“Ned Stark, A Kingsman or a Foolish Man”

How honorable does one think Ned Stark truly was? So honorable that the people he knew most betrayed him? Or that is what he thought. So honorable that his two daughters had to stand and watch him die an excruciating death? Or was he foolish? The definition of foolish is a person who lacks good sense or judgment. In the beginning, Ned Stark was what your traditional hero is supposed to be, strong, courageous, loyal to his people, good looking, all those characteristics a king should have. But when you are playing the Game of Thrones, you either win or you die and Ned Stark definitely did not win. See to me Game of Thrones is like Grey's Anatomy but in medieval times. The good people are always killed first and we are left watching the dumbasses live their best life dictating everybody else, starting wars and killing innocent people, *cough cough* Joffrey. 

Without any doubt, viewers could see that Ned Stark was a family man and would do anything to protect his home and people. Everyone respected him and revered him, but what does that have to do with playing the Game of Thrones? It is not about who has the most loyalty and respect, it is about who can kill the most people and take over their ground. Yes, ideally, having loyalty is known to get you a long way in life, but unfortunately not in this series. Megan Minutillo discussed the problem with having loyalty in Game of Thrones is that loyalty can cause a person to become oblivious to the lies and deception of others that they believe is “trustworthy”, causing more chaos and destruction to families and cities. Having loyalty is seen as a sign of weakness, and once your enemies find your weak spots they will hit where it hurts, and that is what the Lannister's did.

Ned was too trusting and gullible at times. Ned was so loyal that he blatantly told Cersei about his intentions of telling Robert that his “children” were not his biologically. Obviously, Ned being Ned lacking sense at this moment did not realize that he had told this wonderful woman (and I say this sarcastically), his scheme to destroy their relationship and family in the hopes of Cersei fleeing with her incest babies from Kings-Landing, and we all know how that turned out. It raises the question of why he could not just go straight to Robert and tell him the news himself? That is what an intelligent person would do right? But no, he wanted the upper hand, hoping Cersei would just lie down and roll over because he said so. But one thing I admire about Cersei is she will not take any crap from anybody, and instead of running away, she clapped back 10 times harder and came for Ned’s neck, literally. Although I deeply despise Cersei and all she stands for, I will admit that she knows how to play her cards right, something that most people in this show do not know how to do, especially men.

https://thronesmeme.tumblr.com/post/6721096255

Many blame Ned for the death of Robert if you let Cersei tell it, but because of his lack of judgment, I blame him for his own, and Adria also agrees by making the statement "I say he was too noble for his own good which made him a fool. He stuck by what he believed in, which made him likable...He should have learned to play the game better and he should have never revealed to Ceresi what he intended to do.” Since Game of Thrones is in a setting where such stereotypical perceptions of how the world should be, it has impacted nearly every male character in this series. I feel that Ned's logic is more foolish than noble because there has been a fantasy formed and molded in his mind that the world will always be the same, the men rule and the women stay home to raise the children and keep having more to carry the family name.

See with men who have power, they think people are going to do as they say, especially when it comes to Ned, he was used to people who followed him fall at his feet, but when you compete against a woman like Cersei, one needs to come correct or it is best they do not come at all. Fast forward to the scene where Ned is dying of hunger and thirst in the dark dungeon. In fact, his naive daughter Sansa tried to do something right for once and begged her fiancé king Joffery to have mercy on the life of her dear father and let him confess his wrongdoings, but Ned chose to do the complete opposite, instead of having good sense at this moment. So instead of lying, which could have possibly saved his life, he chooses to remain honorable. I know, stupid right? How honorable can you be if you are dead? Who would not lie to save their life? Geez, I do not get it Ned sometimes you make it look bad to be honorable.

Although Scott Meslow acknowledges that Ned was stubborn and stuck in his own ways, he makes a good argument that Ned signed his life away when he became king, despite what happened, and he knew the consequences of accepting the title. Ned was going to die regardless of whether he was on the night’s watch for the rest of his life or rotting away in the dungeon. Scott also goes on to say that Ned gave up being an honorable man when he rejected King Robert's request to be the “hand of the king” and realized that the safety of his daughters was more important, but I feel that any father would do that, especially for their children.

The problem with men is that they are too arrogant and that often gets in the way of their judgment. They think they know what is best for others, but the majority of the time it is the testosterone talking. Men know absolutely nothing, even when it comes down to fighting in battles. Ned if it was not for you dying, the rightful king would be on the throne and it is damn sure, not Joffrey. I mean really? It had to be Joffrey out of all people you lost your head to? This prick almost peed himself when Stannis Baratheon (cannot even call him his real uncle because he is technically not) started the battle on Blackwater Bay. Truly, if it were not for Tyrion it would have been a bad night for Kings Landing, if it was not for Lord Tywin riding in like a hero believing he saved the day, I wonder what the outcome would have been. It is quite ironic that one of the biggest battles so far in the show was fought and directed by the smallest guy, no offense to Tyrion, still my favorite Lannister, but it was amusing to watch. Cersei, of course, being the great mother she is, had to protect Joffrey by asking her other secret lover, who was also a Lannister by the way, to get Joffrey and bring him back to her safely before things got worse. How can someone be a king, and be afraid of fighting? I do not get it, my dislike for Joffrey just keeps growing stronger and stronger after every episode. I also do not know what is worse, the fact that Joffrey is the king or the idea of knowing that Cersei just loves having sex with her own blood, just disgusting to think about frankly. 

Ned do not get me wrong, I loved you and I thank you for showing us all what an honorable man looks like on the outside, but you have been more foolish than honorable for the little time you were on the show. I am sorry to say that, but just imagine how the show would be if in crucial moments you were not honest. I mean, come on Ned, you scared your daughters, particularly Sansa, for life. Her awful fiancé made her look at your head for crying out loud, that is unhonorable, inhuman, and unusual punishment. Hopefully, the rest of the Stark family will learn from the mistakes you made Ned.

#13https://www.antiscoopwhoop.com/these-eddard-stark-memes-will-help-you-get-through-the-wait-till-season-7-of-game-of-thrones/