8 AGOT Arya I: Not Fair
- Jan 15, 2023
- 1 min read
Updated: Jan 8
Her sister is the perfect lady but Arya is hopeless. She runs away in shame, hoping to see her brother, Robb, beat the crowned prince her sister gets to marry. Jon comforts her, excluded too, but she's still in trouble for having run away.
The chapter compares Arya and Joffrey, both perceived as badly behaved becaue they don't like being at a loss compared to older children who have had longer to practice and who may have talent where they struggle. Jon calls Joffrey a little shit for behaving much the way Arya did. But Arya does not mean to be bad, she's held to an unfair standard while being made to master a skill she knows will never serve her. We can see Joffrey the same way when we reject the idea the Starks should be trouncing the Lannisters in the training yard.
Mnemonic Titles
2023: Nothing is Fair: Who is treated fairly or well in this chapter? Myrcell is excluded by her elevation while Arya is excluded by her sensitivity. Jon doesn't get to spar, but Joffrey has to. Nobody gets to do what they want. Only perfect Sansa, who embroiders so well and is such a beautiful young lady, gets to marry the handsome prince and become queen one day.
2026: Not Fair: Arya thinks she is not beautiful and that this is why she has no future.