Would Robb Stark’s Official Recognition of Theon Greyjoy as His Brother Have Prevented Betrayal?

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Throughout George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, particularly in A Storm of Swords, characters like Theon Greyjoy grapple with their complex identities and loyalties. The question often arises: would it have prevented the infamous event where Theon betrayed Robb Stark if Robb had officially recognized Theon as his brother?

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From a technical standpoint, Robb Stark couldn’t officially recognize Theon as his brother in the manner he did with Jon Snow. The reason is that Robb and Theon do not share blood; Theon is a trueborn son of Euron Greyjoy, while Robb is the recognized heir to House Stark. This non-blood relationship isn’t unlike the complex family dynamics of the old Wuthering Heights novel, where Heathcliff was the adopted son of the Earnshaw family but never fully accepted as part of the family.

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Recognizing Jon Snow was different. As a bastard, Jon had no formal claim to the Stark name. When Ned Stark acknowledged Jon as his bastard son, this was a significant official recognition. However, recognizing Jon as his brother went beyond that; it cemented Jon as an official Stark. Robb’s subsequent acknowledgment of Jon in A Clash of Kings officially made Jon his heir in his will—a step that granted Jon the full name ‘Stark’ and the trappings of Stark status.

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Contrast this with Theon. He was never given the Stark name, and his recognition as a Stark through familial succession was impossible without a marriage bond. However, this was not his only issue. The conflict that led to Theon's eventual fall from grace was deeply rooted in his identity crisis. Robb, like Ned before him, recognized Theon as a valued ally, but never as a blood relative in the true sense.

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One might speculate that a betrothal between Theon and one of Robb's sisters could have solidified their bond. Sansa Stark, in particular, had been a betrothed maiden who might have fostered a deep connection. Even though Sansa was already betrothed, the potential for such a betrothal was not realized in the narrative. Arya Stark, who was too young, was betrothed to the Freys, and Bran had his own betrothal plans.

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Importantly, the decision to send Theon to the Iron Islands was a critical turning point. Being forced to choose a family—either the family he was born into or the family who raised him—placed immense pressure on Theon. His struggle to define his identity was a personal one that transcended any formal recognition. The decision to send Theon to the Iron Islands was a pivotal moment that exacerbated his identity crisis, pushing him towards betrayal.

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While the betrothal might have mitigated some of the tension, it might not have entirely prevented the betrayal. Theon’s sexual reprogramming and his eventual forced loyalty to Euron Greyjoy further complicated his ties to the Starks. The only real key to preventing the betrayal might have been the removal of that enforced loyalty, which seemed to be the very reason for the expedition to the Iron Islands.

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Ultimately, Theon's betrayal is a complex narrative driven by identity, loyalty, and the broader political strife of the Seven Kingdoms. Robb Stark’s recognition of Theon as a brother would have made for an interesting narrative twist, but it didn’t address the fundamental issue of Theon’s identity and his forced choice between his birth family and his adopted one.