So this evening I was going to talk about an upcoming project I am working on but I’ve changed my mind. What I want to talk about instead is the work of someone else and how my views on two of it’s characters changed, simply by re-reading it. I’m talking about George R.R Martin’s A Song Of Ice And Fire, more specifically the first in the series, A Game Of Thrones with the characters being the bastard son of Lord Eddard Stark, Jon Snow and his unexpected friend, Samwell Tarly.
To say that HBO’s adaptation has done well is an understatement, it would be more accurate to call it phenomenon. Famous for it’s twists, violence and characters so deep you might find them swimming around the bottom of the Laurentian abyss, the show isn’t afraid to emotionally devastate it’s viewers. The books on which they are based work in the exact same way.
George R.R Martin is nothing less that a master of his craft from who, any writer could learn a long list of lessons. His words are so fluid, his descriptions are so vivid that we as the reader might as well be stood in the throne room of Kings Landing or walking amongst the Wildlings beyond the wall. Though, amidst his world of politics, betrayal, war and murder are a number of sparkling moments.
When I began reading A Game Of Thrones, some two days ago now I went through the usual feelings we experience when going back to a book we’ve already read. We know where it goes, we know how it ends (well this book anyway) and we are thrown into a world that we already know to be forever changed. We may know all the secrets but that doesn’t mean that we won’t discover anything new, as I soon found out.
A Game Of Thrones By George R.R Martin. Published 1996
This is the edition of the book that I have and will be referencing so if you want to read the chapter I will be looking at the your looking for the Jon chapter between pages 251 -263.
A quick synopsis for those who haven’t read it but are interested in reading this blog to the end. Jon, the bastard son of Lord Eddard Stark (a main character in the book) has joined the night’s watch, a group of warriors who man a seven hundred foot tall wall of ice, defending the land from the harsh lands far to the north. Discouraged by the realisation this group is not all he wanted it to be (the night’s watch is made up of all sorts of criminals who are given the choice between “taking the black” of the night’s watch or execution), Jon is making the most of his new life by teaching others how to fight.
One day while he is showing other boys how to fight, a new recruit is brought in. He is an extreamly fat boy named Samwell Tarly who is obviously very shy and doesn’t know how to fight, and is beaten ferociously by another boy who is told to fight him. Jon sticks up for him and is mocked by the other boys and one of the night’s watch commanders. Throughout the rest of the chapter we see Jon not only come to accept Sam as his friend but his own life, no matter how different it was to his hopes. We discover Sam’s tragic backstory of an abusive father and through Jon he grows enough confidence to join in with the other men of the watch.
So why this chapter? What is it about Jon and Sam that has changed in my eyes?
I suppose it’s my own fault but when I first read it I wasn’t very interested in the Jon Snow sections of the book because I didn’t like him. My interpretation of him was a boy who whined about his life because it wasn’t what he wanted and thought himself better than the others. This time round I appreciated him alot more through the way he acts with Sam.
Really, Jon could have been the same as all the other boys and mocked Samwell and at first he almost is. He doesn’t mock him but he gets frustrated with Sam because Sam doesn’t even seem to try to defend himself.
I believe the change in my view of them both came with a heartbreaking moment regarding Sam. On page 255 comes the following quote:
“I… I fear I’m a coward. My lord father always said so”.
Grenn looked thunderstruck. Even Pyp had no words to say to that, and Pyp had words for everything. What sort of a man would proclaim himself as a coward?
Samwell Tarly must have read their thoughts on their faces. His eyes met Jon’s and darted away, quick as frightened animals. “I… I’m sorry,” he said. “I don”t mean to… to be like I am.” He walked heavily towards the armory.
Jon called after him. “You were hurt,” he said. “Tomorrow you’ll do better.”
Sam looked mournfully back over one shoulder. “No, I won’t,” he said, blinking back tears. “I never do better”.
Is that not heartbreaking? This overweight, rejected son of a lord who has no friends has such low self esteem, such a low opinion of himself he basically admits he is a coward to this gruff, rowdy group of men. He just seems to know that he’s going to get bullied and knows he can’t do anything to defend himself as he can’t fight or stick up for himself so he just accepts the abuse.
As someone who was bullied alot when I was younger and really fought back hard, all I want to do as a reader is run in and defend Sam, show him a good heart is more important that a strong sword arm and do what I must to convince him of this. It’s hard to read as it brings back some painful memories but Jon steps in.
As I say, they bond throughout the chapter and I was so wrong not to appreciate it the first time round. It’s a relationship that proves to be good in so many ways later on in the series although I won’t spoil it for you.
I think the moment you know that these two are going to be good friends and that Jon has finally moved on from his disappointment and misconception of the watch is right at the end of the chapter.
“We’re not friends,” Jon said. He put his hand on Sam’s broad shoulder. “We’re brothers”.
That just perfects an already lovely chapter. I think the best thing to come out of this is that I’m looking forward to reading Jon’s chapters again and when it comes to it, Sam’s. It’s almost like I have a whole new book to read. I know I’ve read the words, but I think they may not have hit home, maybe I was a lazy reader then but I’m excited.
It also makes me appreciate Jon more for who he is, the pressure he’s under and the self control he has when it comes towards the other members of the watch, especially Alliser Thorne.
I’m going to leave it there but thank you for reading this! I ramble on and although I’m not the best writer, I enjoy doing so!
I remain,
Red.
PS: I couldn’t resist