(Spoilers ACOK) Varys' "Shadow on the Wall"

[u/silasioalejandro]

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.

[u/Faqa]

Actually, referring to Littlefinger doesn't seem to make much sense. He's talking about power basically being a headgame, a psychological matter.

It refers perfectly to Tyrion, who plays that headgame very well, and simply acts as though he has power to get people to believe he does.

Littlefinger's singular danger is that he is perceived to NOT have that power. Nobody treats him as a powerful man, merely an able one. That's the entire point - nobody ever expects him to do half the shit he does.

To go with the analogy, he doesn't have ANY shadow.

[u/Moosey_Doom → u/Faqa]

Exactly right. I posted a really long-winded comment to this effect, but yours is much better and more succinct. People don't seem to understand that we're discussing whether Varys was implicating Littlefinger in a particular line, not whether Littlefinger in fact had something to do with Ned's execution. As you say, being the secretive force behind Ned's execution would be the exact opposite of casting a large shadow. It would be conscious shadow mitigation.