In a cutthroat world like the one we see in Game of Thrones, there’s not much room for shame – and that’s something Arya Stark learns early on in the series. When her father is executed and she’s forced to go on the run, Arya begins to adopt a “kill or be killed” mentality that leads her to darker and darker places throughout the series.
And with each decision Arya makes, it seems she’s less concerned about what society deems moral, choosing to live by her own moral code instead – even if it’s one many wouldn’t agree with.
Here are 10 of the most shameless things Arya ever did.
Refused The Life Laid Out For Her
It’s not easy being different when you’re living in a world that has a more conservative societal structure, but Arya decides early on that the life deemed acceptable for women in Westeros isn’t for her. When Ned tells her she’ll eventually marry and have sons, she tells him, “That’s not me.”
Arya never appears ashamed of her disinterest in becoming a wife or mother, and she proudly hones her traditionally masculine traits and skills. This is something she’s never ashamed of, and it’s difficult not to love her for it.
Attacked Joffrey For Hurting Micah
Arya is nothing if not loyal, and she proves that during her first encounter with Joffrey Baratheon. The young prince cruelly attempts to punish her friend Micah for sparring with her, and Arya immediately jumps in to defend the boy – even if she’s up against a prince who has far more power than she does.
Even after Arya’s actions result in Micah’s death and her own punishment, Arya never seems ashamed of hitting or threatening Joffrey. She’s unhappy that it cost her friend his life, but she continues to wish the worst on the young prince. (And really, who can blame her?)
Made A List Of People She Wanted To Kill
One thing Arya is known for is her “list of names,” or her list of people she plans to kill. This list is mostly comprised of individuals who have hurt her family or loved ones, and she recites it each night before going to sleep. Although keeping a list of names isn’t necessarily considered normal, Arya isn’t shy about it. During season 7, she even tells her sister about it – in fact, she almost seems proud of it.
On top of that, Arya crosses quite a few names off of her list. Were she ashamed of having one, she’d likely just carry on without actually following through. But Arya means business with her list, and she doesn’t care who knows it.
Killed A Soldier Involved In The Red Wedding
If Arya was shameless about wanting revenge after her father was beheaded, it’s nothing compared to after the Red Wedding. In fact, when she and the Hound come across Frey soldiers in the woods, she kills one of them for bragging about slaughtering her family. She hardly thinks before she acts, and she doesn’t seem sorry afterward.
It’s easy to understand why Arya doesn’t feel guilt about killing this soldier, but this marks a turning point in her character arc. This is when she stops concerning herself about the morality surrounding killing, justifying doing so by being in the right – at least in her mind.
Avenged Lommy
Speaking of Arya killing without guilt, she does this again when she and the Hound run into trouble with Lannister soldiers at an inn. Although the Hound takes out most of the men causing problems, Arya kills Polliver after recognizing him as the soldier who killed her friend Lommy earlier in the series.
Again, Arya feels little guilt or shame about killing those who have harmed the people she cares about. This scene proves that as well as any.
Left The Hound To Die
Despite Arya’s many threats to the Hound during their travels together, it’s hard to take her seriously until she actually leaves him to die. Determining it’ll be worse for him to suffer, she ignores his pleas to be put out of his misery, takes his money, and heads for Braavos.
Her anger and desire for vengeance takes over in this moment, and she doesn’t seem to have second thoughts about leaving the Hound for dead. Fortunately, the two are able to reconcile later – but even then, she doesn’t apologize.
Became A Faceless Assassin
Most people would hesitate before joining a guild of assassins who can swap their faces for other people’s, but Arya hardly blanches before letting Jaqen H’ghar take her under his wing. Even if she eventually decides the Faceless Men aren’t her whole future, Arya never seems to regret training with them.
In fact, she uses her new talents on multiple occasions afterward. And in typical Arya fashion, she never feels bad about killing those she thinks deserve it — Lady Crane seems to be the exception to the rule.
Killed Meryn Trant
Arya never quite forgives Ser Meryn Trant for killing her dancing master, Syrio Forel, and she certainly doesn’t seem sorry about brutally enacting revenge on him. This is one of those instances during which she shamelessly uses her ability to change faces to deceive and hurt someone — even if they weren’t meant to be the target.
And even as Jaqen chides her for what she’s done, it’s unlikely Arya would have made another decision given a second chance. After all, this isn’t the last time she goes against the wishes of the Many-Faced God.
Took Vengeance On House Frey
Speaking of seeking vengeance, Arya goes out of her way to pay back Walder Frey and his family for the Red Wedding. And while the Freys didn’t necessarily deserve forgiveness, it’s disturbing to see Arya marching out of a hall full of dead bodies with her head held high.
”Tell them the North remembers,” she tells the only survivor, emphasizing just how proud she is of what she’s done.
Executed Littlefinger
Littlefinger is clearly a threat to House Stark toward the end of the series, and Sansa and Arya don’t hesitate to take advantage of his scheming in order to remove him from the picture. Arya is almost amused by the surprise trial they spring on him, and he doesn’t seem bothered by having to play the executioner.
To be fair, he is the reason half their family is dead — and he would happily have seen the rest of the Starks to their graves as well.
