Jon's Chapter, beginning with, "Jon was showing Dareon how best to deliver a sidestroke..."
This chapter was about Samwell Harly from Horn Hill coming to the Wall to join the Night's Watch. He had to practice fighting with some of the other boys and he was severely beaten by most of them. Ser Alliser already doesn't like Sam because he is a rather larger boy and Alliser wants strong and brave boys to train. Jon befriends Sam to protect him from some of the other boys and they share stories of their past lives. Eventually, Sam is able to become friendly with Jon's friends and feels comfortable enough to laugh with them.
This chapter was really interesting because I saw a shift in Jon's attitude toward being a part of the Night's Watch. It was obvious that he really hated it, but after reading about him calling his friends in the Watch his "brothers," he is growing accustomed to the lifestyle. I think it was completely unfair for Ser Alliser to be picking on Sam because of his size, especially since the Night's Watch is a very unpleasant lifestyle. I can only assume that it is difficult to get people to want to do this job (even though Sam only had the choice between the Night's Watch and death). Not to mention the fact that training can be tiresome and the nights are long, dark, and cold. I understand that the purpose of this training is to toughen up the boys and make them strong defenders of the wall, but they are just kids, some barely past fifteen. Being taken away from their home at such a young age to pursue a life of lonliness cannot be easy, and the harsh conditions they are being put through both mentally and physically must be exhausting.
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