Ned Stark's Honor

In retrospect, I probably should have made this post my first. When I was beginning to think about how I would organize this blog, it occurred to me that going by chapter would be a bit difficult in that each chapter tends to jump around from one character to the next. Thus, I'll focus on individual characters and their individual journeys throughout the books entirety.

I suppose an alternative title for this post could have been "Like Father, Like Son", because today we discuss Eddard Stark's  (Ned), the father of Jon Snow,his five legitimate children, Lord of Winterfell and warden of the North. He rules over his subjects with a stern, but fair justice and is known to be a man of great honor.Like his son Jon, he is called to serve his country; although, his calling is to become the next Hand of the King (which is the second most powerful figure in the Seven Kingdoms) and it comes directly from the King of the Seven Kingdoms himself--Robert Baratheon. To most, this is an honor that many would kill for (in a very literal sense);yet, for Ned, it is likened to a death sentence.

Kings Landing, the capitol of the Seven Kingdoms lies within the Southern lands where the winter is mild and the people have become complacent and corrupt. In the South, honor means little and the lust for power rests within the hearts of nearly all regardless of title or class. It is here that the previous Hand of the King died of a mysterious illness which later is revealed through Ned's investigations to be something of a far more sinister nature.

This is where the honorable Lord Stark must travel. He had a choice. Though the King would have been unhappy, Ned could have refused and been allowed to live out the rest of his life in the comfort of his cold, yet honest home of Winterfell; however, it is his honor that calls him to the dangers of the South. It is his duty that calls him to leave his home, his wife, his children (aside from his two daughters who go in hopes of finding suitable marriage partners) and his safety. Again, we see this idea of an individual sacrificing a great deal for his country. Like the disciples of Jesus, Ned left his family and his home in order to serve the many, knowing full well that he walked into treacherous territory.

In the end, this journey ultimately takes his life, yet what is most tragic about his death is that there were moments in which, had he forsaken his honor, he would have lived and perhaps would have been able to bring about true justice. It brings into question the concept of honor. In the Bible, honor seems to mean something close to, "to hold one in great esteem". For example, the well known, "honor thy father and mother" is easily understood--but what does honor mean in Game of Thrones and what does it mean today? For Ned Stark, honor encompassed a great deal of virtues which include truthfulness, trustworthiness and responsibility. These are all things we value today--yet do they make us honorable? I feel as if it does, but it's not a term that's tossed around as much today.