Several knights in the Song of Ice and Fire novels display complex relation-
ships between the qualities of effectiveness and the qualities of excellence. As was mentioned earlier, Ser Gregor Clegane serves as the best example of a knight who possesses all the qualities of effectiveness but none of the qualities of excel- lence.
A knight who possesses high degrees of both the qualities of effectiveness and the qualities of excellence, who best displays how the two can exist in a state of mutual reinforcement, is Ser Barristan Selmy. Described by Bran as “the great- est living knight” (GoT 9 Bran 2: 65), and by Varys as the only remaining “true
steel” of the Kingsguard (GoT 31 Eddard 7: 270), Ser Barristan is legendary for
his prowess, proving his effectiveness in battle against Maelys the Monstrous, and in tourneys against opponents ten and twenty years younger than himself. When dismissed by King Joffrey, Ser Barristan (despite having no sword) slew half a dozen Gold Cloaks on his way out of King’s Landing. During the siege of Meereen, Selmy (still using the alias “Arstan Whitebeard,” and again without a sword) defeated the Titan’s Bastard, and after Meereen was taken, he slew the formidable pit fighter Khrazz (who was two stone heavier and forty years younger).
Barristan’s effectiveness as a warrior is only enhanced by his high levels of the remaining virtues. His courage is undeniable, facing opponents younger and stronger and more numerous than he. He displays his temperance by maintaining a simple lifestyle as Arstan, humbly submitting to the blustering Strong Belwas
and keeping his emotions in check during and after the fight with Khrazz. Facing Hizdahr, whom Selmy believes to have betrayed Danaerys and who had just ordered Khrazz to kill him, Selmy shows no sign of bloodlust or vengefulness and calmly arrests Hizdahr. He shows compassion for fallen comrades, standing vigil for Ser Hugh of the Vale and grieving over Quentyn Martell. Although he considers himself insufficient in matters associated with transcendent wisdom, his scheme of approaching Danaerys in disguise to assess her mental state shows considerable practical wisdom, and he is able to offer her sound advice. Ser Bar- ristans excels at the virtue of justice, especially in terms of loyalty. His loyalty to King Aerys was tested by the king’s madness, but Ser Barristan remained true to his vow. After he was defeated and captured during Robert’s Rebellion, he experienced inner conflict about accepting the new king’s pardon, but once he chose to accept the new king’s rule, he stayed loyal to the Baratheons until his dismissal by King Joffrey. Loyalty is so deeply ingrained in Selmy’s character that he found himself lost without someone to defend, and saw his dismissal as an opportunity to redeem his acceptance of Robert by seeking out Viserys and serving him loyally. He now follows this path by loyally serving Danaerys as Hand of the Queen, even during the time when it seemed that she had been killed by one of her dragons. Selmy is also notable for courtesy, speaking politely to Sansa while others rudely jested, to the Green Grace even as he refused her request to release Hizdahr, and even to Khrazz as the pit fighter was preparing to kill him. This habit of courteous speech pays very practical dividends when his explanation to Danaerys of his deception earns him her pardon.
While Barristan may represent the convergence of effectiveness and excel- lence at every level, Ser Jaime Lannister demonstrates a curious pattern in which a loss of effectiveness occurs alongside an increase in excellence. At the beginning of the series, Jaime is a knight of outstanding skill and social standing, and is admired by Jon Snow, who thought that Jaime was “what a king should look like” (GoT 6 Jon 1: 42), with his stunning appearance and golden armor. His
skill with a sword is on display in A Storm of Swords, when he faces Brienne and,
even weakened and chained, proves himself to be a terrifying opponent. Despite his extreme prowess and courage, though, Jaime is utterly lacking in honour. He is mistrusted by all, and unable to escape the nickname “kingslayer.” Ser Barristan Selmy describes him as “the false knight who profaned his blade with the blood of the king he had sworn to defend” (GoT 58 Sansa 5: 520) and had argued
(along with Eddard Stark) that Jaime should have been stripped of his white cloak and sent to the Wall for his killing of King Aerys.
Jaime’s maiming at the hands of the Bloody Mummers causes him to sink into self- doubt and wander through previously- unexplored territories of intro- spection. The first time Jaime says that he “may indeed have shit for honor” (CoK
56 Catelyn 7: 597), it was a riposte to an insult from Catelyn Stark. However, the phrase became a recurring theme in his thoughts after losing his sword hand, as he came to realize the truth of it. It had only been his prowess that caused people to treat him with even a façade of respect, and now the prowess was gone. Jaime now faces the uphill battle of learning the virtues that might make him truly honorable, and though he finds it a hard road, we do see progress by A Dance with Dragons. He determines that, having given his word to Catelyn Stark
to return her daughters, he will in fact carry out the oath by supporting Brienne in her quest to find Sansa. He begins to find satisfaction in justice. He begins to provide the Kingsguard with true leadership. He opposes his father, and finds himself repulsed by his sister’s lack of morality. Jaime transforms from a knight who possessed effectiveness but not excellence into one who has lost effectiveness but is slowly growing in excellence. It remains to be seen whether or not this redemption trajectory will be allowed to continue its work, or if circumstances will cut his arc short before he can become truly excellent.