GRRM: "A Major/Important Character Going Forward" (Spoilers Extended)
Just something I felt interested in discussing today. We know that leaving Lady Stoneheart out was one of GRRM's biggest regrets about the show. And when we look at what seems to be the future importance of the character, its very interesting to discuss what exactly her purpose will be.
Looking into the "future" importance of Lady Stoneheart
Even though Brienne/Jaime are in an extremely perilous situation, I think we can surmise (I admit it can be read differently) that Lady Stoneheart will survive too:
“In the book, characters can be resurrected. After Catelyn is resurrected as Lady Stoneheart, she becomes a vengeful, heartless killer,” he said in a recent interview with Esquire China. “In the sixth book, I still continue to write her. She is an important character in the set of books. [Keeping her character] is the change I most wish I could make in the [show].” -SSM, Esquire Interview: 13 April 2018
#Background
**Beric's "purpose" or "mission" ends up being to save/resurrect Lady Stoneheart:
Q: How much does a character lose through death?
GRRM: "Death is hard." lol.gif The character gets more and more removed from his or her former life. The main thing remaining, what brings Beric back, is the sense of purpose, the mission he has yet to accomplish. - SSM, US Signing Tour, 18 November 2005
and (its also important to remember that Arya/Nymeria are involved in saving Cat/LSH):
She splashed noisily through the shallows and threw herself into the deeper water, her legs churning. The current was strong but she was stronger. She swam, following her nose. The river smells were rich and wet, but those were not the smells that pulled her. She paddled after the sharp red whisper of cold blood, the sweet cloying stench of death. She chased them as she had often chased a red deer through the trees, and in the end she ran them down, and her jaw closed around a pale white arm. She shook it to make it move, but there was only death and blood in her mouth. By now she was tiring, and it was all she could do to pull the body back to shore. As she dragged it up the muddy bank, one of her little brothers came prowling, his tongue lolling from his mouth. She had to snarl to drive him off, or else he would have fed. Only then did she stop to shake the water from her fur. The white thing lay facedown in the mud, her dead flesh wrinkled and pale, cold blood trickling from her throat. Rise, she thought. Rise and eat and run with us.
The sound of horses turned her head. Men. They were coming from downwind, so she had not smelled them, but now they were almost here. Men on horses, with flapping black and yellow and pink wings and long shiny claws in hand. Some of her younger brothers bared their teeth to defend the food they'd found, but she snapped at them until they scattered. That was the way of the wild. Deer and hares and crows fled before wolves, and wolves fled from men. She abandoned the cold white prize in the mud where she had dragged it, and ran, and felt no shame. -ASOS, Arya XII
before Beric saves her:
Her face, Brienne thought. Her face was so strong and handsome, her skin so smooth and soft. "Lady Catelyn?" Tears filled her eyes. "They said . . . they said that you were dead."
"She is," said Thoros of Myr. "The Freys slashed her throat from ear to ear. When we found her by the river she was three days dead. Harwin begged me to give her the kiss of life, but it had been too long. I would not do it, so Lord Beric put his lips to hers instead, and the flame of life passed from him to her. And . . . she rose. May the Lord of Light protect us. She rose."
Am I dreaming still? Brienne wondered. Is this another nightmare born from Biter's teeth? "I never betrayed her. Tell her that. I swear it by the Seven. I swear it by my sword."
So if Beric's purpose was to resurrect Cat, what exactly is Cat's purpose?
“Lady Stoneheart does have a role in the books,” Martin said. “Whether it’s sufficient or interesting enough… I think it is, or I wouldn’t have put her in. One of the things I wanted to show with her is that the death she suffered changes you.” -SSM, Entertainment Weekly Interview:31 May 2015
#UnCat's Purpose
It could be just that. Beric (dashing knight turned hollow) and Cat (proper lady turned vengeful killer) have changed dramatically. GRRM wants us to see that so that when Jon is different it makes sense. That is the most likely thematic purpose. That Death Changes You.
Lady Stoneheart could also possibly be involved in numerous plotlines that we could see going forward:
Stark Succession Crisis
If Lady Stoneheart is involved in what could be a somewhat contentious power vaccuum left by the Boltons, it will be interesting to see where her support lies. I speculated on the possibility of a War of the Wolves II and the possibility of Cat ignoring Robb's will and supporting Arya, etc. could happen.
I don't know if all of these happen, but I feel like unCat will at least get some form of resolution with at least one of the following:
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Jon's parentage
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Arya and/or Sansa
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Walder Frey's death (Red Wedding 2.0 is happening, just not sure if he will attend)
Her Death Could Mean Something
One of the major themes of the series is that Only Death Can Pay for Life. Could her death resurrect/save someone?
Thoros' Visions
With Beric/LSH, Thoros' faith has come full circle with this in mind (and even though LSH is focused solely on revenge/killing Freys and Lannisters) Thoros could give her/the BWB info on important things:
Yet I am not the false priest you knew. The Lord of Light has woken in my heart. Many powers long asleep are waking, and there are forces moving in the land. I have seen them in my flames." -ASOS, Arya VI
Greywater Watch
There are so many small plot points headed in this direction, its possible it could be a stop for her if her plotline heads north (it could also head toward the Westerlands).
But there are just so many possible things that could appear at Greywater Watch including:
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Howland Reed (GRRM has kept him out of the story bc he "knows too much" which is extremely true, as he probably has info on Tourney at Harrenhal, Isle of Faces, Greensight, Warging and most importantly the Tower of Joy.)
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Hallis Mollen (While its possible that he is the hooded man, especially since Lady Dustin is looking for Ned's bones, his bones have not been seen north of the Neck and Hallis Mollen was last seen headed north with an honor guard/silent sisters/Ned's bones as the Ironborn take Moat Cailin)
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Characters who have info on Robb's Will (Galbart Glover and Maege Mormont were ordered by Robb to leave from Seaguard and sail up the Neck and find Greywater Watch)
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The Blackfish (last seen fleeing Riverrun and he also witnessed Robb's will, he could be headed after Ser Forley Prester's party or meeting up with the BWB)
#Other Notes
She still has Robb's Crown
I posted awhile back on how Robb's crown ends up in her hands. Its pretty cool to see how it passes along and winds up back in her hands. But does she intend to crown someone? The BWB is after the Hound/Arya/"Sansa" when we last see them.
Its Possible that UnCat always had a major role
I posted awhile back that LSH and Coldhands originated from the same plot point as it seems that originally Cat was supposed to die at the hands of the Others back in the original outline. While this isn't confirmed, its quite possible that there was a major role for an undead Catelyn from the very beginning.
Will we get to see UnCat through Bran's eyes?
Bran/Bloodraven not only have numerous accessible weirwood/heart trees but at some point will be able to "see beyond the trees".
Bran has already tried to reach his father, what happens when he sees his mother in her current state!?
Just some thoughts on LSH after her showdown with Jaime/Brienne. She's going to be important in some way, even if its just thematically (death changes you) but I think she has a bigger effect somewhere on the plot. We will see.
Just to recap. LSH is an important character going forward. She leads a portion of the BWB and they know that Arya is alive and was with the Hound. She will obviously be extremely important to Brienne/Jaime's current situation, but that should at least be "resolved" early in TWOW. She has Robb's crown as well. Bran's reaction to her will be very interesting to see.
TLDR: LSH is an "important character going forward" and will have a major effect on a plotline outside of Jaime/Brienne's current fate.
Posted Oct 16, 2020, 1:42 PM UTC