Loyalty and Death

Jarrett Riffle

Loyalty and Death

            “Winter is Coming,” is simply the most iconic house motto in both the book and the television series. It represents the Stark house that has been the crown in the North for centuries. With Eddard Stark being the King at the time he had a major responsibility towards his kingdom, by protecting his citizens from the ferocious House Lannister. There is no doubt that in this story that Ned is presented as the “good guy” and the true heir of the throne. Ned’s loyalty to the King of the seven kingdoms has gotten him in many more predicaments than one. Lord Stark is one of the more honest characters that have been shown in the series, after watching and reading I concluded that this is the reason for his death. He was always loyal to the truth and honestly ruled his land, which he did not realize would soon be the end of him. Within the story there are a handful of unresolved characters that you can’t understand their true motive, but Ned is not one of them. His intentions are clear from the time he carries out the be-heading of the nights watch deserter till the time of his death. Throughout the storyline each of the houses showed that they aren’t loyal to one person but are loyal to the highest bidder, whatever the price may be, there isn’t many that have a strong of moral compass as Ned. This trait is first shown when he has to deal with the deserter of the nights watch, instead of having an executioner, Ned takes killing into his own hands when he is the one that is dealing out the punishment. “The man who passes the sentence, must swing the sword,” by not having an executioner like the rest of the savage houses, Ned show that respects the decision he made by honoring the task himself. Lord Stark also listened to his bannermen in time of need and took their complaints and concerns to heart. The Starks have been a house since the first men, the survival of their house has been successful because their judgment isn’t clouded by irrationality. After Ned Stark showed his loyalty to the royal family time after time, he was rewarded with dishonesty. I would imagine that Eddard saw the world for better than what it was and lived up to his responsibilities, due to how he was brought up in the north. However, I do believe that Ned was closed minded on how the world actually worked, this is why he put all his trust into the people that killed him. The people of House Stark are the true leaders of the seven kingdoms because they have many other houses and people all over the region that will never forget the northern men’s loyalty. The reason Ned died was entirely persuaded by his loyalty, he knew that King Joffrey wasn’t the true King and that before King Robert died, he was given a letter saying that he was to be the King when he died. But, Cersei and her dishonesty had him locked up in a cell for treason against the crown. Ned’s legacy lived on even after he died, when Jon Snow had to rally an army against the Boltons in order to get his birthplace and home of Winterfell back as well as living up to his family’s name and showing that the North knows who their true leader is. Ned Stark has become one of the most honorable men in Game of Thrones in my perspective, by seeing his devotion towards his country and people, the Stark legacy will live on forever. I have realized that mostly everyone in the kingdom is only dedicated to their success and not that no one can be trusted.