7 Starks = 7 Gods?

[Unsowed unspent unspoken]

Ok, this is my first post, so bear with me. This is a theory that each of the seven Starks (Eddard, Catelyn, Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran, Rickon - not including Jon because I believe R+L=J) grow, and will continue to grow over the course of the series, into the seven gods of the sept.

This may seem unlikely, due to their belief in the old gods, but I believe it possibly symbolizes the need for the north and south beneath the wall to come together to fight off the enemy, the Others.

Furthermore, each transformation by the Stark characters will come about in each of the seven books. (While GRRM did not start with the idea of 7 books, this is the end product and corresponds nicely with my theory.

In the first book, Ned establishes himself as the Father. In the Song of the Seven, it says:

"The Father's face is stern and strong,

he sits and judges right from wrong.


He weighs our lives, the short and long,

and loves the little children"

Ned is stern, and beheads Gared for being an oathbreaker. He also seeks to protect Dany from Robert's wrath.

In aCoK, Robb shows he is the Warrior:

"The Warrior stands before the foe,

protecting us where e'er we go.


With sword and shield and spear and bow,

he guards the little children"

Robb starts a war for his father, and wins every battle. While still losing the war, he proves himself a warrior.

In aSoS, Catelyn reveals herself as the Mother:

The Mother gives the gift of life,

and watches over every wife.


Her gentle smile ends all strife,

and she loves her little children

Besides birthing all five of her children, she cares deeply for them all. She sends Jaime back to King's Landing for Arya and Sansa, and tries to convince Robb to let her return to Winterfell multiple times.

In aFfC, Arya establishes herself as the Stranger. There is no verse for the Stranger in the Song of the Seven, but he is the god of death. She goes to the Faceless Men, and learns their ways of killing.

In aDwD, Bran becomes the Crone.

"The Crone is very wise and old,

and sees our fates as they unfold.


She lifts her lamp of shining gold

to lead the little children."

He finally reaches the three-eyed crow, and starts to learn about becoming a greenseer. While he is neither wise and old, he can see through weirwoods all over the realm. In this case, as well, leading the little children might be a reference to the CotF.

In tWoW or aDoS, Sansa will no doubt become the Maiden:

The Maiden dances through the sky,

she lives in every lover's sigh.


Her smiles teach the birds to fly,

and gives dreams to little children.

Her maidenhead is unbroken, and she is very innocent. LF's advances will no doubt be spurned as she remains unbedded.

In the other book, I believe Rickon will become the Smith:

The Smith, he labors day and night,

to put the world of men to right.


With hammer, plow, and fire bright,

he builds for little children.

I do not know how this will manifest itself, but if he is brought to Lord Manderly by Ser Davos his path may become clearer.

Thanks for reading, I have no idea if any of this is right. It just occurred to me a few days ago, and I would like feedback. Thanks!

[Game Of Thrones]

Some people agree with you. But what exactly would be the point of this?

Also, eight Starks if you count a certain Snow.

[Victarion Chainbreaker]

Rickon is the Smith because he's going to rebuild Winterfell (and the North) in the Spring.

Also, eight Starks if you count a certain Snow.

Of course it won't add up to seven if you add in random people. Why not Sweetrobin, he's (like Jon) the Stark kids' first cousin?

[redroverman]

Catelyn is not a Stark, she is a Tully.

[Dya of Oldstones]

All the Starks except Cat have allegiances of varying strengths to the old gods as well, even Sansa.

ETA: I would say Cat as well, or at least she had a healthy respect for the old gods, in spite of remaining of the Seven and having her children raised in her religion.

[Bryanfury]

People just arbitrarily add/deny 'Starks' to suit what they want to achieve. Like, removing Jon because he's half secret Targ but including a Tully/Whent blooded woman with zero Stark blood in her? Having Ned in but not Benjen?

I don't think GRRM tried to thematically tie the Starks to the Seven in any way, overtly or otherwise.

[Mikkel]

<snip>Ser Davos</snip>

Lord Davos, the Hand of the One True King, Lord of the Rainwood and Admiral of the Royal Navy.

Seriously, though:

Interesting theory but I feel that your decision to exclude Jon to make the numbers match makes it a bit weak right off the bat. Whether Jon is Eddard's son in truth (no) or RLJ (yes), he's half Stark by blood - which is more than Catelyn is. In any case, Catelyn believes in the Seven, but none of the other Starks do, they're all followers of the Old Gods (except Arya, who's getting more and more into the whole he-of-many-faces thing).

Other than that, the roles match, somewhat, though Bran is male, whereas the crone is supposed to be female - not just in depictions, her very title is gender-specific. The smith or the warrior could, in a pinch, switch genders, and the stranger has none (that I know of).

[Victarion Chainbreaker]

So mothers aren't really members of their families? Makes about as much sense as demanding that distant relatives be counted as part of a family.

The Starks are a nuclear family with seven members. It's not that difficult.

[Mikkel]

So mothers aren't really members of their families? Makes about as much sense as demanding that distant relatives be counted as part of a family.

The Starks are a nuclear family with seven members. It's not that difficult.

Sure, but she's not a Stark by blood, she's a Tully. Never said she wasn't a member of her family, or that mothers in general aren't. Please don't put words in my mouth.

Anyway, if there's a transformation that Catelyn goes through, it's away from the Mother, into the... I don't know what, Zombie Queen or whatever she is now.

[Cold Crashing Waves]

People just arbitrarily add/deny 'Starks' to suit what they want to achieve. Like, removing Jon because he's half secret Targ but including a Tully/Whent blooded woman with zero Stark blood in her? Having Ned in but not Benjen?

I don't think GRRM tried to thematically tie the Starks to the Seven in any way, overtly or otherwise.

It isn't arbitrary at all. Jon is left out because he isn't a Stark, blood or not. He's a Snow. And Catelyn is in there because she's the goddamn mother of the Starks. And why would Benjen be there? It's about the core unit of the family, not just anyone with Stark blood in them.

The old gods comparison has always been pretty obvious.

[Mikkel]

It isn't arbitrary at all. Jon is left out because he isn't a Stark, blood or not. He's a Snow. And Catelyn is in there because she's the goddamn mother of the Starks. And why would Benjen be there? It's about the core unit of the family, not just anyone with Stark blood in them.

The old gods comparison has always been pretty obvious.

...and yet, the attempt being made is a comparison to the new gods, the Seven... not the Old Gods. The old gods that most of the Starks worship.

[Cold Crashing Waves]

Whoops, the Seven is what I meant. Regardless of what the Starks (excluding Catelyn) worship, the similarities are way too IN YOUR FACE and prevalent for it to be just a coincidence.

[Mikkel]

Whoops, the Seven is what I meant. Regardless of what the Starks (excluding Catelyn) worship, the similarities are way too IN YOUR FACE and prevalent for it to be just a coincidence.

So Bran being a young boy, and not an old woman, is a "in your face" comparison to an old woman? Okay, that's.. an opinion.

[Cold Crashing Waves]

I have mine and you have yours.

[kn1tt3r]

They could be the 7 dwarves, and Jon is Snow White.

[Game Of Thrones]

The Starks are a nuclear family with seven members. It's not that difficult.

Ned's family is a nuclear family with eight members.

[Mikkel]

I have mine and you have yours.

indeed, which is as it should be

[Darryk]

It's a great theory.

Rickon's personality has never really seemed a good match for the smith, but if he ends up being the one who rebuilds Winterfel and the North, it would make perfect sense.

[Victarion Chainbreaker]

Ned's family is a nuclear family with eight members.

You may want to sit down before reading this. There's this theory that's been going around the boards for a while. It turns out that Jon isn't actually Ned's son! Shocking, huh? It's called R+L=J. I'm surprised you don't know about it: It's on its 98th iteration. Anyway, give it a read.

http://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/topic/115906-rlj-v98/

[Game Of Thrones]

You may want to sit down before reading this. There's this theory that's been going around the boards for a while. It turns out that Jon isn't actually Ned's son! Shocking, huh? It's called R+L=J. I'm surprised you don't know about it: It's on its 98th iteration. Anyway, give it a read.

http://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/topic/115906-rlj-v98/

They live together, and Ned is Jon's adopted father. Therefore Jon is part of the Stark family.

Stop with the sarcasm.