Was Jon Snow Really the Worst Off in the Final Episode of Game of Thrones?

At the conclusion of A Song of Ice and Fire, the question arises whether Jon Snow received the worst possible outcome. While Kit Harrington suggests that his ultimate fate was not the happiest, it's worth exploring the various endings for the surviving characters and the one George R.R. Martin chose for Jon.

Jon’s Tragic End

Jon Snow did not find the ending he deserved. Despite his pivotal role as the "rightful heir," his claims meant nothing in the final moments. His journey, filled with hope and struggle, culminated in aMagento ending that many fans found disappointing, as Kit Harrington himself acknowledged.

Other Characters’ Fates

However, Jon didn’t have the worst end among the survivors. Other characters faced even more severe fates. Consider Gilly, a minor but significant character. A lowborn woman serving a powerful man, she had two children outside of marriage. In the eyes of society, she would always be seen as a whore and her children would be labeled as bastards. She and her children would be wholly dependent on what her partner chose to provide for them. If she left him, prostitution would be the only viable option for her to survive.

Samwell Tarly, Jon’s friend, treated Gilly with a degree of contempt. He dismissed her as irrelevant, both at the Citadel and even when she stood up for him against his father. Gilly’s sole purpose became to satisfy the Grand Maester’s needs as and when required. Her future held little hope beyond servitude.

Jon’s Short but Powerful Journey

Despite these comparisons, Jon might not be considered the worst off. In the end, he found freedom. He could do whatever he wanted, back among people who accepted him as he was—a simple Jon, without any ties to the Stark, Targaryen, or the bastard named Snow of Winterfell. He found himself in a world he loved, with the free folk, and he had learned to appreciate the warmth of community. He no longer faced the Wall or the threat of the undead.

However, his life’s work may go down in obscurity. If he wasn’t remembered for his brief tenure as King in the North or Warden of the North, there would be little to commemorate his journey. Before the A Song of Ice and Fire books, Jon Snow had few moments to shine. Maesters, who typically afforded great respect, didn’t extend such honor to him, even having a similar lack of respect for Tyrion Lannister. The greatest secret of Westeros—a Targaryen prince born in the North—would likely remain just that, a secret. He would be long forgotten as a simple man who broke his vow for the greater good.

Others, like Arya Stark, emerged as formidable figures, killers of the Night King, and Sansa Stark as the first Queen in the North. Brandon Stark’s legacy as the first King of the Six Kingdoms further cemented his memory. Jonathan's best expectations lie in being remembered as 'The Queenslayer' for breaking his oath, albeit for the right reasons. This end will be a mix of recognition and controversy, never fully appreciated as the Saviour of the realm.

In Conclusion

While Jon Snow’s ending was not the happiest, his life and identity were intertwined with a series of 'maybes.' His fate remains a tragedy, with the potential for obscurity loomed large. Despite his struggles and triumphs, the lack of a concrete legacy ensures that Jon Snow will always inhabit a space of ambiguity in the broader narrative of Westeros.

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Description: An exploratory analysis of Jon Snow's fate in the final episode of Game of Thrones, comparing his outcome to other characters and its implications for his legacy.

Keywords: Jon Snow, Game of Thrones, GOt Final Episode, GOT Character Analysis