There are several reasons why I like this Game of
Thrones character, Robb Stark.
It amazes me every time how the author, George
R.R. Martin makes someone fall in love with a non-existent, fictional
character.
Here are few things that I have noticed and
admired about ROBB STARK.
His love towards his half brother, Jon Snow
So to start with, Robb was the heir of
Winterfell, the largest kingdom in the north, ruled by Lord Eddard Stark a.k.a
Ned Stark. My love story starts there. Robb knew, or rather believed, his
father had a bastard son and even then Robb didn't envy or show any kind of
hatred towards him, Jon Snow, knowing perfectly well that Jon was almost of the
same age of his and given a slight trigger from the outside he might fight for
his position in the house. Robb also knew his mother never liked Jon, but why should I hate him for that reason?
Being a bastard wasn't his mistake.
But that's not why I admire the short-lived King in the North.
The “kingly” behaviour
Even after Bran's fall, Robb believed that he'll
live and had not a slightest feeling of sensitivity, which portrayed a “kingly”
character (not allowing negative emotions to fill in and condemn the power).
Right from his father's departure to the
country's capital, King's Landing, he took up the role of a king in the best
way possible- best as in, best in the series according to me.
Let's now get deep into analysing GRRM’s wonder
creations.
True Leader
As soon as he heard word of his father's capture,
he decided to wage war against the Lannisters (the house which had captured his
father, Ned Stark). But that is not the big deal here. He was just seventeen
years old then and had no experience in warfare but he called out for his
bannermen and almost immediately decided who must lead the battle in various
regions. Even his mother, Catelyn Stark wasn't home to guide/advise him. There
was another occasion where he had proved his strength. When one of his
bannermen disclaimed his orders, Robb stood firm on what he said and had no
second thought in reconsidering his plans for the sake of others. On his mind,
“he was the king and nobody cross questions him.”
An act of responsibility was never to go unnoticed
when he waved an emotional goodbye to his brother, Bran, knowing all the
possible outcomes of the war. He even advised his little brother to stay
positive even if he hadn't heard word from him.
Not just this. He proved at many occasions the
height of his adamant character. That is to say, a king can be advised but only
his orders shall be final.
Mercy
Above all, here is where I started taking this
“Robb” character out of the cluster.
On the battle grounds (not during a battle), a
Lannister boy was found counting the number of men in Robb’s side. He was
caught all right and then when he was produced in front of Robb, he was asked for
an explanation. The intention meant no harm and thus Robb let him go unharmed,
as he believed it was unnecessary and not the right thing to kill an innocent
just because his family played the ugly part.(there you go man, you've won my
heart)
Mother goes by the rule too
Catelyn Stark was in the worst position. She lost
her husband, left two of her youngest kids at home, alone and gave away two of
her daughters to be held captive in the enemy land.
It was at that point she was influenced by the
outside force to release the opponent's military commander, Jaime Lannister who
was their then prisoner. The deal was this, she lets Jaime go and in return
they make sure her daughters return to her safely. A mother's love towards her
children blinds the reality, and so she let Jaime go, without Robb knowing it,
for she knew Robb would never allow her to free the only piece of living flesh
which ensured the war was alive. It was outrageous and on knowing this Robb
straightway ordered that his mother be held for her actions (it wasn't a very
harsh decision but just that she was held inside a seperate chamber and wasn't
allowed to join in any council meeting concerning war; kind of a house arrest).
Pass the
sentence and swing the sword.
When Jamie Lannister tried escaping, killing the
son of Stark's bannerman, the father wanted revenge and thus he killed an
innocent Lannister boy without Robb’s consent or knowledge. Robb stood on his
words saying that an innocent shouldn't be killed for his father's traits and
because the bannerman slipped out of Robb's spread of law, he sentenced the
killer, who was an important member in Robb's side, to death. And then when he
passed the sentence he, just like how his father had taught him, swung the
sword himself. He knew what he was going to do was wicked, for he also knew
he'll lose his men and might eventually lose the war, but Robb did it anyway.
And the obvious happened, most of his
men abandoned him.
---
With a character so brilliantly portrayed, one
should only say we hadn't had enough of the boldness to be seen on screen, for
he died sooner than other boring characters; but one lesson was learnt- a
highly powerful man shouldn't commit mistakes or even if he does, he needs to
be ready to face the consequences. Robb wasn't ready and thus his mistake had
costed him his life.
It was so painful to swallow the fact that he
died off treason, for such bold characters deserve a heroic death, like in a
battle or some sacrificial grounds. But anyway, every author has his own style.
If there's one character that could be
resurrected, I'd vote for Robb Stark. Nothing can be more exciting.
A young wolf who had won all the battles that he
had been in but lost the only war he waged.
