Highlights
- Ned Stark prioritizes family and honor above all else, sacrificing his own integrity to protect his loved ones.
- Hodor’s inherent selflessness shines through, especially in his last act of bravery.
- Maester Aemon Targaryen’s choice to join the Night’s Watch as a Targaryen prince shows true selflessness and dedication to protecting the realm.
Game of Thrones is filled to the brim with self-serving and power-hungry characters who compete for the Iron Throne, wealth, and even personal vengeance. However, there are at least a handful of characters who truly put others first and are willing to sacrifice their lives or something they hold dear to protect the ones they love or to fight for a just cause.
These Game of Thrones characters are found among the high-born and the low, and there are many ways in which they embody selflessness. While some simply have few desires of their own, others are willing to put aside any dreams or ideals to help those who need it most.
5 Eddard Stark
Ned Puts His Family & Honor Above All Else
- Played by Sean Bean
- Appeared in 9 episodes
When viewers think of selfless Game of Thrones characters, Ned Stark is likely to be one of the first to come to mind, as the man is synonymous with honor and duty. For example, Ned wants nothing to do with the power attached to the position of Hand of the King, and it is not even his sense of duty that causes him to take it, but instead the fact that his family is under threat, and the possibility that his friend Jon Arryn was murdered.
Perhaps Ned’s greatest moment of selflessness is when he makes the painful decision to abandon his honor and integrity, and to declare publicly that Joffrey is the true king. He does this to protect Sansa, and to save her and the rest of his family from the trauma of seeing him killed. He does this as he is told he will be sent to the Night’s Watch. Unfortunately, Ned’s decision does not turn out well.
4 Hodor
Hodor Is The Embodiment Of Selflessness
- Played by Kristian Nairn
- Appeared in 23 episodes
While the reasons for Hodor being so selfless are truly tragic and somewhat out of his control, especially regarding his final act of bravery, there is no denying that it is simply in his nature. Not only is Hodor completely selfless and lives to help, but he does so in such a buoyant way, never bringing others down even on such an arduous journey.
Examples of Hodor’s selflessness include carrying Bran everywhere and accompanying him beyond the Wall in what can only be described as a suicide mission. Hodor also seems to overlook the fact that Bran wargs into him on a few occasions, although whether this is due to selflessness and forgiveness, or a lack of understanding is unknown. Ultimately, Hodor’s last act of selflessness saves Bran and thus helps bring down the Night King.
3 Maester Aemon Targaryen
Despite Being Born A Prince, Maester Aemon Dedicated His Life To Protecting The Realm
- Played by Peter Vaughan
- Appeared in 11 episodes
Willingly dedicating oneself to the Night’s Watch is easily one of the most selfless decisions any man can make in the world of Game of Thrones. The Wall is bitterly cold and dangerous and the Watch serves for life while practicing celibacy. However, to make this decision as a Targaryen prince who could have led an easy life of luxury is truly admirable.
This is exactly what Aemon Targaryen did, although this is after he was already a sworn Maester, which entails a similar life of servitude. In fact, Maester Aemon’s decision to join the Night’s Watch was truly selfless, as he did so to distance himself from the politics of King’s Landing, as some wished to put him on the throne. Instead of being drawn towards ultimate power, Aemon made sure the realm would not erupt into civil war.
2 Jojen & Meera Reed
These Siblings Ventured North Of The Wall Because Of A Dream
- Played by Thomas Brodie-Sangster & Ellie Kendrick
- Appeared in 10 & 16 episodes, respectively
Jojen and Meera Reed were not called upon and could have lived out their years relatively peacefully in the marshlands of the Neck. However, Jojen was a greenseer and knew he had to help Bran fulfill his destiny, despite barely knowing the boy.
Meera on the other hand, knew that she also had to go, due to Jojen’s lack of survival skills and incompetence in combat. Both of them were incredibly loyal to the Starks just as their father had been, and they were also aware of a greater threat than the wars of men, and their lives in comparison were nothing. In the end, Jojen, perhaps with foresight, sacrificed his life. Meanwhile, Meera completed a seemingly impossible journey, delivering Bran back to safety and towards a world in need of his help. She did all of this because she trusted her brother’s vision.
1 Davos Seaworth
Davos’ Selflessness & Honesty Make Him The Perfect Aide To Kings
- Played by Liam Cunningham
- Appeared in 42 episodes
With his smuggling days long behind him and lessons learned, Davos Seaworth is easily one of the most selfless characters in Game of Thrones, and does all he can for those he serves, although importantly without being blinded by loyalty. For example, Davos at first is in the service of Stannis Baratheon, and yet he risks his own life to try and rid his king of Melisandre, as he believes her to be only bad news.
After Stannis’ death, Davos aligns himself with Jon Snow, whom he believes carries the same sense of honor and justice for which he followed his former master. At no point in his years of service does Davos seek power, and it is this, as well as his honest advice, that makes him so well-suited to the position of right-hand man.
Leave a Reply