SerWalterPuffsAlot Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 Why the hell would Benjen join the nights watch???? We have a son of Winterfell who in the prime of his life ( who knows exact age?) joins the Nights Watch. That just doesn't sit right with me he would have had a pretty good gig keeping a holdfast in Neds name I'm sure he would have been a sought after husband even being a third son. Why join the Nights Watch at all unless their is an underlying reason? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mountain That Flies Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 The most prevalent theory is that he had prior knowledge of Lyanna's plan to elope with Rhaegar, and the guilt over what he could have prevented sent him to the Wall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SerWalterPuffsAlot Posted August 11, 2014 Author Share Posted August 11, 2014 If that is the reason it's kind of lame on his part, oh my father brother and sister are dead so i'll leave my one relative alone at Winterfell and go to the wall. It very well may never even be touched upon in the books just something i've been wondering about. Didnt think it really made sense Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mountain That Flies Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 While the practicalities of Benjen's move can be questioned (Robb was an infant and the mortality rate on Westeros is pretty high), if he was carrying guilt over his lack of action he may have seen the move as a way to redeem himself. I doubt he was leaving just to go off and be sad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SerWalterPuffsAlot Posted August 11, 2014 Author Share Posted August 11, 2014 Assuming he has no clue about the " real threat" beyond the wall, I don't see joining the Nights Watch as redeeming much of anything. Going to hang out with a bunch of raggamuffins at the wall chasing wildlings doesn't seem as honorable as it might have in the old days. I guess if he blamed himself for the deaths of all of his family it might be a self punishment of sorts. Still doesn't help his remaining family at all . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winter Blues Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 I always thought it was a bit more practical. Like his brother was heir to Winterfell with a kid on the way. Also, hasn't there always been a Stark on The Wall? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonCon's Red Beard Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Because for the Northern people, there is honour in the NW. Jeor was a Lord and joined them to leave his son being Lord instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winter Blues Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Because for the Northern people, there is honour in the NW. Jeor was a Lord and joined them to leave his son being Lord instead.Yes. And I also think part of the Stark/Winter magic requires a Stark on the Wall. Who knows? Maybe it's the Stark blood that's keeping the Wall standing (figuratively). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Crow Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Yes. And I also think part of the Stark/Winter magic requires a Stark on the Wall. Who knows? Maybe it's the Stark blood that's keeping the Wall standing (figuratively). That's largely how we see it on heresy - and why there are no other Starks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redriver Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 I always thought it was a bit more practical. Like his brother was heir to Winterfell with a kid on the way. Also, hasn't there always been a Stark on The Wall? We can't say that definitively.We can say there has always been a Stark in Winterfell until recently,which seems to be a secondary line of defense in itself.They do certainly appear to have been called upon by the NW in times of strife. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Selig Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Because he was a dumbass. That's my theory. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beorn Snow Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 I don´t know but I´m sure there is a lot of Stark family history (and not recent history regarding Rhaegar and Lyanna) that could explain this.There is something we don´t know, and I´m sure we´re going to find out more about Benjen in the next two books. The mystery of his disappearance is bound to come up at some point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Free Folk Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Agreed with the above posters; the Starks have a long historical connection to the Wall and likely have always sent their second, third, etc sons to take the black. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
have mercedene Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Wasn't there a black brother at one of the Tourney at Harrenhal feasts trying to recruit men for the watch? I thought they managed to convince Benjen to join. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drunken giant Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 The most prevalent theory is that he had prior knowledge of Lyanna's plan to elope with Rhaegar, and the guilt over what he could have prevented sent him to the Wall. :agree: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SerWalterPuffsAlot Posted August 12, 2014 Author Share Posted August 12, 2014 Because he was a dumbass. That's my theory. ;) YES!!!! I like the theory that their has to be on Stark on the Wall, but is their any evidence supporting this from the book? I feel like we would have heard about the Stark that served right before Benjen at some point or we did and i missed it like i have so many other things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord of Nutella Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 If benjen stark really is coldhands, jon might get the chance to ask him.I think his reasons were similar to jons: he was thirsty for gonor and he didnt realize what he forewent with the oath. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aDanceWithFlagons Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 Because he is a Stark. Thats why Craig. Thats why. Really though, I think he joined because GRRM wanted him there to dissappear in the the north. Thats pretty much it. And of course to show that the Starks are tied to the wall along with Winterfell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vegeta_Greyjoy Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 there once was a man named Ben Starkwho was visited by a drunken snarkthey went through the halland climbed up the wallto piss on a giant for a lark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon88 Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 Why does anyone join the kingsguard? Its the same reason. There is honor in it. For the North joining the Wall is a honorable thing. And with Benjen, he really did not have as much thing as Eddard who has Winterfell and already a kid. So the next thing is to join the night's watch. And he was interested in it as the recruit from the night's watch manage to convince him. And after the rebellion, with Eddard alread in winterfell and with kids, it like okay instead of just staying there join the night's watch which he already wanted too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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