QUOTE (senpai-kun @ Mar 17 2012, 02:48 PM) @Yaya - When I was watching episode two I started to think how would you handle a certain situation from a women's perspective. I noticed that Eddard's wife basically detests the son that is not hers by birth. Originally it made me dislike her a little bit (I began to like her more as the series progressed) because you can see that he cares about his siblings and it bothers him that he is somewhat looked at as the black sheep of the family by outsiders.
So my hypothetical is what if your husband left for war and came back with a newborn child? Would you hate the child but still show so much love toward your husband? It wasn't the child's fault that he conceived by another women. IDK I just thought that whole family dynamic was pretty interesting. I wonder if the son would be going to fight along the wall as a knight's watchman (I think it was called) like a castaway if he was born from Eddard's wife.
Hum...a tough one but when one considers the child is not at fault for daddy's indiscretions, I would have to buck up and after yelling, and crying and screaming at his behavior, I would consider very carefully what is best for the child. Now granted, in those days, a
bastard was a bastard, no matter and society for the most part, condemned you irregardless of whether or not daddy loved you. She, (Ned's wife) was of royal stock and had certain standards to uphold. I suppose I would venture to say, her station in life was not going to allow her the luxury of loving a bastard child since she had an example to uphold in court and in society. But Ned was more reasonable...he truly did love Jon and to hell with what others thought, as he sought to rear him in the confines of his home. His half brothers and sisters loved him too and that must have been a great consolation to Ned and Jon. The wife is the one who turned her face away and denied Jon any room in her heart as I wonder if it would have mattered and folks in high society maybe would have gone easier on him but I doubt it since like I said...a bastard child was always going to be stained and cast aside no matter if later, he would rise in the ranks.
Now, had it been me married to Ned...knowing what I am capable of and knowing what awaited him as a child black balled for being born outside of what was then considered "polite society" I would have loved him and would have raised him to the best of my ability. I would always know he was going to suffer his father's sins but damn, if I was not gonna go against the grain and love him and raise him as my own.
I cannot understand how she could adore Ned so completely while hating one who was so much a part of him...and especially, one whom he loved very, very much.
I see Jon Snow as a noble young man albeit, a tragic one. I am sure Ned did too and that must have been a burden that at times was too much to bear.
As to whether Jon would still be a knight's watchman forever bound to that pledge and that dreadful wall...no way. Men of high rank and blue blood were afforded greater luxuries...the spoils of war, the realm of power, the beds of many willing women...no matter if they were sister, sister-in-law or your own wife or servant...for you see, my dear Witty-san...men of rank were forever meant to drown in wine, women and song...power and betrayal were the games they played when less occupied.
Damn! Long winded but damn fun!