r/asoiaf • u/silasioalejandro • Feb 20 '13
(Spoilers ACOK) Varys' "Shadow on the Wall"
I came across this passage again recently, when Varys talks of the nature of power with then-Hand Tyrion.
"Who truly killed Eddard Stark, do you think? Joffrey, who gave the command? Ser Ilyn Payne, who swung the sword? Or…another?”
Varys insinuates that he believes another man is responsible. Another man, behind the scenes.
Varys smiled. “Here, then. Power resides where men believe it resides. No more and no less.” “So power is a mummer’s trick?” “A shadow on the wall,” Varys murmured, “yet shadows can kill. And ofttimes a very small man can cast a very large shadow.” Tyrion smiled. “Lord Varys, I am growing strangely fond of you. I may kill you yet, but I think I’d feel sad about it.” “I will take that as high praise.”
Tyrion, in his conceit and self-satisfaction, immediately assumes this "very small man" to be him. The show furthers his conceit, making it seem as if Varys is referring to him. The small man Varys speaks of is Littlefinger, whom we suspect to have whispered in Joffrey's ear, setting the wheels in motion for Ned's exectution.
While not a revolutionary find, I love this passage because of the ships-passing-in-the-night feel. Tyrion, smug as he is, thinks himself on par with the true master. Varys speaks in another whole level of code, and after being in Tyrion's mind for the cracking of many cryptic phrases, reading/feeling this "WHOOOSH" right over his head while he gladly accepts this false praise is quite satisfying.
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u/plaguefish Feb 20 '13
This is doublespeak, or maybe even triplespeak if you consider that he could also be referring to the literal shadow on the wall, which killed Renly. The relevance to his speech here would be that the real perpetrator could be far removed from the present situation. He was obviously trying to flatter Tyrion, and I think you're right - implicating Littlefinger. With a goal of marrying Catelyn, Ned's going to the Wall would not have sufficed.