A Game of Thrones, Chapter 7, Arya
Summary
Sansa and Arya Stark are practicing stitches along with princess Myrcella and other girls. The topic of the conversation is the crown prince Joffrey. Sansa and her friend Jeyne are excited about him while Arya shares the opinion of Jon, that Joffrey looks like a girl. After an exchange of angry words Arya storms out of the room and seeks out Jon.
Jon and Arya are watching boys train swordplay under the eye of Ser Rodric Cassel. The fighters use wooden swords. Bran defeats prince Tommen. Next in line are Robb and Joffrey, however the crown prince doesn’t like the fact that he’s been treated like a kid and demands real weapons instead of wooden swords. Ser Rodric does not allow it, Joffrey makes fun of the “childish frolics” and leaves.
Quotes
Sansa could sew and dance and sing. She wrote poetry. She knew how to dress. She played the high harp and the bells. Worse, she was beautiful. Sansa had gotten their mother’s fine high cheekbones and the thick auburn hair of the Tullys. Arya took after their lord father.
Joffrey feigned a yawn and turned to his younger brother. “Come, Tommen,” he said. “The hour of play is done. Leave the children to their frolics.”
Commentary
More characters get introduced. We meet Stark girls, the noble, beautiful Sansa and angry Arya “horseface”. It’s clear that there is a rivalry and conflict between the sisters. Arya is jealous of Sansa, of her looks and skills. She feels much closer to her half brother Jon than to her sister, who clearly thinks of him as a lesser man.
The second beat in this chapter is swordplay training and introduction of two more characters key to the story. The Crown Prince Joffrey Baratheon and his personal guardian, his “dog”, Sandor Clegane. The scene with Joffrey stands in direct opposition to the one with Sansa, who is excited about being betrothed to him. Seeing the prince in action we’re starting to wonder if Ned is not making a mistake.
Tags: Arya
