How do you interpret Catelyn’s line “Ned always said that the man who passes the sentence should swing the blade, though he never took any joy in the duty. But I would, oh, yes.”? It’s such a contrast to Sansa’s view who appears to admire and respect her father for not liking killing. Do you think it’s more Catelyn’s grief talking, foreshadowing Lady Stoneheart, or her implying she viewed Ned as weak or something?

madaboutasoiaf:

Hi Anon,

It’s the first reason you mention. It’s Catelyn’s grief, and it is foreshadowing Lady Stoneheart. We have Catelyn’s pov on Ned after he killed the Night’s Watch deserter. It’s in her very first pov chapter in AGOT. We see no judgement of Ned there for his feelings about killing, only acceptance.

This was a place of deep silence and brooding shadows, and the gods who lived here had no names.
But she knew she would find her husband here tonight. Whenever he took a man’s life, afterward he would seek the quiet of the godswood.

“The man died well, I’ll give him that,” Ned said. He had a swatch of oiled leather in one hand. He ran it lightly up the greatsword as he spoke, polishing the metal to a dark glow. “I was glad for Bran’s sake. You would have been proud of Bran.”
“I am always proud of Bran,” Catelyn replied, watching the sword as he stroked it.

We also have Catelyn’s views on war and on killing at the end of AGOT which very decidedly do not take any joy in killing.

“My lords,” she said then, “Lord Eddard was your liege, but I shared his bed and bore his children. Do you think I love him any less than you?” Her voice almost broke with her grief, but Catelyn took a long breath and steadied herself. “Robb, if that sword could bring him back, I should never let you sheathe it until Ned stood at my side once more… but he is gone, and hundred Whispering Woods will not change that. Ned is gone, and Daryn Hornwood, and Lord Karstark’s valiant sons, and many other good men besides, and none of them will return to us. Must we have more deaths still?”

In addition, we have Catelyn’s views on vengeance when she goes to treat with Renly on Robb’s behalf. Again, not taking joy in killing.

“My lady, I swear to you, I will see that the Lannisters answer for your husband’s murder,” the king declared. “When I take King’s Landing, I’ll send you Cersei’s head.”
And will that bring my Ned back to me? she thought. “it will be enough to know that justice has been done, my lord.”

It is after Catelyn receives the (false) report of Bran and Rickon’s murders that her views change. It is the grief from the loss of her children that begins to turn her thoughts to vengeance. The quote you refer to is part of Catelyn’s coverasation with Brienne, where she tells Brienne that Bran and Rickon are dead, and thinks about Arya and how she must be dead too. It is a passage that is filled with grief, and desperation about her need for her remaining children to live.

“I want them all dead, Brienne. Theon Greyjoy first, then Jaime Lannister and Cersei and the Imp, every one, every one. But my girls… my girls will…”
“The queen… she has a little girl of her own,” Brienne said awkwardly. “And sons too, of an age with yours. When she hears, perhaps she… she may take pity, and…”
“Send my daughters back unharmed?” Catelyn smiled sadly. “There is a sweet innocence about you, child. I could wish… but no.”

She is still Catelyn here. She wants them all dead, yes, but she wants her girls to live and knows that vengeance risks their lives. She still wants that vengeance, for Bran and for Rickon, and she believes Robb will deliver it.

Robb will avenge his brothers. Ice can kill as dead as fire. Ice was Ned’s greatsword. Valyrian steel, marked with the ripples of a thousand foldings, so sharp I feared to touch it. Robb’s blade is dull as a cudgel compared to Ice. It will not be easy for him to get Theon’s head off, I fear. The Starks do not use headsmen. Ned always said that the man who passes the sentence should swing the blade, though he never took any joy in the duty. But I would, oh, yes.”

This is Catelyn’s grief speaking. It is definite foreshadowing of Stoneheart too, and a hint of what we are to expect when Catelyn feels she has lost everything. She wants them all dead. Her living children restrain her from acting out on that desire, but once Sansa is taken from her (wed to Tyrion), then Robb is killed, there’s nothing remaining to stop her, and bringing her back from the dead leaves her consumed by those last feelings of vengeance, just as Beric is tied to his final mission.

I want them all dead.

But I would, oh yes.