We Love The Heroic Ned Stark But Hate His Dumb Red-Headed Daughter
We Love The Heroic Ned Stark But Hate His Dumb
Red-Headed Daughter
Red-Headed Daughter
By: Taylor Donnally
“I hate Sansa Stark” is probably something you’ve either heard a lot, or said yourself. I’ve even found
myself hating this 13 year old fictional character too, but why?
myself hating this 13 year old fictional character too, but why?
Sansa is hated for being dumb and selfish. Many agree that Sansa is a dumb little girl that only cares about
herself. Yeah, you read that right. A dumb LITLLE GIRL. Sansa is literally only 13 years old and we all
hate her guts. We say we hate her for pretty much choosing Joffrey over her own Dad, but we really hate
her for being a woman.
herself. Yeah, you read that right. A dumb LITLLE GIRL. Sansa is literally only 13 years old and we all
hate her guts. We say we hate her for pretty much choosing Joffrey over her own Dad, but we really hate
her for being a woman.
The other women in Game Of Thrones that are beloved characters aren’t the same type of woman as Sansa.
Brienne of Tarth, Arya Stark, and Danaerys Targaryen are all loved women characters. These 3 women
aren’t as femine as Sansa. These women all engage in fighting, a trait that usually only men carry. Sansa,
on the other hand, lives the more traditional woman life.
Brienne of Tarth, Arya Stark, and Danaerys Targaryen are all loved women characters. These 3 women
aren’t as femine as Sansa. These women all engage in fighting, a trait that usually only men carry. Sansa,
on the other hand, lives the more traditional woman life.
“For Sansa’s entire life, she was taught that if she acted a certain way and looked a certain way, her life
would turn out a certain way.” She believed that she would marry Joffrey, have his kids, and live happily
ever after, as long as she stayed loyal to her new family. However, she was shocked when the world
turned out to be everything she never thought it would be. We as an audience find it so easy to criticize
and hate her because we know that’s not how the world works. But why are we hating a little girl that is
only living by what she was taught?
would turn out a certain way.” She believed that she would marry Joffrey, have his kids, and live happily
ever after, as long as she stayed loyal to her new family. However, she was shocked when the world
turned out to be everything she never thought it would be. We as an audience find it so easy to criticize
and hate her because we know that’s not how the world works. But why are we hating a little girl that is
only living by what she was taught?
Despite all the hate for Sansa Stark, everyone loves her father, Eddard (Ned) Stark. I personally love Ned
Stark’s character, and like the lady above, thought his death was unfair. Anyways, Ned Stark is known
for being an honorable hero who didn’t deserve to die. Many also blame his death on his hated daughter,
Sansa. Again, she’s only 13 and here we are blaming her because a spoiled brat told someone to chop her
father’s head off.
Stark’s character, and like the lady above, thought his death was unfair. Anyways, Ned Stark is known
for being an honorable hero who didn’t deserve to die. Many also blame his death on his hated daughter,
Sansa. Again, she’s only 13 and here we are blaming her because a spoiled brat told someone to chop her
father’s head off.
Ned Stark is said to be an honorable man by many people because he kept his word. He was a great friend
to Robert Baratheon and always did things that we see as the right thing to do.
to Robert Baratheon and always did things that we see as the right thing to do.
“Reputation is what other people know about you. Honor is what you know about yourself.” Ned always
does what he sees as honorable. This is mainly why we also see him as honorable and love his character.
does what he sees as honorable. This is mainly why we also see him as honorable and love his character.
When Robert Baratheon was telling Ned what to write in his will, instead of writing Joffrey shall get the
throne, he wrote that the true heir shall get the throne. Even though he didn’t rightfully follow Robert’s
words, we still think Ned did the honorable thing because you know, everyone hates Joffrey. No, but
really, we see this as honor because we are seeing the world through Ned’s point of view. Ned believes
in justice and that the world follows the rules he lives by.
throne, he wrote that the true heir shall get the throne. Even though he didn’t rightfully follow Robert’s
words, we still think Ned did the honorable thing because you know, everyone hates Joffrey. No, but
really, we see this as honor because we are seeing the world through Ned’s point of view. Ned believes
in justice and that the world follows the rules he lives by.
Some can argue that telling Cersie that he knew Joffrey was a product of incest was dumb of Ned, but
Ned believed he was doing the right thing. He believed that Cersei would do what many women that
Ned had ever known would do and run away, and justice would be served to Robert’s legacy. Ned’s
motive was honor. He wanted things to turn out how he believed they should.
Ned believed he was doing the right thing. He believed that Cersei would do what many women that
Ned had ever known would do and run away, and justice would be served to Robert’s legacy. Ned’s
motive was honor. He wanted things to turn out how he believed they should.
Another instance that we see Ned as being honorable is moments before his head is surprisingly chopped
off. As much as he wanted the truth to be out, he wanted his kids to be safe even more. He lied and said
that Joffrey was the rightful heir. Although he is lying, it is seen as honorable because he is doing it to
save his daughters.
off. As much as he wanted the truth to be out, he wanted his kids to be safe even more. He lied and said
that Joffrey was the rightful heir. Although he is lying, it is seen as honorable because he is doing it to
save his daughters.
When Ned testifies that Joffrey is the rightful King, no one, including himself, believed he would die.
This is why we love Ned so much and see him as honorable. We are looking through the same lens of
the world as he was. We believed that he would get his justice and be alive, but that wasn’t the case.
This is why we love Ned so much and see him as honorable. We are looking through the same lens of
the world as he was. We believed that he would get his justice and be alive, but that wasn’t the case.
I can say that we all agree with Arya. This is hilarious because two characters that we love are talking
about one that we hate. But all jokes aside, why do we hate Sansa Stark, but love Ned Stark?
about one that we hate. But all jokes aside, why do we hate Sansa Stark, but love Ned Stark?
People tend to find themselves loving Ned Stark because he’s an honorable man, but hating Sansa Stark
because she’s a stupid little girl; when in reality, both Ned and Sansa live make their decisions based on
their naive expectations on life.
because she’s a stupid little girl; when in reality, both Ned and Sansa live make their decisions based on
their naive expectations on life.
Think about it: Sansa and Ned’s motives behind all their decisions are based on the mentality they had
growing up.
growing up.
First, let's talk about Ned since we all love him. Ned had a naive look on life. For the most part, he has
always been in Winterfell. Life in Winterfell was different than life in King’s Landing, Ned learned the
hard way.
always been in Winterfell. Life in Winterfell was different than life in King’s Landing, Ned learned the
hard way.
Growing older, Ned’s way of living through honor was never questioned because everything always
got dealt with how he believed it should. He mostly always told the truth, and when he didn’t, he did it
for his family’s safety.
got dealt with how he believed it should. He mostly always told the truth, and when he didn’t, he did it
for his family’s safety.
When Ned came to King’s Landing, he thought his honor would be treated the same way as it was in
Winterfell. As you can tell, he was wrong.
Winterfell. As you can tell, he was wrong.
Now let’s talk about the dreadful life of Sansa Stark. Sansa also had a naive look on life. She has also
always been in Winterfell and only knew about how life works based on her experience in Winterfell
and what her parents have told her.
always been in Winterfell and only knew about how life works based on her experience in Winterfell
and what her parents have told her.
“At the start, Sansa has a very romanticised view of what courtly life is like. She thinks all knights are
bold and honourable, all princes are handsome and charming, and all ladies are graceful, courteous and
kind.” Sansa makes all of her decisions based on her beliefs of how life is.
bold and honourable, all princes are handsome and charming, and all ladies are graceful, courteous and
kind.” Sansa makes all of her decisions based on her beliefs of how life is.
The scene where I think we all agree that we hate Sansa the most is when she agrees that her father is a
traitor and sides with Joffrey. Yes this seems unhonarable and dumb, but what was she taught? To disobey
your husband and turn against him? No. She was taught to be loyal to her family, and Joffrey is her new
family.
traitor and sides with Joffrey. Yes this seems unhonarable and dumb, but what was she taught? To disobey
your husband and turn against him? No. She was taught to be loyal to her family, and Joffrey is her new
family.
Let’s also remember that SHE IS 13 YEARS OLD. What 13 year old should have to make these decisions?
So can we really blame Sansa for “being stupid”? Her parents taught her everything she believes. “My
mother tells me that it isn’t fitting that a king should strike his wife.” Sansa thinks that Joffrey won’t hit her
because her parents raised her to believe a King is good to his Queen. Sansa is placed in this abusive
environment where all her previous notions of the goodness of love are stripped away.
mother tells me that it isn’t fitting that a king should strike his wife.” Sansa thinks that Joffrey won’t hit her
because her parents raised her to believe a King is good to his Queen. Sansa is placed in this abusive
environment where all her previous notions of the goodness of love are stripped away.
So, yeah she’s going to seem stupid to us. We know that’s not how the Game Of Thrones world, or any
world really, works.
world really, works.
All I’m saying is we shouldn’t love Ned Stark and hate Sansa Stark. We either love them both, or
hate them both because both Ned and Sansa live make their decisions based on their naive expectations
on life.
hate them both because both Ned and Sansa live make their decisions based on their naive expectations
on life.
If you've read my post then you will know that I obviously agree with everything said here. We followed a similar path in discussing Ned's impact on Sansa. I like the pictures that you chose for this article. They add a sense of humor and fit along perfectly with what you are discussing at that time. I agree that Ned was an honorable man, I don't think anyone would disagree with that. Ned tried to do what was best and that got him killed. I think you make a great point about the only reason we back Ned's decisions and call them all honorable is because we were watching the show from his point of view and because of the overall disliking of Joffery stupid ass. I liked what you did here telling a story of how the fan favorite character affected and basically made the hated character.
ReplyDeleteI can say that I fully agree with what you are saying but I can also say I am probably one of the only people that did not hate Sansa. I didn’t hate her because yes, she was raised to side with her family and not betrayal her husband, which at the time was Joffrey. Also, as you mentioned she was 13 so how could you expect a 13-year-old girl to make smart decisions when it came between choosing over the family that raised or new family which was Joffrey. Now, when it comes to Ned, I do feel like as a man with much power he should have been smarter with some of his actions. I am sure he only thought he was protecting his family but he should have known there would have been so repercussions from his actions, especially when it came to the Lannister’s.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with what you said as well as what Tyler commented. Neds honor was ultimately his downfall but he managed to raise very strong daughters and I don't think that Sansa was as dumb as everyone thinks. I don't think that she is hated because she is a woman, that really makes no sense. I think she is hated because she does certain things that people don't like but are ultimately to her advantage. people need to recognize that Ned Stark raised this girl to be very strong and smart so for people to hate Sansa is ultimately hating ned. So I agree with what you said about loving both of them or not loving them at all.
ReplyDelete