Difference between revisions of "Guest right"

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==Quotes==  
 
==Quotes==  
{{Quote|“In the [[north]], we hold the laws of hospitality sacred still.{{Ref|ASOS|37}}}} - [[Roose Bolton]], to [[Jaime Lannister]]
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{{Quote|In the [[north]], we hold the laws of hospitality sacred still. {{Ref|ASOS|37}}}} - [[Roose Bolton]] to [[Jaime Lannister]]
  
  
{{Quote|“I will see the dawn, at least. …I have eaten of his bread and salt”. {{ref|adwd|9}}}} - [[Davos Seaworth]]’s thoughts, after eating [[sister's stew]] with Lord [[Godric Borrell]]
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{{Quote|I will see the dawn, at least. …I have eaten of his bread and salt. {{ref|adwd|9}}}} - [[Davos Seaworth]]’s thoughts after eating [[sister's stew]] with Lord [[Godric Borrell]]
  
  
{{Quote|“Guest right don’t mean so much as it used to.  Not since [[Catelyn Stark|m’lady]] come back from [[Red Wedding|the wedding]]. Some o’ them swinging down by the river figured they was guests too. {{Ref|ASOS|37}}}} -  [[Jeyne Heddle]], to [[Brienne]]
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{{Quote|Guest right don’t mean so much as it used to.  Not since [[Catelyn Stark|m’lady]] come back from [[Red Wedding|the wedding]]. Some o’ them swinging down by the river figured they was guests too. {{Ref|ASOS|37}}}} -  [[Jeyne Heddle]] to [[Brienne]]
  
  
{{Quote|[[Lord Walder Frey|Walder Frey]]’s [[Alyssa Blackwood|fourth wife]] was a Blackwood, but kinship counts for no more than guest right at the Twins. {{ref|affc|48}}}} – [[Tytos Blackwood]], to [[Jaime Lannister]]  
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{{Quote|[[Lord Walder Frey|Walder Frey]]’s [[Alyssa Blackwood|fourth wife]] was a Blackwood, but kinship counts for no more than guest right at the Twins. {{ref|affc|48}}}} – [[Tytos Blackwood]] to [[Jaime Lannister]]  
  
  
{{Quote|“Death and guest right….They don’t mean so much as they used to, neither one." {{Ref|affcS|37}}}} - [[Jeyne Heddle]], to [[Brienne]] when Brienne sees [[Catelyn Stark|Lady Stoneheart]]'s face and says that it cannot be, she’s dead.  
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{{Quote|Death and guest right….They don’t mean so much as they used to, neither one. {{Ref|affcS|37}}}} - [[Jeyne Heddle]] to [[Brienne]] when Brienne sees [[Catelyn Stark|Lady Stoneheart]]'s face and says that it cannot be she’s dead.  
  
  
{{Quote|“In the [[Seven Kingdoms]] it is considered a grave breach of hospitality to poison your guests at supper." {{ref|adwd|1}}}} - [[Tyrion Lannister]], to [[Illyrio Mopatis]]
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{{Quote|In the [[Seven Kingdoms]] it is considered a grave breach of hospitality to poison your guests at supper. {{ref|adwd|1}}}} - [[Tyrion Lannister]] to [[Illyrio Mopatis]]
 
 
  
 
==References and Notes==
 
==References and Notes==

Revision as of 14:51, 19 August 2013

The guest right is a ancient and sacred tradition, that goes back thousands of years in Westeros to the First Men.[1]

The Sacred Law of Hospitality

The guest right is a sacred law of hospitality. When a guest, be he common born or noble, eats the food and drinks the drink off a host's table beneath the host's roof, the guest right is invoked. Bread and salt are the traditional provisions.

When invoked, neither the guest can harm his host nor the host harm his guest for the length of the guest's stay.[1] For either to do so would be to break a sacred covenant that is believed to invoke the wrath of the Gods both old and new. Both the teachings of the old gods and the Faith of the Seven hold to this. Even robber lords and wreckers are bound by the ancient laws of hospitality. [2]

Violation of the Sacred Law of Hospitality

There are two infamous instances in the history of the Westeros when the guest right was broken: the legend of the Rat Cook of the Nightfort, and more recently the Red Wedding. The song of the Rat Cook is used to represent the repercussions that await those who violate this sacred laws of hospitality.

Practice

A lord with a bared sword across his knees is making a traditional sign that he is denying guest right.

It is sometimes customary for a host to give "guest gifts" to the departing guests when they leave the host's dwellings; this usually represents the end of the sacred guest right. In addition, visiting guests will sometimes offer their host "guest gifts" as gratitude for giving them food and shelter.[3]

See also

Customs: Additional information on customs and traditions of Westeros.

Quotes

In the north, we hold the laws of hospitality sacred still. [4]

- Roose Bolton to Jaime Lannister


I will see the dawn, at least. …I have eaten of his bread and salt. [2]

- Davos Seaworth’s thoughts after eating sister's stew with Lord Godric Borrell


Guest right don’t mean so much as it used to. Not since m’lady come back from the wedding. Some o’ them swinging down by the river figured they was guests too. [4]

- Jeyne Heddle to Brienne


Walder Frey’s fourth wife was a Blackwood, but kinship counts for no more than guest right at the Twins. [5]

Tytos Blackwood to Jaime Lannister


Death and guest right….They don’t mean so much as they used to, neither one. [6]

- Jeyne Heddle to Brienne when Brienne sees Lady Stoneheart's face and says that it cannot be she’s dead.


In the Seven Kingdoms it is considered a grave breach of hospitality to poison your guests at supper. [7]

- Tyrion Lannister to Illyrio Mopatis

References and Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 7, Jon I.
  2. 2.0 2.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 9, Davos I.
  3. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 29, Davos IV.
  4. 4.0 4.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 37, Jaime V.
  5. A Feast for Crows, Bad parameter 2: "48" is not a recognized chapter.
  6. Bad parameter 1: "affcS" is not a recognized work
  7. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 1, Tyrion I.