Character Summary - Jon Snow

Jon Snow, Jon Stark, Jon Targaryan...Jon is faced with one of the most complex character dilemmas the series explores: the role of the bastard. He is given a home in Winterfell but as much as he strives to love and support Eddard Stark's children he is never accepted by Catelyn. The wound Jon bears throughout his life is the wound of being without a mother. He never even has a chance at an adopted mother, as Catelyn hates him and the dishonest act he represents.

Jon has claimed the name of bastard and made it his own, and made it so he can still claim honor. In Winterfell he received  a direwolf pup, but unlike the children of Eddard and Catelyn he was bound to the albino wolf. A white wolf with red eyes that never barks or yaps but only fights and serves. This wolf is not only the runt of the litter but also an outcast of society in that he is an albino. Runts and albinos are often left to die and ignored by the mother wolf in her desire to focus on her cubs that are more likely to survive. Ghost and Jon belong to each other in this way.

Jon finds no comfort in Winterfell, so he feels the call to leave. He travels to the Wall to become one of the Night's Watch with this Uncle Benjen Stark. The Wall tempers Jon Snow as Valyrian steel is tempered. He discovers his own character and it's downfalls, not sins assigned to him by society simply because he is a bastard, but he truly see's himself at the Wall. In Game of Thrones he is shown that he can be arrogant and unsympathetic: "'They're not my brothers,' Jon snapped. 'They hate me because I'm better than they are.' 'No. They hate you because you act like you're better than they are. They look at you and see a castle-bred bastard who thinks he's a lordling.'" (182). This criticism Jon received from Donal Noye could have been ignored, but instead Jon began to change the way he thought and saw his new brothers of the wall. He no longer saw them as baseborn criminals, but instead saw them as his equals. He began to teach them how to properly fight and began to encourage them. This is what makes Jon different from Janos Slynt. Slynt was baseborn elevated to Lord then sent to wall. At the wall he never saw his brothers as equal, but only saw Lord Slynt the master of Harrenhal.

The fact that Jon is able to receive counsel and correction makes him more worthy of the title Lord Commander of the Wall after Lord Jeor Mormont's death. It is fitting that he was chosen, and even fate. Lord Mormont had given Jon a bastard blade. It was tempered Valyrian steel from his house that he meant to give to his son, but he had it reforge so the hilt of the blade bore the image of a white wolf. The blade belonged to a noble house, and Lord's are very protective of their Valyrian steel, so for Lord Mormont to give Jon this blade is a way of indicating that he is no longer a bastard, but a brother of Night's Watch. This blade makes Jon more legitimate and shows that Mormont looks at him as a person who has accomplished great deeds instead of just a bastard.

Jon has not only learned how to love and accept his brothers, but also how to treat the Wildlings the Night's Watch continually fights against. While ranging with Qhorin Halfhand he was ordered to infiltrate the Wildlings to discover what they were after and what they were planning. Jon Snow did this and as a result he lived among the Wildlings for weeks. Learning how their society works, how they think, what they value. He learns to respect them, and he learns primarily through loving a Wildling woman named Ygritte. Jon broke his vows with her, but he still gained in character. He learned to love and respect people outside of his typical social sphere. He learned to respect them for who they are. This information becomes crucial when Jon becomes Lord Commander and suddenly must decide how to integrate hundreds of Wildlings into the Westerosi society.

Jon becoming legitimate through the Night's Watch is shown by the fact that he is elected Lord Commander. The Night's Watch does not partake in any battle amongst King's, and so no King decides who will rule over them. They decide for themselves. They were in debate on who should be chosen when suddenly the doors of the hall and a raven flew in: "'Samwell Tarly shout, 'I know that bird! That's Lord Mormont's raven!' The raven landed on the table nearest Jon. 'Snow,' it cawed. It was an old bird, dirt and bedraggled. 'Snow,' it said again, 'Snow, snow, snow'" (A Storm of Swords, 1095).  This was interpreted as a sign to the rest of the Night's Watch to elect Jon Snow as the next Lord Commander. Jon Snow became a legitimate brother and found his place and his calling at the Night's Watch, and he understands the value of each person he leads. His character has grown in honor, deeds, and kindness through his experiences as a brother.