Recall that it wasn't only his honor that was up for grabs.
Dan Send a noteboard - 15/06/2011 07:07:54 AM
It was his daughters' lives. Varys specifically said, "the next time I come to you bear in mind I could be bringing you Sansa's head." That is why Stark capitulated, that and that alone. The book makes it pretty clear, and the television show makes it abundantly clear. I don't see this as any sort of tragic flaw, or tragic lapse in morals. It wasn't just Joffrey who decided to kill Stark, either, though- I'm betting Littlefinger talked him up. Js.
In other words, if he was dead no matter what, the only question that remained was whether he would die with his honor intact or in shreds around him. Needless to say, he chose the latter. However, had it been as simple as the Lannisters killing Ned for what he knew as soon as they captured him, none of the prison drama would ever have transpired. Whether or not he what he knew gave him leverage even from within a cell, THEY believed it did and that gave him a bargaining chip: Your life and your childrens in exchange for mine. Once he surrendered that leverage he was utterly at the mercy of people whose defining characteristics are lack of mercy or scruples. Knowing all that, he did it anyway, which makes him as stupid as he was honorless. Giving into hostage takers demands doesn't free the hostages, it simply enriches their captors (and is particularly stupid when killing the hostages would eliminate all THEIR leverage).
If he purposefully would not admit his folly would you think Cercei would let him live. Would you purposefully let a defiant man who knew a secret that could endanger your safety, a man who wishes you dead, would you let him live.
If Ned didn't retrack his claims he would have been killed. If he did retrack his claims he would have been probably been killed (short term their would be benefits for not killing him, but as you said long term he was still a threat to Joffrey's survival.)
Ned was a dead man as soon as he was captured, nothing was going to change the fact he was going to die. He was going to retrack his claims about Joffrey for he was a good solider about to die, and he was trying to save his daughter's life.
If Ned didn't retrack his claims he would have been killed. If he did retrack his claims he would have been probably been killed (short term their would be benefits for not killing him, but as you said long term he was still a threat to Joffrey's survival.)
Ned was a dead man as soon as he was captured, nothing was going to change the fact he was going to die. He was going to retrack his claims about Joffrey for he was a good solider about to die, and he was trying to save his daughter's life.
In other words, if he was dead no matter what, the only question that remained was whether he would die with his honor intact or in shreds around him. Needless to say, he chose the latter. However, had it been as simple as the Lannisters killing Ned for what he knew as soon as they captured him, none of the prison drama would ever have transpired. Whether or not he what he knew gave him leverage even from within a cell, THEY believed it did and that gave him a bargaining chip: Your life and your childrens in exchange for mine. Once he surrendered that leverage he was utterly at the mercy of people whose defining characteristics are lack of mercy or scruples. Knowing all that, he did it anyway, which makes him as stupid as he was honorless. Giving into hostage takers demands doesn't free the hostages, it simply enriches their captors (and is particularly stupid when killing the hostages would eliminate all THEIR leverage).
interesting thread over on tv guide...cannoli will hate it.
- 13/06/2011 05:14:48 AM
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He was going to put aside his principles and say, 'I betrayed my country and my king and my people'.
- 13/06/2011 05:55:39 AM
760 Views
I am sorry but that is a bunch of BS
- 13/06/2011 12:01:18 PM
603 Views
*NM*
Even if I concede he was dead from the moment he was captured, that leaves HOW he died to determine.
- 13/06/2011 04:14:44 PM
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Ned is a northerner, and well aware of the good he could have done on the Wall.
- 13/06/2011 05:49:40 PM
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That was not the clincher though. What good he could do on the Wall is nothing next to a usurper
- 17/06/2011 08:47:06 PM
605 Views
Recall that it wasn't only his honor that was up for grabs.
- 15/06/2011 07:07:54 AM
643 Views
Look up the concept of hostages sometime. Plus, Varys was playing Ned.
- 17/06/2011 09:15:02 PM
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So what should have Ned done, once he was in that cell? *NM*
- 18/06/2011 04:50:27 AM
637 Views
Stick to his guns and not agree to take the Black or recant his actions against Joffrey
- 04/07/2011 03:29:23 PM
659 Views
I'd pick family over honour.
- 13/06/2011 10:05:46 PM
627 Views
Cersie is the one who says "love is poison" in the second book to Sansa.
- 15/06/2011 06:54:21 PM
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And some day, when your kid needed people to trust you, you'd be screwed.
- 17/06/2011 09:37:25 PM
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