Post by dariopatke on Sept 8, 2016 16:34:00 GMT -5
Theon's problem is Theon. I give you that he's had a conflicted childhood. Who in this story hasn't? Yes, he was taken to Winterfell at the age of 9. Yet when we are introduced to the Starks, who is standing beside Lord Eddard, bearing his great sword? Theon.
The problem is the Starks have raised him along with Jon and their trueborn children. Jon as the bastard was the bottom of the social pecking order. Theon was a trueborn son of House Greyjoy, which meant he was 'fostered' at Winterfell the same Ned and Robert with Jon Arryn. Ned didn't see him as just a ward, he treated him the way Jon Arryn treated him and Robert when they were children. Though the circumstances of their changes in residence were different, Arryn's guiding influence and love for the two boys shows in how Ned raised the boys entrusted to him: Theon, Robb, Jon, and to some extent Bran. Only Rickon was too small to have truly know his father.
When Balon sneers at him, at his finery, demanding to know if he paid the iron price, Theon's pride in himself is compromised. Raiding the Stony Shore, with men who barely tolerate him much less obey him, raiding Winterfell is a boy's ploy to show the men he can play in the big leagues. A true commander knows not to extend themselves beyond their supply lines. It tends to make one isolated, surrounded by enemies, liable to drive anyone paranoid. Especially someone with a tarnished sense of self-worth.
Let's look back at AGoT, when Bran is taken prisoner by the wildlings on his first ride out of Winterfell. Theon takes the arrow shot, which we know he is more than capable of making, only to endure Robb's wrath for endangering Bran. Theon is expecting gratitude and is confused and angry when Robb doesn't provide what he is expecting. As Robb begins to march south from Winterfell, Theon rides on his left hand. Yet when provoked at the lack of respect from his Iron Born crew, he turns on the family that raised him higher than just an Iron Born captive son.
Ramsey's abuse is excessive but isn't burning two innocent lads to cover your own ineptitude excessive as well?
Theon did serve as Neds squire, but that doesnt change the fact that he wasnt treated like Ned and Robert and Eyrie or even Big and Little Walders at WF.
And yet Theon describes Ned as cold, Ironborn who at 9 lost his brothers thinks about Ned as cold.
What? His men were loyal to the bone, so much that they prefered to stay and die with him than going with Asha. They werent extenden beyond supply lines aince they hold Torrhens Square and Deepwood Motte and Asha felt road is safe enough to travel with ten men.
He had to do it, his house is house Greyjoy, not house Stark. He is the heir but many dispute his claim, better to obey Balon, become King and rule peacefuly and treat Northmen like they deserve (which he certainly tried) that do disobey, lose Kingdom and have no infkuence at all about how Nortmen are ruled. He had to prove himself and this is another thing why I sympathise, at WF everyone looked at him suspiciously because of his fathers actions, than he came to II and they all blamed him for something his father was guilty of. He was blamed for everything his entire life.
There is no justification for those children, but almost everyone commited something just as bad or worse if we exclude Brienne and maybe couple more characters.