Summary
InGame of Thronesseason 1, episode 10 “Fire and Blood,” Jon learns that the boy king, Joffrey Baratheon has beheaded his father (uncle in reality), and he briefly deserts the Night’s Watch to ride South with his half-brother, Robb to put a sword through the king’s throat. Though Jon has sworn the vow that he knows is a lifelong commitment, and only to be broken in death, he doesn’t understand the weight behind the words.
Jon’s friend, and a sworn brother, Samwell Tarly reminds him that desertion is punishable by death. Sam quite literally stands in Jon’s way, but he rides past him with his direwolf, Ghost behind him. Shortly after inGame of Thrones' “Fire and Blood” Sam alerts their friends Grenn, Pyp and they are able to catch up with Jon. They surround him, repeat their vows, and hand him over hisfamed Valyrian steel sword, Longclaw.
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“But it doesn’t matter. You took the oath, you can’t leave,” says Grenn, reiterating, “You can’t. You said the words.” At this point, Sam recites the Night’s Watch oath, and Grenn and Pyp add to it. It’s as if Jon just needs a reminder because all his life he’s wanted to serve the Watch and swear the oath like his uncle, Benjen Stark.
The Shield That Guards The Realms Of Men
Back inGame of Thronesseason 1, episode 1 “Winter Is Coming,” when Jon insists that he ride for the Wall with his uncle Benjen, the latter, dressed in all-black, asks him to rethink his decision as men of the Watch have no families. “None of us will ever father sons,” says Benjen, to which Jon replies, “I don’t care about that.” Later, Ned’s beheading and Robb’s war have an evident bearing on Jon, but he continues to uphold the multifaceted oath he swore. Followingthe Battle of Winterfell, and the victory of the living over the Dead; inGame of Thronesseason 8, episode 4, “The Last of the Starks,” Jon recalls an impactful line from the Night’s Watch vows while bidding farewell to those who died fighting.
“They were the shields that guarded the realms of men. And we shall never see their like again,” he says as the gathered begin to light the pyres.
Night’s Watch or not, Jon remains sworn brother, long after he declares, “My Watch has ended.” He leads the war against the Night King and the Army of the Dead, even if it is Arya Stark who deals a fatal blow to the ice zombies. Jon rallies the living behind him, courtesy ofthe Night’s Watchoath. The words mean that fellow women and men set aside their differences to fight and die together.
The Oath Of Duty
The sworn brothers of the Night’s Watch abide by the oath of duty that entails a great many sacrifices. They give up their birthright, marriage, family, and land ownership, and remain loyal to the cause(s) of the Watch. They renounce allegiances, meaning that they are absolved of their past crimes. A fresh recruit of the Night’s Watch begins a new chapter, in that, the sentenced ones get a do-over in their lives. As for volunteers ofthe noble Housessuch as Jon Snow, Benjen Stark, and Jeor Mormont who aren’t sentenced to the Watch as a punishment but take it upon themselves to guard the Wall, they too swear an oath. Men of the Watch rise within the ranks, for example, Jon Snow belonged to the order of the Stewards and went on to lead the Night’s Watch as Lord Commander.
The Night’s Watch Oath
The Night’s Watch,led from Castle Blackis a sworn brotherhood, and men must try to live up to theirsolemn oaths. Before the unification of the Free Folk with the Northerners, the purpose of the Watch was to guard the realm against their threats, and long before that, the original purpose was to defend the realms of men against the White Walkers.
Hear my words and bear witness to my vow. Night gathers, and now my watch begins. It shall not end until my death. I shall take no wife, hold no lands, father no children. I shall wear no crowns and win no glory. I shall live and die at my post. I am the sword in the darkness. I am the watcher on the walls. I am the shield that guards the realms of men. I pledge my life and honor to the Night’s Watch, for this night and all the nights to come.
The words, “wear no crowns and win no glory” are the reason why Night’s Watch tries to remain neutral should any conflict arise inthe Seven Kingdoms. It’s why Jeor Mormont shows sympathy but smirks when Jon says he deserted to fight alongside Robb. “Do you think your brother’s war is more important than ours?” asks Jeor - who serves as Lord Commander before Jon. “When dead men and worse come hunting for us in the night, do you think it matters who sits on the Iron Throne?” he adds. At that moment, Jon realizes the value of his vow, and the next day, inGame of Thrones' “Fire and Blood,” the Night’s Watch rides out beyond the Wall to investigate odd reports.
Jon’s vow lasts until he is killed in a mutiny by some of his sworn brothers for bringingthe Free Folkto the right side of the Wall. When Melisandre brings him back to life inGame of Thronesseason 6, episode 2 “Home,” he executes the mutineers and declares the end of his Watch in the followingGame of Thronesepisode - “Oathbreaker.”
Though Jon fights in the Battle of Winterfell alongside the Wildlings to reunite the North againstthe threat of the Dead, he partakes in the squabbles of the Seven Kingdoms. He finishes the last leg of hisGame ofThronesjourney as a true brother of the Night’s Watch. “You shall take no wife, hold no lands, and father no children,” Tyrion instructs Jon and he agrees.
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