Ned adheres strictly to his honor as the Lord of Winterfell. How does Martin foreshadow that this adherence will lead to his death?

In what ways do Arya and Sansa Stark represent conflicting expectations of gender in the Seven Kingdoms? Does Martin suggest that either sister’s strategy is more successful at navigating these expectations for her own goals?

Jon comes close to breaking his vows to the Night’s Watch. What does his decision to stay at the Wall say about his understanding of family? How does this compare to other characters in the novel who face similar choices?