Jon (pages 444-451)

Summary:
          Jon's chapter takes place at the Wall, and begins with Ser Allister Thorne announcing which eight people will assist the Lord Commander. The beginning/middle includes Jon speaking with Sam about his worries for him, and voices his concerns to Pyp after him and Sam's talk. After, Jon decides to ride a mare with Ghost from Castle Rock to any destination that he ended up at. While on this ride, he begins thinking about how easy it would be to leave the Night's Watch and travel back to Winterfell by the time the, "...moon was full again". However, as he thinks about his brothers, Jon reminds himself that Robb and Bran are his "half" brothers, and how unwelcome Catelyn Stark would be to his arrival. At the end of the chapter, Jon visits Maester Aemon to voice his concerns for Sam, saying in so many words that while Sam lacks physical strengths and typical male skills, he is able to read and write. Jon also mentions Sam's approachable nature to animals, and with Jon's comments in mind, Maester Aemon ends the chapter with a declaration for sleep.

Analysis/Reaction:
          This chapter in Game of Thrones emphasizes Jon's character multiple times throughout. Readers are able to see deeper into the Jon's feelings, and just how big his heart really is. For example, we see his feelings when he rides with Ghost and mutters to himself, "I have not sworn yet." This statement regards Jon's previous comment about how, "...the Wall would be his home until he was old as Maester Aemon." An example for Jon's compassionate nature is evident when Jon speaks with Maester Aemon about his concerns for Sam, which shows how compassionate he is to the odd man out. This section displays Jon's character development mostly through his scene with Maester Aemon because that's when Jon's leadership quality really shines through, especially in this quote, "'The Night's Watch needs every man . Why kill one, to no end? Make use of him instead." As for the big picture of Game of Thrones, I feel that Jon is going to be a leader of some sorts either in the Night's Watch or with Robb. The reason I chose this chapter is because Jon is one of my favorite characters, and I love how his personality shines through in this section. His desire to improve Sam's time at the Wall is admirable and tells a lot about his character.