One of my favorite chapters. Would love to do an in-depth reread if anyone wants to join in.
I might be close to that chapter- probably can do this weekend. Any other takers?
“Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armour yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you.” ― George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones
I am reading it right now. One thing I noticed just now was this. A Clash of Kings - Jon III
Mormont beckoned him closer. "Send him here after he's eaten. Have him bring quill and parchment. And find Tollett as well. Tell him to bring my axe. A guest gift for our host." "Who's this one now?" Craster said before Jon could go. "He has the look of a Stark." "My steward and squire, Jon Snow."
It makes me wonder how unique the "Stark" look is if Craster can guess that Jon is part "Stark"?
It makes me wonder how unique the "Stark" look is if Craster can guess that Jon is part "Stark"?
Am assuming it's pretty distinctive--and that Jon looks like Benjen.
All art is at once surface and symbol. Those who go beneath the surface do so at their peril. Those who read the symbol do so at their peril. It is the spectator, and not life, that art really mirrors. Oscar Wilde.
Please do! This chapter has masses of info and symbolism in it.
All art is at once surface and symbol. Those who go beneath the surface do so at their peril. Those who read the symbol do so at their peril. It is the spectator, and not life, that art really mirrors. Oscar Wilde.
And it just occurred to me that maybe it's not so much the Stark look, but that Jon just looks more like Benjen than we're lead to believe. I mean, what would a man that's never seen more than one Stark in his life know of Stark looks? There aren't any other Starks or Snows that he would've met.
Nice. And agreed! Jon, Ben, and Waymar Royce all have strikingly similar appearances, and are drenched in Last Hero imagery.
"I can see it. You have more of the north in you than your brothers."
And it just occurred to me that maybe it's not so much the Stark look, but that Jon just looks more like Benjen than we're lead to believe. I mean, what would a man that's never seen more than one Stark in his life know of Stark looks? There aren't any other Starks or Snows that he would've met.
Nice. And agreed! Jon, Ben, and Waymar Royce all have strikingly similar appearances, and are drenched in Last Hero imagery.
Am also wondering if it isn't an instinctual disliking. In the chapter, Jon instinctively refuses to eat with Craster. And Ghost rewards him with a rabbit. Does Craster, with his cold smell, instinctively react to someone Starkish? Not just the look, but the. . . for last of a better word. . . ."essence?"
And yes, I am now imagining HBO's next marketing ploy--"Essence of Stark"--sold at Macy's and Neiman Marcus, just in time for Christmas.
All art is at once surface and symbol. Those who go beneath the surface do so at their peril. Those who read the symbol do so at their peril. It is the spectator, and not life, that art really mirrors. Oscar Wilde.
Excellent! Perhaps with undertones of weir wood paste. "A forbidden scent--at first, frightening. But soon--intoxicating!"
At least that's what they can put in the adverts.
Along with this picture.
Frightening part? I'm pretty sure such a thing would sell.
All art is at once surface and symbol. Those who go beneath the surface do so at their peril. Those who read the symbol do so at their peril. It is the spectator, and not life, that art really mirrors. Oscar Wilde.
Can't forget the hint of Winter Rose in the fragrance though...
Ah!! But that's it's own separate fragrance:
She made the rose purple instead of blue to avoid copyright infringement.
But yes. . . you were ninjaed by Avril Lavigne.
All art is at once surface and symbol. Those who go beneath the surface do so at their peril. Those who read the symbol do so at their peril. It is the spectator, and not life, that art really mirrors. Oscar Wilde.
All art is at once surface and symbol. Those who go beneath the surface do so at their peril. Those who read the symbol do so at their peril. It is the spectator, and not life, that art really mirrors. Oscar Wilde.
This is the “Ice Visitation” chapter, yes? WeaselPie and I were starting a convo about this in his thread at Sable Hall before it imploded. His theory got me to take a closer look at Jon’s relationship to the north, and I realized that in ALL of Jon’s chapters in ACOK, Ice/Cold act as a correction for him. Every time he gets bad news, is conflicted in some way, or is besieged with something “hot”, shortly after he has some kind of encounter with cold – either he seeks it out (ex: goes to walk the top of the Wall alone), or it seeks him out (ex: the ice visit at Craster’s), but in any event, this encounter sets him back on the right path.
I have notes in the margins of my book, which of course is at home, but it’s actually really neat when you see it all laid out in sequence.
Could be. I'm not discounting it, because I do think there's more to the Craster/Stark thing than we know about. But could it also be that Jon, unlike so many of his brothers, is dressed better than they are? That would probably stand out more from a far than any 'look' someone might have on closer inspection. Someone well dressed would immediately put the man on the alert. Only thing is, I can't remember if he was eyeing him before they were introduced or was it just the axe that caught his eye? Hence a reread is in order I think.
Possible on the wardrobial distinction. As with Royce. Though Jon is described as looking the most like a Stark by Cat. So, I think he also might just look Stark-ish.
And agree on the re-read--last time I read it, I was focusing on the "ice is magic!" moment at dawn. Need a closer look at the whole thing.
This is the “Ice Visitation” chapter, yes? WeaselPie and I were starting a convo about this in his thread at Sable Hall before it imploded. His theory got me to take a closer look at Jon’s relationship to the north, and I realized that in ALL of Jon’s chapters in ACOK, Ice/Cold act as a correction for him. Every time he gets bad news, is conflicted in some way, or is besieged with something “hot”, shortly after he has some kind of encounter with cold – either he seeks it out (ex: goes to walk the top of the Wall alone), or it seeks him out (ex: the ice visit at Craster’s), but in any event, this encounter sets him back on the right path.
I have notes in the margins of my book, which of course is at home, but it’s actually really neat when you see it all laid out in sequence.
Excellent! I'd been looking for Jon's actions at dawn (for my own reasons). Hadn't even thought of the cold. But in this chapter, I can definitely see it. He leaves Craster's dark smoky fire--and Ghost rewards him with a rabbit. And he wakes to the icicle paradise.
All art is at once surface and symbol. Those who go beneath the surface do so at their peril. Those who read the symbol do so at their peril. It is the spectator, and not life, that art really mirrors. Oscar Wilde.
