Samwell Tarly
| House / Order | House Tarly (disinherited) |
|---|---|
| Race / Culture | Westerosi (of the Reach) |
| Status | Alive (as of A Dance with Dragons) |
| Origin | The Wall; Oldtown |
| Born | c. 283 AC, Horn Hill |
| Died | |
| Weapon | Dragonglass dagger (rarely) |
| Fate | Sent to Oldtown to train as a maester for the Night's Watch |
| Portrayed by | John Bradley |
Samwell Tarly, called Sam and Ser Piggy in mockery, is a sworn brother of the Night's Watch, a viewpoint character in A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows, and A Dance with Dragons. Fat, fearful, and bookish, he proves that courage and worth are not measured by the sword, becoming the loyal friend and unlikely champion of Jon Snow.
Sam's love of reading and his discoveries in old texts make him one of the few who grasp the true nature of the threat rising beyond the Wall, and a key figure in the lore of the Others and their ancient enemy.
Background
Sam was born heir to Horn Hill, the eldest son of the stern, martial Lord Randyll Tarly. Gentle, plump, and frightened of violence, Sam was a bitter disappointment to his father, who threatened to have him killed in a hunting "accident" unless he renounced his inheritance and took the black. So Sam was sent to the Wall to join the Night's Watch.
Biography
A Game of Thrones and A Clash of Kings
At Castle Black, the cowardly Sam is bullied mercilessly until Jon Snow befriends and protects him, shaming the others into leaving him be. The two become inseparable. Sam, though no fighter, is intelligent and observant, and is made a steward serving Maester Aemon. He rides north with the great ranging led by Lord Commander Mormont.
A Storm of Swords
At the disastrous Fist of the First Men and the mutiny at Craster's Keep, Sam endures horrors that earn him a new name: Sam the Slayer. Fleeing through the snows, he kills an Other with a dragonglass dagger, the first man in living memory known to do so, discovering the ancient weakness of the white walkers. He protects Gilly, one of Craster's daughter-wives, and her newborn son, helping them escape. Back at the Wall, Sam plays a quiet but crucial part in securing Jon Snow's election as Lord Commander.
A Feast for Crows
The new Lord Commander Jon sends Sam south to Oldtown to forge the chains of a maester, so the Watch will have a learned man, and to escort the dying Maester Aemon and Gilly. The sea voyage is grueling: Aemon dies en route, and Sam is forced to grow into his responsibilities. He arrives at the Citadel to begin his studies, even as he uncovers troubling truths in old books about the Others and the failing of the realm's defenses.
Character
Sam is the embodiment of a different kind of courage: the bravery of a fearful man who acts rightly in spite of his terror. He hates fighting and bleeds easily, but his loyalty, intelligence, and decency make him invaluable. His scholarship, often dismissed, may prove more important to the survival of the realm than any sword.
Relationships
Sam's friendship with Jon Snow is the bedrock of his life and gives him purpose. His protective love for Gilly and her child becomes a defining devotion, complicated by the vows he has sworn. He reveres the blind old Maester Aemon, whose final journey he shepherds.
Quotes
I'm afraid all the time... but a man can be brave and still be afraid.
The shield that guards the realms of men. (the Night's Watch vow, which Sam takes to heart)
In the television series
In HBO's Game of Thrones, Sam was portrayed by John Bradley. His arc broadly follows the novels through his journey to Oldtown, then continues beyond them: he discovers a cure for greyscale, learns the secret of Jon Snow's parentage in the Citadel archives, and is named Grand Maester at the close of the series. These developments have not occurred in the books, where Sam is only beginning his training.