::shrug::
I think Catelyn’s reaction to Jon is completely justifiable and she ends up being just as noble as Ned, in my view. I guess, YMMV.
IIRC,
Mormont joined the watch after his son was banished for slaving. Repenting for his son’s sins, as it were. And repenting for his own faults in raising that particular son
If I do recall correctly, that would be a point for him as particularly noble.
Of course, I could be completely off.
Aguecheek,
No, the Old Bear was already at the Wall when his son (Jorah? I forget the son’s name, but its something like that) sold the criminals into slavery. The people he sold were people he had taken in his capacity as the Lord of Bear Island, something he wouldn’t have been if the Old Bear wasn’t at the Wall.
I believe Mormont just figured his son was old enough to rule and decided he’d get out of his way, and let him be lord.
Oh, and I think Dany is pretty noble, but I know people will disagree with that. Hey, ordering a few crucifixions never hurt Julius Ceaser’s rep, did it?
And for the OP, while some of the things you mention do turn up in some way, shape, or form, the series is very uncliche and unpredictable. It’s definetely not the standard “we must band together and do this quest so that the Dark Lord doesn’t conquer our world” type fantasy. Martin takes a lot of standard fantasy elements and stands them on their head while still kinda using them. And it’s very political and very bloody. Which may or may not appeal to you, but which is unusual for fantasy
Once one knows the real motivation behind Jaime Lannister’s most infamous act, it’s certainly possible to make a case for him as very noble.
(Ok, there was that thing he did in book one, but apart from that.)
OhohoHO! Wow! Thanks for the info, that’s certainly… interesting.
ExtraKun, about your specific questions… as people have said, yes, some of those things do show up a little bit, but not in terribly cliched ways and generally not as something the storyline depends upon. There are a lot of different characters with a lot of different goals, and you can basically cut out any one of them and still have the story go on. That’s part of what keeps readers nervous. Martin just kills people!
Horrible predictable fantasy bugs the hell out of me, too, to the point where I almost can’t stand the genre anymore. But this I love.
Oh yes. Now I RC. And Jorah (you had it right) left the Lord’s sword, Longclaw, behind when he was exiled.
Thanks for the reminders.
Thanks all! After my exams, I guess I’ll be picking up a Song of Ice and Fire, as well as the Game of Throne RPG (I was looking through it and it totally stoked me, hence I was wondering how good the novels will be).