[Attention: this post is not corrected. I will edit it soon.]
Wrote on 27th
April of 2012
Eddard Stark
Eddard Stark and the beginning of duty
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| Eddard Stark |
The honest character for excellence in Game of Thrones (more or less for
what we know about him), the knight archetype, is incarnated by Eddard Stark.
His strong sense of honour, justice and loyalty drive him from his calm home,
Winterfell, to be Hand of the King and, later, to scaffold. Ilyn Payne beheaded
Eddard Stark with his own greatsword which is called Ice in the Great Sept of
Baelor. In the first chapter of TV series we can see how Eddard punishes one
deserter from Night’s Watch with his greatsword. It seems casual but it
doesn’t. The circle closes itself in Eddard Satrk because
he appears beheading for law and he is beheaded by kingdom and king’s law to
which he swore allegiance. How does
Eddard Stark arrive to this crucial moment when life forks and one man fulfil
glory and other one sinks into mud? Honour, quite simply. For honour and
friendship he accepts Robert Baratheon’s offer to access to a post tinged with
blood. All for his best friend Robert, his adventures and difficulties
companion from their youth. Strong sense
of friendship and loyalty are one of this man’s characteristics: Edd Stark, an
Aristotelic and Kantian character. He is a family father and law man. For
honour and categorical imperative he beheads one man who he believes innocent.
Who supports law can’t doubt to apply it because whole legal fabric should go
down. Distinction of law, morality and ethics are one of philosophical topics
that this delicious TV series offers to us since the first episode. Stark’s ethic decision is to obey law and
its principles, its categorical imperatives (how German philosopher from
Königsberg, Immanuel Kant, named it). But we can perceive that contradiction.
Law isn’t justice, because it can be corrupted, blind or a veil under evil is
hided, that is to say, men power ambition. Stark is an idealistic man. He
carries law out and accepts his fate but he condemns his own family. Where is
here the Justice?
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| I. Kant |
He lets Cersei Lannister unfaithful
Robert’s wife know about his intentions to reveal Joffrey Baratheon’s real
fatherhood, who is Iron Throne heir and pure Lannister blood genetically. Humanity act to avoid bloodbath but he condemns himself to die. To let
enemy know is like to kiss Judas Iscariote, a rashly thing from kind and
“Christian” knight as Eddard Stark. In these circumstances, court vipers have
enough time to make a trap to Stark. Sometimes good men get breeding ground for
atrocious acts ready. If he hadn’t die, the war should has avoid with a
prisoners exchange but after his dead nothing turn to be the same.
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| Nedd's execution in King's Landing |
There is something from Socrates in his fate acceptation, although maybe it
isn’t enough because he lied to save his family, something that Greek should
never have done. He is captured for
ideals and when he betrays it he finds his death. It is too late. He dies
because a demanding child locked in a king’s body wants it. Joffrey is
hair-raising teenager who seems to get out from McDonald’s advertisement and he
is a good casting choice. About his bastard son we talk later…
Hand of the King.
P.S.:Sorry, sorry, sorry for the delay!!! I have had final exams at university and I was really busy. I will post next soon.
