Stannis

I thought Stannis’s hawk story did a great job of establishing who Stannis is deep down. He was the kid who healed the injured hawk and made it fly again, showing that he had a good heart and was willing to do what’s right even when it’s difficult. Much easier for any prince of Storm’s End to just get a new hawk. It flew well again, but then the shadow of Robert loomed large even in hawking, and Robert’s hawk did cool dives while Stannis’s hawk only weaved through the trees. Stannis didn’t know it but that’s due to their breeds, Goshawks hunt by diving in the open and Gyrfalcons find prey in the trees.
Stannis uses the hawk story to explain why he changed from the Seven to Rhllor. It’s a confession that he betrayed his true self because he didn’t like the results or he wanted results faster.
Gyrfalcons are much harder to train so Stannis didn’t know what he had was more precious than what Robert had. I think the story’s suggestion is that it will be the same with his change of gods. The Seven was the more precious commitment even if it isn’t as flashy as Rhllor.

Stannis is a cool character. I understand the fans’ infatuation with him. He seems like he would be a great leader, because he has a deep respect for law and authority.

I think Stannis’s shortcoming is that that respect for authority goes too deep. It’s more like worship of the rules.

For example, with the Davos onion situation, Stannis saw two rules come into conflict. One rule presumably dictates that the punishment for smuggling is to cut off the smuggler’s fingers. Another and perhaps more fundamental rule compels Stannis to reward the man who rescued him and his men from starvation.

I think the event demonstrates the shortcoming of rules. Rules can never be made to justly accommodate all possible situations that might occur over all time.

And it demonstrates the necessity for a ruler to be able to suss out the intentions behind the rules. If the rules ever come into conflict, he can negotiate those intentions and find a middle path between them.

Stannis’s solution for the Davos onion situation is to cut off Davos’s fingers and simultaneously reward him with a major step up the social ladder.

Edric Storm: “Is it true my uncle Stannis cut off your fingers?”

“Only the last joint. I still have fingers, only shorter.”

“Show me.”

Davos peeled his glove off. The boy studied his hand carefully. “He did not shorten your thumb?”

“No.” Davos coughed. “No, he left me that.”

“He should not have chopped any of your fingers,” the lad decided. “That was ill done.”

“I was a smuggler.”

“Yes, but you smuggled him fish and onions.”

“Lord Stannis knighted me for the onions, and took my fingers for the smuggling.” He pulled his glove back on.

“My father would not have chopped your fingers.”

“As you say, my lord.” Robert was a different man than Stannis, true enough. The boy is like him. Aye, and like Renly as well. That thought made him anxious.

The boy was about to say something more when they heard steps. (ASOS Davos II)

So Stannis simply executed both extremes. He didn’t bother to find a compromise. It shows me that he doesn’t recognize the necessity for compromise when it comes to rules. I think that’ll continue to characterize him.

Stannis had hacked the ends off at the last joint, all but the thumb. (ACOK Prologue)

To Davos, his fingertips represent Stannis’s mercy and fairness. To me, Davos’s fingertips are proof of Stannis’s conscientious objection to cutting off Davos’s fingers at all, as well as Stannis’s paradoxical tendency to take half-measures in his attempts to adhere to the letter of the law by never taking half-measures.

An acknowledgement that the intentions behind conflicting rules necessitates compromise is synonymous with an acknowledgement that you have to accept the good with the bad. Stannis’s inability to compromise is the way through which he stands in contradiction to the story’s theme about good and evil.

“Mance knows the haunted forest better than any ranger,” Jon had told King Stannis, in his final effort to convince His Grace that the King-Beyond-the-Wall would be of more use to them alive than dead. “He knows Tormund Giantsbane. He has fought the Others. And he had the Horn of Joramun and did not blow it. He did not bring down the Wall when he could have.”

His words fell on deaf ears. Stannis had remained unmoved.  The law was plain; a deserter’s life was forfeit. (ADWD Jon III)

“And?”

The man shook his head. “It is as you warned him. They will not rise, Maester. Not for him. They do not love him.”

No, Cressen thought. Nor will they ever. He is strong, able, just . . . aye, just past the point of wisdom . . . yet it is not enough. It has never been enough. (ACOK Prologue)

Updated Nov 26, 2024