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Review: A Game of Thrones – Chapter 4: Eddard

評論《冰與火之歌：權力遊戲》第4章：艾德

Introduction

Chapter 4 of A Game of Thrones shifts back to Eddard Stark’s point of view, this time focusing on the monumental arrival of King Robert Baratheon and his royal entourage at Winterfell. This chapter marks the reader’s first real glimpse of the King and Queen, as well as other important members of the Lannister family. With the arrival of the court, the tone of the novel begins to shift from the isolation and cold of the North to the wider political landscape of Westeros.

This chapter is pivotal not only because of the characters it introduces, but also because it establishes a number of key relationships, sows the seeds of future conflict, and immerses the reader in the complex web of politics, power, and personal loyalty that defines the series.

導言

《冰與火之歌：權力遊戲》第四章再次從艾德·史塔克的視角展開，這次聚焦於國王勞勃·拜拉席恩與其王室隨從抵達臨冬城的重大事件。這一章節標誌著讀者首次真正見到國王與王后，以及其他幾位蘭尼斯特家族的重要成員。隨著王室朝廷的到來，本書的基調也逐漸從北方的孤立與寒冷，轉向維斯特洛更廣闊的政治舞台。

這一章之所以關鍵，不僅是因為其引介的重要角色，還因為它奠定了多段關鍵關係的基礎，為未來的衝突埋下伏筆，並讓讀者徹底沉浸在這部作品核心所在的政治、權力與個人忠誠交織的複雜網絡之中。

Plot Overview

The chapter opens with Winterfell preparing to receive the royal party. The entire Stark household is mobilized—servants rush to prepare food, accommodations are arranged, and the family stands at attention to greet their long-awaited guests. Eddard, ever the embodiment of Northern honor and formality, treats the King’s arrival with gravity and tradition.

King Robert Baratheon arrives in dramatic fashion, surrounded by a massive entourage including Queen Cersei Lannister, her brothers Jaime and Tyrion, Ser Barristan Selmy of the Kingsguard, and numerous lords and courtiers. The scale of the procession is overwhelming, a striking contrast to the Stark family’s more modest, austere lifestyle.

When Robert greets Eddard, their reunion is initially warm and affectionate, as they reminisce about the past and the wars they fought together. However, this nostalgia is quickly undercut by subtle tension. Robert is visibly older and heavier, a man who has grown tired and indulgent, unlike the fierce warrior Ned once knew. Ned, by contrast, has remained grounded and duty-bound, which highlights the growing gap between them.

The King insists on visiting Lyanna Stark’s crypt immediately, a moment that reminds readers of the deep emotional wounds Robert still carries. His continued obsession with Lyanna and his disdain for his wife Cersei are revealed in quiet, telling moments. In the crypt, Robert delivers a shocking proposal—he wants Eddard to come to King’s Landing as the new Hand of the King. The offer is as much a burden as it is an honor, and the chapter ends with Eddard visibly torn, foreshadowing the difficult path ahead.

劇情概述

本章開場描寫臨冬城正緊鑼密鼓地準備迎接王室一行人的到來。整個史塔克家族總動員——僕人們奔走準備食物、安排住宿，而史塔克一家則整齊列隊，準備迎接他們期待已久的貴客。艾德一如既往地展現出北方貴族的榮譽與莊重，將國王的來訪視為極為正式且神聖的事。

勞勃·拜拉席恩國王以壯觀的氣勢抵達，身邊簇擁著龐大的隨行隊伍，其中包括王后瑟曦·蘭尼斯特、她的兄弟詹姆與提利昂、御林鐵衛的巴利斯坦·賽爾彌爵士，以及眾多貴族與廷臣。這支浩大的隊伍與史塔克家族樸素而嚴謹的生活方式形成了鮮明對比。

當勞勃與艾德見面時，他們的重逢一開始是溫暖且帶有懷舊情感的——他們談起過往、提及共同經歷的戰爭。然而，這段回憶很快被潛藏的緊張氣氛所打斷。如今的勞勃明顯年老發福，顯得疲憊而放縱，與艾德記憶中那位勇猛剛毅的戰士已不可同日而語；而艾德則依然沉穩、堅守職責，兩人之間的距離感隱隱浮現。

國王堅持要立即前往參觀臨冬城的地下墓窖，這個舉動喚醒了讀者對他與已逝的萊安娜·史塔克之間情感牽絆的記憶。在那陰暗的墓穴中，勞勃展現出他對萊安娜難以釋懷的思念，也隱約表露出他對瑟曦王后的輕蔑與冷淡。

在這片哀思之地中，勞勃突然拋出震撼性的提議——他希望艾德隨他一同前往君臨，出任新任國王之手，以繼承已故的瓊恩·艾林的職位。這個提議既是榮耀，也是沉重的負擔，而艾德的遲疑與糾結在章末浮現，預示著他即將踏上一條充滿危險與痛苦的命運之路。

Character Development

Eddard Stark

Eddard’s sense of duty, honor, and loyalty are at the forefront in this chapter. He is shown to be a man bound by responsibility—to his family, to the realm, and to old friendships. His interactions with Robert reveal not just affection but concern; Ned sees how far the King has fallen from the heroic figure of their youth.

Ned is also shown as a family man deeply rooted in the North. He is visibly uncomfortable with the idea of leaving Winterfell and abandoning the responsibilities that define him. Yet he is also too loyal to easily refuse Robert’s request.

King Robert Baratheon

Robert is introduced as a larger-than-life figure who has grown soft in both body and spirit. While his arrival is grand, it becomes clear that he is weary of kingship and longs for the past. His desire for Eddard to serve as Hand is as much about rekindling a simpler time as it is about needing a trustworthy advisor.

Robert’s emotional fragility is exposed in the crypt, where his grief for Lyanna remains raw. His character is defined by contradictions—he is powerful, yet helpless in his own court; kingly, yet emotionally immature.

The Lannisters

Though they have limited lines in this chapter, the presence of the Lannister family is imposing. Jaime Lannister’s arrogance and striking beauty are immediately noted, foreshadowing future tension. Tyrion Lannister, though only briefly mentioned, already hints at being a character of intrigue. Cersei’s coldness and distance serve as a silent contrast to Robert’s emotions, reinforcing their unhappy marriage.

角色發展

艾德·史塔克（Eddard Stark）

在本章中，艾德的責任感、榮譽與忠誠心被突顯得淋漓盡致。他被描繪為一個受責任所束縛的人——對家庭的責任、對王國的責任，以及對舊日友情的責任。他與勞勃的互動不僅透露出昔日戰友之間的深厚情誼，也流露出他的擔憂；艾德看得出來，眼前的國王已與年輕時那位英勇無畏的戰士大相徑庭。

艾德同時也被描繪為一位深深植根於北境的家族之主。他對於離開臨冬城、放下肩上的職責感到不安——這些責任正是他身份的核心。然而，他對勞勃的忠誠卻使他無法輕易拒絕這位昔日的兄弟。

勞勃·拜拉席恩國王（King Robert Baratheon）

勞勃以一個氣勢非凡、但身心皆已鬆弛的國王形象首次登場。雖然他的來訪極具排場，但很快可以看出他對王位的倦怠，以及他對過往歲月的懷念。他希望艾德出任國王之手，不僅是因為信任，更是因為他渴望重拾那段簡單純粹的戰友情誼。

勞勃在臨冬城墓窖中展露出他的情感脆弱——他對萊安娜的哀思依然未曾平息。他的角色充滿矛盾：他是國王，卻在自己的朝廷中顯得無力；他擁有無上的權威，卻在情感上顯得幼稚不堪。

蘭尼斯特家族（The Lannisters）

儘管在本章中台詞不多，但蘭尼斯特家族的存在感仍舊極為強烈。詹姆·蘭尼斯特的傲慢與俊美立即被注意到，為未來的衝突埋下伏筆。提利昂·蘭尼斯特雖僅短暫出現，卻已給人一種複雜、聰慧又耐人尋味的印象。瑟曦·蘭尼斯特的冷漠與疏離則與勞勃的情感波動形成強烈對比，進一步揭示他們婚姻中的不幸福與裂痕。

Themes

Friendship vs. Politics

The dynamic between Robert and Ned encapsulates the struggle between personal loyalty and political reality. While Robert frames his request as a favor between friends, the weight of the offer is steeped in political consequence. Ned is forced to consider what loyalty means when it pulls him away from home and family.

The Past’s Grip on the Present

Robert’s fixation on Lyanna and the past underscores a central theme of A Game of Thrones—the inescapability of history. His inability to move on has consequences not just for him, but for the realm. Likewise, Ned’s memories of the rebellion and his fallen comrades inform how he navigates the present.

North vs. South

This chapter begins to paint the contrast between the North and South in sharper relief. The simplicity and honor of the Starks are set against the opulence and political complexity of the royal court. This cultural divide foreshadows many of the challenges Ned will face in King’s Landing.

主題分析

友情與政治的拉鋸（Friendship vs. Politics）

勞勃與艾德之間的關係精準展現了「私人忠誠」與「政治現實」之間的矛盾衝突。儘管勞勃將邀請艾德擔任國王之手描繪為好友間的請託，但這個請求所承載的，其實是沉重的政治責任。艾德因此被迫思考「忠誠」究竟應該如何實踐，當它的代價是遠離自己的家園與家庭時，這份忠誠是否仍然值得？

過去對現在的掌控（The Past’s Grip on the Present）

勞勃對萊安娜的執念，突顯出《冰與火之歌：權力遊戲》中的一個核心主題：歷史的陰影是無法擺脫的。勞勃無法從過去中走出來，這不僅影響了他個人，也對整個王國造成深遠後果。同樣地，艾德在回憶起叛亂、舊戰友和昔日創傷時，也讓這些記憶深深影響了他對當前局勢的判斷與處事方式。

北方與南方的對比（North vs. South）

本章開始更鮮明地勾勒出北境與南境之間的文化差異。史塔克家族所代表的質樸與榮譽，與王室隨行所展現的奢華與政治算計形成鮮明對照。這種文化上的隔閡，正是預示艾德前往君臨（King’s Landing）後即將面對的諸多挑戰與衝突。北境的直率與南境的權謀，終將成為這場權力遊戲中無法調和的對立。

Tone and Atmosphere

The tone is ceremonial at first—almost celebratory—but quickly shifts to introspective and uneasy. The pageantry of the King’s arrival hides a world of complications. Beneath the surface warmth of old friends lies suspicion, grief, and the stirrings of discontent. The crypt, with its cold and somber air, becomes a symbolic space where the dead haunt the living, and the weight of legacy presses down on both Robert and Ned.

氛圍與語調（Tone and Atmosphere）

本章一開始的語調帶有一種儀式感——幾乎可以說是慶典般的隆重熱鬧——但很快便轉為內省與不安。國王抵達時所展現出的排場與華麗，其實只是掩蓋現實複雜性的外表。在艾德與勞勃這對舊友表面的溫情互動之下，潛藏的卻是猜疑、哀傷，以及不滿的悄然醞釀。

在臨冬城的地下墓窖中，氣氛轉為陰冷且肅穆。那裡不僅是埋葬死者之地，更成為象徵性的空間——象徵著亡者對生者的牽絆與警示，也象徵著過往遺產對活人的沉重壓力。對勞勃而言，這裡是追憶與悔恨之地；對艾德而言，則是責任與哀痛的回聲。他們兩人都無法擺脫逝去的過去，而這段過去的陰影，正在悄悄改變他們未來的命運。

Foreshadowing

Several elements in this chapter act as harbingers of future events:

Robert’s hatred for the Lannisters and his open contempt for Cersei suggest a volatile political landscape.

Ned’s hesitation to leave Winterfell hints at the dangers he will face in the capital.

The symbolic reintroduction of Lyanna Stark foreshadows her deeper narrative significance.

The friction between the North and the South continues to build, forecasting larger cultural and political clashes.

預示與伏筆（Foreshadowing）

本章中出現了數個預示未來劇情發展的重要元素：

勞勃對蘭尼斯特家族的憎惡，尤其是他對瑟曦的公開輕蔑，預告了接下來政治局勢的動盪不安。

艾德對離開臨冬城的猶豫不決，暗示著他在君臨將面對的險惡挑戰與無法預料的危機。

透過勞勃與艾德對萊安娜·史塔克的重提與追憶，再次將她的形象帶入故事，這不僅強調她在兩人心中的分量，也預示她在更深層敘事中即將揭示的重要意義。

北方與南方之間的文化與價值觀衝突在本章逐漸升溫，這種張力預示著未來將爆發更大規模的文化對立與政治衝突。

Conclusion

Chapter 4 is a masterclass in character introduction and political setup. It reintroduces Eddard Stark in a new light—as a man torn between past loyalties and present responsibilities—and brings to life the courtly and dangerous world of Westerosi politics. With the arrival of King Robert and the Lannisters, the quiet isolation of Winterfell is broken, setting the stage for the series’ central conflicts.

This chapter elegantly weaves personal memory, political pressure, and foreshadowed tragedy into a single tapestry, making it a cornerstone moment in A Game of Thrones.

結語（Conclusion）

第四章堪稱角色登場與政治鋪陳的經典示範。它重新塑造了艾德·史塔克的形象，使讀者見到一位在舊日忠誠與當前責任之間掙扎的男子；同時，它也首次真正展現了維斯特洛宮廷政治的複雜與危險。在勞勃國王與蘭尼斯特家族抵達之後，臨冬城的孤寂與寧靜被徹底打破，正式揭開了全書核心衝突的序幕。

本章巧妙地將個人回憶、政治壓力以及未來悲劇的伏筆編織成一幅緊密的圖景，成為《權力遊戲》中最具關鍵性的章節之一，為整部作品奠定了情感與敘事的基石。