Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of physical abuse, emotional abuse, ableism, and death.

“‘He is a child still,’ Stannis declared, his anger ringing loud in the empty hall, ‘a thieving child who thinks to snatch the crown off my brow. What has Renly ever done to earn a throne? He sits in council and jests with Littlefinger, and at tourneys he dons his splendid suit of armor and allows himself to be knocked off his horse by a better man. That is the sum of my brother Renly, who thinks he ought to be a king. I ask you, why did the gods inflict me with brothers?’”

This passage not only provides characterization for Stannis, a new character in Martin’s series but also motivates his conflict with Renly, his brother. Stannis resents the fact that his brother has been given the advantage of socializing with power players, which aids his claim to the throne. Stannis, sequestered at Dragonstone, enjoys none of Renly’s luxuries and feels punished by the lack of support for his rights as Renly’s older brother. The juxtaposition of these two very different leaders begins the novel’s exploration of The Qualities of Good Leadership.

“Give me a man for every vow I’ve seen broken and the Wall will never lack for defenders.”

In this passage, Jeor raises the idea of broken vows, which recurs throughout the novel in monologues delivered by Jaime and Sandor. Jeor suggests that oathbreaking is a common practice but is only seldom punished by enforced service at the Wall. This drives a criticism of oaths and honor, which the later monologues will elaborate in detail, bringing the nature of integrity into question.

“As they waited in Riverrun’s Great Hall for the prisoner to be brought before them, she saw Robb push back the crown so it rested upon the thick auburn mop of his hair; moments later, he moved it forward again; later he gave it a quarter turn, as if that might make it sit more easily on his brow. It is no easy thing to wear a crown, Catelyn thought, watching, especially for a boy of fifteen years.”

This passage establishes the crown as a recurring symbol of the authority and limitations of the kings who wear them. In this chapter, Catelyn’s perspective frames Robb as someone uncomfortable with the burdens of kingship.