The Theme of Brotherhood

20 AGOT Jon III: Here For Life. Initially, Jon does not see the other recruits as his brothers. Jon feels deeply insulted that Ned allowed him to choose to join a penal colony. He'd thought it was a noble calling. Lumped together with thieves and rapists, a bastard, Jon loathes his company, knowing he is better than them and did nothing to deserve the punishment they do. Is it that he comes to see Grenn and the others are as innocent as himself that changes Jon's tune? Or was it what Donal Noye said about him being a bully that shocked Jon out of his rut? Jon apologizes to Grenn, offers to train him, and welcomes his fellows as brothers. Sub themes: Of a kind

21 AGOT Eddard IV: Little Council. Both Ned and Catelyn have close friends from childhood who were like brothers to them: Robert and Littlefinger. Each is trusted, but may have changed. Sub themes: Thick as thieves?

27 AGOT Jon IV: When Jon first arrived at the Wall, he asked Benjen to go ranging with him and was coldly rebuffed. Benjen explained that ranging requires a level of clearance Jon hasn't earned yet and even accuses him of intending to use nepotism to cheat the system. The concept of a brotherhood is then one where all are non-competing equals who value merit. Sub themes: Thick as thieves?

49 AGOT Jon VI: The Night's Watch is a brotherhood. Jon & Sam join by saying vows before the old gods. Jon is aware of entering service rather than of having his dreams come true. He wanted to be a ranger but he gets the opportunity to be groomed to be Lord Commander by acting as steward. He also has no choice. Sub themes: Service to Institution

58 AGOT Sansa V: Brotherhoods are institutions. The Kingsguard is a brotherhood and institution with a proud tradition. But Cersei has been degrading their ranks with lickspittles and now Joffrey dismisses Selmy, naming his Hound in his place and elevating the Kingslayer to Lord Commander. There have to have at one point been institutional operations of the kingsguard that we're seeing bypassed, or kingsguards would always be made of men with certain loyalties. Sub themes: Service to Institution

67 AGOT Bran VII: After the pact was signed on the Isle of Faces "the sacred order of green men was formed to keep watch over the Isle of Faces." 738 Is any group with a purpose not a brotherhood? Subthemes: What is brotherhood?

71 AGOT Jon IX: Jon would like to paint himself as friendless when he deserts, but it's his friends who bring him back, calling themselves his bothers. Sub themes: Thick as thieves?

78 ACOK 5 Bran I: Lord of the Crossing. Bran thinks of wolf packs as gangs of brothers and feels himself to be a brother to direwolves. "They are talking to me, brother to brother, he told himself when the direwolves howled. He could almost understand them...not quite, not truly, but almost. 70 Sub themes: Of a kind

79 ACOK 6 Arya II: When gold cloaks come for Gendry, the men for the Wall arm themselves. None would be taken. The Wall provides exoneration. If any one of them can be taken, they can all be treated however by whoever. It paints the Wall's brotherhood as beginning before vows are said, instilled by the situation of requiring sanctuary from a prosecuting body. The man who offers to play traitor for a gold cloak job reminds that many professions may operate as brotherhoods of sorts. He'd rather join a paying brotherhood in a warm climate. Sub themes: Of a kind, Thick as thieves?

83 ACOK 10 Arya III: Take No Part. On the kingsroad north, Yoren doesn't always behave like the Night's Watch serves the realm. Sometimes he just acts entitled to take. The men being called "crows" associates them with broken men. Subthemes: What is brotherhood?

85 ACOK 12 Theon I: Though raised among the Stark children, Theon was always apart. His age accounts in small part for this. Still, he has affection for Robb "as for a younger brother." Theon then thinks of his own brothers. "Chiefly he remembered Rodrik's drunken cuffs and Maron's cruel japes and endless lies." 185 Theon remembers telling Patrek Mallister "If your father supposes I bear him some enmity for that (killing Rodrik during Balon's rebellion), it's only because he never knew Rodrik. 178 But Theon's friendship with Patrek Mallister is like brotherhood and accomplishes much diplomatically, or would were Theon to become Lord of Pyke while Patrek is lord of Seagard. Sub themes: Of a kind, Thick as thieves?

127 ACOK 54 Jon VII: Sworn Foes. When Qhorin Halfhand speaks of Mance Rayder, Jon realizes they were friends, not just brothers, and that Qhorin respects Mance and wildlings generally. He may be forced to oppose him, but Qhorin would rather not kill Mance or any other man he did not have to. From what Ygritte acknowledges, it seems Mance may not feel the same, especially as he must represent a people for whom Qhorin is a famous enemy. Sub themes: Of a kind, Thick as thieves?

135 ACOK 62 Tyrion XIV: When Tyrion is defended from Ser Mandon by an unseen figure, he feels in his confusion that it must be Jaime. Who else would defend him but his brother? But Podrick isn't the only man who would have saved Tyrion. The construction seems to imply that the soldiers of a side are like brothers on a battlefield. Sub themes: Of a kind

142 ACOK 69 Jon VIII: Heart of the Mountain. The chapter opens with Jon expecting to die soon and wondering if Ghost will howl for him. It ends with him feeling he's lost all his brothers: his Night's Watch brothers and his Stark half-brothers. He's a deserter now and must be executed by them. He chooses to commit himself to Qhorin's task to return to the Night's Watch, to keep the Wall standing against the Others "or all fires will go out." 946 Sub themes: Of a kind

144 ASOS 1 Prologue: Dead Men Attack. When the Night's Watch vows are used to embolden the men to go on a suicide mission, they no longer seem noble but brainwashing. The institution is being abused. The Sisters, a cluster of islands, introduces the theme of soritity as law/outlaw. Lark the Sisterman can go home and be sheltered by family. His family already are outlaws. Sub themes: Thick as thieves?

147 ASOS 4 Arya I: Arya has two packs: Gendry and Hot Pie riding beside her and Nymeria's pack of wolves. But when Arya comes face to face with a small cluster of wolves, Gendry warns her to back off. The Bloody Mummers after them are another pack. Arya would tell them her identity, but not Roose Bolton who is supposedly her brother's man. Various gangs may alli or affront one another, each composed of individuals from wildly different circumstances. Is there such thing as a brotherhood? Subthemes: What is brotherhood?

148 ASOS 5 Tyrion I: Tyrion sees his people as beneath him and expects them to be rewarded for service to him by his father. It's not brotherhood. Tyrion pays them. Counter example

149 ASOS 6 Davos I: Ser Imry is made admiral for political reasons and neither he nor Stannis or the other lords show care for Davos and his sons, forced into the "honorable" dangerous position. Counter example

151 ASOS 8 Jon I: A Kind Apart. widlings choose who they follow and may change groups at any time for any reason. There's some sense that Longspear Ryk has interest in Ygritte and follows who she does, at least for now. It's not institution and it isn't precisely family, but by valuing each man's freedom to choose allegiance, the wildlings do seem to operate on a principle of brotherhood. Related Sub-themes: Of a kind

152 ASOS 9 Daenerys I: Following. "You have no brothers, but you can take husbands." 121 Jorah's proposal to Dany suggests he sees himself as equal to her and offends her for that reason. Related Sub-themes: Of a kind

153 ASOS 10 Bran I: Summer antagonizes a group of wolves instead of leading them. Meera challenges Jojen's call that they walk north to seek Bran's teacher, suggesting they prioritize finding horses. When Jojen explains why they can't, it shows he has already considered every angle for the group. In contrast, Bran is unfit to lead. Yet Meera makes the decision his and he must acknowledge that Jojen is right. Leadership is invaluable and has nothing to do with brotherhood. Counter example

154 ASOS 11 Davos II: Salladhor Saan would partner with Davos, sharing profits, love and admiration. He offers brotherhood. Davos prefers what Stannis offers, though it is not brotherhood. Counter example

155 ASOS 12 Jaime II: Our introduction to The Brotherhood Without Banners is as brigands allied with the honest non-innkeeper. Sub themes: Thick as thieves?

157 ASOS 14 Arya II: Arya and party are taken in by the kingsmen who take their horses.

159 ASOS 16 Jon II: "You can't kill a man for lying to protect them as was his brothers." 218 Ygritte

160 ASOS 17 Sansa II: The Tyrell women of Margaery's entourage form a festive sisterhood.

161 ASOS 18 Arya III: Harwin tells the story of the Mummer's Ford, how various groups gathered under Dondarrion with a new mission to defend the smallfolk. They became the resistance to the bullying Lannister regime. Sub-themes: Of a kind

162 ASOS 19 Samwell I: Samwell would have died in the snow if not for those who would carry him.

166 ASOS 23 Arya IV: Travelling across the riverlands visiting hidden communities that seem to operate as one brotherhood, it's clear each group is painfully small, vulnerable, and ill-provisioned. The kingsmen create a community spirit as friendly neighbors who do rounds. Their presentation of themselves to Arya as a sort of local police is not totally wrong. Sub themes: Of a kind

167 ASOS 24 Daenerys II: The Unsullied ? are men of all races raised to operate as a unit. Training is rigorous but not competitive. When Dany frees the Unsullied, they operate as a military company. Doesn't Grey Worm tell Dany, in ADWD, that some Unsullied have adopted a religion? It might not be related.

168 ASOS 25 Bran II: Bran's party receives aid from a lone traveller, a Liddle who shares his food and fire and implies he knows who they are. He says it was safer for travelers when there was a Stark in Winterfell, suggesting he cares for Bran partly in gratitude for the protective service his house has provided for generations. Lyanna is described as provoding a protective, inclusive service to Howland Reed in the story of the Knight of the Laughing Tree.

170 ASOS 27 Jon III: Gorne & Gendel were brothers. Craster's father was a crow.

175 ASOS 32 Jaime IV: Jaime uses the idea of returning to his siblings as motivation to remain alive. He identifies more with Brienne, who has played his "nurth," protects her by calling out "sapphires" and calls her his protector, where before she was his captor.

177 ASOS 34 Samwell II: Black Brothers. Craster's taken sons return as wights to take their brothers as a Night's Watch mutiny breaks out. Sub-themes: Of a kind

178 ASOS 35 Arya VI: Sandor Clegane is initially put on trial for the crimes of his brother, a theme developed in Sansa's chapters, as well as for all the crimes of all Lannister soldiers.

Dondarrion tells of the Brotherhood: "Some of us was swineherds. And some tanners or singers or masons. But that was before the war came. When we left King's Landing we were men of Winterfell and men of Darry and men of Blackhaven, Mallery men and Wylde men. We were knights and squires and men-at-arms, lords and commoners bound together on by our pupose. Sub-themes: Bound together by pupose

179 ASOS 36 Catelyn IV: Catelyn has contempt for Edmure's failure to light their father's funeral boat. The Blackfish explains that Hoster missed, too. Counter example

183 ASOS 40 Arya VII: The Brotherhood burns down a septry as they smoke out the Brave Companions. It seems the septry has been set upon by wave after wave of raiders, this not being the last.

184 ASOS 41 Bran III: In contrast to their aid when sheltered by the Liddle, Bran's party must not aid the lone traveller they see at Queenscrown. CONSTRUCTION: Lone Traveller

185 ASOS 42 Jon V: Though he plans to escape to Castle Black, Jon has come to know and like some of the raiders in his party. When he does escape, Jon kills men he knew and feels hollow.

186 ASOS 43 Daenerys IV: When Daenerys asks if the Stormcrows are slaves or men, Sallor the bald declared "We are a brotherhood of free men." He is Qartheen, his partners Ghiscari and Tyroshi.

187 ASOS 44 Arya VIII: Edric Dayne says he's Jon Snow's milk brother. Gendry joins the Brotherhood Without Banners ? This makes him no longer Arya's.

188 ASOS 45 Jaime VI: Jaime's weirwood dream of being judged by many, including his brothers of the kingsguard.

190 ASOS 47 Samwell III: Sam and Gilly are attacked by Night's Watch men who've turned wight. Then, a cold handed man in a Night's Watch cloak rescues them.

196 ASOS 53 Arya XI: It comes out that the Hound plans to offer himself into Robb's service. Should she forgive him?

200 ASOS 57 Bran IV: Meera offers their fire to Gilly and Sam reclimbs the steps so he can open the gate for them. They act as allies and already were allies, but couldn't know it.

218 ASOS 75 Arya XIII: When the Hound encounters the Mountain's men at the inn, he buddies up to them enough to make Arya want to kill him. It's clear they will overpower the Hound and take him to his brother. The Hound has to kill them.

219 ASOS 76 Samwell IV: Gilly's babe and Mance's are milk brothers. "Craster had no love for Mance, nor Mance for Craster, but now Craster's daughter is feeding Mance's son." 1044

221 ASOS 78 Tyrion XI: Jaime rescues Tyrion from the black cells. They laugh about their missing pieces. But Jaime tells Tyrion the truth about Tysha. Tyrion disown Jaime and says he killed Joffrey.

225 ASOS 82 Merrett Frey Epilogue: With Lord Beric Dondarrion gone and Lady Stonehwart present, the Brotherhood Without Banners is worse than the Kingswood Brotherhood and behaving like the Bloody Mummers they're still chasing down.

230 AFFC 5 Brienne I: Ser Illifer and Ser Creighton offer Brienne to join them as a travelling party for the mutual benefit of all. But Brienne can't. She's tasked to protect Sansa and cannot have the decision about whether to sell the girl to Varys handed over to Ser Shadrich or any other hedge knights joined with on the road.

252 AFFC 27 Samwell III: "Dareon was supposed to be his brother." 537

254 AFFC 29 Cersei VI: The sparrows number in the tens of thousands, yet form an easy brotherhood due to common emergency. They are even an army. Sub-themes: Bound together by pupose

257 AFFC 32 Brienne VI: The brotherhood of the Quiet Isle is made of deserters and broken men. It's a sanctuary for wounded soldiers without a home. Their vows of silence protect their identites.

271 AFFC 46 Samwell V: The Faith and Citadel are not strictly brotherhoods but institutions. Such organizations are both stubbornly dogmatic and likely to corrupt. Counter example

274 ADWD 3 Daenerys I: Much like The Brotherhood Without Banners, The Sons of the Harpy are a band of underground rebels who are allied to a former regime.

276 ADWD 5 Bran I: When Coldhands kills a group of Night's Watch rangers, Bran confronts him. "They were your brothers."

289 ADWD 18 Jon IV: For the North. Bowen Marsh tells Jon they have to stop feeding Stannis's men and wildlings on Stannis's promise. He reccommends immediate reduction to winter rations for the men, to compensate. If they aren't careful now, they could all die by spring. Jon says he must thank the knights who fought off Mance's assault, responding to their own call for aid.

290 ADWD 19 Tyrion V: In the Sorrows, they pass a boat and share information. The news from Volantis is war. The news network operates with trust and familiarity.

293 ADWD 22 Jon V: Jon recruits wildlings to aid the Night's Watch for food. Sub-themes: Bound together by situation

297 ADWD 26 The Windblown: After dicing with the men of the Windblown, Archibald Yronwood may have real hesitation to follow through with their planned defection.

306 ADWD 35 Bran III: The weirwood web is not strictly a brotherhood, but it shares certain qualities.

307 ADWD 36 Jon VII: "They've come to pray...these are their gods, too." As if answering the prayers of the wildlings camped in the grove of weirwoods, Jon and his party stumble upon them and bring them back to be warmed and fed.

330 ADWD 59 Jon XII: Jon hopes many wildlings will join the Watch, but does not require it of them to accept their aid in exchange for food because they'd be bitter. Freedom is basic to allegiance and brotherhood is allegiance.

Related Sub-themes: Of a kind, Thick as thieves? Service to institution, What is brotherhood? Bound together by pupose, Bound together by pupose