A Game of Thrones: Chapter 5: Jon Summary & Analysis

Jon Snow watches the proceedings of the welcome feast for Robert from the benches of a table at the back of the hall, away from Ned’s other children. The procession marches right past Jon’s seat. Jon is unimpressed by Robert. Ned had described him as a fearsome warrior, but he looks like a bloated, drunken man to Jon. Jaime Lannister looks more like what Jon imagined a king would look like. People call him “Kingslayer” behind his back. Jaime’s brother Tyrion follows Jaime. Tyrion is a dwarf with one eye that is green and one that is black. The royal children enter next, accompanied by the Stark children. Jon feeds his direwolf pup, Ghost, under the table.

Ben, Ned’s brother who serves in the Night’s Watch, comes over to talk to Jon and asks why he’s not eating with the family, as he usually does. Jon says that Catelyn thought it might offend the king and queen if they were joined by a “bastard.” He then tells Ben that he wants to join the Night’s Watch. Ben says he should give it some time. Men on the Night’s Watch take an oath to not have families or father children. Ben says Jon should try fathering a few “bastards” of his own before he commits to something so momentous. Jon yells that he’ll never father a bastard and then notices that the whole table is listening. He bursts into tears and runs outside. Outside, Jon runs into Tyrion, who advises Jon to make who he is his strength. That way his identity can never be used against him.