),
Targaryen, Viserys Targaryen, Khal Drogo Robb Stark, Catelyn Stark, Bran Stark, Tyrion Lannister,
Maester Aemon , Grenn, Pyp, Rickon Stark
Related Themes:
Related Themes:
Page Number: 196
Related Symbols:
Not long after Daenerys marries Khal Drogo, she talks to Page Number: 228
Jorah about Viserys’s claim to the throne and the political
infighting that goes along with power in Westeros. Jorah’s Explanation and Analysis
comments point to the far-reaching consequences that After Sam arrives as Castle Black, he is bullied relentlessly
come with the “game of thrones.” While the novel focuses until Jon intervenes and, through a variety of tactics,
on the central players in the “game of thrones,” including the convinces his fellow recruits to treat Sam kindly. Jon’s
Lannisters and the Starks, Jorah’s comments put their statement that he and Sam are brothers, not friends, shows
interpersonal conflicts in context. As the Lannisters and Jon’s capacity for leadership. Through his leadership skills,
Starks grapple for power, their actions ultimately lead to a Jon manages convince all of his fellow recruits to follow him.
cataclysmic war that takes the lives of thousands of people. That capacity for leadership is based on the idea that love
And those people have no power over whether they go to and duty might not be opposed, as Maester Aemon later
war or whether they will risk their lives. Instead, those argues. Instead, this passage suggests that the most
decisions are left to an elite few who have little regard for effective leader is that which brings those two apparently
how their actions impact others. opposed concepts—love and duty—into alignment. That is
Jorah suggests the same has been true throughout history. exactly what Jon does when he says that they are brothers.
The lords in King’s Landing battle for power and, as a result, He is bound to him by familial love and the sense of duty
subject innocent people across the realm to the violence that the members of the Night’s Watch feel toward one
they unleash in their quest to reign supreme over all others. another.
Those are the true stakes of the “game of thrones,” Jorah Notably, Jon says that after he is exiled from the Stark
suggests. It’s not just life or death for the direct participants. family, he finds family with the “other cast-outs” of the
Instead, when a person plays the “game of thrones,” they Night’s Watch. That idea points to the fact that Jon is
wager the lives of innocent people across the world. Often, following Tyrion’s advice to face difficult truths head-on. At
Jorah suggests, those direct participants play the “game of this point, Jon has to face the truth that he was never truly a
thrones” as if they were playing a board game, unaware and member of the Stark family and that he is a “cast-out.” By
unconcerned with how their whims and desires impact accepting those truths, no matter how difficult or painful it
countless others. might be to do so, Jon is able to embrace his identity and
become the most empowered version of himself.

Fat and awkward and frightened he might be, but Samwell Chapter 37: Bran Quotes
Tarly was no fool. One night he visited Jon in his cell. “I don’t “Mance be damned,” the big man cursed. “You want to go
know what you did,” he said, “but I know you did it.” He looked back there, Osha? More fool you. Think the white walkers will
away shyly. “I’ve never had a friend before.” care if you have a hostage?”
“We’re not friends,” Jon said. He put a hand on Sam’s broad
shoulder. “We’re brothers.” Related Characters: Bran Stark, Osha, Mance Rayder
And so they were, he thought to himself after Sam had taken his
leave. Robb and Bran and Rickon were his father’s sons, and he Related Themes:
loved them still, yet Jon knew that he had never truly been one
of them. Catelyn Stark had seen to that. The grey walls of Related Symbols:
Winterfell might still haunt his dreams, but Castle Black was his
life now, and his brothers were Sam and Grenn and Halder and Page Number: 338
Pyp and the other cast-outs who wore the black of the Night’s
Watch.

The first time Bran ventures outside of Winterfell after he is

Related Symbols:
paralyzed, he is surrounded by a threatening band of free
folk that includes deserters from the Night’s Watch. One of
Page Number: 407-408
those people suggests taking Bran as a hostage to Mance
Rayder, the King-beyond-the-Wall. The “big man’s” Explanation and Analysis
response shows that he and the other free folk know that
Ned tells Cersei that he knows that Joffrey is not Robert’s
the Others (or “white walkers”) have returned and are
biological son and Jaime is. Ned gives Cersei the chance to
acutely aware of the threat they pose. That awareness
flee and go into exile with her children. While Ned thinks he
provides further proof that the Others are on the rise and
is giving Cersei advice, Cersei responds by critiquing Ned.
pose a serious danger to humanity.
Ned’s response to Cersei’s critique displays again how
The fact that free folk (or wildlings) have this conversation uninterested he is in power. He passed up a chance for
also provides a subtle commentary on the hierarchical power at the end of Robert’s Rebellion, as Cersei says, and
feudal system that determines socioeconomic standing in Ned passes up another chance at this moment. He could act
Westeros. Notably, it’s not maesters or other high-ranking immediately based on the knowledge he’s gained about
officials who sound the alarm about the Others. Instead, Joffrey’s parentage. Instead, he offers Cersei mercy. That
those who first realize the threat of the Others are those mercy proves to be Ned’s downfall as it prohibits him from
like this band of free folk, who have virtually no power in playing the “game of thrones” in a more strategic way.
Westeros. This fact bolsters the novel’s argument about the Cersei then takes the time that Ned affords her to turn the
inherent flaws of a rigidly hierarchical government in which tables on him, ultimately seizing power for herself and
power is concentrated in the hands of a small group. Joffrey while defeating Ned in the “game of thrones.”
In the situation outlined in the above quote, for example, Cersei’s statement also points to the high-stakes nature of
because the free folk are disenfranchised within Westeros’s the “game of thrones.” In the game of politics and power in
political system, there is no way for them to communicate Westeros, one plays with one’s life. One must win at any
word about the Others and be taken seriously and effect cost because if one loses, one dies. And one’s compatriots
change based on their firsthand knowledge. The fact that and family often die, too. Whereas Cersei seems to always
the free folk have the knowledge that could help save have the high stakes of the “game of thrones” in mind, Ned
humanity also points to the novel’s recurring theme that loses sight of those stakes. By losing sight of those stakes,
heroes and heroism can often come from places that one Ned also loses “the game of thrones,” which leads to his own
might least expect. death, the death of his followers, and a war between the
Starks and Lannisters. The consequences of Ned’s loss
reinforce the novel’s argument that an overreliance on
Chapter 45: Eddard Quotes honor and integrity can be naïve when playing the “game of
“You should have taken the realm for yourself. It was there thrones.” To successfully play that game, honor and integrity
for the taking. Jaime told me how you found him on the Iron must be accompanied by ingenuity and strategy.
Throne the day King’s Landing fell, and made him yield it up.
That was your moment. All you needed to do was climb those
steps, and sit. Such a sad mistake.” Chapter 47: Eddard Quotes
“I have made more mistakes than you can possibly imagine,” “You wear your honor like a suit of armor, Stark. You think
Ned said, “but that was not one of them.” it keeps you safe, but all it does is weigh you down and make it
“Oh, but it was, my lord,” Cersei insisted. “When you play the hard for you to move. Look at you now. You know why you
game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle summoned me here. You know what you want to ask me to do.
ground.” You know it has to be done … but it’s not honorable, so the
words stick in your throat.”
Related Characters: Ned Stark, Cersei Lannister (speaker),

Robert Baratheon/the Usurper, Joffrey Baratheon, Jaime Related Characters: Petyr Baelish/Littlefinger (speaker),
Lannister/the Kingslayer Ned Stark, Robert Baratheon/the Usurper
Related Themes: Related Themes:
Page Number: 429

Explanation and Analysis Explanation and Analysis

After Robert dies, Ned devises his next course of action. After Robert’s death, Ned presents Robert’s last will to
Littlefinger knows that Ned wants him to bribe the City Cersei. The will says that Ned should be the protectorate of
Watch so they will support Ned, but Ned is unable to say the throne. At this point, Ned and Cersei are the two
what he wants because he knows that bribery is not primary players in the “game of thrones.” They are locked in
honorable. Littlefinger’s comments highlight the naivety of a battle to see who will achieve power and who will lose. As
Ned’s overreliance on honor when playing the “game of Cersei previously said, the loser will face death. Throughout
thrones.” Ned thinks honor will protect him, but it ends up their contest, Ned has repeatedly followed norms and rules
being his fatal flaw. Ironically, one aspect of Ned’s inherent of honor and integrity. His reliance on Robert’s letter to
honor is that he trusts that people share his sense of settle the dispute shows that he expects Cersei to play by
integrity. At this point, Ned believes that Littlefinger is similar rules. When Cersei meets the incontrovertible word
reciprocating a similar kind of forthrightness when of the king, Ned expects her to accept what the king has
Littlefinger is actually preparing to betray Ned. The novel said.
suggests that if Ned coupled his characteristic integrity with With that in mind, when Cersei tears up Robert’s will, she
the ingenuity required to decipher others’ motives and tears up the rules of the “game of thrones.” Her action
predict what they might do, Ned could have anticipated, and essentially says that there are no rules and that Ned was
perhaps avoided the fallout of, Littlefinger’s betrayal. foolish to think there ever were. According to Cersei, the
The particular scheme that Ned and Littlefinger put in rules of the game are always determined by the person in
motion also points to the idea that power and virtue are power. She has made the right strategic moves—including
incompatible. While Ned is a paragon of virtue throughout securing Littlefinger’s betrayal of Ned—to ensure that Ned
the novel, the closer he gets to power, the more has no power and Joffrey becomes king. Because Joffrey is
dishonorably he acts. In this case, he resorts to bribery to king, the rules of the king have radically changed from when
secure the throne against the Lannisters, compromising his Robert was king, which again reinforces Cersei’s argument
values in the name of power. that the “game of thrones” is a game that disregards honor,
mercy, and integrity.
Chapter 49: Eddard Quotes

Ned produced Robert’s letter. “Lord Varys, be so kind as to Chapter 53: Bran Quotes
show this to my lady of Lannister.” “To be a knight, you must stand your vigil in a sept, and be
The eunuch carried the letter to Cersei. The queen glanced at anointed with the seven oils to consecrate your vows. In the
the words. “Protector of the Realm,” she read. “Is this meant to north, only a few of the great houses worship the Seven. The
be your shield, my lord? A piece of paper?” She ripped the letter rest honor the old gods, and name no knights … but those lords
in half, ripped the halves in quarters, and let the pieces flutter and their sons and sworn swords are no less fierce or loyal or
to the floor. honorable. A man’s worth is not marked by a ser before his
name. As I have told you a hundred times before.”
“Those were the king’s words,” Ser Barristan said, shocked.
“We have a new king now,” Cersei Lannister replied.
Related Characters: Maester Luwin (speaker), Ned Stark,
Bran Stark, Cersei Lannister
Related Characters: Ned Stark, Ned Stark (speaker),
Cersei Lannister, Cersei Lannister, Robert Baratheon/the Related Themes:
Usurper, Robert Baratheon/the Usurper, Joffrey Baratheon,
Joffrey Baratheon, Petyr Baelish/Littlefinger, Petyr Baelish/ Page Number: 476
Littlefinger, Varys, Varys, Barristan Selmy, Barristan Selmy
Related Themes: When the 12,000 Stark bannermen arrive at Winterfell,
Bran asks Maester Luwin how many knights are among
Related Symbols: them. Maester Luwin’s response points to the difference in
how hierarchy and human dignity are perceived in the south
Page Number: 441 and the north. According to Luwin, in the north, all people
are considered to have value regardless of their position in a

socioeconomic hierarchy. Maester Luwin implies that the decisions that led him to this point. While Ned blames
south is more defined by its rigid hierarchical system and a others for betraying him or failing to counter Cersei, he
person is considered to have more worth and value the ultimately believes that he is most at fault for his own
higher they are in that hierarchy. imprisonment and the death of his supporters. Ned calls
Maester Luwin’s comments recall Ned’s earlier advice to himself a fool because he realizes that his attachment to his
Bran that if one sentences someone to death, one owes it to own honor and integrity prevented him from taking
the person to hear their last words and carry out the strategic steps that would have helped him win the “game of
sentence oneself. According to Ned, one owes all other thrones.” In that sense, what doomed Ned wasn’t
people, even criminals sentenced to death, respect and Littlefinger’s betrayal: it was Ned’s decision to trust
consideration. Littlefinger in the first place.
Combined with Ned’s comments, then, Maester Luwin’s Ned himself suggests that his belief in the importance and
statement reinforces the idea that those in the south—who value of honor and integrity was naïve. By relying on honor
anoint knights and rely on executioners to carry out death as his primary guiding principle, Ned handed victory to
sentences—believe status determines a person’s worth. Cersei. Because Cersei won the “game of thrones,” she now
That difference between the north and south also provides can enact power any way she sees fit. Ned assumes that she
insight into the inherently opposed philosophies that lie at will wield that power in a much less virtuous way than he
the center of the conflict between the Lannisters and the would. Once Ned realizes that, he understands that if he
Starks. Whereas Ned and the Starks insist on the value of had thought and acted more strategically and with more
honor, integrity, and personal accountability, the Lannisters ingenuity, he could have put himself in a position to win the
prioritize power and status. When those two distinct “game of thrones,” which would have spared his men their
ideological approaches to life collide—which happens when lives and would have also led to a presumably more just and
Ned and Cersei face one another in the “game of virtuous ruler on the Iron Throne.
thrones”—a war ultimately breaks out.

Chapter 58: Eddard Quotes “Jon, did you ever wonder why the men of the Night’s
He damned them all: Littlefinger, Janos Slynt and his gold Watch take no wives and father no children?” Maester Aemon
cloaks, the queen, the Kingslayer, Pycelle and Varys and Ser asked.
Barristan, even Lord Renly, Robert’s own blood, who had run Jon shrugged. “No.” He scattered more meat. The fingers of his
when he was needed most. Yet in the end he blamed himself. left hand were slimy with blood, and his right throbbed from
“Fool,” he cried to the darkness, “thrice-damned blind fool.” the weight of the bucket.
Cersei Lannister’s face seemed to float before him in the “So they will not love,” the old man answered, “for love is the
darkness. Her hair was full of sunlight, but there was mockery bane of honor, the death of duty.”
in her smile. “When you play the game of thrones, you win or That did not sound right to Jon, yet he said nothing. The
you die,” she whispered. Ned had played and lost, and his men maester was a hundred years old, and a high officer of the
had paid the price of his folly with their life’s blood. Night’s Watch; it was not his place to contradict him.
Related Characters: Ned Stark (speaker), Cersei Lannister, Related Characters: Jon Snow, Maester Aemon (speaker),
Jaime Lannister/the Kingslayer, Jaime Lannister/the Ned Stark
Kingslayer, Petyr Baelish/Littlefinger, Renly Baratheon,
Varys, Varys, Grand Maester Pycelle, Barristan Selmy Related Themes:
Related Themes: Page Number: 552
Related Symbols: Explanation and Analysis

After the Lannisters arrest Ned, Maester Aemon talks with
Page Number: 524 Jon Snow about the conflicting impulses Jon is feeling. On
the one hand, love compels Jon to desert the Night’s Watch
to support the Starks. On the other, Jon has taken a vow to
After Ned is arrested for treason, he reflects on the stay in the Night’s Watch for life, so duty compels him to

stay where he is. Maester Aemon succinctly states the to strike her. In many ways, Joffrey resembles ineffectual
conflict when he says that “love is the bane of honor.” leaders like Viserys and Robert. With that in mind, his
Notably, Aemon’s assessment of the issue does “not sound physical abuse of Sansa reinforces how in the novel,
right” to Jon. Jon’s hesitation in accepting that sweeping patriarchal power is rooted in morally indefensible
dichotomy suggests that he sees the relationship between misogyny and gender-based violence directed at women
love and duty differently from Aemon. and girls.
In particular, Jon’s leadership qualities in the Night’s Watch Notably, Joffrey orders someone else to carry out violence
lead him to build a coalition of supporters who are bound to against Sansa for him. That calls to mind Ned’s early advice
him by both love and duty. The novel suggests that they love to Bran that if one sentences a person to death, one must be
each other as friends and that their vows for the Night’s willing to carry out that sentence oneself. If one can’t do
Watch bind them together with duty. Those friends later that, Ned said, then perhaps that person doesn’t deserve to
take Jon back to Castle Black after he tries to desert, die. Significantly, when Joffrey ordered Ned’s execution, he
showing how love and duty can go hand in hand. The novel had an executioner carry out the sentence. Ned and
suggests, then, that there are ways that love and duty can Joffrey’s opposing approaches represent the conflict
coexist, and the two are perhaps more powerful when they between the Starks and Lannisters regarding how human
are aligned than when they are treated as isolated concepts. lives are valued. Ned believes that everyone is worthy of
dignity and respect, while the Lannisters seem to view
people as more worthy of respect the higher they fall on
Chapter 67: Sansa Quotes society’s hierarchy of socioeconomic status. In this case,
Joffrey feels entitled to treat Sansa violently because she
Sansa stared at him, seeing him for the first time. He was
has less power than him in that hierarchy.
wearing a padded crimson doublet patterned with lions and a
cloth-of-gold cape with a high collar that framed his face. She Whereas Tywin Lannister later argues that Joffrey is an
wondered how she could ever have thought him handsome. His uncontrollable boy and that his actions deviate from the
lips were as soft and red as the worms you found after a rain, Lannister lineage, the Starks would most likely argue that
and his eyes were vain and cruel. “I hate you,” she whispered. Joffrey is the direct result of the Lannisters’ approach to
life, in which even one’s closest relationships can become
King Joffrey’s face hardened. “My mother tells me that it isn’t
instrumental and transactional—a means to an end.
fitting that a king should strike his wife. Ser Meryn.”
The knight was on her before she could think, yanking back her
hand as she tried to shield her face and back-handing her
across the ear with a gloved fist. Sansa did not remember A voice inside her whispered, There are no heroes, and she
falling, yet the next she knew she was sprawled on one knee remembered what Lord Petyr had said to her, here in this
amongst the rushes. Her head was ringing. Ser Meryn Trant very hall. “Life is not a song, sweetling,” he’d told her. “You may
stood over her, with blood on the knuckles of his white silk learn that one day to your sorrow.” In life, the monsters win, she
glove. told herself.
Related Characters: Sansa Stark, Joffrey Baratheon Related Characters: Petyr Baelish/Littlefinger (speaker),
(speaker), Ned Stark, Bran Stark, Robert Baratheon/the Ned Stark, Sansa Stark, Joffrey Baratheon
Usurper, Viserys Targaryen, Tywin Lannister
Related Themes:
Related Themes:
Page Number: 624
Page Number: 622
Explanation and Analysis After Joffrey orders Ned’s execution, Sansa examines her
After Joffrey orders Ned’s execution, Sansa sees him in an previous outlook on life and reflects on how that prior
entirely new light. Whereas Sansa once was infatuated with worldview has crumbled. Sansa's change in outlook is most
Joffrey and saw him as a hero from a fairy tale, she now sees clearly reflected in the change in her views of Joffrey. While
him more clearly as the villain he is. She expresses her she once believed him to be the archetypical hero, she now
disdain, and Joffrey responds by ordering one of his soldiers sees him as a villain. And, unlike the romantic songs that
Sansa was once enamored with, Sansa now believes that in

real life, monsters triumph over villains. This change in practice cunning and strategic thinking to anticipate others’
perspective illustrates a pivotal moment in Sansa’s coming actions.
of age, as she lets go of the illusions of her youth and begins Mirri’s responses to Daenerys also demonstrate the novel’s
to confront the harsher aspects of reality. theme that history is determined by the people who tell it.
The quote also comments on the novel itself. A Game of In this case, Daenerys feels betrayed, but Mirri points out
Thrones operates in a lineage of fantasy epics and fairy tales the broader political context in which that supposed
and is especially indebted to The Lord of the Rings. Such portrayal takes place. According to Mirri, she and her village
fantasy epics and fairy tales, including The Lord of the Rings, experienced untold violence and abuse at the hands of Khal
often pit good against evil, with characters divided into Drogo’s army. Therefore, she acted to protect the world by
camps of heroes and villains. A Game of Thrones resists those letting Khal Drogo languish and killing the unborn child who
tropes and attempts instead to present complicated would become his heir. In that version of history, Mirri is a
political situations that drive characters to act in morally hero who has responded to her life being upended by the
good or morally bad ways depending on that context. A wonton violence of those with power. In Daenerys’s version
Game of Thrones, in other words, suggests that people aren’t of history, she’s the hero who was betrayed after she acted
necessarily strictly good or evil but instead have the with honor and integrity. The novel pointedly doesn’t
potential to be both. resolve those apparent contradictions, underlining the
complex nature of how records of history are constructed.
Chapter 68: Daenerys Quotes

Chapter 71: Catelyn Quotes
“You knew,” Dany said when they were gone. She ached,
inside and out, but her fury gave her strength. “You knew what I “MY LORDS!” [Greatjon] shouted, his voice booming off
was buying, and you knew the price, and yet you let me pay it.” the rafters. “Here is what I say to these two kings!” He spat.
“Renly Baratheon is nothing to me, nor Stannis neither. Why
“It was wrong of them to burn my temple,” the heavy, flat-nosed
should they rule over me and mine, from some flowery seat in
woman said placidly. “That angered the Great Shepherd.”
Highgarden or Dorne? What do they know of the Wall or the
“This was no god’s work,” Dany said coldly. If I look back I am lost. wolfswood or the barrows of the First Men? Even their gods
“You cheated me. You murdered my child within me.” are wrong. The Others take the Lannisters too, I’ve had a
“The stallion who mounts the world will burn no cities now. His bellyful of them.” He reached back over his shoulder and drew
khalasar shall trample no nations into dust.” his immense two-handed great sword. “Why shouldn’t we rule
ourselves again? It was the dragons we married, and the
dragons are all dead!” He pointed at Robb with the blade.
Related Characters: Daenerys Targaryen, Mirri Maz Duur
“There sits the only king I mean to bow my knee to, m’lords,” he
(speaker), Ned Stark, Khal Drogo, Petyr Baelish/Littlefinger
thundered. “The King in the North!”
Related Themes:
Related Characters: Greatjon (speaker), Robb Stark,
Page Number: 635 Daenerys Targaryen, Jaime Lannister/the Kingslayer
Related Themes:
Daenerys criticizes Mirri for betraying her by casting a spell
that kills Daenerys’s unborn child in exchange for Khal Page Number: 665
Drogo’s life. Khal Drogo remained in a catatonic state after
the spell, which leads Daenerys to say that Mirri cheated Explanation and Analysis
her. Daenerys believed she could trust Mirri because she After Robb leads the Stark army in battle against the
earlier intervened to stop Dothraki men from raping Mirri. Lannisters—and succeeds in capturing Jaime Lannister—the
This is similar to Ned’s belief that he could trust Littlefinger. Stark bannermen declare him the King in the North,
In both cases, Daenerys and Ned believe that their honor effectively deciding to secede from the Seven Kingdoms as
and integrity will lead others to act with a similar kind of governed by the king in King’s Landing. Greatjon’s faith in
integrity. Both are eventually betrayed as a result, Robb shows how successful Robb has been as a leader.
illustrating the novel’s contention that when one grapples Though several people, including Greatjon, initially doubted
for power and plays the game of politics, to be successful, Robb’s ability to lead because he was only 15 when he took
it’s not enough simply to act with honor—one must also control, he has turned those doubters into believers and

now seems to have their unmitigated loyalty. Viserys. Jorah’s choice of words, and his decision to say that
Greatjon also points out that Starks and those in the north his allegiance comes from his heart, shows the potential
joined with the kingdoms in the south because the that Daenerys has to achieve her goals. With that in mind,
Targaryen dragons compelled them to. This points to the this quote suggests that while she faces an uphill battle, she
power that dragons hold, as simply having dragons in one’s may have the leadership qualities to amass a following of
possession can lead to alliances that would have previously her own to retake the Crown, fundamentally reshaping the
been unlikely. Since there are no dragons now, the Starks power structures of Westeros in the process.
and the Stark bannermen feel like secession is a viable
option. Unbeknownst to them, Daenerys will have three
newborn dragons by the end of the novel, casting the future As she climbed down off the pyre, she noticed Mirri Maz
of Westeros into even more doubt. Duur watching her. “You are mad,” the godswife said
hoarsely.
“Is it so far from madness to wisdom?” Dany asked. “Ser Jorah,
Chapter 72: Daenerys Quotes take this maegi and bind her to the pyre […] I thank you, Mirri
Ser Jorah Mormont drew her aside as the sun was Maz Duur,” she said, “for the lessons you have taught me.”
creeping toward its zenith. “Princess …” he began.
“Why do you call me that?” Dany challenged him. “My brother Related Characters: Daenerys Targaryen, Mirri Maz Duur
Viserys was your king, was he not?” (speaker), Khal Drogo, Jorah Mormont, Aerys II Targaryen
“He was, my lady.”
Related Themes:
“Viserys is dead. I am his heir, the last blood of House
Targaryen. Whatever was his is mine now.” Page Number: 671
“My … queen,” Ser Jorah said, going to one knee. “My sword
that was his is yours, Daenerys. And my heart as well, that Explanation and Analysis
never belonged to your brother. After Mirri betrays Daenerys, Daenerys decides to burn
Mirri alive on Khal Drogo’s funeral pyre. She hopes that she
can perform a version of Mirri’s spell—in which a death was
Related Characters: Daenerys Targaryen, Jorah Mormont
traded for a life—by sacrificing Mirri’s death for the lives of
(speaker), Viserys Targaryen, Khal Drogo
three dragons. Mirri’s assertion that Daenerys is mad
Related Themes: evokes Daenerys’s father, King Aerys II Targaryen, who was
known as the “Mad King” due to his mental instability.
Page Number: 668 Mirri’s comment suggests that in addition to being the heir
to Aerys’s power, Daenerys may also be the inheritor of his
Explanation and Analysis mental instability.
After Khal Drogo dies, Daenerys decides to consolidate Daenerys’s response—“Is it so far from madness to
power to try and amass a following of her own. In Westeros wisdom?”—does not seem to quell those concerns. However,
(and also among the Dothraki), power is patrilineal, meaning Daenerys reveals that she is not burning Mirri alive simply
that it passes from fathers to sons. Daenerys interrupts that for revenge. Instead, she successfully revivifies dragons in
longstanding patriarchal and misogynistic custom by three petrified eggs, making it clear that Daenerys had a
asserting that she is the rightful heir of the Targaryens. The larger purpose than what may have seemed like an act
ellipsis between when Jorah says “my” and “queen” points to driven by an unbridled desire for vengeance. That does not
his hesitation to accept Daenerys’s decision to overthrow alter the fact that the way that Daenerys carries out that
generations of tradition. That hesitation reflects the purpose is particularly gruesome, though.
broader obstacle that Daenerys will have to overcome, as
As Daenerys puts Mirri on the funeral pyre, she thanks
she must convince people not only to follow her but that a
Mirri for the lessons she taught her. In essence, Daenerys
woman is fit to rule.
means that Mirri taught her that honor and integrity will not
Ultimately, Jorah accepts what Daenerys says and calls her necessarily be reciprocated with honor and integrity.
his queen. He goes one step further, too, and says that his Instead, in a contest of power and politics, honor and
heart belongs to her in a way that it never belonged to integrity will only get one so far. With that in mind, Mirri
effectively teaches Daenerys that to be successful, one

must couple virtue with cunning, ingenuity, and strategic it. Only then may one gain the upper hand and potentially
thinking to anticipate what others might do before they do win the “game of thrones.”

SUMMARY AND ANAL

ANALYSIS
YSIS
The color-coded icons under each analysis entry make it easy to track where the themes occur most prominently throughout the
work. Each icon corresponds to one of the themes explained in the Themes section of this LitChart.
PROLOGUE
Will, Gared, and Ser Waymar Royce are members of the Night’s The fact that Gared is missing his ears from frostbite suggests how
Watch. Gared has been in the Watch for 40 years, while Will forbiddingly cold the climate beyond the Wall can be. Recently,
has been a member for four years. Gared is missing both of his though, the temperatures have been above freezing. The warming
ears from frostbite. Ser Waymar is 18 years old and has been climate hints at the novel’s theme about the dangers posed by
part of the Watch for less than a year, but he’s from a climate change. The fact that Waymar is the expedition’s leader
prominent family and is the expedition’s commander. The three despite his young age and lack of experience highlights the rigid
men ride away from the Wall into the haunted forest. They’re hierarchies that define life in Westeros, the continent where they all
looking for a group of eight wildlings that Will saw recently. live. That hierarchy often elevates people to positions of leadership
Wildlings are people who live past the Wall, outside of so-called when they are not suited to that leadership.
civilization. Will was sure the wildlings were dead when he saw
them, but he didn’t see any blood or signs of struggle. Gared
suggests that they froze to death, but Ser Waymar points out
that it’s been too warm in the past week for anyone to freeze.
As they approach the site where Will saw the bodies, Gared Leadership and what makes a good leader become recurring themes
and Will feel increasingly afraid. They know something’s not in the novel. In this case, Waymar attempts to compensate for his
right. Ser Waymar dismounts and tells Gared to stay and watch youth and inexperience with a blustering and arrogant attitude to
the horses. On foot, Ser Waymar and Will make their way to try and show that nothing can faze him. The novel portrays this
the clearing where Will previously found the eight bodies, but maneuver as a sign of insecurity, which makes Waymar a poor
when they arrive, the bodies are gone. Ser Waymar leader, especially considering how it leads him to disregard the
sarcastically remarks that the dead must have moved camp. He observations of more experienced people.
says he doesn’t want to return to Castle Black (where those on
the Night’s Watch live) as a failure. He commands Will to climb
a tree to see if there’s any sign of the wildlings in the distance.
Will climbs the tree. He hears Ser Waymar shout, “Show By not listening to Will and Gared, Waymar puts them all in danger,
yourself!” Suddenly, it becomes cold. Ser Waymar holds his underlining the consequences of Waymar’s incompetent leadership.
sword in front of him. From the tree above, Will sees a shadow Will’s decision in the tree highlights another recurring theme in the
approaching Ser Waymar. The figure, which Will refers to as an novel: the tension between duty and self-interest. Will knows he has
Other, is tall and has eyes that are bluer than any human’s. Will a duty to warn Waymar, but he also knows that it wouldn’t be in his
sees four more Others lurking in the woods, approaching Ser self-interest to speak. In this case, Will chooses the self-interested
Waymar. He knows he has to shout to warn Ser Waymar, but if path (though it’s not entirely clear that warning Waymar would
he says anything, he’ll give up his hiding spot. He stays silent. have made much of a difference in the end).
The Other’s sword is crystalline. It glows with a blue light and,
at certain angles, seems translucent. The Other’s armor
changes color as it moves.
©2024 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com Page 28

The Other and Ser Waymar fight. Ser Waymar parries the When the Others kill Waymar, he becomes reanimated as one of
Other’s attacks but keeps taking steps back. Each time their them, showing that the ranks of the Others will continue to grow as
swords clash, it makes a sound like a scream. The Other knocks they come across more humans. That becomes a literal
Ser Waymar off his feet. Ser Waymar gathers himself, but his representation of the relationship between humans and climate
sword shatters when he tries to block the Other’s sword. The change. As humans continue to contribute to the rise of heat-
Other stabs Ser Waymar. The four Others who were waiting in trapping gasses in the atmosphere, the threat that climate change
the shadows rush toward Ser Waymar and stab his body. When poses grows larger and larger, just as the ranks of the Others grow
they leave, Will descends from the tree. He collects pieces of larger as they interact with more people. The novel opens with this
Ser Waymar’s shattered sword, which he plans to bring back to attack of the Others, establishing the risk they pose as one of the
Castle Black as proof of the attack. As Will prepares to leave, main conflicts of the novel.
Ser Waymar rises from the ground. His eyes are the same
piercing blue color as the Others’. Ser Waymar wraps his now
ice-cold hands around Will’s throat.
CHAPTER 1: BRAN
Bran Stark goes with 20 others to see a man beheaded. It’s the This section introduces several of the novel’s most important
first time Bran has gone with his father and brothers to see the characters, including Ned, Robb, and Jon Snow. Notably, as soon as
king’s justice enacted. His father is Eddard Stark, or Ned, who is Jon Snow is introduced, the novel describes the circumstances of his
the Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North. Bran is with birth. This reinforces the rigid hierarchical structure that determines
his brother, Robb, and his half-brother, Jon Snow, who is a socioeconomic standing in Westeros. In Jon’s case, it becomes
“bastard” because he was born out of wedlock. Robb says that immediately clear that, even though he lives with the Stark family,
the man being executed is a wildling who serves Mance Rayder, he has a different status than his half-siblings.
the King-beyond-the-Wall. Rumors and stories say the
wildlings are cruel thieves who enslave and murder others at
will. And they kidnap women and sell them to the Others.
Ned Stark takes hold of the executioner’s sword and will The fact that the man being executed is missing both ears and that
execute the man himself. The man is missing both of his ears he deserted the Night’s Watch shows that he is Gared. Previously,
from frostbite. Jon Snow tells Bran not to look away, or else the narration described Gared as a 40-year veteran of the Night’s
Ned will know that Bran didn’t watch. Ned lowers the sword to Watch, so his desertion suggests that his encounter with the Others
the man’s neck. The man’s head rolls down the hill, and Ned’s was something unlike anything he had seen before. That encounter
ward, Theon Greyjoy, kicks the head. Jon mutters a disparaging was so frightening that it drove him to abandon his post, even
comment about Theon that only Bran can hear. After the though it meant almost certain death. Jon’s instruction to Bran not
execution, Ned asks Bran if he knows why the man had to die. to look away from the execution points to the theme in the novel
Bran says because he was a wildling who would have kidnapped about facing difficult truths head-on instead of avoiding them.
women to sell to the Others. Ned tells Bran that in truth, the
man deserted the Night’s Watch. Since he had deserted, the
man knew his life was forfeit, so nothing would stop him from
committing the most heinous crimes.
Ned also asks Bran if he knows why he (Ned) carried out the Ned stands as a beacon of honor and integrity throughout the novel.
execution himself. Bran says he doesn’t why, and Ned tells him Here, that honor manifests itself in his stated belief that a leader
that if a person is going to take a man’s life, they owe it to him to must carry out the most difficult tasks themselves. In other words,
look him in the eyes and hear his last words. If they can’t do Ned says that as a leader, one cannot ask those one leads to do
that, he says, then the man may not deserve to die. Robb calls anything one would not do oneself. Here and elsewhere, the novel
out that he’s found something. Bran and Ned rush to see what contrasts Ned’s leadership qualities with those of several other
it is, and they find Robb on the bank of the nearby river, characters. Here, the novel implicitly contrasts Ned’s approach to
pointing to a gigantic wolf that has died. The wolf is bigger than leadership with the poor leadership displayed by Waymar Royce.
Bran’s pony, and its fur is matted with ice. Jon says it’s a
direwolf.

Theon says that direwolves haven’t been spotted south of the The fact that direwolves haven’t been seen south of the Wall for
Wall for over 200 years. Jon says that they’re looking right at 200 years until now points to the impacts of the climate change
one. Ned examines the body of the direwolf and finds a deer that Westeros is presently experiencing. The novel implicitly asks, if
antler through its throat. Bran notices that Robb is cradling direwolves can now travel south of the Wall, what else might soon
something in his arms. When Bran moves closer, he sees that travel south of the Wall? That question hints at the risk that the
it’s a pup. Robb says there are four others. Theon says the pups Others might soon pose to those south of the Wall.
will die since their mother is dead. Ned agrees and says that it
would be merciful to kill the pups quickly rather than let them
die from cold and starvation. Bran and Robb object, but Ned
responds that there’s no way to keep them alive.
Jon speaks up. He says that Ned has five “trueborn” children This section shows Jon’s tendency to sacrifice himself for the good
and there are five pups. What’s more, the direwolf is the of others. That propensity, the novel suggests, is a sign that he, like
symbol of the Stark house. Jon says that Ned’s children are his father Ned, has innate leadership qualities. But Jon’s maneuver
meant to have the direwolves. Bran recognizes what Jon has here requires him to diminish himself on account of his lower social
done. He’s left himself out of the count of Ned’s children to status—he is not Ned’s “trueborn” son. That points to the indignities
save the wolf pups. Ned agrees to bring the pups back to the that Jon must suffer, apparently on a daily basis, because he was
castle (which is called Winterfell) but says that the children will born out of wedlock. The novel gradually shows the toll that those
have to take care of the pups themselves. He doesn’t want the indignities take on Jon.
work falling to the servants. Bran and Robb are overjoyed. As
the group rides away from the direwolf, they hear a whimpering
sound. They turn back and find a sixth pup. This one is white
with red eyes, while the other five are grey. Jon takes that pup
as his own.
CHAPTER 2: CATELYN
Catelyn, Ned’s wife, was born a Tully. As such, she was raised at The religions in the novel are roughly based on real-life religions. The
Riverrun in the Faith, meaning she worships the new gods, or Faith of the Seven is loosely based on Catholicism, with the seven
the “Faith of the Seven.” The gods Ned and the Starks worship faces of god corresponding to the Catholic faith’s idea of the holy
are different. They’re the old gods, who don’t have faces or trinity. Worship of the old gods is in turn based on paganism. The
names. Catelyn finds Ned in the godswood, a sacred forest that novel will later delve into the history of how those who worship the
has remained untouched for 10,000 years. She tells him she new gods came to live alongside those who worship the old gods,
has bad news: Jon Arryn is dead. Ned was Jon Arryn’s ward pointing to the real-life historical moments in which Christianity
when he was younger. Jon Arryn was like a father both to Ned collided with paganism.
and to Ned’s fellow ward at the time, Robert Baratheon, who is
now the king. Jon Arryn had also married Catelyn’s sister, Lysa,
at the same time that Ned married Catelyn. Catelyn then tells
Ned that there is some good news, too: King Robert is coming
to Winterfell to visit.
Robert will be traveling with about 100 knights along with his Notably, this chapter is told from Catelyn’s point of view, meaning
wife, Queen Cersei. Ned is happy to hear that until Catelyn that the observations within are based on her perspective. In her
tells him that Cersei’s brothers will also be coming. Ned has view, instead of taking a stand to support Robert when the outcome
disliked the Lannisters (Cersei’s family) ever since they came to was in doubt, as Ned implicitly did, the Lannisters waited to align
Robert’s side when he became king at the last possible themselves with whoever would come out on top. In her mind, then,
moment. When they committed to support Robert, it was a the Lannisters are opportunistic and untrustworthy. In other words,
foregone conclusion that he would become the king. Ned says they do not have the same kind of honor and integrity that Ned
he will send a raven with a message to his brother Ben at the does.
Night’s Watch because Ben will also want to see Robert.

Recently, Ben has told Ned that the number of men on the Catelyn underlines the implications of the sighting of direwolves
Night’s Watch has been rapidly falling, and it’s not just due to south of the Wall, directly linking that sighting to a possible threat
desertions. They’ve also been losing men on rangings from the Others. Despite that threat, the number of Night’s
(expeditions past the Wall). Ned says wildlings must be killing Watchmen—those who are charged with protecting the people
those men. Catelyn says it might be the Others. Ned says that south of the Wall from the Others—has been rapidly decreasing,
Catelyn has been listening to too many stories. Others haven’t suggesting that people have forgotten the importance of the Night’s
existed for 8,000 years, and there’s no living soul who has ever Watch and the threat the Others pose.
seen one. Catelyn says that, until today, no living soul ever saw
a direwolf either.
CHAPTER 3: DAENERYS
Viserys brings his sister Daenerys, or Dany, a new dress for her This passage sets the scene for the characters who oppose Robert’s
to wear tonight. The fabric is softer and more luxurious than reign as king. While the previous two chapters, narrated from Bran
anything Dany has seen before. Viserys says it’s a gift from and Catelyn’s perspectives, portrayed Ned as an almost
Magister Illyrio. Daenerys needs to look like the princess she unimpeachably honorable leader, this chapter portrays Ned as the
rightly is tonight when she meets Khal Drogo, a rich man from morally bankrupt supporter of Robert, who had no rightful claim to
Vaes Dothrak who’s rumored to have an army of over 100,000 the throne. The novel uses chapters narrated by different characters
men. Daenerys is 13 years old. Viserys talks constantly of the to portray the complexity of the political machinations that the
land that belongs to them, of places like Casterly Rock and characters are involved in and to show how different the current
King’s Landing, which they fled when Viserys was eight years state of events looks depending on one’s perspective.
old and Dany was still in her mother’s womb. They had to flee
the Usurper—with support from the Starks and the Lannisters,
the Usurper had unrightfully taken the throne from their
father, Aerys II Targaryen, the former king. Viserys plans to
retake the throne, no matter the cost.
Viserys and Dany have been on the run ever since the Usurper The Targaryens’ practice of marriage between brothers points to
took over. They’ve gone from free city to free city, looking for their sense of superiority—they want to keep their supposed
people who want to provide shelter to the last two members of superior genes intact. Daenerys seems to evince some of that same
the Targaryen family. They’ve been residing in Pentos recently sense of superiority when she refers to Khal Drogo as a barbarian.
with patronage from Magister Illyrio. Dany had always At the same time, Daenerys is 13 years old, and her brother has
assumed that, when she came of age, she would marry her made decisions about her marriage that she doesn’t seem to have
brother Viserys, which has been the custom among Targaryens had a say in. This reflects Daenerys’s powerlessness in a rigidly
for centuries since they don’t want their bloodline to mix with patriarchal society, even though she comes from a once-powerful
people of lower standing. Dany is surprised, then, that her family.
brother is trying to marry her off to Khal Drogo, whom she
considers a barbarian.

That night, Illyrio, Viserys, and Dany go to the feast with Khal This passage reinforces Daenerys’s lack of power. She tells her
Drogo. There are hundreds of people there, but Dany is brother she doesn’t want to be married to Khal Drogo, but she has
frightened to see that she is the only woman in attendance. no power to actually change what will happen. This reinforces how
Many of the people at the feast are Dothraki, like Khal Drogo, much control her brother exercises control over her life, including
but there is a knight there, too. Illyrio says the knight is named over her decisions and her body. Viserys’s decision to marry
Ser Jorah Mormont. The Usurper had wanted his head because Daenerys to Khal Drogo also comes into clearer focus. In his mind,
of some inconsequential offense, so he fled. When Dany sees he is essentially trading Daenerys’s hand in marriage for the use of
Khal Drogo, she’s terrified. He has a braid down to his thighs. Khal Drogo’s army, which he believes will help him retake the
Viserys says the Dothraki people cut their braids when they Crown.
lose a battle. Khal Drogo hasn’t lost a single one. Dany doesn’t
want to be forced to marry Khal Drogo and tells Viserys that
she wants to go home. Viserys says the only way they can go
home is with Khal Drogo’s army.
CHAPTER 4: EDDARD
Robert arrives at Winterfell with his band of knights. Cersei, The novel again uses chapters narrated from the point of view of
her twin brother Jaime, and their brother, Tyrion are also with different characters to underline the complexity of the political
Robert. Robert immediately asks Ned to go to the crypt, and landscape in which they live. In this case, Ned lays out a litany of
Ned is touched that Robert places so much value on seeing the offenses that the Targaryens committed, including killing or
grave of Lyanna. Lyanna was Ned’s sister, and she was set to contributing to the deaths of his brother and sister. From
marry Robert before she died. Robert later killed Rhaegar Targaryens’ perspective, then, there are plenty of reasons to hold a
(Aerys II Targaryen’s heir) to avenge Lyanna’s death. Lyanna’s grudge against Ned and Robert, whom they refer to as the Usurper.
crypt lies beside Ned’s father (Rickard Stark) and Ned’s brother From Ned’s point of view, there are ample reasons to despise the
(Brandon). Brandon was Rickard’s firstborn son, which made Targaryens and think they should never hold power.
him the family’s true heir. He had been engaged to Catelyn
before the Mad King Aerys II Targaryen ordered him to die.
Ned hasn’t seen Robert for nine years, since they banded
together to put down Balon Greyjoy’s rebellion. After Balon
surrendered, Ned took Balon’s son, Theon, as a ward and
hostage.
Robert tells Ned that Jon Arryn’s death seems to have driven Ned’s lack of interest in the role of the Hand of the King—the
his wife Lysa (Catelyn’s sister) mad. She has taken her son, second-highest position of power in Westeros—points to Plato’s
Robert Arryn—Robert Baratheon’s namesake—to the Eyrie. dictum that “only those who do not seek power are fit to hold it.” In
Robert tells Ned that he’s come to Winterfell with a specific this case, Ned is an honorable leader who is defined by his
purpose in mind. Since Jon Arryn has died, he needs a new characteristic integrity. He also has no interest in power. Following
Hand of the King. The Hand is the second most powerful Plato’s logic, Ned’s lack of desire for power coupled with his virtuous
person in the Seven Kingdoms. The Hand commands the king’s tendencies make him a prime candidate to be a wise and virtuous
armies and writes the king’s laws. Robert asks Ned if he will be leader. That idea sets the novel up to examine how true that idea
the Hand. Ned isn’t surprised Robert has asked—why else actually is.
would he have traveled so far?—but Ned has no interest in the
role. He says he’ll need time to think about it. Robert says that if
Ned comes to King’s Landing, perhaps his son Joffrey and
Ned’s daughter Sansa could marry, uniting the families.

CHAPTER 5: JON
Jon Snow watches the proceedings of the welcome feast for Again, Jon has a much lower status because he was born out of
Robert from the benches of a table at the back of the hall, away wedlock. His lower social status forces him to suffer almost daily
from Ned’s other children. The procession marches right past indignities, which will gradually take a toll on him. Jon’s
Jon’s seat. Jon is unimpressed by Robert. Ned had described observations about Robert point to power as a corrupting force. In
him as a fearsome warrior, but he looks like a bloated, drunken this case, it seems that power has transformed Robert from a
man to Jon. Jaime Lannister looks more like what Jon imagined fearsome fighter into a complacent king who is more concerned
a king would look like. People call him “Kingslayer” behind his with personal gratification than leadership.
back. Jaime’s brother Tyrion follows Jaime. Tyrion is a dwarf
with one eye that is green and one that is black. The royal
children enter next, accompanied by the Stark children. Jon
feeds his direwolf pup, Ghost, under the table.
Ben, Ned’s brother who serves in the Night’s Watch, comes This passage shows the contempt that Catelyn has for Jon.
over to talk to Jon and asks why he’s not eating with the family, Catelyn’s contempt for Jon also hints at how hurt she was by Ned’s
as he usually does. Jon says that Catelyn thought it might having had a child with someone outside of their marriage. Jon
offend the king and queen if they were joined by a “bastard.” He responds to the indignities he faces by breaking down in tears.
then tells Ben that he wants to join the Night’s Watch. Ben says Tyrion’s counsel provides Jon with a way to reconceive himself and
he should give it some time. Men on the Night’s Watch take an his identity. Instead of viewing the fact that he is not Ned’s
oath to not have families or father children. Ben says Jon “trueborn” son as a flaw and an impediment, Tyrion suggests that
should try fathering a few “bastards” of his own before he perhaps it can become a source of strength.
commits to something so momentous. Jon yells that he’ll never
father a bastard and then notices that the whole table is
listening. He bursts into tears and runs outside. Outside, Jon
runs into Tyrion, who advises Jon to make who he is his
strength. That way his identity can never be used against him.
CHAPTER 6: CATELYN
In their bedroom, Catelyn and Ned discuss whether Ned This passage reiterates how thoroughly Ned doesn’t want power.
should accept Robert’s to become the Hand of the King. Ned Catelyn also describes Ned’s possible rejection of Robert’s offer in
doesn’t want to do it, but Catelyn says he has no choice. A king terms of Robert’s pride, which shows how personal grievances
cannot bear an affront to his pride, she says. Maester Luwin shape the priorities of those in power. If Robert feels someone has
then comes to the door, even though Ned has given explicit wounded his pride, then there’s no telling what he, as the most
instructions that he should not be disturbed. Ned lets him in, powerful person in the realm, might do in response. That idea
and Maester Luwin explains that he found a small wooden box foreshadows how significantly personal grievances—including those
on his table delivered by an unseen messenger. Inside, he found between the Lannisters and Starks or the Targaryens and
a lens. But then he found the box’s true message in a hidden Robert—will impact political decisions in Westeros.
false bottom. He says the message is for Catelyn.
Catelyn says the message is from her sister, Lysa. It’s written in The novel has already shown that Catelyn and Ned dislike the
a private language that the two shared as children. In the note, Lannisters because the Lannisters were slow to take up Robert’s
Lysa writes that Jon Arryn was murdered by the Lannisters. cause when he became king. With that in mind, Catelyn and Ned
Ned, Catelyn, and Maester Luwin can’t believe the message. seem predisposed to believe the message from Lysa, which further
Catelyn says the matter is beyond discussion now: Ned must impugns the Lannisters’ character and accuses them of murder.
accept the role of Hand of the King. He can’t leave Robert
vulnerable to the kind of dangers that the Lannisters pose, and
Ned can use his power as the Hand to try and get to the bottom
of Jon Arryn’s murder.

Catelyn and Ned begin to plan what will happen when Ned The differences between Jon Snow and Ned’s other children are put
accepts the offer. Sansa, Arya, and Bran will go with him to on display in this chapter. Those differences are particularly
King’s Landing. Robb will stay behind with Catelyn and learn noticeable between Robb and Jon, who are about the same age.
how to rule the north, and the baby, Rickon, will stay too. They While Robb will stay in Winterfell to become its de facto ruler, Jon
then talk about Jon Snow. Ned says he can’t take a bastard to Snow will essentially be banished to the Night’s Watch, a fate that
King’s Landing—Jon won’t be accepted there. Catelyn says that Ben just recently told Jon he was too young to consider. Though
under no circumstances can he stay at Winterfell with her. She Robb and Jon have experienced similar upbringings, Jon is exiled
hates thinking about Jon Snow and the rumors she’s heard due to his identity, while Robb’s identity gives him a chance to rule.
about his mother. Maester Luwin says that Jon has expressed This further reinforces the strict hierarchical structures in Westeros.
interest to Ben in joining the Night’s Watch. Catelyn thinks it’s
the perfect solution to the issue, and Ned reluctantly agrees.
CHAPTER 7: ARYA
Arya does needlework with Sansa and Princess Myrcella. Arya running out of the room in tears parallels the moment when
Arya’s needlework comes out crooked, while Sansa’s looks Jon ran out of the room in tears a few nights before. In that case,
perfect. Sansa is beautiful and seems like she can do no wrong. Jon burst into tears when confronted again with the fact that he is
Arya is sick of being second best to her. Septa Mordane, who not Ned’s “trueborn” son, while Arya cries here because she does not
watches over the girls, says that Arya’s needlework isn’t even fit others’ expectations for her. Arya then meets up with Jon,
close to sufficient. Arya runs from the room in tears, while suggesting that the two relate to each other because neither neatly
Septa Mordane yells at her to come back. Outside, Arya finds fits within the rigid hierarchical structures of Winterfell and
her direwolf, Nymeria. She then goes to watch combat training Westeros.
and sits with Jon Snow. She and Jon have always been close.
Jon and Arya watch Bran fight Prince Tommen. The two use The narration portrays Joffrey as an arrogant bully. When he
wooden swords and are wrapped in layers of protective declines the offer to use blunted swords, though, it seems possible
cushions. When they’re done, Robb challenges Prince Joffrey that his brash attitude is actually compensation for insecurity—in
to another round of combat training. Joffrey says that practice this case, a fear that he would lose in a fight with Robb. The fact
is child’s play, and he’ll only fight if they can use real swords. Ser that Septa Mordane and Catelyn are waiting for Arya shows that in
Rodrik, the master-at-arms at Winterfell, says they can use Westeros, people who fail to conform to rigid expectations—in this
swords with blunted edges. Joffrey says that won’t do and case, gender expectations—inevitably face harsh consequences.
insults Robb before walking away. When Arya returns to her
room, she finds Septa Mordane and her mother, Catelyn,
waiting for her.
CHAPTER 8: BRAN
It’s Bran’s last day in Winterfell before he rides south to King’s Bran is portrayed as sensitive and, it seems, like someone who might
Landing with his siblings and his father. He is excited to start his prefer to be by himself considering that, even though it’s his last day
new life, but on this last day, a feeling of emptiness overtakes in Winterfell, he finds himself alone. Catelyn and Ned’s differing
him. He thinks maybe he should say his goodbyes, but when he responses to Bran’s climbing reveal their distinctive approaches to
goes to see his pony that he’s leaving behind, he starts to cry parenting. Catelyn seems to be primarily concerned with protecting
and runs away before anyone can see. He decides to spend the her children, whereas Ned seems to encourage them to pursue their
rest of the day climbing, which he loves more than anything. His passions, even if those pursuits might entail some level of risk.
mother can’t stand to see him do it, but his father doesn’t
outright forbid it, so Bran just tries to stay out of sight when he
climbs.

Bran decides to climb from the godswood to the old clock This passage points to the “game of thrones” that provides the title
tower. To get there, he’ll pass by the First Keep, one of the of the book. The “game of thrones” conceives of politics as a game
oldest buildings in the castle, though it’s no longer in use. When that each person plays to try and get power for themselves and their
he reaches the roof of the First Keep, Bran hears voices inside, family. In this case, though Ned has just accepted the role of the
which is strange because no one ever goes in there. It’s a man Hand of the King, his position of power is already causing others to
and woman speaking. The woman says that it’s wrong that talk about him enviously. That envy suggests that people may desire
Robert asked Ned to be the Hand. The job should belong to the the power he has to the point that they are willing to do nefarious
man, she says. The man responds that he doesn’t want it. The things to try and get it for themselves.
woman wonders if Ned accepting the offer means that he’s
onto them. Perhaps Catelyn’s sister, Lysa, sent Ned and
Catelyn a message, she says. The man tells the woman that
Lysa doesn’t know anything.
Bran knows that he has to see who is talking. As he tries to Bran sees Cersei having sex with her twin brother Jaime. Jaime and
traverse the outside of the First Keep, he hears the sound of Cersei are so afraid that their secret will come out that Jaime is
skin against skin. He hangs from a gargoyle and looks through willing to kill a child to protect that secret. Notably, when Jaime
the window. He sees the queen, Cersei, having sex with a man shoves Bran, he says that he’s doing it for love. That statement
who is the spitting image of her. When the queen sees Bran, highlights again the novel’s recurring theme of the tension between
Bran is shocked and loses hold of the gargoyle. He slips and love and duty. In this case, moral duty calls for Jaime to protect
grabs hold of the ledge of the window. The man reaches his Bran, while Jaime’s idea of love compels him to protect Cersei. In
hand down and pulls Bran up. He asks Bran how old he is. Bran this case, Jaime chooses what he calls love over moral duty. His
says he is seven. The man says, “The things I do for love,” and immoral act also points to the incompatibility of morality and
shoves Bran out the window. power in the world of the novel—his apparent murder of Bran shows
just how low he is willing to sink to protect his and Cersei’s hold on
power.
CHAPTER 9: TYRION
Tyrion is reading when he hears a wolf howl. He has been up all The narration once more portrays Joffrey as arrogant, entitled, and
night, as usual—he never sleeps much. He leaves his room for unfeeling. Notably, Tyrion is offended by Joffrey’s callousness,
breakfast and finds Joffrey talking to Sandor Clegane, also suggesting that he may feel genuine sympathy for Bran. The novel
known as the Hound. They’re talking about Bran’s recovery. It’s also portrays Tyrion as cunning. He deliberately puts Cersei and
been four days, and Bran seems stable but is in a coma. Tyrion Jaime in a situation where he can test whether they’re guilty of
tells Joffrey that he (Joffrey) must go offer Ned and Catelyn his Bran’s fall. From those efforts, Tyrion seems to learn that they are
sympathy for Bran, but Joffrey says Bran means nothing to him. guilty, which, at this point, makes him the only person— aside from
Tyrion slaps Joffrey, and Joffrey walks away. Tyrion then finds Bran, Cersei, and Jaime—who knows the truth about what caused
Jaime and Cersei eating together, and they’re also talking Bran’s fall.
about Bran’s recovery. The Maester has said if Bran wakes up,
he’ll never walk again. Tyrion says he wonders what Bran will
say if he does wake up and watches Jaime and Cersei to see if
they react. He notices that they exchange a furtive glance.

CHAPTER 10: JON

Jon goes to say goodbye to Bran before he rides north to the This passage shows that Catelyn’s animosity toward Jon isn’t just a
Wall, where he’ll begin training with the Night’s Watch. It’s simmering resentment. Instead, her contempt boils over into actual
been a fortnight since Bran entered his coma. Jon hasn’t been rage. Catelyn’s explosive contempt for Jon suggests that he has had
to see him because Catelyn is always at Bran’s bedside, and Jon to live his entire childhood experiencing some version of that hatred
doesn’t want to upset her. But he knows he has to say goodbye directed against him. That contempt also shows the personal and
now. When Jon reaches the room, Catelyn is there. She asks intimate impacts of Westeros’s rigid hierarchy on individual people
him why he’s come and tells him to leave, or she’ll call the like Jon.
guards. Jon goes to Bran’s bed anyway, says goodbye and,
wishes for Bran’s recovery. As Jon leaves, Catelyn calls after
him. “It should have been you,” she says.
Jon sees Robb getting the horses ready to depart. Robb won’t The novel again highlights the extreme disparities between Robb
be traveling to King’s Landing with the others today but is and Jon, which are a result of the circumstances of Jon’s birth.
helping the others with the preparations. Jon and Robb say While Robb will stay in Winterfell to command in his father’s
goodbye and wonder when they’ll see each other again. Jon absence, Jon—who has experienced the same upbringing as
then goes to find Arya for his final goodbye. He gives her a Robb—is banished to the Night’s Watch and, as a result, essentially
small sword, which he has named Needle, and tells Arya to exiled from the only family he has known.
practice while she’s in King’s Landing. He also tells her not to
tell Sansa about the sword. Arya is elated and hugs Jon before
he turns to leave for the trip north.
CHAPTER 11: DAENERYS

Dany and Khal Drogo’s wedding takes place in a field outside of Viserys’s interest in Daenerys’s marriage to Khal Drogo is purely
Pentos. Khal Drogo’s khalasar, or nomadic band of Dothraki transactional—Viserys treats his sister Daenerys as an object he can
people, is there too—the band consists of about 40,000 people. trade for personal and political gain. Viserys’s attitude is a reflection
Before the feast, Viserys asks Illyrio if Khal Drogo will make of the prevailing patriarchal structure that governs the world in
good on his promise. In exchange for Dany’s hand in marriage, which they live, and Daenerys seemingly has no power to alter the
Khal Drogo is supposed to provide Viserys with an army so he circumstances of her life as a result of that structure. That
can retake the crown from the Usurper. Illyrio says Khal Drogo patriarchal structure seems to be similar among the Dothraki
will fulfill his promise, but there’s no telling exactly when it will people, as men fight one another to have sex with women without
happen. Drogo will have to consult Dothraki omens to any apparent input from the women themselves.
determine when the time will be right. During the feast,
Dothraki men and women have sex in the open. They don’t
practice the same customs of shame and privacy that Dany was
raised with. Occasionally, fights break out, and several men
die—Illyrio says this is a sign of a lively party.

Dany is terrified during the wedding but wills herself not to cry. The dragon eggs that Illyrio gives to Daenerys have turned to stone,
She is also presented with gifts. Viserys gives her three symbolizing how the Targaryens’ power has calcified over time. The
servants. Ser Jorah Mormont gives her books on the history of Targaryens were once the most powerful family in the realm but
the Seven Kingdoms. Illyrio gives her a chest of fine silks and now, only two descendants—Daenerys and Viserys—remain. The
three beautiful dragon eggs, which time has turned to stone. horse that Khal Drogo gives Dany builds on a recurring theme in the
They’re a symbol of her family’s past connection with dragons. novel of the important connection between people and animals. The
Now, there are no living dragons. Khal Drogo gives Dany a Starks have a deep connection with direwolves, the Targaryens once
striking, silver horse. After the wedding, when Dany is alone had a similar connection with dragons, and the Dothraki people
with Khal Drogo, she begins to cry. Drogo shows her a have a profound connection with horses. This passage also
tenderness she had not expected. She sits and undoes his braid emphasizes again the lack of power and control Daenerys has over
before he undresses her, and the two begin to have sex. her own life, which is controlled (at this point) by the desires and
whims of men.
CHAPTER 12: EDDARD

Robert wakes Ned from his tent in the middle of the night as Robert reveals that since becoming king, he has grown less and less
they make their way to King’s Landing. Robert says he wants to interested in the role. As his discussion of memories with Ned
talk to Ned privately. He says there are always people listening implies, he would rather live the wild life of his youth than be bound
around camp, so they ride away from camp together. Robert by the responsibilities that come with being king, suggesting that
bemoans his role as the king and talks about memories he and Robert may not be an especially effective ruler.
Ned have shared. He asks Ned about Wylla, who is Jon Snow’s
mother, but Ned says he besmirched his and Catelyn’s honor by
having sex with her and refuses to say more.
Robert tells Ned that he received a message in the middle of This passage sheds light on the differences between Ned and
the night. It came from Lord Varys, the king’s master of Robert. While Ned is content to let events play out as they may with
whisperers. The message says that Daenerys Targaryen has regard to Daenerys, Robert’s mind immediately goes to the “game of
married Khal Drogo, who has an army of 100,000 Dothraki thrones.” He is concerned that his power might one day be in danger.
warriors. Robert explains that the message originally came Notably, Robert’s fear comes just after he says he doesn’t much care
from Ser Jorah Mormont, who is looking for a pardon from the for being king, suggesting that though he doesn’t enjoy the
king after he illegally sold poachers to a slaver rather than responsibilities that come with being king, he enjoys the privileges
handing them over to the Night’s Watch. Robert is worried that power gives him.
about Dany’s marriage. He thinks Khal Drogo’s army might be a
threat to him. Ned says that Robert shouldn’t worry because
the Dothraki hate water and don’t have ships, so they won’t be
able to cross the ocean to get to King’s Landing. Robert
wonders what will happen if they find ships, though.

Robert says he should have killed Viserys and Dany when he In addition to power corrupting Robert in the sense that it has
had the chance. Ned counters that killing children is vile, but driven him from being a fearsome warrior to someone who is
Robert isn’t convinced. Robert also tells Ned that he’s going to primarily concerned with personal gratification, power also seems
appoint a new Warden of the East, now that Jon Arryn has to have corrupted Robert’s moral capacities. If he could go back in
died. He says he’s going to choose Jaime Lannister. Ned thinks time, he says, he would murder Viserys and Daenerys when he had
this is a horrible idea but doesn’t tell Robert about the message the chance, meaning when Daenerys was a baby and Viserys was
from Lysa accusing the Lannisters of murdering Jon Arryn. eight years old, which is when they fled from Westeros. That
Instead, Ned expresses his hesitance by reminding Robert of highlights the novel’s portrayal of power as something that
Jaime’s past. Jaime, the Kingslayer, killed the previous king, inherently corrupts both those who seek it and those who possess it.
Aerys II Targaryen, even though he was sworn to protect him.
And when Ned arrived in King’s Landing shortly after Jaime
killed Aerys, Ned found Jaime sitting on the Iron Throne. Jaime
got up after a moment and said he had just been keeping it
warm for Robert.
Now, Ned tells Robert that he is also concerned that, if Jaime is The novel again portrays Ned as a noble and virtuous person who
Warden of the East, then the Lannisters will control half of the has no interest in power. Considering that the novel has just
king’s armies, as Jaime’s father, Tywin, is already Warden of the depicted the corruptive forces of power, this passage implicitly asks
West. Robert dismisses Ned’s concerns and rides away. Ned whether someone as virtuous as Ned will escape the clutches of
thinks he has no business being the Hand of the King. Robert power unscathed or if he will fall prey to its corruptive forces like so
will just do as he pleases, and Ned has no power to change his many others before him.
mind. His place, Ned thinks, is with Catelyn in Winterfell.
CHAPTER 13: TYRION

Instead of traveling with the king’s procession, Tyrion goes with Dragons, and the absence of dragons in particular, become a
Ben and Jon Snow to see the Wall and the Night’s Watch. On recurring throughout the novel. This passage suggests that as the
their way, Tyrion sits up at night, reading a book about dragons. Targaryens’ power diminished, so did the power of their dragons, as
Tyrion recalls when he first went to King’s Landing and found they grew smaller and smaller over generations. With that in mind,
the dragon skulls. They had once been in the main hall of the dragons become a symbol of the Targaryens’ vitality.
castle, but after Robert defeated the Targaryens, who had
ridden the dragons, he moved the skulls to the basement. Some
of the dragon skulls were 3,000 years old, and the most recent
was a little more than a century old. The skulls got
progressively smaller over time. Tyrion was fascinated by those
skulls and by dragons growing up. But now there are no more
Targaryen dragons and perhaps no more dragons at all.

Jon Snow finds Tyrion reading. The two begin talking, and Jon tries to console himself by saying that there is nobility in the
Tyrion says that he knows Jon, like Tyrion himself, has felt a Night’s Watch, even though he, as Tyrion reminds him, is too smart
drive toward vengeance because of how he’s been treated, to believe that. Instead, the Night’s Watch is a kind of exile that Jon
including how his father has banished him to the Night’s Watch. suffers because of the circumstances of his birth. Jon is exiled while
Jon says the Night’s Watch is a noble calling, but Tyrion says his half-brother, Robb, becomes the leader at Winterfell, illustrating
Jon’s too smart to believe that. Instead, Tyrion says, the Night’s the underlying injustice and unfairness of the feudal hierarchy in
Watch is a place for criminals and misfits. There’s no honor which they live. Tyrion counsels Jon with his philosophy that by
there, and it’s too cold to bear on top of that. Tyrion feels bad facing difficult truths head-on instead of avoiding them, one can
for what he’s said and moves toward Jon to apologize. Jon’s harness what might be perceived as one’s weaknesses and turn
direwolf, Ghost, jumps up between Tyrion and Jon and knocks them into sources of strength.
Tyrion over. He asks Jon to call Ghost off, and Jon does. He
then helps Tyrion up and says he knows what Tyrion said about
the Night’s Watch is true. Tyrion commends Jon for facing the
difficult truth head-on.
CHAPTER 14: CATELYN

Catelyn hasn’t slept for weeks and has kept an almost constant The novel once again portrays Catelyn as fiercely protective of her
vigil at Bran’s bedside. Maester Luwin comes to her and says children, as she stands vigil over Bran’s bed for weeks and barely
that they need to replenish the castle’s stores after the visit gets any sleep. Notably, however, that protectiveness interferes with
from the king and his party. They’ll also need a new master of her ability to see to the day-to-day necessities in Winterfell, thus
horses, as the previous one rode south with Ned. Catelyn can’t underscoring the novel’s broader focus on the incompatibility of
bear to be troubled with such mundane matters while Bran is power with morality. This passage also again implicitly contrasts
on the brink of death, and she lashes out at Maester Luwin. Robb’s fate to Jon’s, as Robb can stay home in Winterfell, assume a
Robb comes into the room then and assures Maester Luwin leadership role, and take care of his family while Jon is banished to
that he’ll look into what needs to be done. the Night’s Watch.
As Robb sits with Catelyn, Bran’s wolf howls. The other wolves The man’s repeated utterance that Catelyn isn’t supposed to be
join him, and they’re then joined by dogs too. Robb gets up to there shows that he set the fire to cause a distraction and ensure
check what’s happening and sees that the library is on fire that Bran would be alone. It also makes it clear that the attack had
across the courtyard. He rushes out of the room to help been coordinated and suggests that the assassin didn’t act alone.
extinguish the fire, leaving Catelyn alone with Bran. A man Instead, it seems that someone gave him a plan and told him that
Catelyn doesn’t recognize enters the room after Robb leaves. no one would be in the room with Bran, hence his repeated surprise
The man repeatedly says that Catelyn isn’t supposed to be at seeing Catelyn.
there. He rushes at Catelyn with a knife, and she uses all of her
strength to fend him off. Bran’s wolf runs into the room. The
wolf attacks the man and eventually kills him.
Afterward, Catelyn talks with Robb, Theon, and Ser Rodrik The bag of money again suggests that someone else coordinated the
about what happened. No one knows who the man is. They plan to kill Bran and paid the man to carry out the act. The value of
think he must be one of the king’s men, or one of the the dagger, along with the money, also points to the idea that
Lannisters’ men and that he stayed behind after the king left. whoever tried to kill Bran is wealthy. The fact that the man had been
He had been hiding in the stables, where they found a buried trying to kill Bran invites the question of who would want Bran
bag of money. Ser Rodrik says that the man’s knife is a dead.
remarkable weapon made with Valyrian steel. Catelyn says that
the man had been there to kill Bran.

The others express their disbelief, and Catelyn swears them to The novel has shown that Catelyn is predisposed to dislike the
secrecy before telling them about Lysa’s message, which Lannisters. In this case, though, her animosity toward the Lannisters
claimed that the Lannisters killed Jon Arryn. Catelyn says she leads her to the correct conclusion: that Jaime pushed Bran, which
suspects that Bran didn’t fall. Instead, she says, Jaime Lannister led to Bran’s coma. The reader knows that is true, though no
pushed him. Robb, Theon, and Ser Rodrik say that that’s a grave characters in the room know it for a fact, setting up an instance of
accusation, but Ser Rodrik adds that the proof of it is in the dramatic irony.
man’s knife. Catelyn says that she must go to warn Ned about
what has happened. She’ll go on back roads and try and catch
up with the king’s procession without attracting attention. Ser
Rodrik says that he’ll accompany her.
CHAPTER 15: SANSA

Sansa and Arya are supposed to spend the day with Princess This passage again portrays Arya as someone who doesn’t fit within
Myrcella and Queen Cersei, but Arya is not interested in going. the strict expectations of Westeros, both in terms of gender norms
She tells Sansa that she’s going to spend the day with her new and in terms of who she likes to spend time with. The hierarchy of
friend, Mycah, instead. Sansa doesn’t know why Arya likes Westeros dictates that upper and lower classes remain in separate
spending time with that boy, who is the son of a butcher, spheres, but Arya disregards that idea, showing that she tends to
instead of enjoying the luxuries of royalty. But Arya loves eschew the norms of the prevailing hierarchy of the realm. Sansa, on
spending time in nature with Mycah exploring and discovering the other hand, upholds those norms.
animals she’s never seen before. She says she doesn’t like the
queen and won’t spend the day with her. Then she storms off,
leaving Sansa alone.
Sansa hears that new riders have arrived to escort the king to The novel has thus far established Joffrey as an arrogant, entitled,
King’s Landing and goes to see. She is frightened by the and at times cruel person. Sansa, though, believes that because he is
appearance of one of the new men, Ser Ilyn, and has an tall, strong, and handsome, he’s exactly how a prince should be.
awkward interaction with him. But she makes up for it by Sansa’s ideas point not just to her preoccupation with appearances
charming two of the other new men, Ser Barristan, the Lord but also to her romantic view of the world in which princes are
Commander of the Kingsguard, and Ser Renly Baratheon, heroes who defeat villainous opponents—an oversimplified
Robert’s younger brother. The queen says that regretfully she’ll understanding of politics that fails to grasp at the fundamentally
have to cancel their plans to spend the day together and asks corruptive nature of power. The novel also uses the discrepancy
Joffrey to entertain Sansa. Joffrey accepts. He and Sansa are between Joffrey’s appearances and character to provide a subtle
now officially engaged, though they won’t be married for years. commentary on fantasy as a genre and fairy tales in particular, in
Joffrey is everything Sansa could want a prince to be: he’s tall, which archetypal characters like “Prince Charming” are portrayed
strong, and handsome. Joffrey and Sansa go out riding alone, similarly to how Joffrey appears. The novel argues, though, that this
leaving behind Lady (Sansa’s direwolf) and the Hound (Joffrey’s trope is often not based in reality.
bodyguard).

Joffrey and Sansa have a picnic and drink wine before they hear The novel establishes Sansa and Arya as foils for each other. While
a crashing sound in the woods. Sansa is afraid and wants to turn Sansa meets the gender norms of Westeros, Arya has no interest in
back, but Joffrey wants to investigate. They go through the conforming to those norms. Notably, their divergence from those
woods and see two children practicing sword fighting with norms leads them to different companions. Arya finds Mycah,
broom handles. Sansa is shocked when she sees that one of the whose company Arya seems to enjoy for its own sake, while Sansa
children is Arya, who is covered in mud. The other person is finds Joffrey, who is again portrayed as needlessly cruel and
Mycah. Joffrey takes out his sword and approaches Arya and arrogant. It remains to be seen whether Sansa witnessing Joffrey’s
Mycah. He challenges Mycah to a fight before placing his sword cruelty firsthand will lead her to change her opinion about him.
blade against Mycah’s cheek and drawing blood. Arya hits
Joffrey on the back of the head with her broomstick and then
Nymeria (Arya’s direwolf) attacks Joffrey. Arya calls off
Nymeria and runs away with Mycah. Joffrey lays on the ground
and reacts contemptuously when Sansa tries to help.
CHAPTER 16: EDDARD

After four days of searching, they find Arya, who has been This passage again shows the tension between love and duty, which
hiding in the woods since the fight with Joffrey. Arya is taken is a recurring theme in the book. In this case, Sansa feels a
before King Robert to explain her side of the story. Joffrey has burgeoning love toward Joffrey but has a moral duty to tell the
said that Arya and Mycah attacked him, and Cersei is intent on truth. Sansa lies and says she doesn’t remember what happened,
making Arya face consequences. Arya explains what happened. showing that she chooses Joffrey and love over morality and duty.
Ned asks Sansa to corroborate Arya’s story, but Sansa says she Sansa’s choice reinforces the novel’s suggestion that love can
doesn’t remember what happened. Arya screams out that become an impediment to morality.
Sansa is a liar. Robert says he doesn’t want to get involved. As
far as he’s concerned, the kids had a fight. He'll discipline
Joffrey, and Ned can discipline Arya. Ned is grateful that that’s
all the fight amounts to.
As Ned turns to leave with Arya, Cersei says that the direwolf Robert’s refusal to execute Lady himself puts him in stark contrast
that attacked Joffrey will have to be punished. Nymeria (Arya’s with Ned and the lesson Ned tried to teach Bran when he (Ned)
direwolf) ran away after the fight and hasn’t been found. Cersei executed Gared. Ned told Bran that as a leader, one cannot
responds that there’s still a wolf in the camp. Sansa realizes that command those one leads to do something one wouldn’t do oneself.
Cersei means her direwolf, Lady, and screams in protest. Trying In this case, Robert won’t even execute a dog, suggesting that he is a
to appease Cersei, Robert says that Lady should be killed. Ned far cry from the ideals of honor and integrity that are central to Ned
pleads with Robert not to do it and then says that if it’s going to as a person and Ned’s view of what makes a good leader.
happen, Robert should do it himself. Robert declines, and Ned
says that he’ll do it instead. After he kills Lady, other people
who were searching for Arya return. Ned sees them and thinks
they have Nymeria’s body with them, but it turns out to be
Mycah’s body.

CHAPTER 17: BRAN

Bran dreams of falling. A crow flies beside him. Bran says that In his sleep, Bran seems to see things that he has not seen in his
he’s dreaming and that he’ll wake up when he reaches the waking life, including King’s Landing and the Dothraki empire. This
ground. The crow tells him that he’ll die when he reaches the suggests that he may have visions that reveal truths about the
ground. Bran has a vision then in which he can see corners of world. Notably, when Bran looks into the ”heart of winter,” he sees
the world. He sees King’s Landing and the Dothraki Empire. He something terrifying. The novel implies that he sees the Others and
sees Jon Snow asleep on top of the Wall, and he peers farther the threat they pose to humanity, which various characters try to
and farther to the end of the world. He looks “deep into the deny. The novel then links the imminent threat of the Others with
heart of winter” and sees something terrifying. He screams. the words of House Stark, “Winter is coming,” to suggest that when
The crow says that now Bran knows why he must live. He must the climate changes from the long summer to winter, that change
live because “winter is coming” (which are the words of House will bring with it possible catastrophe in the form of the Others. The
Stark). Bran spreads his arms and flies. The crow beside him crow then hints that Bran must live to try and stop that
has three eyes. Bran wakes up in Winterfell with his direwolf catastrophe.
beside him. He decides to call the wolf Summer.
CHAPTER 18: CATELYN

Catelyn and Ser Rodrik are about a half hour away from King’s Catelyn has undertaken a perilous journey to try and get to the
Landing. They’re approaching by ship, and the journey has bottom of who killed Bran, highlighting again the protectiveness she
taken a toll on them both. The two devise a plan for what they’ll feels toward her family and her children. Rodrik and Catelyn have a
do once they land. First, they’ll go to an inn and try to remain well-conceived plan to try and achieve their goals, but the novel will
out of sight. Catelyn will stay there while Ser Rodrik goes alone show that, in the world of politics and power, things rarely go
to the castle, which is called the Red Keep. Ser Rodrik will meet according to plan.
with Ser Aron, the master of arms at the Red Keep, to see if he
knows who owns the dagger carried by the assassin who tried
to kill Bran.
At the inn, after Ser Rodrik has left for the Red Keep, Catelyn Rodrik and Catelyn’s careful plan quickly goes awry. Littlefinger is
falls asleep for longer than she intended. She’s awakened by a the one who interrupts that plan, showing that he tends to be one
knock at the door. When she opens it, she finds knights who tell step ahead of others when it comes to playing the “game of politics.”
her that they’re there to escort her to the Red Keep under Notably, Catelyn’s mind goes to the possibility that Rodrik betrayed
orders of Petyr Baelish, who is also known as Littlefinger. her, though she quickly dismisses that possibility.
Catelyn doesn’t know who would have told Littlefinger that she
was in King’s Landing. She knows that even if Rodrik were
captured, he would never say anything.
Catelyn grew up with Littlefinger. He had been her father’s Catelyn’s past experiences with Littlefinger raise the question of
ward, and Catelyn thought of him as a brother. But how that past will impact their relationship in the present. Does any
Littlefinger’s feelings toward her were more than brotherly. of Littlefinger’s past love for Catelyn remain, which could
When Littlefinger learned that Brandon Stark would marry presumably make Littlefinger trustworthy? Or does Littlefinger feel
Catelyn, Littlefinger challenged Brandon to a duel for her hand spurned by Catelyn and harmed by Brandon (a Stark) in a way that
in marriage. Littlefinger was only 15, while Brandon was 20. will make him want to enact revenge on the Stark family? The novel
Catelyn had to plead with Brandon not to kill Littlefinger. After portrays these scenes to show the complex personal motives at the
Littlefinger lost the duel, Catelyn’s father sent him away. heart of many of the political decisions that occur in the book.
Catelyn hasn’t heard from him since then, except for a letter
Littlefinger sent when Brandon died, which Catelyn burned
unopened.

When Catelyn reaches Littlefinger’s room, he tells her that Though Littlefinger gained the upper hand on Rodrik and Catelyn by
Lord Varys, the master of whisperers, told him that Catelyn was learning of their presence when they tried to stay hidden, he
in King’s Landing. Lord Varys then enters the room and asks remains unaware of the reason for their visit. Littlefinger’s assertion
Catelyn if she has the dagger. Littlefinger is surprised and that the dagger belonged to Tyrion directly implicates Tyrion in the
doesn’t know what Lord Varys is talking about. Lord Varys crime of conspiring to kill Bran. Since Catelyn is predisposed to
explains that a “little bird” overheard Ser Rodrik talking to Ser dislike the Lannisters, Littlefinger’s claim aligns with the picture of
Aron about trying to find the owner of a particular dagger. the situation that Catelyn has already begun to paint in her mind.
Catelyn reluctantly takes the dagger from her belt and shows it
to Littlefinger and Lord Varys. Littlefinger says he knows
exactly who the dagger belongs to: it’s his. Or at least it had
been until he recently lost it in a bet to Tyrion Lannister.
CHAPTER 19: JON

Jon fights with another recruit of the Night’s Watch, Grenn, to Early on, it becomes clear that Jon is not doing well, at least socially,
practice combat. Jon beats him easily as he does all the others, in the Night’s Watch. He seems to be making enemies left and right,
even though he’s three or four years younger than them. The and his willingness to cause harm to his opponents in combat
boy complains that Jon broke his wrist. Later that day, Grenn training reveals a latent capacity for malice that is a striking
and three of his friends corner Jon in his room. They say he’ll contrast to the leadership qualities he displayed while in Winterfell.
have to pay for what he did earlier. One of the boys grabs Jon,
but Jon gets out of the hold before attacking the other boys.
The armorer of the Wall, Donal Noye, breaks up the fight.
Jon thinks that no one told him the truth about the Wall except This passage establishes Jon’s conflict between duty and love. On
for Tyrion. The Wall is a cold and mean place, and his uncle Ben the one hand, once he takes his vows, he’ll be duty-bound to serve
has practically ignored him since they arrived. According to the Night’s Watch in perpetuity and renounce his family ties. On the
Ben, old family ties have no place in the Night’s Watch. The other hand, he misses his family and the sense of belonging that
other men who have taken the oath are his brothers now, and they gave him. The novel suggests that what Jon chooses—love or
Jon will have to earn each step he takes here. Jon misses his honor and duty—will say a lot about his character.
siblings, but he misses Arya most of all. He thinks that he’ll
make his solitude a kind of armor.
After Donal breaks up the fight, he tells Jon that he has been Donal’s speech to Jon depicts the Night’s Watch as one of the only
acting like an entitled bully. He acts like he thinks that he’s places that is free of the strict hierarchies that define life throughout
better than the other people of the Night’s Watch because he the rest of Westeros. In Donal’s telling, the Wall is the one place
was raised in a castle. But, Donal says, they need every man where one’s birth doesn’t completely determine one’s outcomes in
they have on the Night’s Watch, and Jon’s upbringing doesn’t life. Donal’s description of Jon as entitled also draws comparisons
make him better than anyone else. Plus, Jon has been between Jon and Joffrey. Jon knows that his actions have been out
humiliating people while practicing combat. Unlike Jon, those of character and feels ashamed for what he’s done as a result.
men and boys haven’t been trained in combat before. Jon needs Joffrey, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to feel any guilt or shame
to help train the other recruits without making them sacrifice for the things he does, pointing to the inherent differences between
their dignity. Jon leaves the conversation feeling ashamed of Jon and Joffrey even when some of their actions might be similar.
how he’s been acting.

Jon looks up at the Wall. It’s the largest structure humans have The dwindling number of people in the Night’s Watch suggests that
ever built and stands over 700 feet tall. The Night’s Watch has many people in the realm see the role they play in protecting the
been depleted, though. There were once 5,000 of them, but realm from the Others as obsolete. The reader, though, knows that
now there are only about 500. Jon then sees Tyrion. The two the Others are on the rise and therefore knows how important the
haven’t seen much of each other since the journey to the Wall. Night’s Watch is. The novel sets up that dramatic irony to show how
Tyrion invites Jon to eat with him, and Jon accepts. While the political conflicts in the novel take place amid a situation in
they’re eating, Ser Alliser, the master-at-arms, tells Jon that which collective action will be required to meet the threat of the
Lord Commander Jeor Mormont wants to see him at once. He Others.
has news about Bran.
In Commander Mormont’s office, Jon reads through the letter Tyrion's shock at hearing the news that Bran has woken up shows
that’s been sent. He’s overjoyed to learn that Bran has woken that he is at least concerned that now that Bran has woken up, he
up. He runs back into the dining hall and tells Tyrion the news. might tell people that Jaime pushed him from the tower. Tyrion’s
For a moment, Tyrion looks shocked. Others around Jon join shock could also be a sign that he might have been involved in
him in his jubilation, but Grenn tells Jon to stay away from him. conspiring to kill Bran (as Catelyn believes) and is just learning now
Jon apologizes for hurting Grenn’s wrist and offers to help him that the plan wasn’t successful.
learn to defend against the maneuver he used. Ser Alliser
overhears and remarks that Jon is trying to take his job training
recruits. Jon says he thinks he could help out, and Ser Alliser
looks at him with contempt.
CHAPTER 20: EDDARD

As soon as Ned arrives in King’s Landing, he receives word that This passage shows just how uninterested Robert is in the business
he’s wanted immediately for a small council meeting. When of being king, as he doesn’t bother to show up to meetings when
Ned reaches the council in the Red Keep, he finds Littlefinger, actual governance is expected or required. Again, the novel portrays
Renly Baratheon, Lord Varys, and Grand Maester Pycelle Robert as someone who enjoys the fruits and rewards of power but
already there. Ned asks if they should wait for King Robert to doesn’t have any interest in the responsibility that comes with
arrive, and Renly laughs. He says the king doesn’t bother power.
himself with much of the governance, which he finds dreadfully
boring. He lets his council, and the Hand of the King, handle
such matters.
The urgent matter, Littlefinger explains, is that Robert wants to Again, the novel shows Robert as caring about festivities and
hold a tournament with jousting, archery, and other festivities parties—whereas Ned is mostly concerned with honor, integrity, and
to commemorate Ned’s new role as the Hand of the King. Prize good governance. The fact that the Lannisters control most of the
money will be awarded to the winners of various competitions. Crown’s debt also shows that they have a kind of economic control
Ned thinks the idea is ridiculous, especially after he learns that over the Crown—and presumably over Robert—that Ned didn’t
the Crown is 6,000,000 gold pieces in debt. Three million gold know about before, making it clear that the Lannisters are even
pieces of that debt are owed to the Lannisters. Ned can’t more powerful than he has thought.
imagine wasting money on something as frivolous as a
tournament in his honor, and he tells the rest of the council that
he’ll speak to Robert.

After Ned leaves the council, Littlefinger escorts him to a The rapid evolution of events makes it clear that a conflict between
brothel and says that Catelyn is inside. Ned thinks that the Lannisters and Starks is brewing and that that conflict could
Littlefinger is insulting Catelyn and is furious. But Ser Rodrik occur at any moment. The fact that Ned relies on Robert to ensure
appears and tells Ned that what Littlefinger says is true. Ned justice doesn’t seem to be especially reassuring to Ned. Though Ned
follows Littlefinger inside and finds Catelyn. Catelyn explains once considered Robert a close friend, Robert’s recent actions seem
the full story of what has happened, including the discovery to have caused Ned to doubt his faith in Robert. For example,
that the dagger that was meant to kill Bran belonged to Tyrion Robert tried to appease Cersei by ordering the execution of Sansa’s
Lannister. Ned is taken aback by what Catelyn says but quickly direwolf, Lady. This passage implicitly asks if Robert would make a
makes plans. He tells Catelyn to return to Winterfell and similar decision if the Lannisters were called to face justice and if he
secure a defense of some 200 archers. Ned will stay in King’s would side with the Lannisters to try and appease them over Ned
Landing and pretend that nothing is amiss. He is still trying to and the Starks.
find out if the Lannisters did in fact kill Jon Arryn. If he finds out
they did, then he’ll have to rely on Robert to ensure the
Lannisters face justice.
CHAPTER 21: TYRION

Tyrion eats dinner with officers of the Night’s Watch and Commander Mormont directly links the lack of recruits in the
confirms that he plans to leave the next day. Commander Night’s Watch to the recent spate of Night’s Watchmen going
Mormont says that two or three members of the Night’s Watch missing. Mormont’s description of the issue is perhaps more apt
will escort him as far as Winterfell. Tyrion thanks the men for than he knows. The necessity of more men on the Night’s Watch is
their hospitality, and Mormont says Tyrion can repay them by especially dire because the Others (who are causing men on the
talking to his sister, brother, and father about the needs of the Night’s Watch to disappear) are on the rise. People in power, like the
Night’s Watch. The number of people on the Watch has Lannisters, can meet the need for collective action by helping to
dwindled, while more people continue to go missing, including send more people to the Night’s Watch, though it’s not clear if they
Ben Stark. Mormont sent Ben to find Waymar Royce when will make any attempt to do so.
Royce didn’t return from beyond the Wall. Now, Ben has gone
missing too.
After dinner, Tyrion decides to go to the top of the Wall to look Away from the Wall, the Starks suspect that Tyrion conspired to kill
out from it one last time. At the top of the Wall, he finds Jon Bran. At the Wall, Jon asks Tyrion to help Bran if he can, showing
Snow, who is on the night guard. Tyrion says he’ll be going to how much Jon has come to trust Bran. This section implicitly asks
Winterfell and asks if Jon would like him to pass any messages which version of Tyrion is accurate. Is he guilty of conspiring to kill
on to his siblings. Jon says that Tyrion has shared words that Bran, or is he worthy of the trust that Jon places in him? With that
have helped him, and he asks Tyrion to do the same for Bran. in mind, Tyrion’s assent to Jon’s request to help Bran reinforces the
Tyrion says he’s not sure what good he will do, but he agrees to question by suggesting that he (Tyrion) is either callously duplicitous
try and find some way to help Bran. Jon then says that if his or has genuinely good intentions.
uncle Ben doesn’t return, he’ll go with his direwolf Ghost to try
and find him.
CHAPTER 22: ARYA

In King’s Landing, Arya storms off from dinner and locks herself The simmering conflict between the Starks and the Lannisters
in her room without touching her food. She misses her siblings, impacts the Stark children as well, as Arya now has as much reason
who are back home in Winterfell. And she hates King’s Landing. to despise the Lannisters as anyone else after they killed her friend
She can’t forgive those who were present for standing by while Mycah. Ned’s reaction to Arya’s sword is similar to his response to
the Hound murdered her friend Mycah. After a while, her Bran’s climbing. He thinks that he shouldn’t encourage her using it,
father knocks on her door and asks if he can come in. When but despite himself, he gently pushes his children to pursue what
Ned enters, he finds Arya’s sword, Needle. Arya thinks that her they are interested in.
father might confiscate the sword, but he lets her keep it.

Arya tells her father that her direwolf didn’t really run Ned’s advice that the lone wolf dies while the pack survives applies
away—Arya had to chase Nymeria off so that she wouldn’t face directly to Arya and Sansa but also applies to the situation facing
Cersei’s wrath. Ned advises her that in winter, the lone wolf Westeros in general. As the threat posed by the Others rises, those
dies while the pack survives. He tells Arya that she needs to south of the Wall will have to band together as a pack, lest they all
understand who her true enemies are and that she and Sansa become lone wolves who won’t survive the catastrophic winter that
need to stick together because they’re family. A few days later, the Others promise to bring.
Arya is told to go to a nearby room for a lesson. There, she finds
a man named Syrio Forel, who begins to teach her sword
fighting, which he calls dancing.

Dany feels sullen in her new life with Khal Drogo. But one Daenerys and Viserys act as foils for each other. In this case, the
night, she has a dream where she stands beside a dragon as it novel shows that Viserys has power over Daenerys based solely on
shoots fire from its mouth. After that dream, she feels the position that the patriarchy has granted him because of his
revitalized. One day, Dany rides her silver horse through the gender. He has no innate leadership qualities, though, whereas
Dothraki plains. When Jorah catches up to her, she says that he Daenerys has already earned enough respect from the Dothraki
should tell the others, including her brother, to stay behind as people that they follow her orders and defend her against him.
she rides farther ahead. As she’s riding ahead, Viserys catches
up to her and admonishes her for giving him orders. He moves
to hit her, but a Dothraki soldier comes up from behind and
tears him down from his horse. Dany commands Viserys to
walk back to camp alone. A man without a horse is a sign of
great shame in Dothraki culture, and Dany wants everyone to
see how pitiful Viserys is.
On the ride back, Dany and Jorah talk about Viserys’s claim to Daenerys directly calls out Viserys’s ineffectuality as a leader. The
the Crown. Jorah tells Dany that he doesn’t think highly of contrast between Viserys and Daenerys—who is already showing
Viserys, and Dany says Viserys will never be king. No one the kind of leadership qualities that her brother lacks—implicitly
respects him, and he couldn’t command an army even if he had critiques patriarchal power. In this case, Viserys is the assumed heir
one. That night, Dany talks to her servants about dragons. Two to Targaryen power based on his gender, while Daenerys is denied
say that there are no more dragons, but another, Doreah, tells power because of hers. However, the novel portrays Daenerys as a
Dany the myth that dragons came from the moon. There once much more capable leader than Viserys, challenging the
were two moons, Doreah says, but one of the moons traveled assumptions of several characters in the novel that men are more
too close to the sun. The heat cracked it open, and hundreds of suited to power than women.
dragons came out. One day, she says, the same thing will
happen to the other moon. Dany then asks Doreah for advice
about having sex with Khal Drogo. Days later, on her 14th
birthday, Dany finds out that she is pregnant.

CHAPTER 24: BRAN

Now that Bran is recovering, he’s frustrated that he can’t walk. The fact that Old Nan, a character known for embellishing the
He tells Old Nan, his nurse who is the oldest person in truth, tells the story of the Others makes it clear that the general
Winterfell, that the crow lied to him when it said he could fly. public considers it a myth that the Others could return. Their doubt
Old Nan says all crows are liars. She then tells Bran the story of reinforces the novel’s theme that heroism—and truth— can often
the white walkers, or the Others, who roamed the earth come from the most unlikely sources. In this passage, the novel
thousands of years ago. They were cold, dead things that felled suggests that while the prevailing hierarchy in Westeros might
armies and had spiders in their legions as big as dogs. Tyrion dismiss people like Old Nan, Bran, Hodor, and Tyrion, their insights
then arrives at Winterfell with three men from the Night’s and contributions may be much more valuable than those of people
Watch. Hodor helps Bran go to see the visitors. Hodor is the whom the prevailing hierarchy typically recognizes and respects.
last surviving member of Old Nan’s family. He can only speak
one word—his name, Hodor—and works in the stables.
Robb is visibly upset at Tyrion’s presence (due to his suspicions Though Tyrion stands accused of conspiring to kill Bran, he also
that the Lannisters killed Jon Arryn and tried to kill Bran). designs a saddle for Bran to make riding possible for him after he is
Tyrion senses Robb’s attitude but still gives Maester Luwin the paralyzed. Bran is overjoyed. The contrast between Tyrion’s
sketches for a specially designed saddle that will allow Bran to treatment of Jon Snow and Bran on the one hand and the crimes
ride. Tyrion says that Jon Snow asked him to do something to he’s accused of on the other again implicitly asks who is right about
help Bran, and that’s what he came up with: a saddle not Tyrion’s character. Is Catelyn right that Tyrion tried to kill Bran, or is
entirely unlike the one he uses himself. Bran can’t wait to ride Jon Snow right to trust Tyrion? That question highlights the
again. Tyrion still feels unwelcome and leaves to stay at an inn narrative structure of the novel, which uses each chapter to tell the
down the road. The men from the Night’s Watch stay, and one story and establish the often contradictory perspectives of various
of them tells Robb that his uncle, Ben, has gone missing beyond characters.
the Wall and is most likely dead. Robb doesn’t want to believe
it.
CHAPTER 25: EDDARD

Ned talks with Grand Maester Pycelle about Jon Arryn’s death. In part, the novel uses some of the genre hallmarks of detective
Ned asks if there was anything suspicious about the death. stories to propel its plot forward. In this case, Ned acts as an
Grand Maester Pycelle says that Jon Arryn’s illness came on investigator trying to track down the truth of who killed Jon Arryn.
suddenly, but there was nothing that made it any more or less In detective stories, the detective often meets setbacks, dead ends,
suspicious than the countless other deaths he’s witnessed. He and false leads. It’s unclear, at this point, whether Pycelle’s
also says that Lysa has not seemed like she’s in her right mind information means the investigation is all for nothing, or if it’s
recently. Ned raises the possibility that Jon Arryn might have simply a setback that Ned will have to overcome to continue his
been poisoned, and Pycelle says that no man would poison investigation.
another man before bringing up the fact that Lord Varys is a
eunuch.
Ned then talks to Littlefinger. Littlefinger tells Ned that he Littlefinger’s statement that Ned’s decision to distrust him was the
promised Catelyn to help Ned get to the bottom of what wisest thing that Ned has done points to the cutthroat nature of
happened to Jon Arryn and find out who tried to kill Bran. politics and power. In the novel’s portrayal of politics, no one is
Littlefinger says he has found some of Jon Arryn’s servants who trustworthy and anyone is capable of betrayal. Ned, though, as a
were present when he died. Littlefinger also says that Ned is fundamentally decent person, seems inclined to trust people, raising
constantly being watched by Lord Varys and Cersei’s spies, so the question of how suited he is to be playing the “game of thrones”
Ned should send his most trusted man to go see Ser Hugh, Jon and getting involved in the machinations of power.
Arryn’s former squire. Ned thanks Littlefinger for his help and
says that perhaps he was wrong to distrust him. Littlefinger
says that distrusting him is the wisest thing that Ned has done.

CHAPTER 26: JON

A new recruit named Samwell Tarly, or Sam, arrives at the Wall. This passage examines the struggle of how to address improper and
He goes to training with Alliser Thorne. The other boys poor leadership. In this case, Jon confronts the tension between
disparage Sam for his appearance and call him fat. During respecting an established hierarchy by obeying his superior and
combat training, Sam falls, and Alliser orders the other boy to following his conscience. Jon chooses to defy his superior’s orders
keep hitting him. Jon defies Alliser’s orders when he steps in to when they violate his sense of right and wrong, showing a
stop the unfair fight, and Alliser tells three boys to fight Jon. propensity toward compassion and morality that will become
Grenn and Pyp join in on Jon’s side. Sam gets up and thanks central to Jon’s character.
Jon, Grenn, and Pyp for helping him and apologizes for being a
coward. Grenn and Pyp can’t believe it. They don’t know why
anyone would call himself a coward.
That night, Jon talks with Sam. Jon says he misses Winterfell, Jon displays his leadership qualities by getting all the other recruits
but Sam doesn’t miss home. He says that he enjoyed cooking, to go along with what he wants them to do (stop ridiculing Sam). He
clothes, and dancing, but his father wanted a different kind of also displays a different side of his leadership qualities through the
son to be his heir. After Sam’s 15th birthday, his father gave him compassion he has for Sam. The novel uses that compassion to
an ultimatum. Sam could either join the Night’s Watch, or the show that Jon is beginning to embrace the people on the Night’s
next day they would go hunting, and Sam would have an Watch as a kind of family. He treats Sam as he might have once
“accident.” Sam’s father told him that he would relish hunting treated his siblings like Arya or Bran, looking out for Sam when Sam
him down like a pig. Later, Jon tells all the other boys on the is in a difficult and vulnerable situation.
Night’s Watch not to hurt or make fun of Sam. He persuades
some and threatens others to get them on his side. Sam doesn’t
know exactly what Jon has done, but he thanks Jon for his help.
Sam says he’s never had a friend before, and Jon tells him
they’re not friends—they’re brothers.
CHAPTER 27: EDDARD

The tournament has led countless people to stream into King’s Ned continues to show a distaste for the position of Hand of the
Landing, which has led to an uptick in crime. This frustrates King. This passage also demonstrates the novel’s interest in how
Ned even more. Though the tournament is supposed to be in small, detail-oriented decisions related to power can have far-
his honor, he wants nothing to do with it, and it keeps leading to reaching consequences. In this case, Ned decides to let 20 of his
more and more headaches. Ned promises 20 of his men to help men help patrol the city—meaning that those men will not be
patrol the city. He then goes to talk to Jory, the captain of the guarding Ned.
Stark guards. Jory has been looking into the leads that
Littlefinger gave to Ned regarding Jon Arryn’s death.
Based on what Jory has found out, Ned goes to visit an armorer Ned continues his investigation into Jon Arryn’s death. To document
in King’s Landing. The armorer boasts of his skill and the that investigation, the novel again uses genre conventions of
knights whose armor he supplies, but Ned says he wants to detective stories, as Ned slowly discovers clues in an attempt to fill
know about a visit that Jon Arryn paid to the armorer months in details that will ultimately give him a fuller picture of what led to
ago. The armorer answers reluctantly. He says that Jon Arryn Jon Arryn’s death. As Ned investigates, he continues to pursue leads
wanted to see “the boy.” Ned isn’t sure what that means, but he and hunches but is also met with setbacks, red herrings, and
says he wants to see the boy, too. The armorer takes Ned to the potential wrong paths.
workshop and calls over to a boy named Gendry. The boy is the
spitting image of King Robert, and Ned thinks that he must be
Robert’s child born out of wedlock. But Ned doesn’t know why
Jon Arryn would have been interested in the boy.

CHAPTER 28: CATELYN

Catelyn and Ser Rodrik are making their way back to Winterfell This passage shows again how small, almost incidental events can
when it begins to rain. She tells Ser Rodrik that they’ll stay in an have large, far-reaching consequences. In this case, Catelyn decides
inn that night, as opposed to the side of the road, where they to stay at an inn when it starts raining. The decision seems
have been staying to avoid attracting attention. Catelyn hopes innocuous enough, though the novel will explore the impossible-to-
that her mud-stained attire will ensure that no one recognizes predict impacts of that small decision in the following chapters.
her. The inn is close to full because so many people are
traveling to the tournament at King’s Landing, but Ser Rodrik
and Catelyn manage to find a room next to the bell that tells the
inn guests when meals are served.
While Catelyn and Ser Rodrik are eating dinner, Tyrion walks Catelyn utilizes her own leadership qualities to enlist the help of her
into the inn accompanied by three members of the Night’s father’s allies in arresting Tyrion. Those leadership abilities subtly
Watch. After Tyrion speaks to the innkeeper, he scans the room comment on the patriarchal hierarchies of Westeros. While Catelyn
and meets Catelyn’s eyes before she can turn away. Tyrion seems to have a capacity for leadership similar to that of her
remarks that it’s a pleasant surprise to see the Lady Stark after husband Ned, she would never be asked to serve in Ned’s role of the
just missing her at Winterfell. Catelyn rises from her seat. She Hand of the King because of her gender. Notably, Catelyn arrests
calls out to various people who she sees around the inn with Tyrion based almost solely on Littlefinger’s assertion that the dagger
sigils (the signs of their respective houses) that mark them as used in the attempt on Bran’s life most recently belonged to Tyrion.
allies of her father. She asks them if they are true allies, and
they each respond that they are. She then accuses Tyrion of
conspiring to kill Bran, her seven-year-old son, and the people
she called out to unsheathe their swords to place Tyrion under
arrest. Catelyn says he will be taken to Winterfell to await the
king’s justice.
CHAPTER 29: SANSA

Sansa watches men joust in the tournament from the stands. The novel again portrays Sansa as being drawn to appearances
She’s in awe of the lavish armor that some of the men wear. Ser above the potential substance behind those appearances. That, so
Gregor Clegane, the Hound’s brother, kills the man he’s far, has been one of the defining characteristics of her relationship
jousting when his lance rides up and goes through the other with Joffrey, as she seems convinced that he is heroic and worthy of
man’s neck. After another joust, the winner, Ser Loras her love based on little more than his appearance.
Tyrell—whom people call the Knight of Flowers—hands Sansa a
red rose. He tells her that she’s more beautiful than any victory.
Sansa thinks the Knight of Flowers is the most beautiful person
she has ever seen.
Joffrey comes to sit next to Sansa. The two haven’t spoken Sansa again shows her shortsightedness toward Joffrey’s character.
since the fight between Arya and Joffrey, after which Queen Even though Joffrey instigated the fight with Mycah and Arya,
Cersei had Sansa’s direwolf Lady killed. Sansa doesn’t blame brought the complaint to Cersei afterward, lied about what
Joffrey for what happened. In her mind, it was the queen and happened, and then didn’t object when Cersei killed Lady, Sansa still
Arya’s fault. Joffrey acts courteously toward Sansa, and she’s finds him blameless.
glad to spend the rest of the day with him. By the end of the
day, the four remaining jousters are Ser Jaime, Gregor, the
Hound, and the Knight of Flowers.

Joffrey orders his bodyguard, the Hound, to walk Sansa back to The Hound’s story shows how uncaring and vicious Gregor is. It also
the Red Keep. On the way, the Hound remarks on Sansa’s gives the Hound a rare moment of vulnerability, as he opens up to
fascination with the knights. He says that he isn’t a knight, Sansa about one of the most painful moments of his childhood.
though his brother Gregor is. By torchlight, he shows Sansa his Notably, he follows up that vulnerability by threatening to kill Sansa.
face. The left side is scarred from a burn he sustained in That scene provides a commentary on the norms of masculinity in
childhood. He explains how he got it: he took a toy knight from Westeros, as the Hound feels compelled to harden himself by
his brother Gregor because he had wanted it, and Gregor threatening someone with death just after he is vulnerable, showing
hadn’t been interested in it. In response, Gregor held the the level of discomfort he feels when he is metaphorically stripped
Hound’s face down in hot coals, badly burning him. The of his armor and how he lashes out when he feels insecure and
Hound’s father did nothing. Years later, Gregor became a defenseless.
knight. Sansa puts her hand on the Hound’s shoulder and says
that Gregor isn’t a true knight. The Hound tells Sansa that if she
breathes a word of what he told her to anyone else, he’ll kill
her.
CHAPTER 30: EDDARD

Ned goes to see the body of the knight who Gregor killed while The detective story within the novel continues. Potential
jousting the day before. The knight, Ser Hugh, had been Jon conspiracies threaten to undermine Ned’s investigation, including
Arryn’s squire before Jon Arryn died, and Ned wanted to talk the accidental death (or perhaps intentional murder) of Ser Hugh.
to him. Ned can’t help but think that it wasn’t a coincidence that Robert also explicitly states his lack of interest in being king. While
the knight died in the tournament. Ned then talks with Robert. Robert and Viserys are not similar in personality or temperament,
Robert wants to fight in the melee, part of the tournament that they are similarly ineffectual as leaders. Cersei’s maneuvers toward
will come later that afternoon. Ned advises against it, saying power illustrate that she is more interested in that kind of power
that no one would dare strike the king. Robert says he dislikes than Robert. The novel also suggests that she may perhaps be more
being king. He would rather fight and drink. That’s all he’s ever suited to the position of power than Robert but that she, like
been good at, anyway. Sometimes he dreams of running off, but Daenerys, is deprived of that power due to her society’s rigid
he doesn’t because he can’t bear to think of Joffrey on the patriarchy.
throne, taking whispered orders from his mother Cersei.
Robert doesn’t understand how he had a son like Joffrey.
Ned goes to the final day of the tournament. The Hound jousts The novel portrays three versions of masculinity in this passage.
against Jaime Lannister, and the Hound wins. Next up, the Gregor is violence personified. The Hound represents the idea of
Knight of Flowers jousts against Gregor. Gregor’s horse is force used for noble means and for self-defense as well as the
acting up before they begin, and the Knight of Flowers unseats defense of others. And the Knight of Flowers represents the idea of a
Gregor. Gregor unsheathes his sword and kills his horse, gracious sportsman. The novel shows how, within the world’s
blaming it for his defeat. He then goes toward the Knight of patriarchal system, these possibilities are thought to be only
Flowers with his sword raised. The Hound steps in at the last available to men. Meanwhile, it seems like Arya would be able to fit
second and briefly fights with his brother Gregor before in well in the world of jousting and tournaments, but she is deprived
Robert shouts at them to stop. The Knight of Flowers thanks of that possibility because she is a girl.
the Hound and then says that the Hound should be crowned
the victor of the tournament. After the tournament, Ned sees
Arya, who skipped the festivities. She diligently practices the
“dance” that Syrio has been teaching her.

When Ned is alone, a man who won’t say his name asks to see The Lannisters seem to be planning a concerted effort to attain
him. Ned lets the man into his room, and it takes him a few power, going so far as to plan Robert’s death. Jon Arryn’s death also
moments to realize that it’s Varys, who is in disguise so that seems to be part of that conspiracy carried out by the Lannisters to
Cersei’s men won’t recognize him. Varys tells Ned that Robert get power. Ned finally begins to get some answers in his
is in grave danger. The Lannisters are trying to kill him. They investigation into the death of Jon Arryn. Varys tells him definitively
had planned to have it done during the melee, so it’s a good that Jon Arryn was murdered. However, Varys stops short of telling
thing Ned urged Robert not to take part. Ned then asks Varys Ned exactly why Jon Arryn was murdered, which leaves more stones
what happened to Jon Arryn. Varys says he was killed with the for Ned to unturn as he continues his investigation.
tears of Lys, an almost undetectable poison. Varys intimates
that Ser Hugh, Jon Arryn’s former squire, may have been
involved. Ned asks why Jon Arryn was killed, and Varys says
because Jon Arryn had been “asking questions.”
CHAPTER 31: TYRION

After Catelyn arrests Tyrion at the inn, they set out along the Catelyn displays her own capacity for cunning by loudly proclaiming
road. In the inn, Catelyn repeatedly said they would go to that she would head to Winterfell with Tyrion when she planned to
Winterfell, but on the road, they turn east instead of north. bring Tyrion to meet her sister all along. That kind of cunning, the
Catelyn said they were headed to Winterfell to throw anyone novel argues, is essential when one enters, on any level, into the
who might follow them off their trail. Tyrion thinks they must arena of politics and power.
be going to see Catelyn’s sister, Lysa. At first, Tyrion is
handcuffed and forced to wear a hood over his head, but after a
few days, they stop making him wear the hood.
As they pass the mountains, a mountain clan attacks them. Tyrion points out that Catelyn has based her conviction that he is
They battle, and Catelyn agrees to let Tyrion have a weapon to guilty of conspiring to kill Bran almost solely on Littlefinger’s word.
defend himself. Eventually, they defeat the mountain clan and That makes Tyrion’s case a question of his word against
continue riding. As they ride, Tyrion begins to poke holes in the Littlefinger’s. The novel has implicitly asked, at various times, who
story that Littlefinger told. In Littlefinger’s story, Littlefinger seems more trustworthy: Littlefinger or Tyrion? Because of the
had once owned the dagger used in the attempt on Bran’s life. Lannisters’ well-documented attempts to gain power, Tyrion seems
But Littlefinger lost the dagger to Tyrion, he said, in a bet. like he may be guilty by association, but at this point, no one in the
According to Littlefinger, Tyrion bet against his brother Jaime novel has presented definitive proof that he's guilty of plotting
in a tournament while Littlefinger bet in favor of Jaime. When Bran’s death.
Jaime lost, Tyrion won the dagger. Tyrion tells Catelyn the issue
with that story, though, is that he would never bet against his
family.
CHAPTER 32: ARYA

Arya is trying to catch cats in the Red Keep as part of Syrio’s Arya’s interaction with Myrcella and Tommen, and her fear that
training for her. Princess Myrcella and her brother, Tommen, they might realize who she is, demonstrate the stakes of deviating
see her and mistake her for a boy. They insist she doesn’t from Westoros’s established expectations and gender norms. In this
belong in the castle. Arya thinks that if they realize who she is, case, Arya feels like she would be ridiculed to no end if she were
she’ll never hear the end of it. She runs from them and knocks caught so clearly diverging from those norms.
Tommen down as she goes. As she runs, she eventually ends up
in the dungeon where the dragon skulls are now kept.

In the dungeon, Arya hears two men talking, and she realizes Arya unwittingly gets more evidence that would contribute to Ned’s
they’re talking about Ned. They say that Ned has the book Jon investigation into the death of Jon Arryn. Notably, the men Arya
Arryn had been reading and the “bastard.” It’s only a matter of overhears corroborate Varys’s assertion that Jon Arryn (the former
time before he figures out what happened. Arya doesn’t quite Hand of the King) was killed. Based on what they say, it also seems
understand what they mean. The men continue to talk, and like Ned could be next, illustrating the cutthroat nature of the “game
they mention that the princess is pregnant. They also say that of thrones.” The fact that the Red Keep’s guards mistake Arya for a
one Hand of the King was killed, so why not another? Arya boy reinforces the sense of strict gender norms within Westeros by
thinks that they might be planning to kill Ned. One of the men making it clear that when Arya’s behavior or appearance deviates
refers to the other as a sorcerer and wizard. After the men from established gender norms, she is no longer considered by
leave, Arya follows a tunnel out of the dungeon and makes her others to be feminine or to be a girl.
way back to the Red Keep. She has trouble getting past the Red
Keep’s guards, who also mistake her for a boy. Eventually,
though, she convinces them that she’s the Hand of the King’s
daughter.
Arya tries to tell Ned what she overheard in the dungeon, but Even though Arya has valuable information about Jon Arryn’s death
when she says that one of the men was a wizard, Ned thinks and a potential plot to kill Ned, Ned refuses to listen to her and take
that she’s making up stories and dismisses what she tries to tell her seriously. That demonstrates a certain amount of naivety on
him. Yoren—one of the members of the Night’s Watch who was Ned’s part, as he seems unwilling to believe that he could be at risk.
riding with Tyrion—comes to speak to Ned. He says he rode as
fast as he could from a faraway inn to alert Ned about what
happened. Before Yoren explains more, Ned sends Arya out of
the room.
CHAPTER 33: EDDARD

In the king’s council, Robert says that he wants to ensure that This passage demonstrates again how power corrupts, as Robert
Dany is killed, now that he has heard from Jorah that she is has grown so attached to it that he’ll do anything to keep it,
pregnant. If she has a son, the consequences could be dire for including murdering children. Ned quits in protest, illustrating that
him because that son could have a claim to the Crown. Ned up to this point, Ned’s proximity to power has not resulted in his
protests. He says that killing Dany’s unborn child would be vile. own corruption.
There’s no way he could sanction it, and he doesn’t want any
part of it. Ned and Robert argue, and ultimately Ned quits his
role as King of the Hand in protest.
Ned leaves the council and tells his men that he’ll begin Ned’s commitment to honor, integrity, and morality has led him to
preparing to leave for Winterfell. He’ll take his daughters with resign from his role as Hand of the King. He’s on the verge of leaving
him and plans to leave as soon as possible. He’s concerned King’s Landing, which seems like it might give him a chance to exit
about what might happen to him and his family if he stays, from the “game of thrones” and the endless political jostling for
especially considering what Yoren told him about Catelyn power that King’s Landing represents. However, at the last moment,
arresting Tyrion. Since Robert is already angry with him, Ned is Littlefinger pulls Ned back into politics and the “game of thrones.”
afraid that Tyrion’s arrest might send Robert over the edge. The novel will then examine if Ned can retain his honor and integrity
Ned plans to return to Winterfell by ship. That way he’ll be able as he continues to play that game.
to stop in Dragonstone and talk to Ser Stannis (Robert and
Renly’s brother) along the way. Ned is convinced that Stannis
knows something about Jon Arryn’s death. Before he leaves,
Littlefinger comes to see Ned and tells him that he can show
him the brothel he’s been trying to find.

CHAPTER 34: CATELYN

Catelyn and those she is with finally reach the Vale on their way Catelyn has based her suspicions of the Lannisters in general and
to the Eyrie, the castle where Catelyn’s sister Lysa went after her arrest of Tyrion in particular in large part on her sister Lysa’s
Jon Arryn’s death. The Eyrie is still a day’s travel away. Ser word, as Lysa initially told Catelyn that she suspected the Lannisters
Rodrik has a fever from wounds he sustained during the battle killed Jon Arryn. Now, Catelyn learns from her uncle, Brynden, that
with the mountain clan. At the gate to the Vale, Ser Brynden Lysa might not be in her right mind, casting some level of doubt on
Tully, Catelyn’s uncle, greets her. Brynden tells her that she the facts that Catelyn has, up to this point, taken for granted to be
may be surprised by what she finds at the Eyrie. Her sister, true.
Lysa, has seemed unwell since Jon Arryn’s death. Her six-year-
old son, Robert Arryn, seems sickly and often bursts into tears.
Moreover, there has been a parade of potential suitors who
would like to become the rulers of the Eyrie as a result of
marrying Lysa.
Catelyn, Brynden, and the others stop for the night before the Lysa, presumably driven by her mental instability, reveals that she
last stretch of the climb to the Eyrie, high up in the mountains. tends to put others at risk to meet her whims. In this case, she
As they’re about to set up camp, a woman named Mya Stone compels her sister Catelyn to make a perilous trip in the dark
finds them and tells them that Lysa wants to see Catelyn against Catelyn’s wishes, showing that Lysa may be a callous
immediately. Catelyn and Brynden think it’s madness. Catelyn decision-maker who has little regard for how her actions impact
has been riding for days, and the ascent to the Eyrie is virtually others.
impossible to do in the dark. Mya tells them not to worry. She
has done the climb countless times, and she’ll ensure that
Catelyn is safe.
The climb to the Eyrie is treacherous. Catelyn thinks on Lysa’s response to Catelyn is almost the opposite of what Catelyn
multiple occasions that she’s not going to make it, and Mya has expected. Catelyn had thought Lysa would welcome news that
to physically help her in the last stages of the climb. When Tyrion, who might have been involved in Jon Arryn’s death, is now a
Catelyn arrives at the Eyrie, Lysa at first seems excited to see prisoner at the Eyrie. Lysa’s response demonstrates her
her. But Lysa quickly drops the façade. She menacingly asks capriciousness and erratic behavior, but it also shows that, at this
Catelyn why she brought Tyrion to her kingdom and dragged point, she seems more concerned with herself and her son than in
her into Catelyn’s problems. Lysa says she wants to avoid the any sense of duty, justice, morality, or the welfare of others—even
Lannisters at all costs. Catelyn can’t believe what she’s hearing. those who might be close to her, like her sister Catelyn.
As they talk, Lysa begins breastfeeding her son, Robert Arryn,
who is six years old. Catelyn is taken aback. Robert Arryn asks if
Tyrion is a bad man, and Lysa says he is. Robert Arryn then says
that they should make him fly.
CHAPTER 35: EDDARD

Littlefinger brings Ned to a brothel. There, Ned finds another Littlefinger’s assertion that Jon Arryn was killed to keep people from
one of Robert’s “bastard” children and talks to the child’s learning about Robert’s “lowborn” children demonstrates how strict
mother. Ned asks Littlefinger why someone would kill Jon the hierarchical structures of Westeros are, as someone seems to
Arryn because he knew about Robert’s children born out of have been willing to kill Jon Arryn to maintain the rigidity of that
wedlock, and Littlefinger says that someone didn’t want Jon hierarchy. However, Ned still has not found the information he
Arryn to know about Robert’s children born to women of lower needs to definitively prove Littlefinger’s theory.
status. As Littlefinger and Ned return to the Red Keep after
visiting the brothel, they are stopped in the streets by Jaime
Lannister and his men.

Jaime takes out his sword. Littlefinger is taken aback and can’t The conflict between the Lannisters and the Starks escalates
believe what’s happening. Jaime asks Ned why Catelyn took drastically in this scene. That escalation demonstrates the life-or-
Tyrion as her prisoner. Ned says Tyrion needs to answer for death stakes of the “game of thrones.” Though Ned had been ready
crimes against Bran and tells Jaime that if he kills him (Ned), to leave King’s Landing, Jaime’s decision to kill Ned’s men seems like
then Catelyn will kill Tyrion. Jaime lets Littlefinger leave the it has irrevocably made Ned a participant in the “game of thrones,”
scene. Jaime then tells his men to leave Ned alive but to kill whether he wants to be or not.
Ned’s men, including Jory. Ned is injured in the fight, and the
rest of Ned’s men are killed. Littlefinger returns with the City
Guard, who bring Ned to safety.

Daenerys talks with Jorah as they travel to Vaes Dothrak, the Viserys is again portrayed as an incompetent and ineffectual leader.
largest Dothraki city. The Dothraki people continue to ridicule His incompetence is juxtaposed with the authority of Khal Drogo
Viserys, especially after Daenerys commanded him to walk (who commands a massive army) and also with Daenerys’s
back to camp days before. Daenerys asks Jorah if Viserys leadership qualities. When Jorah says that someone with Drogo’s
would be able to retake the crown if he commanded Khal army could retake the throne, he seems to imply that perhaps
Drogo’s army of 40,000 soldiers. Jorah says no, but maybe Daenerys, in place of Viserys, might be that kind of person.
someone else with those soldiers could. He also says that However, the strictures of patriarchy seem to bar Daenerys from
Viserys misunderstands the deal he struck with Khal Drogo. In accruing that kind of power.
Viserys’s mind, he traded Dany for an army. In Khal Drogo’s
mind, the marriage to Dany was a gift from Viserys. One day,
Khal Drogo will repay that gift, but it’s up to him when and how
he’ll do it.
Vaes Dothrak is the largest city Dany has ever seen, but it’s Viserys is so insecure in his power and in himself—and so committed
different from other cities she’s been to. It sprawls in all to upholding the patriarchal power structures that have thus far
directions, and there’s a lack of towering buildings like in benefitted him—that he lashes out against Daenerys when he
Pentos. In the city, Dany invites Viserys to eat with him, but believes that her dinner invitation is a command. Viserys also shows
Viserys mistakes the invitation for an order, which makes him an unwillingness to adapt to his situation, stubbornly refusing to
angry. Dany also tries to give him a gift of Dothraki clothes, wear clothes that would make him less conspicuous. Daenerys, on
which she thinks will help him fit in and face less derision, but the other hand, seems to have much more successfully adapted to
Viserys thinks the clothes are beneath him. Viserys disparages her new life.
Dany before leaving, and Dany asks a servant to bring her a
dragon’s egg, which she uses to comfort herself.
CHAPTER 37: BRAN

Bran rides with Robb, Theon, Maester Luwin, and several With Ned unconscious following Jaime’s attack on him, Robb
guards. It’s the first time Bran has been outside of Winterfell becomes the de facto leader of House Stark. Theon suggests a
since his fall. He’s excited to be outside of the castle walls, but reactionary response to Jaime’s instigation, while Robb opts to take
his excitement fades when Robb tells him that a raven a more patient and measured response. It remains to be seen,
appeared the night before with a message. Jory had been killed, though, whether Robb’s patience is a sign that he is a thoughtful
and their father, Ned, remains unconscious after an attack from leader or a sign that he becomes paralyzed with doubt when facing
the Kingslayer, Jaime Lannister. Theon tells Robb that he difficult decisions.
should declare war on the Lannisters, but Robb isn’t sure how
he’ll respond.

Robb and Bran ride up ahead. Robb says that the direwolves The people who accost Bran are wildlings, or free folk, who live
have killed something. He goes to see what it is, leaving Bran beyond the Wall to the north. Bran has been listening to Old Nan’s
alone. Five or six people dressed in ragged clothes come out of stories about the Others. One of the wildlings says that he doesn’t
the woods. They threaten Bran and tell him to give over his want to go home because he doesn’t want to see the Others, which
valuables and his horse. When they hear that Bran is a Stark, seems, to Bran, to corroborate Nan’s stories and suggest that the
one of the people remarks that he would make a good hostage Others really could have returned. Following that man’s comments,
for Mance Rayder, the king of the wildlings. Another responds Bran will continue to entertain the possibility that the Others really
that he never wants to go back beyond the Wall because he have returned, even while other people dismiss the possibility.
doesn’t want to face the “white walkers,” or the Others.
One of the men in the group cuts at Bran’s leg to sever the Theon again shows that he is quick to action—he shoots an arrow to
straps of his specially-made saddle. The knife cuts Bran’s leg, kill the man who took Bran hostage—whereas Robb is more
though he can’t feel it. Robb returns. He and the direwolves reserved. The fact that two of the men traveling with a group of free
fight the group until one of the men puts a knife to Bran’s folk are deserters from the Night’s Watch underlines the issues that
throat and threatens to kill him if Robb doesn’t stop fighting the Night’s Watch has had with its dwindling number of recruits.
and call off the wolves. Theon finds the group and shoots an Because one of those people mentioned the Others previously, it
arrow, killing the man who holds a knife to Bran’s throat. When also suggests that more and more people are abandoning the
Maester Luwin surveys the group, he sees that two of the men Night’s Watch because they do not want to face the Others.
wear black, meaning that they’re deserters from the Night’s
Watch. One of the women in the group survives. She’s a
wildling whose name is Osha. She says she’ll do anything if they
spare her life. Robb and Maester Luwin decide to take her back
to Winterfell for questioning.
CHAPTER 38: TYRION

Tyrion is held in the Eyrie in a cell that has bars on one side and Catelyn outwitted Tyrion after she had him arrested by telling
is open on the other. The open side gives way to a 600-foot anyone who would listen that they were headed to Winterfell when
drop to the ground below. Wind whips through the open she planned to go to the Eyrie all along. Tyrion now has his chance
chamber. Tyrion racks his mind for a way to get out and finally to try and outwit Catelyn and Lysa in a scheme that will gradually
thinks of a solution. He tells the guard that he’ll give him as become clear as this chapter progresses, demonstrating the
much gold as he could want. All he has to do is pass on a necessity of cunning when playing the life-or-death game of politics
message to Lysa. Tyrion tells the guard to pass on the message and power.
that he wants to confess to his crimes.
Later that night, Lysa summons Tyrion and is prepared to hear Though meant facetiously, Tyrion’s confession also sheds light on his
his confession. Tyrion begins describing a litany of sins, character. He has previously disclosed that his father rejected him,
including treating his servants unkindly and dreaming of killing and it seems that perhaps Tyrion has, at times, unjustly protected
his father. Lysa reminds Tyrion that he stands accused of killing his frustrations onto his servants, who have less power than him
Jon Arryn and trying to have Bran killed. Tyrion says he can’t and can therefore not respond or retaliate. Tyrion again denies any
say anything about either of those events because he knows involvement in Jon Arryn’s death and the conspiracy to kill Bran.
nothing about them. He then demands a trial. Lysa says that is Again, neither Lysa nor Catelyn seems to entertain the possibility
his right and commands her men to open the “moon door.” that he could be telling the truth.

A door in the middle of the floor in the shape of a crescent Tyrion’s plan comes into clearer focus here. While it seemed
moon opens, revealing nothing but the sky beneath it. If Tyrion impossible for Tyrion to prove his innocence through facts and
loses his trial, he’ll be thrown through the opening. Tyrion then reasoning, especially while sequestered in a prison cell, a trial by
says he wants a trial by combat. The room erupts in laughter. combat gives him a chance at freedom. It’s undeniably a risky
Lysa agrees and chooses one of her soldiers to fight in her strategy, but it also seems to be the closest Tyrion has gotten to
stead. Tyrion says he would also like to choose a champion and freedom since Catelyn arrested him. Notably, a soldier for hire offers
elects his brother Jaime. Lysa says that he can’t choose Jaime to fight for Tyrion, demonstrating the power that the Lannisters
because Jaime is nowhere close to the Eyrie. The room falls wield due to their wealth.
silent. From the crowd, a lone voice emerges. It’s a soldier for
hire named Bronn, who has been traveling with Catelyn’s
group. He says he’ll fight for Tyrion.
CHAPTER 39: EDDARD

While Ned is unconscious after the fight with Jaime Lannister, This passage again demonstrates how the novel’s narrative
he dreams of a long-ago battle in Dorne when he and his men structure shows how one’s perspective on events determines the
battled three legendary fighters, including Arthur Dayne, stories and histories that one tells. In this case, Ned sees his and
Gerold Hightower, and Oswell Went as they continued in their Robert’s efforts to unseat King Aerys as heroic, whereas previous
effort to unseat King Aerys II Targaryen from the throne. When chapters from Daenerys’s point of view have called Robert “the
Ned awakens, one of his men, Vayon Poole, tells him that he has Usurper” and indicted the Starks, who fought alongside him, in their
been unconscious for six days. He also says that King Robert unjust efforts to depose the king.
wants to see Ned. Ned tries to put off the meeting until he feels
better, but Robert barges into the room with Cersei.
Robert says that he doesn’t like the fighting that happened Robert again demonstrates his ineffectuality as a leader. He has let
between Jaime and Ned. Cersei chimes in to say that Catelyn Jaime flee even though Jaime has openly killed several of Ned’s
had no right to lay hands on Tyrion and take him as her soldiers. Moreover, when Ned and Cersei speak, Robert is unable to
prisoner. Jaime has fled from King’s Landing, and Ned urges contain the conversation. He shows that he has no plan about how
Robert to let him track down Jaime and bring him to justice. that conversation should proceed or what he intends to do.
Cersei claims that Ned initiated the fight when he was coming
home drunk from a brothel, and Ned counters by saying that he
had only been at the brothel to see Robert’s child.
Cersei says she can’t believe that Robert lets Ned get away Robert physically abuses Cersei, just as Viserys abuses Daenerys.
with such insolence, and Robert strikes Cersei. She says she Robert’s statement that he doesn’t know how to fight someone
will wear the bruise like a badge of honor before leaving. without hitting them reinforces his ineffectiveness as a politician
Robert tells Ned he was wrong to hit Cersei, but he doesn’t and leader. He not only lacks the ability to act morally, but he also
know how to fight someone without hitting them. Robert then self-admittedly lacks a capacity for strategic thinking.
commands Ned to retake the role of the Hand of the King. If
Ned doesn’t comply, Robert says, then the role will go to Jaime
Lannister.

CHAPTER 40: CATELYN

Catelyn wakes up on the morning of Tyrion’s trial intent on Catelyn recognizes the strategy that Tyrion has deployed. The
speaking with her sister Lysa. Catelyn wants to stop the trial. strategic back and forth between Catelyn and Tyrion makes it clear
She thinks that Tyrion has expertly played her sister, and Lysa that they are also involved in the “game of thrones.” Their actions
fell right into the trap. On her way to see Lysa, Catelyn sees her have already led Jaime to attack Ned and his men, and it seems
uncle, Ser Brynden. Brynden says that the Lannisters are clear that if Catelyn were to lose Tyrion as her prisoner, she would
gathering forces. He intends to return to Rivverrun, the home also lose a bargaining chip in the game of politics and power that
of Catelyn and the Tullys, to defend it against the Lannisters, the Starks and Lannisters are currently playing.
even though Lysa has commanded him to stay at the Eyrie.
Brynden says he plans to go anyway, and Catelyn asks him to
come to her with Winterfell when they leave. She’ll supply him
with troops as well, she says, and Brynden agrees.
When Catelyn speaks to Lysa, Lysa refuses to call off the trial. Lysa’s refusal to call off the trial is reminiscent of her decision to
She is convinced that her champion will defeat the soldier for make Catelyn climb to the Eyrie in the night, even though the climb
hire, Bronn, who will fight for Tyrion. Catelyn tries to remind was dangerous. Lysa seems impulsive and unpredictable to the
Lysa that Tyrion is her prisoner, not Lysa’s, but Lysa won’t hear point that she follows her whims without any concern about where
any of it. She says that Tyrion killed her husband, Jon Arryn, those whims might lead or the far-reaching consequences of her
contradicting the letter she wrote to Catelyn, in which Lysa actions. The novel also shows that Lysa’s mental instability is
claimed that Cersei had been behind the murder. Catelyn significantly impacting her son Robert Arryn.
thinks that her sister has changed her story out of convenience,
because Tyrion is right in front of her while Cersei is protected
by the Red Keep hundreds of miles away. Nearby, Robert Arryn
shrieks as he watches a puppet show. He tells his mother that
he wants to see Tyrion, whom he calls “the bad man,” fly.
Ser Vardis (Lysa’s champion) and Bronn (the hired soldier who Catelyn’s memory of Littlefinger reveals the extent of Littlefinger’s
stands in for Tyrion) begin to fight. Bronn runs around the room love for her. It seems that he was willing to die for her to try and
as Vardis chases him. Bronn’s strategy appears to be to dodge prove to Catelyn how much he loved her. The extremity of his past
Vardis’s attacks until Vardis is worn out. As Catelyn watches, love again raises questions about how those previous feelings
she remembers when Littlefinger fought Brandon after her toward Catelyn impact how he now feels about her and the Starks.
father said she would marry Brandon. Brandon tried to spare Namely, does he want to support them to honor the feelings he had
Littlefinger and asked him to yield multiple times as he for Catelyn? Or would he want to sabotage Ned and Catelyn to get
overpowered him. Littlefinger wouldn’t yield until Brandon back at Catelyn for spurning his feelings?
struck him, landing an almost mortal wound.
At the Eyrie, Bronn and Vardis continue to fight. Bronn lands a Bronn doesn’t rely on brute force to defeat Vardis. Instead, he uses
couple of blows against Vardis. Vardis charges at Bronn in a his smaller stature (in comparison to Vardis) to gain a strategic
last-ditch effort to win but breaks his sword in the process. advantage. That strategy recalls Tyrion’s advice to Jon, that if one
Bronn knocks Vardis over and stabs him through the ribs. embraces one’s perceived weakness, that weakness can become a
Robert Arryn tells Lysa again that he wants to see Tyrion fly, source of strength. Bronn does just that and wins the fight as a
but Lysa says that Tyrion is now free to go. She also ensures result.
that his and Bronn’s weapons are returned and that they have
supplies. Tyrion and Bronn then leave the Eyrie together.

CHAPTER 41: JON

Jon Snow and his cohort of recruits are preparing to take their Jon again demonstrates the leadership capacities he has developed
vows and receive their positions for the Night’s Watch. Once since becoming a recruit of the Night’s Watch. Notably, an essential
they take the vows, there’s no turning back. They’ll be members aspect of Jon’s leadership qualities seems to be compassion, as his
of the Night’s Watch until they die. Everyone is sure that Jon desire to ensure Sam’s well-being keeps him awake. That concern
will be named a ranger, like his uncle Ben. But Jon is hesitant to seems to demonstrate Jon’s idea that he and his fellow recruits are
take the vow, especially considering that Sam was absent from all on their journey together—and if one person is harmed, then they
dinner the night before. Since Sam came to Castle Black later are all harmed.
than Jon, once Jon graduates from training, Sam will be left
alone at Alliser’s mercy. Jon is convinced that Sam will be
injured or killed if there’s no one to look out for him.
For a moment, Jon considers riding home to Winterfell. But the Jon thinks that Winterfell is not his home just before going to wake
voices of people deriding him and calling his siblings his “half- up Aemon to try and make sure Aemon takes on Sam as an
siblings” echo in his mind. He feels that Winterfell is no longer apprentice. That juxtaposition suggests that Jon has found a new
his home. He comes up with an alternate plan. Even though it’s home at Castle Black to replace the home he was exiled from. In
the middle of the night, he wakes up Maester Aemon. He that sense, his fellow recruits seem to have started to become as
explains the whole situation regarding Sam to the Maester, important to him as his siblings are. As Ben earlier told Jon, that’s
including when Jon threatened other recruits to ensure they exactly what the vow of the Night’s Watch means: to take on the
wouldn’t mistreat Sam. After Jon has explained, Maester Night’s Watch as one’s new family.
Aemon asks what Jon wants him to do. Jon encourages the
Maester to take Sam out of training and take him on as an
apprentice.
CHAPTER 42: TYRION

Tyrion and Bronn make their way through the mountains. Tyrion’s statement that a Lannister always pays his debts refers to
Bronn proposes that they travel at night and hide during the the literal promise that Tyrion has made to Bronn and reiterates
day to avoid attracting the attention of the mountain clans. that Tyrion will pay Bronn what he owes him. One can also interpret
Tyrion thinks traveling at night would be a good way for him to the statement as a warning or a threat. In that sense, “A Lannister
break a leg, and he says that if he’s going to die, he would prefer always pays his debts” could signal that the Lannisters always give
to die in comfort. At Tyrion’s suggestion, Bronn starts a fire. back what’s given to them, whether that means gold, violence, or
Tyrion promises as much gold as Bronn could want if they both underhanded political dealings.
survive. “A Lannister always pays his debts,” Tyrion says.
Tyrion tells Bronn the story of the first woman who he had sex Tyrion explains some of the trauma that turned him into the person
with. He says that he and his brother Jaime had been traveling he is today. That trauma provides one explanation for why Tyrion
when they came across two men chasing a woman down the always has a witty retort at the ready, no matter what the situation
road. Jaime chased the men away, and Tyrion brought the is. He seems to use humor as a kind of armor and to preemptively
woman to an inn, where they ate dinner together. They had sex diffuse possible insults or attacks aimed at him. Tyrion’s story of
that night, and within a week, Tyrion married her. Ultimately being grossly mistreated by his father is also reminiscent of Sam’s
though, Tyrion’s father, Tywin, heard that Tyrion had married a story of his father threatening to kill him. Jon forms friendships with
lowborn woman. He made Jaime confess that the woman was a both Sam and Tyrion, and the three seem to bond over their shared
sex worker and that he (Jaime) had arranged the whole scene, experiences of being mistreated by their fathers.
including the two men chasing the woman. Jaime said he also
paid the woman to have sex with Tyrion. Tywin then made
Tyrion watch as other men paid to have sex with the woman he
married before making Tyrion pay her to have sex with her.

Bronn says he would kill any man if he did something like what Tyrion shows that he uses money to get what he wants where some
Tywin did to Tyrion. As Tyrion and Bronn sit by the fire, two might use force and others might try other means of persuasion. In
men appear out of the shadows. They tell Tyrion and Bronn that sense, Tyrion's money becomes one source of Tyrion’s power, as
that they’re going to kill them and take their horses and their he uses it to buy peace with the mountain clans just as he used it to
valuables. Tyrion attempts to negotiate with them. He says that get his prison guard to do his bidding and to get Bronn to fight in his
if they see him to safety and usher him through the mountains, stead to free him from Catelyn and Lysa.
he’ll ensure they’re rewarded with gold. When the men seem
hesitant, Tyrion says he’ll give them anything they want,
including the Eyrie, the castle in the Vale. The men seem more
receptive after that.
CHAPTER 43: EDDARD

Ned sits on the king’s throne—the Iron Throne—administering The conflict between the Starks and the Lannisters continues to
the king’s justice while King Robert is off on a hunting trip. Ned escalate. Notably, this chapter is told from Ned’s point of view. As a
hears the complaint of townspeople who say that Lannister result, the Lannisters are again portrayed as the clear instigators of
men recently raided their village. Those raids killed several this new level of conflict, as they are attacking innocent people
people. When Ned asks if the men carried banners or if there without declaring their identities in a ploy to trick the Tullys (who
were any signs that they were Lannister men, the people say are aligned with the Starks) into attacking. That narrative technique
no. Ned thinks that Tywin Lannister is attacking various parts of suggests that history is often not based on a set of agreed-upon
Riverrun (Catelyn’s homeland) to try and stretch Riverrun facts. Instead, the version of history one hears is often determined
troops thin. The Lord of Riverrun is now Catelyn’s brother, by who is telling or writing that history.
Edmure. Ned thinks Tywin is attacking without banners and
proclamations so that if Riverrun retaliates, Tywin can say that
the Tullys (whose homeland is Riverrun) started the fight, not
the Lannisters.
The townspeople say that the knights bore no identifying The Lannisters' actions, and Ned’s response here, are all part of the
marks, but there was one knight who was impossible to miss. “game of thrones,” a strategic political contest among various
He was the largest man any of them had ever seen. Ned and parties to try and achieve power. Ned seems to be playing the game
members of the king’s council surmise that it must have been with the assumption that there are rules that everyone recognizes.
Gregor Clegane, also known as the Mountain. Ned decides that In this case, he believes that Gregor is guilty of a crime, so he must
Gregor must be punished. He strips Gregor of his knighthood be punished. The novel suggests, though, that those rules and norms
and sentences him to death. Loras Tyrell, the Knight of Flowers, are ones that Ned imposes on himself. While they may signal his
steps forward to volunteer to administer Gregor’s death honor and integrity, they will not necessarily help him win the “game
sentence. Ned believes that Loras wants vengeance, not justice, of thrones.”
so he assembles an alternate team of men who will go kill
Gregor Clegane.
CHAPTER 44: SANSA

Sansa talks with Jeyne Poole about Ned’s decision not to send Sansa’s discussion of heroes and villains points to how the novel
Loras Tyrell to track down and kill Gregor Clegane. Sansa diverges from the themes of many other books in the fantasy genre.
thinks that Loras is the quintessential hero, while Gregor is a In particular, A Game of Thrones is not as interested in the ideas of
villain, so it would have been like one of the songs of the heroes heroes and villains as it is in how each person can act in good or evil
of old if Loras struck down Gregor. Arya then comes into the ways depending on the situation they’re placed in. The novel
room and asks if they sent someone to kill Jaime Lannister. emphasizes this idea by creating complex political situations that
Sansa clarifies that the men are going to kill Gregor Clegane. characters must react to, which frequently leads characters to
Arya responds that Jaime killed Jory and Ned’s other men, compromise their morality.
while the Hound killed her friend Mycah. They all need to be
punished too, Arya says. Sansa says that Mycah attacked
Joffrey first, so it’s different. Arya calls Sansa a liar.

Ned enters the room and tells Sansa and Arya that he’s sending Robert continues to demonstrate his ineffectiveness as a leader.
both of them back to Winterfell for their own safety. Three of Instead of facing the conflict between the Lannisters and the Starks
his men have just been killed, and Robert’s response was to go head-on, he has fled from his responsibilities to go hunting. Sansa
hunting, so Ned doesn’t think his family will be safe in King’s continues to show the shortcomings of an unnuanced
Landing. Sansa protests and says she needs to stay because understanding of the world that divides people into categories of
she’s engaged to Joffrey. Ned says the engagement was an heroes and villains. In this case, the novel suggests that Sansa’s
awful mistake, and when Sansa is older, he’ll arrange for a fixation on those two categories stops her from accurately seeing
better match. Sansa continues to argue and says that Joffrey is Joffrey’s faults, as she has already decided that belongs in the
nothing like “that old drunken king,” meaning Robert. Ned tells category of heroes and is unwilling to examine that assessment.
Sansa and Arya that they’ll travel by ship. Arya asks if Syrio, her
sword-fighting instructor, can come, and Ned says he can come
if he wants to make the trip.
CHAPTER 45: EDDARD

Ned hears that the Hound has returned to King’s Landing with While Ned most likely doesn’t see himself as playing the “game of
Joffrey. Littlefinger warns Ned that the Hound may be feeling thrones” (as he has no interest in power), he has been thrust into the
vengeful after learning that Ned ordered his brother’s death. contest no matter how much he might want to avoid it. Now that
Ned turns the words that Sansa said over in his mind—that Ned is playing, the Hound’s potential ire toward Ned illustrates the
Joffrey is nothing like “the drunken old king [Robert].” Suddenly high stakes of that game, as the Hound could target Ned for revenge
it dawns on him: Joffrey is nothing like Robert because he’s not for his brother. Ned also finally gets a breakthrough in his
Robert’s son. Ned re-examines the book that Jon Arryn was investigation into Jon Arryn’s death when he discovers that Joffrey
reading when he died, a book about the lineages of all the great is not Robert’s biological son. That leaves the question open, then, of
houses in the realm. Ned asks Vayon Poole to give a message to who Joffrey’s biological father is.
someone before he (Ned) goes to the godswood.
Later that day in the godswood, Cersei comes to see Ned, who Ned finally figures out why Jon Arryn was killed. Jon Arryn figured
sent her the message through Vayon Poole, asking her to meet out the truth of Joffrey’s parentage, which reveals that Joffrey has
him. Now, Ned confronts her with the truth he has discovered: no legal claim to the throne because he is not Robert’s rightful heir.
Joffrey is not Robert’s son. He is Jaime’s son, and Cersei and The Lannisters then presumably killed Jon Arryn to keep that secret
Jaime are lovers. Cersei doesn’t deny it. She says that the from getting out so they could retain power. Now that Ned knows
Targaryens married brother and sister for generations, so why the secret, there is a target on his back, too.
shouldn’t the Lannisters? Plus, she says, she and Jaime are
twins and are like one person in two bodies.
Cersei says that all three of her children are Jaime’s, not Jaime’s motivation for pushing Bran out the window comes into
Robert’s. Ned asks if she and Jaime had anything to do with clearer focus. While previously it seemed like Jaime pushed Bran out
Bran’s fall, and Cersei says that Bran saw them. Ned says that the window to ensure no one learned that he and Cersei were lovers,
he will tell Robert everything as soon as he returns from with this new information, it becomes clear that he also pushed
hunting. In the meantime, he says, Cersei should leave with her Bran out the window to make sure no one figured out that he is
children and go into exile as far away as possible. Ned says he’s Joffrey’s father. Jaime said, “The things I do for love,” when he
being more generous than he should be. Cersei says that Ned pushed Bran. That suggests that he wants to keep the secret safe for
should have seized the throne when he had the chance. Ned Cersei even more than for himself. He presumably wanted to protect
says he’s made a lot of mistakes in life, but passing up the Cersei from any potential retaliation from Robert, but he also
throne isn’t one of them. Cersei says, “When you play the game wanted to ensure that Joffrey would one day inherit the throne,
of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground.” She which would enable Cersei to have some semblance of the power
then turns and goes. she has always wanted.


Daenerys eats the heart of a stallion. She’s been preparing for The seriousness with which Daenerys takes eating the heart of a
the feat for weeks by ingesting small amounts of blood. And she stallion illustrates again her capacity to adapt and gain power and
began starving herself yesterday, hoping that hunger would acceptance in a wide variety of situations. If Viserys were in that
help her finish the entire heart. The Dothraki believe that situation, it's easy to imagine him dismissing the idea out of hand
eating a stallion’s heart will help her unborn son grow strong, and refusing to go through with the ritual. Daenerys, however,
but only if Daenerys finishes the whole thing—it’s a bad omen if embraces the ritual and wins the allegiance of the Dothraki people
she can’t. Daenerys finishes the heart and in Dothraki yells, “A as a result. That capacity to gain allegiances will become one of
prince rides inside me!” Hundreds of Dothraki people scream Daenerys’s defining traits.
back that it will be a boy. Later, people murmur that Dany’s son
will be the “stallion who mounts the world.” Dany plans to name
her son Rhaego, after her fallen brother Rhaegar.
Daenerys sits with Ser Jorah and asks him what the “stallion This passage further contrasts Daenerys and Viserys. While Viserys
who mounts the world” means. He says that it is a kind of king assumes that he has power due to his family lineage and his gender,
of kings who has been promised by Dothraki prophecies. Dany Daenerys works for power and acceptance among the Dothraki
asks where Viserys is, and Jorah says that he left earlier in the people. Also, while Jorah ostensibly works for Viserys, he shows that
morning to look for wine and prospective soldiers for the army he is more loyal to Daenerys than Viserys. And while the Dothraki
he’s trying to build. He also tells her that Viserys tried to steal people believe Daenerys will be the mother of a promised hero, they
the dragon eggs until Jorah threatened to cut off his hand. hiss at Viserys. Each of these facts illustrates that Daenerys is a
Viserys then returns to the group. He is stumbling because he stronger leader than Viserys could ever hope to be.
is drunk, and he has a sword with him. Swords are forbidden in
Vaes Dothrak, and Dothraki people nearby hiss at yell at
Viserys.
Viserys drunkenly makes his way toward Dany. He points his When Daenerys watches Viserys die, she is witnessing the death of
sword at her stomach and says that he’s going to take Dany and her abuser. Daenerys’s calm upon witnessing Viserys’s death shows
her child if Khal Drogo doesn’t give him the army he promised. how, at that moment, Daenerys seizes the power that her brother
Khal Drogo makes his way through the crowd, which falls silent. had unrightfully claimed for himself. Now that Viserys is no longer
Drogo says the Viserys will have his crown. He orders his men able to abuse Daenerys, a major impediment to her power and
to seize Viserys. Drogo puts his belt, replete with bells, into a capacity for self-determination has been removed. She is then free
pot over a fire. The bells melt, and Drogo takes the belt out and to become the “dragon” Viserys claimed to be—that is, the rightful
tells Viserys that this is his crown. He puts it on Viserys’s head heir of the Targaryen lineage of power.
and the metal melts over Viserys’s body. Dany looks on,
strangely calm, as Viserys dies. Viserys couldn’t have been a
dragon, she thinks, because fire cannot kill a dragon.
CHAPTER 47: EDDARD

Ned awakens from a dream to the sound of a knock on the Varys previously warned Ned that the Lannisters wanted to kill
door. King Robert has returned from hunting and wants to see Robert, and now they have succeeded at least in plying him with
Ned at once. When Ned goes to see Robert, he finds that wine so that he is fatally wounded. Ned’s response makes it clear
Robert has suffered a fatal wound from a boar he faced. Those that he is firmly ensconced in the “game of thrones,” despite his
who were with Robert tell Ned that a Lannister had been efforts to avoid it. He believes he is only playing the game of politics
supplying him with wine. Robert seems to be breathing his last because he wants to ensure that morality and legality are followed
breaths. He tells Ned to take down dictation for his final will. when Robert’s successor is chosen. It remains to be seen, though,
He names Ned the protectorate of the kingdom and says that whether one’s reasons for playing the “game of thrones,” matters, or
he will rule until his son, Joffrey, comes of age. Ned knows that if Ned’s commitment to honor and integrity will help him win that
Joffrey isn’t Robert’s son, so he struggles to write down game.
Joffrey’s name. He feels guilty about changing Robert’s words,
but he writes down “heir” instead of “Joffrey.”

Robert also tells Ned to do what he can to call off the planned Ned again demonstrates that he is unwilling to violate his code of
murder of Daenerys. Ned passes that message along to Varys, honor and integrity to try and win the “game of thrones.” With that
who says it may be too late to stop the plan, but he will do what in mind, Ned seems to evince a belief that a commitment to honor
he can. Robert then drinks milk of the poppy to help him rest and integrity is paramount in life and no other considerations
while his body tries to heal. It’s unlikely that he’ll ever wake up should sway one from that commitment. That commitment, though,
again. Renly then talks to Ned. He tells Ned that they should puts Ned in a difficult position, as he deprives himself of strategic
kidnap Cersei’s three children. As long as they have the kids, advantages because he deems them morally wrong. At the same
Cersei won’t dare defy them, Renly says. Ned refuses to take time, he is engaged in a direct struggle for power with Cersei, who
part in that scheme. Instead, Ned writes a letter to Robert’s has already demonstrated that she will not be constrained by
brother, Stannis, telling him to come to King’s Landing at once morality when it comes to politics.
and to bring an army. Since Joffrey is not Robert’s rightful heir,
the crown should rightfully go to Stannis, Robert’s oldest
brother.
Ned says he wants to see Littlefinger. Littlefinger says that Ned Renly previously presented Ned with one solution that would help
should make peace with the Lannisters and take his seat as the him win the “game of thrones,” and Littlefinger presents another
king in Joffrey’s stead for four years until Joffrey comes of age. option here. Renly’s solution was to declare open hostilities against
He should marry Sansa off to Joffrey, have Arya marry the Lannisters and to gain an advantage over them through
Tommen, and Myrcella marry Robb. By the time Joffrey comes underhanded means. Littlefinger’s option involves making peace
of age, Ned will be like a father to him. And if Joffrey doesn’t with the Lannisters to prevent further escalation of the conflict.
seem like a good person to rule at that point, they can reveal Both possibilities violate Ned’s sense of honor and integrity, so he
the secret that he is Cersei and Jaime’s child and has no rightful rejects them.
claim to the crown. Ned tells Littlefinger that he’s forgetting
that the Lannisters killed Jon Arryn and tried to kill Bran.
Ned knows that Cersei, as the queen, will say that Joffrey is the Ned compromises his previously steadfast commitment to honor
rightful king—while Ned, as the Hand of the King, will say that and integrity to try and win the “game of thrones.” The novel
Stannis is the rightful heir. With that in mind, Ned knows he suggests that politics and power are inherently corruptive and that
needs to ensure that the relevant forces in King’s Landing will playing the “game of thrones” is incompatible with virtue, as it can
recognize his authority. Littlefinger proposes a method to drive anyone to act immorally—even someone like Ned who has
ensure that Ned’s plan will work. Littlefinger will pay the City demonstrated his upstanding character time and again.
Watch 6,000 gold pieces to make sure they follow Ned. Ned
thinks the scheme is dishonorable, but he doesn’t see any other
options and agrees to go ahead with it.
CHAPTER 48: JON

Sam sits down on the bench at breakfast beside Jon. Sam is Sam’s excitement about being named a brother of the Night’s
elated. He’s just learned that he’ll be named a brother of the Watch shows the positive impact of Jon’s leadership. Sam’s decision
Night’s Watch alongside Jon and can’t believe his good fortune. to take his vows in the godswood with Jon and embrace the old
Commander Mormont tells those who will be sworn in that day gods shows the way that the two become something akin to family
that they should think carefully before taking their vows. The to each other. Both have been exiled, in one sense or another, from
penalty for deserting the Night’s Watch is death. Commander their respective families. In the wake of that exile, they have forged a
Mormont then asks if any of the men gathered observe the old kind of family together by looking out for each other and embracing
gods. Jon stands and says he does. Sam also rises. He says that each other’s customs and beliefs.
his family worships the new gods, but those gods have never
answered his prayers, so perhaps the old gods will. There’s no
godswood (a sacred place for those who observe the old gods)
at Castle Black, so Sam and Jon will go to the one just beyond
the Wall later that night to say their vows.

Commander Mormont reads out the placements for each of After Jon learns that he’ll be a steward instead of a ranger, he reverts
the recruits. Some will be rangers, others builders. Sam is once more to the kind of petulant behavior that marked his arrival
named a steward and will support Maester Aemon. When Jon’s at the Night’s Watch. Notably, Sam talks him down from that
name is read, he’s surprised to hear that he will be a steward attitude, again illustrating the closeness between the two. The
too. He’ll be supporting Commander Mormont. Jon is petulant. possibility that Commander Mormont is training Jon to become a
He expected to be named a ranger and thinks being a steward leader in the Night’s Watch also shows that authorities at Castle
will be the same as being a servant. He’s convinced that Alliser Black have noticed the leadership potential that Jon has
sabotaged him. But Sam points out that heirs often follow in demonstrated throughout training.
their father’s footsteps by first attending meetings and reading
their father’s letters. Sam says that it seems likely that
Commander Mormont is training Jon to be a commander. Jon
reevaluates his initial reaction and apologizes for acting the
way he did.
Jon and Sam go past the Wall later that night, escorted by The appearance of a dismembered human hand evokes a scene like
rangers. Jon’s direwolf, Ghost, accompanies him. They make the one that opens the novel, in which Will sees the bodies of
their way to the godswood to recite their vows. In the wildlings mysteriously killed. In the opening scene, the Others kill
godswood, they both kneel and say the words they have Waymar and Will, demonstrating their power. This scene, then,
memorized. As they rise, one of the rangers says they should suggests again that the Others may be afoot and that the Night’s
leave at once—there’s something in the air that alarms him. Watch may start to get some clues about why so many men have
Ghost then catches a scent. He disappears and comes back recently gone missing.
carrying something. When they inspect what it is, they see that
it’s a human hand.
CHAPTER 49: EDDARD

Ned tells Sansa and Arya to prepare to leave. Sansa doesn’t Robert’s death puts both Ned and Cersei’s plans to secure power in
understand why she can’t say goodbye to Joffrey and argues motion at the same time. Ned believes he has an advantage over
with Ned. Arya wants to know if there’s time for one last lesson Cersei because he has access to the small council, which will
with Syrio before they leave, and Ned says there is. Grand ostensibly be influential in determining who will inherit the throne.
Maester Pycelle comes to find Ned and tells him that King Maester Pycelle says that the seal has not been tampered with, but
Robert has died. Ned says they have to convene the small Ned’s thoughts about Stannis and Joffrey recall how Ned tampered
council immediately. At the council, Ned shows everyone the with Robert’s wording when he wrote down the message Robert
message Robert dictated to him the night before. Upon dictated, showing again how the “game of thrones” has led Ned,
inspection, Maester Pycelle states that King Robert’s seal who is otherwise an exemplar of upstanding moral character, to
remains intact and has not been tampered with. They open the compromise his honor and integrity.
message, which says that Ned will be the protector of the realm
until King Robert’s heir comes of age. Ned thinks that Robert’s
rightful heir is not Joffrey but Stannis, who is already of age,
but Ned doesn’t say that.
Soon after, Joffrey, who believes himself to be king, summons Cersei tears up the note Ned wrote based on Robert’s dictation,
the small council to see him. In the hall, there is the Kingsguard, metaphorically tearing up the rules of the “game of thrones” that
who will side with Joffrey, and the City Watch, who Ned Ned has been playing by. Ned has been playing by self-imposed
believes Littlefinger has paid to support Ned. The City Watch rules of honor and integrity, and Cersei effectively says that those
outnumber Joffrey’s men five to one. Ned asks that Joffrey and rules mean nothing and she has no intention of following them.
Cersei recognize him as the protector of the realm until Joffrey With that in mind, following those rules might put Ned at a strategic
comes of age and shows Cersei Robert’s message. Cersei tears disadvantage.
up the message into shreds and asks if Ned thought a piece of
paper would protect him. She says that Joffrey is the king now.

Ned didn’t want it to come to this, but he says that Joffrey is The novel depicts the “game of thrones” as similar to a game of
not King Robert’s true heir. Joffrey asks Cersei what Ned is chess. Ned thought he had gained a strategic advantage by
talking about. Cersei commands the Kingsguard to take Ned arranging to have Littlefinger pay off the City Watch, but Littlefinger
into custody. Ned’s men rise to defend him, and Cersei says betrays Ned. Arguably, Ned’s commitment to honor and integrity
that his verbal treason is now an act of physical treason. Ned includes a willingness to trust people. Littlefinger’s betrayal makes it
commands the City Watch to take Cersei and Joffrey into clear that the trust Ned placed in him was naïve, signaling that Ned
custody. The men of the City Watch lower their spears. But needed to combine cunning and strategic thinking to anticipate the
they attack Ned’s men instead of the Lannisters. Littlefinger possible moves of others instead of relying solely on honor and
reaches down from behind Ned. He takes the dagger from integrity to try and achieve his aims.
Ned’s waist and holds it to Ned’s throat. Littlefinger says,
almost apologetically, that he told Ned not to trust him.
CHAPTER 50: ARYA

Arya trains with Syrio for the final time before she returns to Syrio’s statement that his virtuosity as a sword fighter consists of his
Winterfell. She fails to parry an attack from Syrio, and Syrio ability to see clearly provides a commentary on both Sansa and
asks her if she knows how he became the best swordfighter in Ned. Sansa avoids seeing what’s right in front of her, as she
Bravos. It wasn’t because he was the most skilled or talented, continues to insist that Joffrey is a decent person despite all
he said. It was because he could see. He could see exactly what evidence to the contrary. Ned is also guilty of not seeing what’s
was before his eyes, not what people wanted him to see. before him. Littlefinger previously told him straightforwardly that
Lannister men from the Kingsguard storm into the room. They Ned was wise to distrust him. Still, Ned trusted him, which led to
tell Arya to come with them because her father (Ned) wants to Ned’s downfall.
see her. Arya asks them why her father would send Lannister
men. One of the men says to seize Arya, and Syrio steps in.
Another man says to kill Syrio and take Arya.
Arya steps away and watches Syrio fight five men from the One of the recurring themes of the novel is who inspires loyalty and
Kingsguard. As she watches, she realizes that Syrio hasn’t made who doesn’t. In this case, Arya has inspired the kind of loyalty from
use of his full ability during their training sessions. He seems to Syrio that Jon finds in Sam and Ned finds in his men, suggesting that
dance as he fights, and he moves faster than Arya has ever seen Arya may possess the same kinds of leadership qualities as her
a person move. Still, after minutes of fighting, it seems like five- father and Jon. In this case, Syrio risks his life to ensure Arya’s
on-one might be too much for Syrio to handle. He seems to be safety.
on the verge of losing and being killed when he yells to Arya to
run. Arya takes off, beginning to cry as she thinks that Syrio
might die.
Arya goes to her father’s (Ned) stables. She finds the master of As soon as Ned is arrested, the Lannisters begin their scourge of the
horses from Winterfell dying at the door to the stable. He tells Starks. This signals that they consider the Starks among their most
Arya that she must warn her father. Inside, she finds three notable enemies. They attempt to wipe out the Starks, along with
more of her father’s men killed. There is also a dead Lannister those loyal to the Starks, so there won’t be any meaningful
soldier. Arya takes down a chest filled with her things. She competition for the throne or opposition to Joffrey’s inheritance of
thinks she’ll need clothes for the journey back to Winterfell, the Crown.
and she rummages in the chest until she finds the sword that
Jon gave her, named Needle.

A stable hand who Arya doesn’t recognize comes into the The boy who approaches Arya says that Ned is dead, though at this
stable wielding a pitchfork. He says he knows who Arya is. Arya point the reader only knows that Ned has been arrested. That
asks him to help her saddle a horse and that her father, the suggests that either Ned is in fact dead, the boy is lying, or that now
Hand of the King, will reward him if he does. The boy says that that Ned has been taken into Lannister custody, he’s as good as
her father (Ned) is dead. He approaches her with the pitchfork, dead. Arya finds herself in her own life-or-death situation after her
and Arya stabs him with Needle, killing him. She takes her father Ned has played (and apparently lost) the “game of thrones.”
clothes and walks out of the stable. She has to pass right by This reinforces the far-reaching consequences of playing that game.
Lannister men and tries to remain as calm as possible as she
does. She makes her way to the dungeon full of dragons’ skulls
that she found when she was chasing cats, where she plans to
hide.
CHAPTER 51: SANSA

Not long before Sansa and Arya are about to leave for Whereas Ned previously rejected Renly’s call to kidnap Cersei’s
Winterfell, Sansa defies Ned’s orders. She goes to see Cersei children, Cersei kidnaps Sansa. It seems like she also attempted to
and tells her that she is in love with Joffrey. She hopes that kidnap Arya, though Arya escaped. At the same time, Ned offered
Cersei will talk to King Robert and convince him to command Cersei mercy (in his words) by giving her a chance to leave King’s
Ned to let Sansa stay in King’s Landing. Cersei responds by Landing before he told Robert that Joffrey was not his biological
having Sansa taken and locked in a room. It’s for Sansa’s safety, son. Those differences make it clear that Ned and Cersei were not
Cersei says. Fighting breaks out not long after, and Sansa can playing the “game of thrones” by the same set of rules. But, as Cersei
hear the fighting from her room. She doesn’t know exactly previously explained, politics is a game of life or death—and if those
what’s happening, but the sound is terrifying, nonetheless. On are the stakes, then once a person decides to play, they must also
the third day, Sansa is summoned to the small council. She have a plan to win at any cost.
hopes that she might find Joffrey there. Instead, she finds
Cersei with Varys, Littlefinger, and Maester Pycelle.
Cersei tells Sansa that she has bad news: her father (Ned) is a Cersei, Varys, Littlefinger, and Pycelle all tell a much different
traitor. Sansa can’t believe it. She says her father would never version of events than the version Ned told leading up to his arrest.
commit treason. Varys, Littlefinger, and Maester Pycelle all That reinforces the novel’s idea that history is not a set of
attest to Cersei’s version of events. They say that they heard established facts but instead is a story that reflects the perspectives
Ned swear to King Robert that he would act in support of and biases of the people recounting it. Though Sansa doesn’t believe
Robert’s heirs, but as soon as Robert died, Ned tried to steal them, they also have concrete evidence (in Ned’s letter to Stannis)
the throne from Joffrey. They also intercepted a message he that Ned conspired to take the throne from Joffrey, which makes it
intended to reach Stannis, calling on Stannis to bring an army to more difficult for Sansa to know what to believe.
take control of the throne from Joffrey and the Lannisters.
Cersei says that she can’t possibly let Sansa marry Joffrey, While most of the Starks demonstrate unbending loyalty toward
considering that Sansa is the daughter of a traitor—that is, their family, Sansa deviates from that norm when she seems to take
unless Sansa writes letters to all the members of her family, Joffrey’s side over her family’s. She does that by saying to herself
including Catelyn and Robb, saying that Ned is a traitor, and that kings must handle rebels forcefully, a sign that she believes that
they must pledge fealty to their new king, Joffrey. Sansa doesn’t Joffrey is the rightful holder of power and that her family consists of
want to say that her father is a traitor, but then she learns that rebels who need to be brought into submission. In her mind, she
Joffrey, as the king, will decide whether her father lives or dies. writes her family to try and ensure that Joffrey doesn’t kill Ned,
She loves Joffrey and knows he would never do anything to reflecting the complexity of the situation that drives Sansa to
harm her father unless his hand was forced. A king has to seemingly betray her family.
handle rebels forcefully, she thinks, and she believes she must
compel her family to fall in line. Cersei tells Sansa what to write
in the letters, and Sansa writes them. When Sansa returns to
her room, she realizes she forgot to ask if Arya is okay.

CHAPTER 52: JON

Jon, Sam, Commander Mormont, and a group of rangers have The men’s new blue eyes further suggest that they, like Waymar
ventured beyond the Wall again after they brought the hand Royce, encountered the Others, as Waymar’s eyes also turned blue
Ghost found back to Castle Black. Ghost leads them to the after the Others killed him. Sam shows the value that he brings to
corpses of two men. They are two of the six men that Ben Stark the Night’s Watch. While he has previously been portrayed as out of
brought with him when he went past the Wall close to six place, this scene makes it clear that Jon was right in recognizing
months ago. Some of the rangers say that the men look like Sam’s talents and that Sam has just as valuable of a role to play in
they have just died. Their wounds seem fresh, and the bodies the Night’s Watch as someone like Jon.
don’t smell. But Sam hesitantly speaks up. He says that if the
men died recently, there would be blood on the ground. He also
points out that the animals, aside from Ghost, won’t go near the
bodies. Moreover, the men now have blue eyes, which they
didn’t have before.
Commander Mormont orders the bodies be taken back to The sensitivity of the horses to the bodies suggests that there is
Castle Black. He wants Maester Aemon to examine them. The something disconcerting about them that animals can sense. News
horses whinny and try to run when the rangers move to strap of Ned’s arrest sets up a serious test for Jon. Though he has
the bodies to them. Eventually, they get the bodies strapped acclimated well to the Night’s Watch and found a new family there,
down. When they reach Castle Black, someone tells Jon that Ned’s arrest will test which “family” speaks to him more strongly.
they’ve received a letter that concerns him. They also say that Will he be compelled to follow the duty he feels to the Starks and
King Robert is dead. Jon goes to talk to Commander Mormont, the family he grew up with, or the duty he feels to the Night’s
who tells him that in addition to Robert’s death, he’s also Watch, which he swore a vow to never leave?
received news that Ned has been imprisoned for treason. Jon is
furious. He knows it can’t be true. Mormont tells Jon not to do
anything stupid.
When Jon leaves Commander Mormont, Jon’s friends comfort The novel frequently contrasts leaders who inspire loyalty and
him. They’ve heard the news about Ned, too, and they agree comradery in others with leaders who alienate others. Alliser seems
that it can’t be true. At dinner, though, Jon overhears Alliser to belong to the latter category, as he consistently targets Jon and
saying that Jon isn’t just a “bastard,” but he’s also the bastard of draws ire from Jon’s friends. The novel suggests that while people
a traitor. Jon takes out a knife and lunges at Alliser. Sam steps like Alliser probably shouldn’t be in positions of power, they
between Jon and Alliser, and others take hold of Jon from frequently are—and they use that power to terrorize others.
behind. Jon is put into a cell that is guarded around the clock.
His friends are forbidden from seeing him, but Ghost is allowed
to stay in the cell, so at least Jon isn’t completely alone.
That night, Jon wakes up in his cell to the sound of Ghost The blue eyes shining back at Jon signal that the figure is an Other,
scraping at the door. At first, Jon doesn’t think anything of it, with the same blue eyes that Sam noticed on the bodies of the men
but when he examines the door more closely, he finds that it’s they found beyond the Wall and that Waymar Royce had when he
open. He goes outside and sees the guard dead on the stairs was killed and then became reanimated as an Other.
nearby. He takes the guard’s sword and goes to Commander
Mormont’s room, where he sees a shadowy figure dressed in
black. Under the figure’s hood, blue eyes shine back at Jon.

Ghost attacks the figure, and Jon sinks his sword into the This passage confirms the idea that when the Others kill people (like
figure’s body. But the sound doesn’t seem right to Jon, and the the corpses found in the woods beyond the Wall), those people are
figure’s skin is cold to the touch. At one point, Jon gets a reanimated as Others themselves. That means that as the Others
glimpse of the figure’s face and sees that it belongs to one of encounter more and more people, their ranks will grow, reinforcing
the corpses that they brought back earlier. Jon can’t believe the need for the Night’s Watch and the Wall to protect humanity
what he’s looking at. The man was dead. Commander Mormont south of the Wall from the threat posed by the Others, which seems
steps into the doorway holding a lamp. Jon takes the lamp and to be rapidly growing.
lights the curtains on fire before flinging the curtains at the
figure. Jon hopes that fire will kill it, as nothing else seems to
harm it.
CHAPTER 53: BRAN

Bran stands with Maester Luwin and watches the Karstarks Robb’s idea that it would be cowardly to command men to fight
stream into King’s Landing. They’re the last of the Stark without fighting alongside them recalls Ned’s earlier advice to Bran
bannermen to arrive—Robb summoned them to help the Tullys to demonstrate one’s conviction by carrying out one’s orders oneself
defend Riverrun. Robb will march with them. He thinks it would (as when Ned asserted his willingness to execute Gared himself).
be cowardly to command his men to fight without fighting Both Robb and Ned, then, share leadership philosophies that
alongside them. Bran, on the other hand, hasn’t been able to emphasize the importance of integrity and personal responsibility.
leave the castle after the incident when the wildlings caught The fact that Robb takes on the philosophy is also a testament to
him and almost killed him. Bran has noticed a change in Robb. the kind of role model Ned has been and the legacy of his example.
Though he is scarcely 16, he’s recently shown that he’s able to
command those much older than himself and shows the
capacity to convince them that he is a true leader.
Bran asks Hodor to take him to the godswood—recently, that’s Bran’s statement that Sansa lost her wolf points to the direwolf’s
the place that Bran likes to go the most. While there, Bran function as a symbol of the Stark family. The direwolf is the Stark
recalls when Robb received the raven with the message from family sigil, or a kind of mascot for the family. The fact that Sansa
Sansa. Sansa urged Robb and Catelyn to come to King’s lost her wolf—or, more accurately, that Cersei ordered it to be
Landing and pledge fealty to King Joffrey. If they did so, Sansa killed—symbolizes how Sansa lost something vital in herself and
would plead with Joffrey to spare Ned. Nowhere in the began to feel disconnected from her family when her wolf was killed.
message did Sansa mention Arya. Robb remarked that he didn’t
know what was wrong with Sansa. Bran said that she lost her
wolf.
In the godswood, Bran asks the gods to watch over Robb as he Osha’s statement that Robb should be marching north instead of
goes to war. Osha appears in the godswood. Bran asks what south would most likely seem nonsensical to Robb if he heard it. But
she’s doing there, and she says that they are her gods too. the novel has shown that Osha is in fact correct. The Others are
They’re the only gods there are beyond the Wall, she says. gaining numbers and pose a grave threat to humanity. To confront
Hodor comes to check on Bran— must have heard Bran and that threat, people will have to overcome their political conflicts to
Robb speaking. Osha says that Hodor is part giant. Bran says fight the Others. For that to happen, the Starks and Lannisters
giants don’t exist, but Osha says they do beyond the Wall. She would have to join forces and march north together to meet the
says there are worse things too, like the Others, or white Others head-on and give humanity the best possible chance of
walkers, who have cold hands and blue eyes. She says that Bran defeating a common enemy.
should tell Robb that he’s marching the wrong way. He should
be going north to fight the white walkers, not south. She also
says that the gods cannot look after Robb in the south because
all the weirwoods have been cut down there.

That night, Robb prepares to depart. Bran talks to Maester Bran’s lament that people will never cheer for him like they cheer for
Luwin and says he wants to be a knight. Luwin says that Bran is Robb situates Bran in a similar category as Jon and Tyrion. After
clever. He might make a good Maester himself. Bran says he becoming paralyzed, Bran realizes that he, like Jon and Tyrion, no
wants to learn magic, but Luwin says that no man can teach him longer fits neatly into pre-established hierarchies. As Tyrion earlier
that. Robb tells Bran that he will be the lord of Winterfell while counseled Jon, though, by embracing himself, perhaps Bran will be
Robb is gone. After Robb leaves, Bran hears the legion of able to turn what he perceives as a weakness into a source of
soldiers cheering for Robb as he rides by. Bran thinks that they strength.
will never cheer for him like that.

Khal Drogo says that Rhaego, Dany’s unborn son, has no need Khal Drogo’s statement that Rhaego does not need iron chairs
for iron chairs. There is plenty of land to rule in the east. Khal shows his ambivalence about entering the “game of thrones.”
Drogo has no interest in crossing the sea to reach the realm of Daenerys, though, wants to enter into that game, no matter the
the Seven Kingdoms. The Dothraki people consider any water cost. As the chapters following characters in Westeros show, the
that a horse can’t drink suspicious. He then goes off to hunt, stakes of joining that game are life and death, suggesting the same
leaving Dany to go to the market with her servants and Ser will be true if Daenerys, Drogo, and Rhaego enter into the fray of
Jorah. Dany implores Jorah to help her convince Khal Drogo to political infighting in Westeros.
cross the narrow sea. She says that her son must rule the
kingdom in the west. Jorah says to be patient.
In the market, Dany eats sausage like she once did in Pentos. The wine merchant appears to be an assassin trying to fulfill
She laughs for the first time since her brother was killed. For a Robert’s previous order to assassinate Daenerys and her unborn
moment, she feels like a child again. Jorah leaves to attend to child. That shows that Robert’s deathbed command to call off the
some business. He doesn’t tell Dany where he’s going, which assassination did in fact come too late, as Varys warned. Notably,
Dany finds strange. A merchant offers Dany wine. When he the information that led Robert to issue that order came from Jorah.
finds out that she is a Targaryen, he finds a cask of a more Jorah’s intervention to stop Daenerys from being poisoned suggests
expensive vintage and offers it to Dany as a gift. Just then, that he may have had a change of heart from the point when he
Jorah returns and tells Dany not to take it. He tells the began passing information on to the Crown in Westeros to now.
merchant to sample the wine himself. Instead of doing that, the
merchant throws the cask at Dany and tries to run, but he's
caught. It becomes clear that the wine was poisoned.
Jorah tells Dany that he just received a message saying that the The assassination attempt on Daenerys shows that she has already
Usurper, Robert, has promised land and lordship to anyone entered into the game of politics and power, and the stakes are life
who kills Viserys, Dany, or her unborn child. He tells her that and death. Khal Drogo’s decision to support the quest to reclaim the
the merchant may have been the first assassin, but he certainly Iron Throne for the Targaryens suggests the stakes will only be
won’t be the last. When Khal Drogo returns, Dany tells him heightened in the future. Drogo’s decision also shows his support for
what happened. Drogo is silent for a long time. He then offers Daenerys, as he decides to embrace her goals as his own after she
Jorah and the other men who caught the merchant any horse comes under threat.
they choose. And he says he wants to give his unborn son a gift
too. His son, he says, will one day have the Iron Throne. Drogo
says he will cross the sea with his army to ensure that it
happens.

CHAPTER 55: CATELYN

Catelyn arrives at Moat Cailin with Brynden. She’s pleased to Catelyn’s discussion of the strategy of war resembles a chess match.
see the Stark banners as well as those of the Stark bannermen. Ned’s (failed) attempts to consolidate power in King’s Landing also
Moat Cailin isn’t at all what Brynden expected. It’s falling down resembled a chess match. The book’s portrayal of politics, power,
and seems almost unusable. Only three towers remain, and war as a game—as in the “game of thrones”—doesn’t mean that
although there were once close to twenty. Still, Catelyn says the stakes are low. Instead, the comparison between politics and a
that the fortress, which sits on a swath of land called the Neck, game makes it clear that there is a reward for winning—power. The
can be used to ward off large armies due to its strategic comparison also points to the necessity of using strategy when
position. Catelyn is happy to see Robb, though she says that he trying to win that game.
should have stayed in Winterfell. But she’s not going to send
him back—he needs the respect of his bannermen, both now
and in the future, and sending him home would undermine that.
Catelyn also says that she has sent Ser Rodrik back to
Winterfell to assist Maester Luwin.
Catelyn and Robb talk about military strategy. Robb shows Catelyn’s assessment that the Lannisters are holding Sansa hostage
Catelyn the letter he received from Sansa, and Catelyn says seems true in some senses and inaccurate in others. On the one
that it’s clear that it’s Cersei’s letter, not Sansa’s. She believes hand, it seems clear that Cersei has kidnapped Sansa and has no
the Lannisters are holding Sansa hostage. Robb and his army intention of letting Sansa go free. On the other hand, it’s not clear if
have to march forward and take the fight to the Lannisters Sansa knows that she is a hostage. Either way, Cersei continues to
because they are low on supplies and the Lannisters threaten use Sansa as a pawn as she attempts to ensure that Joffrey
to overtake the Riverlands one castle at a time. Catelyn asks maintains his place on the throne.
Robb what he plans to do. Robb lays out the strategies various
bannermen have proposed, but Catelyn pushes Robb to take
charge.
Catelyn asks again what Robb is going to do. Tywin commands Robb again demonstrates his idea that he should be willing to do
one of the Lannister factions, while Jaime commands the other. anything that he would ask the men he leads to do, even if it’s
Robb develops a plan to split the Lannister army in two using a dangerous. That reinforces his (and Ned’s) ideas of honor, integrity,
river. To do that, he’ll send a main force to meet Tywin’s faction and personal responsibility, qualities that the novel suggests make
and a smaller group of riders to meet Jaime’s army. Robb will one a good leader.
join the riders, which is the more dangerous option. That’s
exactly what Ned would have done, Catelyn thinks.
CHAPTER 56: TYRION

Tyrion travels with about 300 people from various mountain If the Stark family is largely defined by their commitment to honor
clans. He’s not sure whether he’s their captive or commander. and integrity, the Lannisters display a propensity for ingenuity.
Often, it feels like a little bit of both. On a mountain ridge, they Tyrion used his cunning first to escape from Catelyn and Lysa and
spy an army of about 20,000 men holding banners adorned then to traverse miles of dangerous terrain, amassing a small
with lions. It’s a Lannister battalion. Tyrion says that as soon as battalion of his own in the process. The novel suggests that honor
they find his father, everything he promised the mountain clans and integrity are required to be a good leader, while ingenuity is
will be theirs. He goes on horseback with Bronn and three required to get ahead in politics and achieve power. With that in
representatives from different mountain clans to try and find mind, the novel ultimately suggests that the most successful leaders
his father, Tywin. Everyone Tyrion meets is surprised to see are those who possess both integrity and ingenuity.
him. They have heard he was either Catelyn’s captive or that he
had died. When Tyrion finds Tywin at a nearby inn, Tywin tells
Tyrion everything that has happened since Tyrion’s arrest,
including Robert’s death, Ned’s imprisonment, and the
mobilization of the Stark army

Tyrion tells Tywin that he has debts to settle. He needs Tywin displays the same kind of ingenuity as Tyrion. When
weapons and armor, along with wagons to carry it all, for 3,000 approaching a potential confrontation with the representatives
people of the mountain clans so they can stage a war in the from the mountain clans, Tywin uses his cunning (and the promise
Vale. Just then, the representatives from the mountain clans, of money) to enlist the mountain clans in his fight against the
Ulf and Shagga, barge into the room with Bronn. Tywin then Starks. The fact that both Tywin and Tyrion promise money to get
receives a message that the Stark army is moving from Cailin’s what they want shows why they use the phrase, “A Lannister always
Moat. Tywin tells Ulf and Shagga that if they and their men join pays his debts.” That phrase also suggests a kind of integrity—never
his army, they’ll get everything Tyrion promised them and stealing from another person—though that version of integrity
more—that is, unless they’re afraid of the Starks, Tywin says. differs from the more all-encompassing kind of integrity practiced
Ulf and Shagga say they and their forces will join the Lannister by Ned.
army, and Tyrion’s life will belong to them until the Lannister
promises are fulfilled.
CHAPTER 57: SANSA

Sansa is allowed to move freely around the Red Keep, but the Sansa seems to be becoming increasingly aware that she is, in fact, a
Lannisters won’t let her step foot outside the castle walls. In hostage, as she’s not allowed to set foot aside the Red Keep. The
the castle, Sansa searches for friendly faces, but no one meets failure of others to meet her eyes seems to suggest that they
her eyes. Joffrey also adjudicates the king’s justice for the first recognize the wrongs they have done to put Joffrey and Cersei in
time and asks that Sansa be present. Joffrey reads out a list of power by arresting Ned. However, even though they know what
names of people who must pledge fealty to him as king or else they’ve done is wrong, they do not take any steps to change it or to
they will have their titles and land stripped from them. Stannis help Sansa.
and Renly Baratheon’s names are on that list, as are those of
Catelyn, Robb, Bran, Rickon, and Arya.
Joffrey appoints Jaime to the position of Commander of the Joffrey reveals his despotic tendencies as he responds to opposition
Kingsguard and the Hound to the ranks of the Kingsguard. The from Barristan by imprisoning him. When Sansa assures Joffrey that
former Commander of the Kingsguard, Ser Barristan, is furious. Ned will confess to his crimes, it’s not entirely clear if she now
The Kingsguard oath is meant to be for life, and now he has believes Ned committed those crimes or if she has adopted a
been stripped of his role. He voices his complaints, and Joffrey pragmatic attitude to try and secure her father’s safety. Either way,
tells his men to detain Barristan. Joffrey also names Tywin with Joffrey on the throne and exhibiting a propensity for
Lannister the Hand of the King. Joffrey then asks if anyone else authoritarianism, it seems that Sansa doesn’t have much choice at
has business before the king. Sansa timidly speaks up. She this point other than to try and appease Joffrey in order to ensure
knows Joffrey loves her, so she’s sure he'll listen to her. She Ned’s safety.
pleads for Joffrey to have mercy on her father (Ned), who
stands charged with treason. Joffrey says that he’ll have mercy
as long as Ned confesses to his crimes. Sansa assures Joffrey
that Ned will confess.
CHAPTER 58: EDDARD

Ned is locked in a dark cell. He can’t tell day from night and Ned considers himself a fool. He relied solely on honor and integrity
quickly loses track of time. He curses the people who betrayed to navigate a situation that called for cunning and ingenuity. His
him, but more than that, he curses himself. He was a fool, he overreliance on honor cost his men their lives. Immediately
thinks, and his men paid for his foolishness with their lives. Ned following those reflections, Varys arrives in disguise, another sign
has no clue how long he’s been a prisoner, but once a day, a that subterfuge is the lingua franca of King’s Landing, a fact Ned
guard brings him water. One day, the guard isn’t the usual seems to have learned too late.
person. Instead, it’s Varys, disguised as a prison guard. He
brings Ned wine and food.

Varys tells Ned what has happened since he’s been imprisoned. Even after Ned realizes how his attachment to his honor led to his
He says that Cersei is more concerned with Robert’s brothers, imprisonment and the death of his men, he still clings to it when
Stannis and Renly, than with the threat that Robb and the Stark talking to Varys. When Varys offers Ned a choice between life
army might pose, especially considering how young Robb is. without honor or death with honor, Ned chooses death. When Varys
Varys also tells Ned that Sansa pleaded for Ned’s life before reminds Ned that Cersei would likely kill Sansa if Ned defied her,
King Joffrey. Varys encourages Ned to do as Cersei wants. Ned Ned relents and considers “confessing” to crimes he did not commit
should repent for his crimes, say that Stannis and Renly have no and ceding power to the Lannisters. Ned’s surrender of his honor is
right to the throne, and declare Joffrey the true king. If Ned a surefire sign that Cersei and the Lannisters have won the “game of
does that, Varys says, then Cersei may spare his life and let him thrones,” and Ned has lost.
serve out his remaining days in the Night’s Watch. Ned says his
word is more important to him than his life. Varys then says
that Cersei also holds Sansa’s life in the balance and asks Ned
how important Sansa’s life is.
CHAPTER 59: CATELYN

Catelyn and Robb discuss their strategy for facing the The novel continues to document the moving pieces of the chess-
Lannister army. A faction belonging to Catelyn’s brother, like competition for power between the Lannisters and Starks. In
Edmure, has been defeated, and Edmure has been captured. this case, the Lannister army has captured Catelyn’s brother, giving
Robb thinks their only hope lies in crossing the river. To cross, them a strategic advantage with three high-value hostages in
though, they’ll need to use the bridge by the Twins, a set of two Edmure, Sansa, and Ned. The Starks, then, must find a way to
identical castles belonging to Lord Walder Frey that sit on counter, which leads them to Walder Frey. The novel shows how the
either side of the river. Walder, though, is notoriously difficult strategy that goes into fighting the war doesn’t just employ military
to pin down. Though he has sworn allegiance to Catelyn’s tactics but also involves interpersonal diplomacy, which Starks must
father, he has also pulled all of his troops into his castle. Catelyn now put into practice with Walder Frey.
thinks he may be planning to switch sides and join the
Lannisters. Robb doesn’t see any way to defeat the Lannisters
without crossing the river. He marches with the army to the
Twins, intent on convincing Walder Frey to let them cross.
Catelyn volunteers to negotiate with Walder Frey. She has Catelyn’s interaction with Walder Frey emphasizes the importance
known him since she was a child and says that he won’t let any of relationships and interpersonal skills in military diplomacy, as
harm come to her. Privately, she thinks that he might do Catelyn is ultimately successful in part because she’s persuasive,
anything, including taking her hostage, if it would profit him. and in part because she has a longstanding relationship with
Inside, Catelyn talks with Walder. He is a grumpy 90-year-old Walder Frey. By putting herself in a position where Walder Frey
man. He says that the Stark army won’t be able to cross the could take her prisoner, Catelyn also shows Robb and Ned’s
river without his permission and asks why he should let them tendency to put herself into difficult and dangerous positions,
cross. Ultimately, Catelyn negotiates a trade. Two of Walder’s displaying the same kind of leadership qualities as Robb and Ned.
sons will go to Winterfell as wards and another will become However, the novel underlines that because Catelyn is a woman,
Robb’s squire. Additionally, Arya will marry one of Walder’s she won’t have the same opportunities as Robb and Ned to assume
other sons, and Robb will marry one of his daughters when the positions of power due to the patriarchal society in which she lives.
fighting has died down. When Catelyn reports the negotiations
to Robb, Robb agrees to go forward with the plan without
thinking twice.

CHAPTER 60: JON

Commander Mormont talks to Jon following Jon’s encounter The Night’s Watch becomes more and more like a family for Jon, as
with the undead figure, which they call a wight. Mormont Commander Mormont gives him a family heirloom sword. Still, even
commends Jon for his courage and quick thinking. Thanks to as Jon becomes more firmly rooted in that new family structure, he
him, the wight was defeated. To honor Jon, Mormont gives him feels pulled to defend the family he grew up with. That reinforces the
a sword made of Valyrian steel. He says that the sword has novel’s theme of the tension between love and duty, as Jon has a
been in his family for centuries. He gave it to his son Jorah, but duty to uphold his vows to the Night’s Watch, while love for his
Jorah disgraced the family. Thankfully, Jorah left the sword family compels him to abandon those vows and fight alongside the
behind when he fled. Jon recognizes the honor of receiving a Starks.
sword that is a family heirloom. But he has other things on his
mind that are troubling him. He thinks that he should be
marching alongside Robb in the war against the Lannisters.
Sam tells Jon that Maester Aemon wants to see him. When Jon In this conversation with Jon, Maester Aemon makes the tension
goes to see Aemon, Aemon tells him that members of the between love and honor explicit. Jon’s internal hesitation about
Night’s Watch cannot have families because love is the “bane of accepting Maester Aemon’s framework and sweeping distinction
honor” and the “death of duty.” Jon isn’t sure if he agrees. between the two is telling. Jon’s reluctance to accept that
Aemon also says there comes a day for every person when he distinction implicitly poses the question of whether love and duty
must choose love or honor. Aemon says he knows what that can go hand in hand. Jon seems to suggest that perhaps there is a
choice is like and reveals to Jon that, before he took the vow, he way that love can be used to bolster honor and can operate
was Aemon Targaryen. He has seen his relatives hunted down alongside duty, rather than insisting that the two are intrinsically
and killed. He says that Jon must make a choice now, too. Will opposed.
he choose love or honor? Will he commit to his vows to the
Night’s Watch, or will he leave to fight with the Starks?

Khal Drogo has defeated the army of another khal. He found Daenerys upends the patriarchal power structures of the Dothraki
that army attacking a town of shepherds and struck down the people when she forces Dothraki men to stop raping women from
khal before killing the khal’s son. After the battle, Daenerys asks the town of shepherds. Daenerys’s willingness to challenge
Jorah if Khal Drogo is okay. Jorah says he only sustained a few longstanding patriarchal power structures and her ability to disrupt
minor wounds. In the wake of the battle, Khal Drogo’s soldiers those power structures provide more evidence of her innate
rape women from the town of the shepherds. Daenerys is leadership capacity. Notably, this passage also shows how
horrified. She orders the men to stop and tells the men she is patriarchal power structures are based on gender-based violence
with to enforce her orders. They say that this is the way things directed at women and girls.
have always been done. Daenerys orders them to put a stop to
it again, and they follow her orders. Daenerys then enslaves the
women who were raped. Daenerys goes to see Khal Drogo. His
wounds are worse than Jorah described, and he has an arrow in
his side.

One of the women whom Dany just enslaved, Mirri Maz Duur, Daenerys’s decision to trust Mirri presents another opportunity to
says that the arrow needs to be removed. She says that she examine the novel’s ideas about trust, benevolence, and honor. In
worked as a healer in her town and learned how to heal from a Ned’s case, an overreliance on honor as a guiding principle and his
Maester from the seven kingdoms. Khal Drogo’s men say Mirri choice to trust Littlefinger proved to be Ned’s downfall. Daenerys
is a maegi, a practitioner of a dark kind of magic. Dany thinks believes that Mirri will reciprocate what Daenerys views as her
she can trust Mirri because she just saved her from being honorable intervention to protect Mirri. The novel then implicitly
raped. The woman pulls out the arrow. She then treats Khal asks whether Drogo’s men are right to be suspicious of Mirri or
Drogo’s wound before dressing it. She says it will take about 10 whether Daenerys is right to trust her.
days to heal. Khal Drogo’s men warn her that if anything
happens to Drogo, she’ll pay with her life. The woman says that
she is also skilled in helping women give birth, and Dany asks
her to help her when her son is born.
CHAPTER 62: TYRION

Tyrion eats dinner with Tywin and Tywin’s closest confidants. Tywin displays his tendency to reject and diminish Tyrion. Even
Tywin proposes that Tyrion and his band of mountain clans though Tyrion succeeded in bringing the mountain clans to the
serve on the front lines of the upcoming battle with the Stark Lannister army and led those mountain clans on a long and
army. The Stark army is about a day away. Tyrion isn’t happy potentially perilous journey, now that Tywin is in charge, he
about being on the front lines, but he reluctantly agrees to immediately relegates Tyrion to a secondary role and elevates
command the troop to save face. Tywin says that Tyrion will Gregor in his place. Gregor’s gargantuan size accentuates the fact
stay with the mountain clans, but Gregor Clegane will that Tywin’s rejection of Tyrion is based on his smaller stature.
command them. Tyrion returns to his tent angry. Bronn has
found a sex worker for him named Shae. Tyrion explains to Shae
that he wants her to stay with him for as long as he chooses—it
could be a day or a year—and to be his companion in addition to
having sex with him.
Tyrion wakes in the middle of the night to battle horns. The The Starks attempt to gain an advantage by surprising the
Stark army marched through the night, taking the Lannister Lannisters but still lose the battle. For his part, Tyrion shows that,
army by surprise. The Stark army will be upon them in about an along with his other skills, he is a formidable fighter despite his
hour. Tyrion clumsily gets on his armor and stumbles out of his father’s repeated dismissal of his worth. The death of people from
tent. During the battle, Tyrion and the mountain clans fight the mountain clans also shows the high stakes of the conflict
strongly. Tyrion faces several enemy soldiers himself in close between the Lannisters and Starks, as it leaves hundreds (and,
combat. By the end of the fight, about half of the 300 people ultimately, thousands) of people dead who were not at all involved
from mountain clans are dead, but the Lannisters have won the in the initial conflict.
battle.
Tyrion talks with Tywin after the battle and asks if he and the The news that Robb is taking a battalion south to Riverrun suggests
mountain clans ruined Tywin’s plans. He suspects that Tywin that Tywin’s victory in battle may have been a tactical, planned
hoped the Stark army would slaughter them all. Tywin says a defeat on the part of the Starks. That idea reinforces the importance
win is a win. Tyrion was wounded in the battle, and he asks to of strategy and ingenuity when playing the “game of thrones,” as a
see a Maester. Tywin’s army also captured several commanders reliance on honor alone is unlikely to deliver victory, whereas
of the Stark army during the battle, but Robb wasn’t among ingenuity can provide strategic advantages.
them. Instead, Tywin’s men say, there are reports that Robb is
riding south with a battalion toward Riverrun.

CHAPTER 63: CATELYN

Robb rides into battle against Jaime’s forces. Catelyn stays Catelyn’s thoughts about waiting for her husband, father, and now
back, guarded by 30 men, who are charged with protecting her son to return from battle evinces a kind of weary despair on her part
and will escort her safely back to Winterfell if Robb and his with regard to war. That weariness displays the human and
forces lose the battle. She thinks about the countless times she emotional toll of the constant political fighting that seems to define
has waited for her father, fiancé, and husband to return from much of life in Westeros.
battle. Now, she waits for her son. Catelyn cannot see the
battle from where she stays. For the most part, she can only
hear it, though at one point she glimpses Jaime on horseback.
Eventually, Robb returns. He is covered in blood, but he says Robb achieves a major victory by capturing Jaime. That victory
that it’s not his blood and that he is uninjured. Despite being suggests that in addition to learning leadership skills from Ned,
outnumbered three to one, Robb’s troops have managed to win Robb has also augmented those skills through a deft touch with
the battle and take over a hundred knights as prisoners, political and military strategy. Now, while the Lannisters hold
including Jaime Lannister. Theon says that they should kill Edmure, Sansa, and Ned hostage, the Starks hold Jaime hostage.
Jaime on the spot, but Robb says Jaime is worth more alive This makes the current contest a little more even.
than dead. Much of the Lannister army still pushes on, and
Robb says that they’ll have to attend to Tywin and defend
against the Lannister army’s campaigns in the Riverlands
before the war is anywhere near over.

Daenerys and Khal Drogo ride with Khal Drogo’s khalasar, the This passage examines Daenerys’s fraught relationship to power
nomadic group of Dothraki people that he leads. Six days ago, within Dothraki culture. She has power by virtue of her husband,
Drogo tore off the wound dressing that Mirri made for him. It but, because Dothraki culture is rigidly patriarchal, Daenerys has no
itched too much and began to burn. His own healers replaced power without Khal Drogo. That kind of power by proxy—power
that dressing with a poultice of mud. When Dany touches granted to her through relationships but not by virtue of her own
Drogo, his skin is hot against her hand. He falls from his horse. standing or skill—is reflected in the attitudes of the men who are
Dany tells the riders nearby that they will stop for the night. reluctant to listen to her commands. Ultimately, they do what she
Those riders say they won’t take orders from Dany. And Dany says, but if Drogo stops being their leader (as Daenerys fears), then
knows what’s at stake. A Dothraki man who can’t ride a horse is those men will immediately stop following Daenerys’s orders.
considered unfit to serve in power. She worries that when word
gets out that Khal Drogo fell, he’ll no longer be the Khal,
meaning she won’t be the Khaleesi. Dany again commands the
men to stop, and they reluctantly follow her orders.
Dany orders those men to set up a tent for Khal Drogo and to This passage shows that the Dothraki people play a version of the
bring Mirri. Again, they are reluctant to follow Dany’s orders. “game of thrones” similar to the one played in Westeros. If Drogo
They call Mirri a maegi (a practitioner of dark magic), but they dies, then Daenerys will face threats to her life and her son’s life
eventually do as Dany says. Ser Jorah comes into the tent and from the Dothraki people. Those are the same kinds of threats that
examines Drogo’s wound. He scrapes the mud off, and it’s clear Robert has ordered to ensure that Daenerys’s child doesn’t pose a
that the wound is infected. He says that Drogo will die soon threat to his and his family’s power in Westeros. Since Drogo is on
and that they have to flee. If they don’t run, and Drogo dies, the brink of death, those potential threats put Daenerys in a
then whoever seizes power will kill Dany’s son as soon as he is position where she must find her own way to play the “game of
born to ensure he doesn’t pose a threat down the line. Dany thrones” to ensure that Drogo remains in power.
says she won’t leave Drogo. When Mirri comes, she confirms
what Jorah said. She says that Khal Drogo won’t make it
through the night.

Dany asks if there is anything to do to save Khal Drogo’s life, Daenerys doesn’t know Mirri especially well but entrusts her with
and Mirri says there is one spell that might work. Dany thinks one of the most important moments in her (Daenerys’s) life.
that Mirri must really be a maegi. Mirri says that they’ll have to Daenerys is again basing that trust on the assumption that Mirri
use blood for the spell to work and that the price for life is feels goodwill toward her because she intervened to stop Mirri from
death. Dany says to do the spell. Mirri has Drogo’s men find being raped. Daenerys seems desperate to save Drogo to ensure
Drogo’s horse and lower Drogo into a bath. They then slit the that she remains in power and that her son’s life is safe, but it also
horse’s throat so the blood flows into the bath. Mirri says that seems as though she has grown to care about Drogo, as well.
everyone but her must leave the tent, and no one can enter
while the spell is underway. Everyone leaves, and Mirri begins
to sing and dance in the tent.
Some of Khal Drogo’s men revolt. They say that the maegi Jorah shows that he is loyal to Daenerys to the point that he is
should never have been allowed near Drogo and that the dark willing to risk his life to protect her and ensure that her wishes are
magic is forbidden. As those men approach the tent, Jorah enacted. Daenerys’s objection to seeing Mirri suggests that her
fights them, killing one. Other people in the khalasar pack their opinion regarding Mirri has changed, perhaps because she relates
things and ride off. Dany is struck by a great pain in her womb. the pain she feels in her womb to Mirri and the spell she is
It feels like her unborn son is wielding knives inside her. One of performing to try and save Drogo’s life.
Dany’s servants, Doreah, says to bring Mirri, who has said that
she has experience helping with births. Dany tries to object, but
when she opens her mouth, she can only scream.
CHAPTER 65: ARYA

Arya has been living on the streets of King’s Landing since she The rumors Arya hears point to ideas about misinformation and
escaped the clutches of the Lannisters, but she has no money disinformation and how those phenomena impact politics. In this
to buy food. She kills pigeons and tries to trade them for what case, even though Ned is Arya’s father, she doesn’t know what to
she needs, but no one wants her pigeons. Most of the gates out believe. Many of the rumors vilify Ned. That suggests that the
of King’s Landing are shut, and the open ones are heavily Lannisters, in addition to holding the throne, also control the
patrolled by Lannister soldiers. She hears countless rumors mechanisms of information. Notably, one of the rumors contains
about how Robert died and the role Ned played in his death. much of the truth—that Robert died in a hunting accident—but
Some say Ned killed Robert to seize the throne himself, others given the swirl of conflicting information, it seems impossible for
that Robert died in a hunting accident. She’s not sure what’s someone without inside knowledge to know which rumors are true
true. She tries to think of ways to escape the city. On the shore, and which are false.
she finds out that the ship her father hired to transport her and
Sansa out of King’s Landing is still waiting, but the men
guarding the ship aren’t her father’s men.
After visiting the ship, Arya hears bells as she makes her way When the summoning bells ring, someone offhandedly refers to Ned
back to the heart of the city. Someone says that they’re as the traitor, signaling the way that the narrative around Ned has
summoning bells and that the traitor, the former Hand of the already begun to take hold in King’s Landing. In that narrative, Ned
King, Ned, is being brought to the center of the city to be is treasonous and the Lannisters are on the right side of history.
punished. Arya runs to try and see her father. In the center of
town, Cersei and King Joffrey watch over Ned. Sansa is with
them, and Arya wonders why she looks so happy.

In front of the crowd, Ned confesses to betraying Robert. He Ned had previously said that his honor was worth more to him than
says that he conspired to kill Joffrey and seize the throne for his life, but he now sacrifices his honor and integrity to try and save
himself. When he finishes speaking, Joffrey announces that Sansa’s life, showing that he values his children’s lives more than his
Sansa and Cersei have advised him to spare Ned’s life and own. Joffrey, though, contradicts what he told Sansa he would do by
banish him to the Night’s Watch. But, Joffrey says, Sansa and killing Ned instead of showing him mercy. Sansa’s sobs suggest that
Cersei have the “soft hearts of women.” He says he wants Ned’s she may have finally woken up to Joffrey’s cruelty and
head. Ilyn, the Lannister’s executioner, holds Ned’s own sword, duplicitousness. Notably, Joffrey says that both Sansa and Cersei
Ice. Sansa collapses, sobbing. Arya rushes through the crowd to have the “soft hearts of women,” which reflects his characteristic
try and reach Ned, but a man grabs hold of her. When she looks misogyny. His decision to contradict Cersei also shows the limits of
up, she sees that it’s Yoren, a member of the Night’s Watch who Cersei’s power in a patriarchal society.
knew Ned. Yoren tells Arya not to look and drags her by the
hair away from her father’s execution. When they reach a
house, Yoren keeps hold of Arya by the hair and takes out a
knife.
CHAPTER 66: BRAN

Bran has a dream that his father Ned is in the crypt. The next Both Bran and Rickon display a seeming ability to communicate
morning, he tells Maester Luwin about that dream. Luwin says with the spiritual realm through dreams. Bran’s dream of his father
it was nothing but a dream. Ned is a prisoner in King’s Landing in the crypt in particular builds upon the dream Bran had while in a
and won’t die anytime soon, he says, and offers to take Bran to coma, in which a three-eyed crow communicated with him. Those
the crypts to show him that Ned isn’t there. Luwin summons dreams together suggest that Bran may be in the process of
Osha to carry Bran since Hodor won’t step foot in the crypts. developing an extra-sensorial ability to use visions to communicate
When they are in the catacombs, Shaggydog, Rickon’s direwolf, across time and space. Notably, the direwolves often reflect the
attacks Luwin. Rickon stands on the stairs above them and tells personality of the people they belong to. In this case, Rickon’s
Luwin to stay away from his father. Rickon says that he also had direwolf is undisciplined and prone to lashing out.
a dream the night before where he saw Ned in the crypts.
Maester Luwin says that Shaggydog is wild and needs to be
chained. He has already attacked three different people in
Winterfell. Bran says the wolves don’t belong in chains.
The group then goes to the Maester’s tower. Bran asks This passage provides the history of Westeros going back more than
Maester Luwin to tell him about the children of the forest, and 12,000 years. That history explains some of the differences
Luwin explains the ancient history. The children of the forest between those in the north (including the Starks) and those in the
were small in stature even when they were adults. The First south. Namely, those in the north are descendants of the First Men
Men came 12,000 years ago and chopped down weirwoods to and worship the old gods, while those in the south are descendants
build forests, which angered the children of the forest. of the Andals and worship the “Faith of the Seven.” Maester Luwin
Eventually, the First Men and the children of the forest signed a was skeptical of Rickon and Bran’s assertion that they saw Ned die
treaty, which lasted for 4,000 years. Then the Andals came. in their dreams, but the raven’s message proves that Rickon and
They worshipped the new gods, and drove the First Men away, Bran were correct and Maester Luwin was wrong. Luwin’s mistake
except for in the North, where the First Men were able to hold opens up the question of what else might he be wrong about. In
the Andals off. The children of the forest fled even farther particular, Luwin has frequently said that stories of the Others are
north. Osha says they still exist beyond the Wall. A raven then just that: stories. Now that Rickon and Bran know that Luwin is
flies in with a message. Maester Luwin tells them that Ned is in fallible, they may begin to doubt whether he is correct about the
fact dead. Others.

CHAPTER 67: SANSA

Sansa grows despondent after Ned’s execution. She stays in Notably, Joffrey uses violence to control Sansa, similar to the
bed in her room. At one point, she considers throwing herself violence that Viserys and Robert used to control Daenerys and
out the window. One day, she hears footsteps making their way Cersei, respectively. That pattern of gender-based violence utilized
up the stairs. She’s sure it’s Ilyn, armed with her father’s sword, against women and girls by men in positions of power again shows
who has come to kill her. Instead, it’s Joffrey. He says that he that, contrary to what many characters in the novel contend, men
wants Sansa to be present with him in court. Sansa argues with are not more suited to power than women. Instead, the novel argues
him. She says she did everything that was asked of her and asks that patriarchal power is based on morally indefensible misogyny
why Joffrey didn’t show her father mercy. Joffrey tells Sansa and gender-based violence directed against women.
not to argue with him. He says his mother told him it’s wrong
for a man to hit his wife, so he commands a knight to hit Sansa.
Joffrey says he showed Ned mercy by giving him a clean death
instead of torturing him. Sansa tells Joffrey that she hates him.
In court, Sansa watches Joffrey hand out cruel sentence after Sansa’s loss of faith in Joffrey represents a pivotal moment in her
cruel sentence. She recalls the songs of heroes she once coming-of-age story. While she previously displayed a romantic view
believed in and thinks that there are no heroes. In real life, she of the world in which people like Joffrey seemed like heroes to her
thinks, the monsters win. Joffrey then takes Sansa to the based on little more than their appearance, she must now develop a
parapets of the Red Keep. He says he wants to show her what new understanding of the world to replace that old one. In a sense,
happens to traitors. Sansa doesn’t want to go but knows that Sansa’s previous outlook on life is not entirely unlike Ned’s, as both
Joffrey will find a way to force her to go if she tries to resist. At naively believed certain people to be trustworthy who were in fact
the parapets, Joffrey shows Sansa Ned’s head affixed to a spike. anything but.
He also shows her the head of Septa Mordane. He says that
he’s reserving spots for Stannis, Renly, and Robb.

Daenerys falls in and out of sleep. She dreams of Khal Drogo, Before Daenerys asks about what happened to her baby, she asks to
Rhaegar, and Viserys. When she awakens intermittently, she hold her dragon eggs, showing that she feels deeply and intimately
asks to hold the dragons’ eggs. After days of falling in and out of connected to those eggs and to what was once inside them. Viserys
sleep, she awakens again and asks what happened to her baby. often claimed that he was a dragon. The “monstrous” baby that
Jorah says that Khal Drogo lived, but the baby did not. Mirri Mirri describes seems to resemble a dragon, suggesting that
says that when she took the baby out, it resembled a monster. something in Daenerys is closely related to dragons (a symbol of the
It had wings like a bat and was covered in scales that fell off Targaryen family) in the way that Viserys claimed to be. Mirri also
when touched. Dany says that the baby was strong when Jorah explains to Daenerys that she paid for Drogo’s life with the life of her
brought her to the tent. Mirri says death was in the tent. Dany unborn child, something that Daenerys says she didn’t agree to.
says she thought that the horse was the life that had to be paid
for Drogo to live. She hadn’t known it would be her son’s life.
Mirri says Dany told herself what she wanted to hear but knew
the truth all along.
Dany says she wants to see Khal Drogo. When Dany leaves the As Jorah and Daenerys predicted, once Khal Drogo lost the ability
tent, she sees that Drogo’s khalasar has left. The only people to lead, his khalasar deserted him. While Mirri promised to save
who remain are those who are sick and those who swore an Drogo’s life, she didn’t explain what that life would look like. When
oath to serve Drogo. The rest have left to look for other Daenerys examines Drogo, she finds that he is alive but in a
khalasars or to form khalasars of their own. Dany then sees Khal catatonic state, which is not at all what Daenerys expected.
Drogo lying on the ground. He is covered in flies but doesn’t
seem to notice. His eyes follow the motion of the sun, but he
can’t see. He cannot speak either and only eats when food is
held to his lips.

Dany tells Mirri that Mirri cheated her and murdered her child Daenerys realizes that she was wrong to trust Mirri. That realization
after she saved Mirri’s life. Mirri says that Khal Drogo and his is similar to Ned’s realization that he was wrong to trust Littlefinger.
men burned down her god’s house and her home. They killed Mirri’s explanation for why she betrayed Daenerys also points to the
the people closest to her, and she was repeatedly raped. By novel’s theme that people fashion narratives based on their own
killing the “stallion who mounts the world,” Mirri says, she perspectives. In this case, Daenerys envisioned herself as something
ensured that Dany’s child wouldn’t grow up to burn and pillage of a hero for stopping Dothraki men from raping the shepherd
other towns. Dany orders the men who remain to bind Mirri. women. From Mirri’s perspective, though, Daenerys’s intervention
She then goes into a tent alone with Drogo. She does was too little, too late, and sabotaging Drogo and his khalasar
everything she can think of to try and elicit a response from made the world a better place and made innocent people safer.
him, but he does nothing. She holds a pillow over his face to
suffocate him.
CHAPTER 69: TYRION

A messenger arrives to tell Tywin that Jaime has been captured Tywin reveals that it’s not just the Starks and people like Sansa,
by the Stark army. Tywin and his men discuss how that could Barristan, and the Lannisters’ enemies who think Joffrey is out of
have happened and what they should do now. If Ned were still control. Instead, even Joffrey’s own family thinks his despotic
alive, they could possibly trade him for Jaime. But, Tywin says, tendencies on the throne are callous and foolish. Killing Ned in
Joffrey has proceeded foolishly. He jumps from one folly to the particular puts the Lannisters at a strategic disadvantage, showing
next and has no clue what he’s doing. Now that he’s killed Ned, that Joffrey does not act with the kind of ingenuity and cunning that
Tyrion says, there’s no way for them to petition for peace with is a hallmark of the Lannisters.
Robb and the Starks because the Starks will want revenge.
Varys has been sending messages to Tywin about Renly. Tywin’s decision to promote Tyrion to the role of Hand of the King
According to Varys, Renly has married Margaery Tyrell and is shows that perhaps he is beginning to recognize Tyrion’s worth after
forming an army of his own. Varys hasn’t heard anything about years of diminishing Tyrion’s value and rejecting him as a person. In
Stannis, even though Stannis is older and therefore has more of response, Tyrion displays his trademark individuality by deciding to
a claim to the throne than Renly. Tywin sends his men away and bring Shae with him to King’s Landing against his father’s wishes.
says he wants to speak to his brother Kevan and Tyrion alone. With that in mind, this passage reinforces the characterization of
Tyrion is shocked that his father has asked him to be privy to Tyrion as someone who doesn’t fit neatly into the pre-established
momentous military decisions. Tywin explains that he plans to hierarchies and expectations of Westeros but has instead found a
go to Harrenhal to face Robb’s army. When Kevan leaves to way to become self-empowered outside the constraints of these
issue the orders, Tywin tells Tyrion that he’s sending him to established hierarchies.
King’s Landing to be the Hand of the King and to try and reign
in Joffrey. Tywin tells him not to bring Shae, but Tyrion plans to
bring her anyway.
CHAPTER 70: JON

Jon mounts a horse to ride out of Castle Black and join his After Aemon lectures Jon about how love is the bane of duty, Jon
brother Robb in battle. Sam stands before him, pleading with chooses love for the Stark family over his duty to the Night’s Watch,
him not to go. Jon doesn’t listen and runs his horse straight at even though he knows that choosing love will lead him down a
Sam. Sam jumps out of the way at the last moment. On the treacherous path. Once Jon takes that path, he knows he’ll never be
road, Jon thinks that he has a few hours before Commander able to turn back. The novel has also prepared the reader to
Mormont wakes up to put some distance between himself and understand the gravity of the situation by showing Gared’s
Castle Black. Once word gets out that he’s deserted the Night’s execution at the beginning of the novel, a sentence he received for
Watch, his life will be forfeit, and it will be that way for as long deserting the Night’s Watch.
as he lives. He’ll be an outsider for the rest of his days.

Jon has been riding as fast as he can, and his horse has grown The fact that Jon’s friends come to find him on the road (as opposed
tired. He dismounts to give his horse a break. Ghost goes off in to a figure of authority, either from the Night’s Watch or elsewhere)
the woods, and Jon can’t seem to get him to come back. Just points to Jon’s previous skepticism about the idea that love and
then, Jon hears riders approaching and leads his horse into the duty are inherently opposed. At this point, Jon’s friends, people who
woods to hide. As the riders get closer, he hears them talking he ostensibly loves and who love him, remind Jon of his duty by
and realizes it’s his friends from the Night’s Watch. Sam must reciting the words of the Night’s Watch vow to him. By confronting
not have alerted Commander Mormont that he left, Jon thinks. Jon in that way, they show that love and duty can be aligned.
Instead, Sam told his friends that he had gone. Jon’s friends
hear a sound in the woods and rush toward it. There are seven
of them, and they quickly surround Jon. They tell Jon that he
has to go back to Castle Black, and they recite the words of the
vow that Jon spoke when he joined the Night’s Watch.
Jon feels like he has no choice. He’s outnumbered, and he can’t Commander Mormont’s statements make it clear how important it
see a way to escape from his friends. He rides with them back was that Jon’s friends found him instead of someone else. This
to Castle Black. Sam is waiting for them in the stable. In the scene also demonstrates how sometimes, love and duty can align to
morning, Jon talks with Commander Mormont. Mormont told produce a positive outcome: if those intent only on enforcing Jon’s
him they had been expecting Jon to leave after they heard that duty had found him, Jon most likely would have been executed.
Ned was killed. They had people watching him. If his friends
hadn’t brought him back, then other, less friendly forces, would
have ensured that he came back to face his fate.
Commander Mormont tells Jon he needs an answer about Jon decides to stay after he hears that he’ll be part of an expedition
whether Jon will try and run again, especially because beyond the Wall. In Jon’s mind, that expedition could allow him to
Mormont is planning to lead a group of men past the Wall. achieve the same kind of glory and renown that Robb is currently
Mormont says he plans to find Ben Stark, whether he’s dead or finding leading the Stark army. In other words, Jon decides to stay in
alive, and to investigate what Mance Rayder is doing. Jon gets the Night’s Watch once he sees how life in the Night’s Watch can
excited when he hears that he’ll be going past the Wall. He asks give him the kind of recognition that he was deprived of in the Stark
his father and his siblings to forgive him and tells Mormont that family.
he’s committed to the Night’s Watch and won’t leave again.
CHAPTER 71: CATELYN

Catelyn and Robb are on a ship destined for Riverrun. When Hoster seems to have kept the fact that he is on his deathbed a
they arrive, Catelyn goes to see her father, Hoster Tully, who is secret to ensure that the Lannister army wouldn’t know of any
in much worse shape than she expected. He seems to be on his vulnerabilities in the Tully armies. That decision reinforces the
deathbed. For a moment, Catelyn despairs. She thinks that the importance of strategy and tactical decision making when playing
war and all that followed is her fault because she seized Tyrion. the “game of thrones” and trying to gain and maintain power.
Catelyn tells her father that Robb secured the capture of Jaime
Lannister and that Hoster’s brother, Brynden, played a pivotal
role in the battle as well.

Catelyn then goes to find Robb, who is praying in the godswood The proposed strategy of letting the Lannister army fight with
with several other men from the north who worship the old Renly’s army before declaring allegiance to whoever comes out on
gods. After praying, Robb and the representatives of his army top resembles the strategy that Ned accused the Lannisters of using
convene to discuss what they should do next. Robb says that when Robert became king. In that case, Ned held a grudge against
Renly has claimed the right to the throne over his brother the Lannisters because they withheld support for Robert until they
Stannis. No one is exactly sure what role Stannis will play. knew he would be victorious. The difference in the Stark army’s
During the strategy meeting, some advocate for attacking the reaction to that strategy and the Lannisters’ willingness to utilize it
Lannister army as soon as possible while others suggest joining in the past further reinforces the differences between the two
forces with Renly’s armies. Someone else suggests letting the families by showing how the Starks seem to prioritize honor and
Lannister army and Renly’s army fight before bending the knee integrity while the Lannisters prioritize ingenuity.
and pledging fealty to the victor. Everyone else calls the person
who suggested that a coward.
Catelyn advocates for peace. She says they joined the fight to Catelyn makes a passionate plea for peace. While people listen
defend the Riverlands and release Ned from Lannister custody. respectfully and intently, they also quickly move past her ideas,
Now that they’ve defended the Riverlands and there’s no reflecting again the limited power that women hold within
chance of saving Ned, peace could be their best option. She Westeros’s rigidly patriarchal society. In contrast, if Robb had called
wants to see her children grow older in safety. For a moment, it for peace, it’s more than likely that those who followed him into
seems that others might agree, but then someone asks if they battle would have heeded what he said. Notably, while people
side with Joffrey, would that make them traitors to Renly? initially believed Robb to be too young to lead, they now declare
Then, Greatjon speaks up. He says that the people in the North them their one and only true king. It’s also notable that their
initially joined the seven kingdoms because of dragons. There decision to split off from the other six kingdoms of Westeros is based
are no more dragons, he says, so what’s stopping them from on the absence of dragons.
splitting off? He says there is only one king who he recognizes
as true. He points his sword at Robb and says, “The King in the
North!” The rest of the people erupt in chants of “the King in
the North.”

Dany builds a pyre for Khal Drogo and places his most prized After Drogo dies, Daenerys assumes authority over the limited
possessions on it. But she holds back the weapons that were number of people left in Drogo’s khalasar. Daenerys immediately
given to her as wedding gifts. Jorah is hesitant. He’s afraid that shows how she will be a different kind of leader than Drogo by
Dany will sacrifice herself on the pyre alongside her fallen setting free people previously enslaved under Drogo. This suggests
husband, but Dany assures him that she’s not planning to do that Daenerys may be a benevolent leader who is guided by
that. There are about 100 people left of the 40,000 who were morality and is willing to question previously held customs that
once in Drogo’s khalasar. Dany addresses those 100 people and don’t align with her sense of right and wrong.
says that they are her khalasar now. She says that she sees
enslaved people among them, and she frees those people. She
says they are welcome to leave or stay as they see fit.
Dany goes to three men, Aggo, Jhogo, and Rakharo, and asks Aggo, Jhogo, and Rakharo’s rejection of Daenerys’s proposal for
them to be her bloodriders (people who swear to live and die them to become her bloodriders reinforces the ingrained misogyny
with the person they protect). Dany gives them a gift of a and sexism that is present in both Dothraki culture and in Westeros.
weapon that she received for her wedding. Each man refuses, That misogyny and sexism hold that women are not equipped for
saying that they cannot swear that kind of oath to a woman. leadership. Similar to her decision to free enslaved people, Daenerys
Jorah addresses Dany as “princess,” and Dany asks him why he now establishes herself in opposition to the patriarchal systems of
calls her that. She tells Jorah that Viserys was the rightful king, power that define Dothraki culture and Westeros.
and she is his heir, which makes the throne rightfully hers.

Jorah hesitates for a moment before addressing Daenerys as Jorah’s hesitation reflects the misogyny present in a patriarchal
his Queen. Dany asks Jorah to be the first member of her society. Though Jorah ultimately pledges fealty to Daenerys, his
Queensguard, and Jorah accepts. When the pyre is ready, Dany initial hesitation shows the obstacles that Daenerys will have to
commands those near her to put Mirri on the pyre. Dany thinks overcome as she becomes a leader. Namely, she’ll not only have to
of what Mirri told her: the price of life is death. Dany throws oil convince people that she is worth following, but she’ll also have to
onto the pyre and onto Mirri. She then thanks Mirri for convince people that women are just as suited to leadership as men.
teaching her a valuable lesson. Dany places the dragons’ eggs Daenerys also enacts her revenge on Mirri, showing that while she
on Khal Drogo’s funeral pyre and lights it. She watches and (Daenerys) may be benevolent in some ways, she is also willing to
listens to Mirri’s screams. use force and violence to get what she wants.
Dany doesn’t step away even as the flames grow and come The novel suggests that Daenerys uses Mirri’s life to perform the
closer to her. She then steps into the flames and hears Jorah same kind of spell that Mirri previously enacted. In this case,
calling out to her. In the flames, she sees a grey horse riding off. Daenerys trades Mirri’s death for the life of the three dragons. After
For a moment, she sees Khal Drogo riding the horse and Daenerys emerges from the fire unscathed, Aggo, Jhogo, and
smiling at her. Dany’s clothing catches on fire, and she shrugs it Rakharo say, “Blood of my blood,” meaning that they will become
off. She hears three cracks, one after the other. When the Daenerys’s bloodriders and will protect her with their lives. That
flames die down, Jorah drags Dany out of the pyre. She is change of heart is a sign that Daenerys can convince people to
covered in soot but unharmed. Three dragons cling to her body. follow her, even those who just moments before dismissed the
Jorah kneels. Aggo, Jhogo, and Rakharo each say, “Blood of my possibility of accepting her as a leader.
blood,” pledging their service to her. Dany knows the people
who saw what happened will be hers forever. The dragons stir,
and the music of dragons fills the night for the first time in
centuries.

To cite any of the quotes from A Game of Thrones covered in the

HOW T
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O CITE Quotes section of this LitChart:
To cite this LitChart: MLA
MLA Martin, George R. R.. A Game of Thrones. Bantam. 2011.
DeHaven, Ben. "A Game of Thrones." LitCharts. LitCharts LLC, 6 Sep CHICA
CHICAGO
GO MANU
MANUAL
AL
2024. Web. 6 Sep 2024.
Martin, George R. R.. A Game of Thrones. New York: Bantam.
CHICA
CHICAGO
GO MANU
MANUAL
AL 2011.
DeHaven, Ben. "A Game of Thrones." LitCharts LLC, September 6,
2024. Retrieved September 6, 2024. https://www.litcharts.com/
lit/a-game-of-thrones.

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A Game of Thrones takes place in an entirely fictional world with

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Chapter 1: Bran Quotes

Explanation and Analysis

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Chapter 4: Eddard Quotes

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Chapter 5: Jon Quotes

Chapter 13: Tyrion Quotes “I’m falling!”

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Explanation and Analysis

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Chapter 26: Jon Quotes

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The first time Bran ventures outside of Winterfell after he is

Related Characters: Ned Stark, Cersei Lannister (speaker),

Related Themes: Related Themes:

Page Number: 429

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Explanation and Analysis Explanation and Analysis

Chapter 49: Eddard Quotes

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Chapter 60: Jon Quotes

Related Themes: Page Number: 552

Related Symbols: Explanation and Analysis

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Chapter 68: Daenerys Quotes

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SUMMARY AND ANAL

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CHAPTER 10: JON

CHAPTER 11: DAENERYS

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CHAPTER 12: EDDARD

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