Jon Snow
Jon Snow, the bastard son of Eddard Stark, is the nine-hundred-and-ninety-eighth Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. Throughout A Dance with Dragons, he is the central figure at Castle Black, forced to navigate a treacherous path between the wildling horde beyond the Wall, the ambitions of King Stannis Baratheon, and the simmering discontent of his own black brothers. His decisions, driven by a pragmatic vision of survival against the coming winter and the threat of the Others, ultimately lead to his assassination by mutineers within the Watch.
Identity and Rise to Command
Jon Snow is introduced as the newly elected Lord Commander, a position he never sought. He is young, untested, and viewed with suspicion by many senior brothers like Bowen Marsh and Alliser Thorne, who see him as a green boy and a bastard. His election was engineered by Samwell Tarly, and he immediately faces the immense burden of command. He is a son of Eddard Stark, raised with a sense of honor and duty, but his bastard birth has always set him apart. He is also a warg, bonded to his direwolf Ghost, a connection that grows stronger and more troubling as the book progresses, blurring the line between man and beast in his wolf dreams.
The Lord Commander's Burdens
Jon's primary challenge is the sheer lack of resources. Castle Black is a ruin, the Watch is undermanned, and winter is coming. He must feed not only his own men but also the thousands of wildling prisoners and the army of Stannis Baratheon, who has taken up residence at the Wall. He is forced to make hard choices, such as cutting rations and negotiating with the Iron Bank of Braavos for a loan to buy food. He also must manage the volatile political situation, balancing the demands of Stannis, the piety of Queen Selyse and her queen's men, and the deep-seated hatred many of his brothers hold for the wildlings.
The Wildling Question and the Pact with Tormund
Jon's most controversial decision is to allow the free folk through the Wall. He argues that they are not enemies but potential allies against the Others, and that the Wall cannot be held without them. He negotiates a pact with Tormund Giantsbane, the wildling leader, allowing thousands of free folk to pass south in exchange for hostages and their promise to fight for the Watch. This decision is seen as a betrayal by many in the Night's Watch, who have spent their lives fighting wildlings. Jon also orchestrates the marriage of Alys Karstark to Sigorn, the Magnar of Thenn, to secure an alliance and thwart a Bolton plot, further blurring the lines between the Watch's traditional role and the politics of the realm.
Relationships and Conflict
Jon's relationships are defined by the pressures of command. He respects Stannis but refuses to be his puppet, denying him the castles of the Wall. He clashes with Bowen Marsh and Othell Yarwyck, who represent the old guard and oppose his every move to integrate the wildlings. He executes Janos Slynt for insubordination, a brutal act that establishes his authority but also creates enemies. He sends Samwell Tarly and Maester Aemon away for their safety, a decision that isolates him further. He also interacts with Melisandre, who sees him in her fires and warns him of daggers in the dark, but he remains deeply mistrustful of her and her red god.
Change and Ending
Jon undergoes a profound transformation from a brooding youth into a decisive, if tragic, leader. He learns to make ruthless choices, such as threatening Gilly to force her to swap her baby with Mance Rayder's son to protect the prince from Melisandre's fires. He sends Mance Rayder north to rescue his sister Arya, a personal mission that violates the Watch's vow of neutrality. The climax comes when he receives a letter from Ramsay Bolton, claiming victory over Stannis and demanding the return of his bride, Arya. Jon declares his intent to march south to confront Ramsay, a direct violation of his vows. This is the final straw for his brothers. As he goes to confront a rampaging giant, Bowen Marsh and other conspirators stab him, crying "For the Watch." Jon falls into the snow, bleeding from multiple wounds, his fate left uncertain.
Narrative Role and Evaluation
Jon Snow is a classic tragic hero, a figure of integrity and foresight who is destroyed by the very institution he is trying to save. His arc in A Dance with Dragons is a study in the impossible choices of leadership. He is a round character, capable of surprising the reader with his political acumen and his capacity for both mercy and ruthlessness. His story is a central pillar of the novel, exploring themes of duty, honor, sacrifice, and the brutal cost of trying to do the right thing in a world that offers no easy answers. His assassination is the culmination of all the tensions he has tried to manage, a direct consequence of his attempt to forge a new path for the Night's Watch.
