Why does Arya kill?
There is a reason behind every dead and this post shall proof so. Over the years, I have catalogued every kill Arya has been involved in into four categories and it is time to share it with you all.
JUSTICE: The man who passes the sentence, should wield the sword.
As the last Stark alive, or so she thinks, it is now her duty to keep the laws of men so justice is served. This category includes Chiswyck, whose name was whispered for his participation in a gang rape; and Daeron the bard, the Knight’s Watch deserter who travelled to Bravos with Sam Tarly.
VENGEANCE: Ser Ilyn, Ser Meryn, King Joffrey, Queen Cersei. Dunsen, Polliver, Raff the sweetling, Ser Gregor and the Tickler. And the Hound, the Hound, the Hound.
Despite the length of the list, Arya has only killed a few people for vengeance. At Harrenhall, she whispers Weese to Jaquen for striking her; at the crossroads inn, she stabbs a squire in the belly (finishing him with Needle) and the Tickler from behind. Allow me topoint out that the motivations behind the last kill are a mix between justice and vengeance for the torturing he inflicted at Harrenhall but there is more vengeance than justice behind it. TWOW SPOILERS The third is no other than Raff the sweetling, Mercy seduced the man and lures him out of the theater not to let a clue of her involvement. The House of Black and White has taught her well, either you can make it look like an accident or you make sure no one ever figures out what happenned.
DUTY: All men must die, all men must serve.
As an acolyte, it is her duty to give the gift. The House of Black and White assigns her a kill and she performs it. So far there is only one name in this category, the old man poisonned with a coin.
SURVIVAL: All men must die, but not before they have lived.
Arya Stark wants to live and because of it she has to kill sometimes. In this last category we shall include the stable boy she kills to scape the Red Keep and the guard at Harrenhall she puts down using a trick with a coin to get Gendry, Hot Pie and herself out.
Arya is not the cold assassin some claim her to be. Some deaths have greater motivations, others meaningless ones. But they all have reasons behind them and a bunch of feelings attached to them. Thoughts?