A-feast-for-crows Quote by George R.R. Martin
““The day my father came to claim me, my mother did not wish for me to go. ‘She is a girl,' she said, ‘and I do not think that she is yours. I had a thousand other men.' He tossed his spear at my feet and gave my mother the back of his hand across the face, so she began to weep. ‘Girl or boy, we fight our battles,' he said, ‘but the gods let us choose our weapons.' He pointed to the spear, then to my mother's tears, and I picked up the spear.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: A Song of Ice and Fire, 1996
A mother’s protective love clashes with a father’s harsh duty, symbolized by a spear representing choice of battle.
In simple terms: Mother protects, father forces harsh choices, child must decide.
Key Takeaway
Choose your own path despite imposed hardships.
Themes
family
war
choice
identity
Mood
tense
dramatic
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- war zones
- family disputes
- personal empowerment
- ethical dilemmas
Key Concepts
duty
gender roles
conflict resolution
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the spear symbolize for you?
- How do you balance familial duty with personal agency?
A Different Perspective
May romanticize violence as a solution.
