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I'm back on Eddard this week... In the first thread we talked about Eddard's pride and how it may or may not have led to his downfall. But there is another side of this coin....loyalty. Specifically to those that he grew up with, Jon Arryn and especailly Richard. When Eddard becomes the hand he fights hard to learn the truth about Jon Arryn's death. Why is he so determined to find this out? How does this illustrate the theme of loyalty? When Eddard learns the truth, why does he give Cersei the chance to escape? What does this behavior say about Eddard's personality? What does it say of his relationship to Richard, Cersei's husband?

**SPOILERS** I think that Eddard was chivalrous, and that's why he gave Cersei the opportunity to escape justice. She was queen and Robert's widow so he couldn't bring himself to imprison her. His own honor is what ultimately did him in, because his enemies didn't have the same sense of right/wrong. Cersei had no compunction of playing deviously to come out on top, especially when he had her all but finished. Eddard's greatest strength turned out to be his Achilles Heel.

Well Eddard is one of the several standard characters encountered in novels - seeing nothing past his own views of honour, pride and chivalry and let god damn the consequences, I will face them like a good man. Such men would always be over-rated in preachers' views and as somebody said in one of the other threads, would lead to good in stable times, but to big problems in unstable times(like the situation in the book.)
He is a somewhat disappointing character. Or perhaps I should better say that among other character, he seems two one-dimensional and predictable. In GRRM's defence, even the real world has people, so his character does lend some reality to the story(though it would make greater impact if it came not at the beginning)

I think Eddard, while he might be a bit 2D, is an important part of Martin's design. We're shown a world that contains the romantic notions of chivalry and honor, and we see how those ideals are largely ignored by knights and lords who are busy pursuing their own interests or whims. So we've seen how the ideals appear to be a sham... but in Eddard we also see someone in whom the ideals are embodied.

He's a truly noble character (and it was me who said that he would be successful and admirable character in stable times) but when he's pulled out of his own fiefdom where his ideals are largely implemented in fact, he's bound for failure. Good ideals and their sincere enactment aren't enough. As a result, we have a hard time admiring Ned, despite his admirably qualities.

Which might tell us something interesting about ourselves, might it not?

Eddard! The first time I read this book my opinion of Eddard was completely different than the last time I read it. I think that my perception during my first read was that he was all that usual Fantasy characters are in the Medieval setting. Honorable and Just. But reading it this last time, I just think that he was Blind and in many ways selfish. I think that I stated this in another post but I think that he sacrificed too much for Jon Arryn and Robert and in many ways the Kingdom. He should have kept in mind his children and his own lands. If he had thought of his own children over the children of Robert and Cersei things probably would have been different for them all. But I don't think that he could ever have imagined how things would have turned out. It is kind of ironic that he sacrifices so much to save Robert's kids and then Joffrey kills him.