Examining Catelyn Stark's Treatment of Jon Snow in 'Game of Thrones'

The Big Picture

Everyone in Game of Thrones is flawed, even the most heroic characters.

Catelyn Stark's treatment of Jon Snow in Game of Thrones was harsh, yet her coldness stemmed from sympathetic motives, ultimately establishing her as a captivating character. However, the portrayal of Catelyn in the HBO series failed to do justice to the intricacies of the character George R.R. Martin originally crafted.

What Is Catelyn Stark’s History in 'Game of Thrones'?

Nobody in Game of Thrones is flawless. Even the characters with the most heroic tendencies reveal significant flaws, make unwise choices, and allow their biases to cloud their perspectives. This is precisely the point that George R. R. Martin, the author of A Song of Ice and Fire, aims to make. Martin deconstructs well-established fantasy archetypes by populating his world with imperfect individuals. Catelyn Stark, portrayed by Michelle Fairley, is no exception. Despite demonstrating more bravery and nobility than many others, Catelyn proved to be painfully human. Her treatment of Jon Snow, played by Kit Harington, ranged from questionable at best to downright cruel at worst. This dynamic was made more complicated by Jon's status as a beloved character among fans. Should Catelyn have shown Jon more kindness? Undoubtedly. However, the reasons behind her actions were multifaceted and somewhat justifiable. Does Game of Thrones suggest that Catelyn's inability to love Jon as a mother had dire consequences for her entire family? Absolutely not.

Catelyn Stark's treatment of Jon Snow is deeply influenced by her upbringing and life experiences. As a member of House Tully, one of the prominent families in Game of Thrones, Catelyn lived a privileged life where she lacked for nothing. Her father, Hoster Tully, held a special love for her among his three children, and she shared a close bond with her younger sister, Lysa. Catelyn's future seemed promising when she was betrothed to Brandon Stark, the heir of Winterfell, a powerful and influential House. However, tragedy struck when King Aerys II Targaryen cruelly murdered Brandon and his father, Rickard, in their attempt to rescue Lyanna Stark from Rhaegar Targaryen, Aerys's son and the rightful heir to the Iron Throne. These tragic events sparked Robert Baratheon's rebellion, which ultimately led to the deaths of Rhaegar and King Aerys, with Robert ascending to the throne and ending the Targaryen dynasty.

Catelyn's involvement in this debacle was just as limited as any other woman's. Despite her noble lineage, her role was reduced to that of a bystander, helplessly watching as she lost her betrothed to a war. In the feudal society of Westeros, where social and political progress was often achieved through marriage, Catelyn's father, Hoster, promptly arranged a new union for her with Eddard Stark, the newly appointed heir of Winterfell. Unlike her amicable relationship with her previous betrothed, Catelyn did not meet Ned until their wedding day. She endured their wedding night and subsequently spent a year alone and pregnant while Ned fought alongside Robert. After the birth of their son, Robb, she fulfilled her "duty" and left the prosperous lands of Riverrun behind to reside in the freezing, desolate, and secluded Winterfell. The Northerners were not unkind to Catelyn in Ned's absence, but she yearned for her true home.

When Ned finally returned, he brought with him a bastard son named Jon Snow. Bastards were a common occurrence in Westeros, but raising Jon in Winterfell was a rare indication of official recognition and a profound personal and social insult to Catelyn. Jon's presence beneath her roof connected her irrevocably to Ned's presumed infidelity, subjecting Catelyn to shame and jeopardizing her standing within society. As we are aware, social status and political power are essential for survival in Westeros. To be confronted with such indignity from a husband she hardly knew, while she was still a young and insecure bride, was a painful humiliation. Even after Catelyn and Ned reconciled, the lingering consequences of his decision never fully dissipated. Furthermore, Jon's existence posed a slight, yet tangible, threat to her own children. If Jon or any of his potential progeny were to challenge Catelyn's sons for control of Winterfell, it could potentially lead to bloodshed. It was an immensely degrading predicament from all angles.

Catelyn Stark’s Treatment of Jon Snow in 'Game of Thrones' Is a Complex Situation

Image via HBO

From our moral high grounds, we can pass judgment on Catelyn Stark all day long. Even if Jon Snow is truly Ned's illegitimate son, the boy is blameless. While living at Winterfell, Jon loves his siblings, idolizes his father, and keeps to himself. Despite being harmless and displaying no behavior worse than sullenness, Jon serves as a constant reminder of Ned's infidelity and poses a threat to the Stark family from within. The honorable and selfless thing for Catelyn to do would be to accept Jon privately, if not publicly. However, Catelyn treats the young boy with coldness and, at times, cruelty. It is not so much jealousy as it is pain, confusion, and an instinctual need to protect; the Tully words are "family, duty, honor," and Catelyn, fiercely devoted to her family, values them above all. The intense criticisms aimed at Catelyn often fail to consider her complex and overlapping circumstances, or grant her the same leniency given to male characters who commit far worse atrocities.

To be fair, Game of Thrones did not do justice to her character either. Showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss stripped away Catelyn's strategic mind, portrayed her as the cause of her family's suffering, and discarded the Lady Stoneheart storyline that follows her death in the novels. It was a slippery slope as soon as the show shoved her into the role of an overly emotional, worrying mother, instead of the advisor she is in the books to Robb. In A Song of Ice and Fire, Catelyn's role is crucial to Robb's military victories. She possesses negotiation skills and a shrewdness that she employs wisely. Although she yearns for a moment of vulnerability, she becomes the calm center of the storm for Robb, who relies on her guidance. In Game of Thrones, other characters take on these complex traits in Catelyn's place. In George R. R. Martin's version, Catelyn, as a last resort, releases Jaime Lannister to save her daughters because she believes Bran and Rickon are dead. She even forgives Robb for breaking his marriage pact with the Freys. And the novel's portrayal of Catelyn certainly does not believe that her family's suffering is "all because I could not love a motherless child."

Following the Red Wedding, Catelyn is resurrected as Lady Stoneheart by a R'hllor priest. However, her transformation is far from what was expected. Death corrupts her love and loyalty, turning her into a merciless vigilante seeking vengeance. Lady Stoneheart roams throughout Westeros, exacting retribution on anyone connected to the Red Wedding. This shocking revelation serves a purpose, as George R.R. Martin emphasizes that death changes a person. Influenced by J.R.R. Tolkien's portrayal of Gandalf's resurrection in The Lord of the Rings, Martin explains that just like the devastating fall of Gandalf, the Red Wedding holds a significant impact. Michelle Fairley, who portrays Catelyn, finds the Lady Stoneheart storyline to be an incredible acting opportunity. She delves into the depths of portraying evil, revenge, and the physical and psychological transformation it brings. Fairley believes that exploring these complex emotions is both exciting and necessary, even for characters considered evil.

Catelyn Stark Is a Complex Character That ‘Game of Thrones’ Wasted

Image via HBO

The decision made by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss to exclude Lady Stoneheart from Game of Thrones was a point of contention with Martin. This exclusion serves as an early example of the showrunners' misunderstanding of Martin's intricately planned story. Their reasoning appears overly simplified; as Benioff stated in the book Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon: Game of Thrones and the Official Untold Story of the Epic Series, "Catelyn's final moment was so remarkable, and Michelle is such a talented actress, that bringing her back as a mute zombie seemed like diminishing the impact." In contrast, Martin revealed to Entertainment Weekly that "Lady Stoneheart holds significance in the books. Whether her role is sufficient or compelling, I believe it is, otherwise I wouldn't have included her."

Game of Thrones truly reached a point of diminishing returns when it reduced Catelyn Stark to a mere collection of clichés. This reflects the long-standing issue within the series of disregarding the importance and value of women, relegating them to either props, victims, or empty manifestations of female empowerment. However, Catelyn Stark is a remarkably intricate character, crafted with the same careful depth as any other in George R. R. Martin's realm, and her future is yet to be written. In a 2017 interview with Time, Martin expressed immense pride in his creations, including Arya, Catelyn, Sansa, Brienne, Daenerys, Cersei, and others, as they have resonated deeply with readers (particularly women) who are often overlooked. Martin's pride is well-deserved, as the women of Westeros have broken new ground for their time and continue to captivate audiences. While Catelyn's mistreatment of Jon Snow may be morally frustrating, it is an integral part of the truth that even the most well-meaning and loving individuals possess flaws influenced by their upbringing, experiences, and preconceived judgments. Catelyn Stark is not a saint, and it is precisely her imperfections that make her intriguing and, ultimately, sympathetic. In the U.S., all eight seasons of Game of Thrones are available for streaming on Max.

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