Editing Jon Snow (character) (section)

===''A Game of Thrones''===
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Jon Snow is first introduced in ''[[A Game of Thrones]]'' (1996), as he and his five siblings adopt six orphaned direwolf cubs. Jon takes the runt of the litter, a white cub that he names Ghost. Known by all as [[Ned Stark]]'s illegitimate son and with Ned's wife [[Catelyn Stark|Catelyn]] despising him, Jon has always felt removed from the rest of the Stark family. He resolves to join the [[Night's Watch]], as his status as a bastard prevents him from holding lands or marrying into a good family, whereas a life in the Night's Watch would offer opportunities for advancement. At [[The Wall (A Song of Ice and Fire)|The Wall]], the other recruits resent Jon's aura of superiority, but he makes amends by helping them master swordplay. He also befriends [[Samwell Tarly]], a cowardly lordling who, despite being helpless with weapons, is keenly intelligent. Jon's independence and his compassion for the recruits invite the ire of the harsh master-at-arms [[Alliser Thorne]], who sees Jon as a threat to his authority. Jon gains the notice of Lord Commander [[Jeor Mormont]], who names Jon his personal [[squire]] and grooms Jon for command. After a dead Night's Watch brother brought back from beyond the Wall reanimates as an [[undead]] wight, Jon saves Mormont's life by killing the creature. In thanks, Mormont gives Jon House Mormont's ancestral sword Longclaw, made of [[Valyrian steel]], with a wolf's head pommel custom-made for Jon. However, Jon is torn between his vows to the Night's Watch and his loyalty to his family after learning of Ned's execution and his half brother [[Robb Stark|Robb]]'s march south for justice. Jon resolves to desert the Night's Watch and join Robb, but his friends convince Jon to remain loyal to his vows. Mormont is aware of Jon's attempt at desertion, but convinces Jon that the new threat beyond the Wall is more concerning than events in the south. Mormont then orders a great ranging, with Jon accompanying him.<ref name="SparkNotes Jon GoT"/>{{sfn|Martin|1996}}