Why did Ned give Arya the sword “Needle?”
In the sprawling and complex narrative of HBO's "Game of Thrones", one particular scene early on carries tremendous resonance. When Jon Snow gifts his young half-sister Arya Stark with a slender, custom-made sword, the implications are manifold. Unbeknownst to them, this symbolic exchange and the accompanying advice, "Stick them with the pointy end," becomes a beacon that guides Arya's journey and fuels her transformation throughout the series. But this moment is not just a plot device; it's a rich tapestry woven with threads from various cultural fields, echoing themes from classical mythology to contemporary feminist thought. The trope that will be our focus here is that of the empowering gift, a narrative device with roots reaching back centuries.
The exchange of the slender sword, named "Needle" by Arya, symbolizes a pivotal moment of empowerment in her story arc. However, the roots of this exchange can be traced back to the classic narrative trope of 'the empowering gift'. This device is an age-old tradition that traverses boundaries of culture and time. To bring this idea to life, let's juxtapose this moment with a similar one from ancient Greek mythology: Athena gifting the shield, Aegis, to Perseus to aid in his quest to defeat Medusa.
In both instances, we witness a benevolent figure (Jon Snow and Athena) bestowing upon a younger, less experienced character (Arya and Perseus) a weapon that not only physically protects and empowers them, but also serves as a crucial symbol in their personal journeys. Just as Athena's Aegis helped Perseus confront the formidable Medusa, Jon's Needle aids Arya in navigating the perilous world of Westeros, symbolizing her inner strength, resilience, and developing independence.
These empowering gifts also reflect the characters' evolving identities. For Perseus, Aegis becomes a symbol of his heroic status, whereas Arya's Needle becomes an emblem of her defiance against societal norms and traditional gender roles. Arya's struggle against the constraints of her world, symbolized by her wielding of Needle, mirrors the struggles of many women in real-world history and even contemporary society. It’s a nod to the age-old struggle of women to assert their place in areas traditionally dominated by men - a feminist streak brilliantly written into the character of Arya.
However, while the empowering gift trope is a common narrative device, the gift of Needle manages to subvert expectations in a few ways. Traditionally, such gifts come with immediate power and prowess. In contrast, Needle is not an immediately transformative artifact; Arya doesn't instantly become a skilled warrior. Instead, she grows into the role, reflecting the series' emphasis on character development over immediate gratification. Moreover, the empowering gift often leads to the character's triumph over an external evil. Yet for Arya, Needle primarily becomes a tool for internal growth and a compass guiding her through a journey of self-discovery and survival.
The presentation of Needle in "Game of Thrones" is a masterstroke of narrative ingenuity. It takes the trope of the empowering gift and imbues it with contemporary significance, blending the mythical with the relatable. In the process, it highlights the nuances of gender, power, and personal transformation. Therefore, the gift of Needle goes beyond its literal purpose as a weapon and embodies the essence of empowerment in its truest form. It remains a symbol of resistance, identity, and empowerment, deeply rooted in history and myth but resonantly tuned to the struggles and victories of our modern world.
