So many characters are defined by what Maester Aemon said in Season 1: ‘what is honour compared to a woman’s love?’ I feel like considering this question raises so many interesting parallels, particularly between two characters who seem at odds; Jaime and Ned. Ned sacrificed his honour for the love of his sister, raising Jon and his own and tarnishing the reputation he’d worked so hard to build his whole life. Even though the world saw him in a bad light, he knew deep down he done the right thing. The real honourable thing. Jamie’s killing of the Mad King was the same. An act that tarnished his reputation, far moreso than Ned, and yet if Jaime didn’t take the hit for this thousands of people would have died. It was the most honourable thing he could have done, even if the world he lives in doesn’t see it that way.
Both characters are flawed in that they choose love over honour. Jaime sacrifices his honour over and over for the sake of Cersei. He pushes Bran out the window. He kills his cousin to try break free. He does everything to be with her, and it’s her influence that keeps corrupting him. Ned, to a lesser extent, does the same thing; he lies and proclaims Joffrey as the true heir, sacrificing his morals for the love is his daughter. He’s scared for Sansa’s sake and thinks being granted mercy will help her through all this.
Which is why Jaime finally walking away from Cersei and deciding to fight the White Walkers is so damn powerful. It even kind of mirrors Ned walking away from Robert when he orders Dany to be killed. These characters become heroes because they’re able to do the right thing regardless of this love. Ned, by raising Jon as his own, was doing the most honourable thing he could, even if it meant he had to lie to his best friends and not support his killing of Targaryens. So when Jaime finally walks away from Cersei, he’s being just as honourable as Ned Stark, who was the pinnacle of honour his whole life; Jaime’s finally living up to what he could be. He refuses to choose love over honour anymore, and finally chooses what is morally right. His development is nothing short of amazing.
Submitted March 01, 2018 at 09:31AM by LowerIntroduction http://ift.tt/2oyjezI
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