In Game of Thrones, the Stark children find a litter of direwolf pups in the first episode and each child adopts one as their pet. The direwolves quickly become part of the Stark family and accompany the children on their journeys throughout Westeros. However, as the story progresses, the fate of the direwolves mirrors the fates of the Stark children. Many of the wolves meet tragic ends as the Stark family is torn apart by war and betrayal.
The Stark Children Find the Direwolf Pups
In the first episode of Game of Thrones, the Stark family finds a dead direwolf in the woods with her litter of pups. There are six pups, one for each of the Stark children: Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran, Rickon and Jon Snow. The six pups are adopted and raised by the children as their own. The pups are named Grey Wind (Robb’s), Lady (Sansa’s), Nymeria (Arya’s), Summer (Bran’s), Shaggydog (Rickon’s) and Ghost (Jon’s).
The discovery of the pups is an important sign as the direwolf is the sigil of House Stark. Having a direwolf become the pet of each Stark child cements their connection to their house and foreshadows the fates that await them in the game of thrones.
The Fates of the Direwolves
Here is what happened to each of the Stark children’s direwolves over the course of the show:
Grey Wind
Grey Wind accompanies Robb Stark into battle during the War of the Five Kings. He fights alongside Robb and helps the Northern army win many battles. However, after Robb is betrayed and murdered at the Red Wedding, Grey Wind is also killed by the Frey soldiers.
Lady
Sansa’s direwolf Lady meets a tragic end early on in season 1. When Joffrey is bitten by Arya’s direwolf Nymeria, Cersei demands that one of the wolves pays with its life. As Nymeria has run away, Lady is sentenced to death instead. Despite Sansa’s pleading, Lady is executed by Ned Stark.
Nymeria
Arya forces Nymeria to flee in the first season after the wolf bites Joffrey to protect Arya. Nymeria disappears into the woods and is not seen for several seasons. She reappears briefly in season 7 when she finds Arya again and recognizes her old master. But Nymeria has become wild and leads her own pack now, so she does not return with Arya. Her fate after their reunion remains unknown.
Summer
Summer accompanies Bran beyond the Wall and protects him on his journey to find the Three-Eyed Raven. The wolf sacrifices himself fighting against wights to allow Bran to escape. Summer perishes during the attack but his death saves Bran.
Shaggydog
Rickon’s black direwolf Shaggydog journeys with him to the Umber’s stronghold Last Hearth. However, the Umbers betray Rickon and behead Shaggydog to prove their loyalty to Ramsay Bolton. They present Shaggydog’s head as evidence to Ramsay.
Ghost
Jon Snow’s albino direwolf Ghost stays by his side through many battles and journeys. He accompanies Jon to Dragonstone, survives the massacre at Hardhome, and even returns to Jon after he is resurrected. In season 8, Jon says farewell to Ghost before leaving for King’s Landing. Ghost remains at Winterfell, making him one of the only surviving direwolves.
The Meaning Behind the Direwolves’ Fates
The fates of the direwolves often mirror the fates of their masters. When a Stark child faces death or misfortune, their wolf companion meets the same demise. This symbolizes the connection between the Stark children and their wolves, as well as foreshadows what is to come.
Some key connections between the wolves and their masters include:
- Grey Wind dies alongside Robb at the Red Wedding
- Lady is killed instead of Nymeria, foreshadowing Sansa’s suffering for Arya’s actions
- Summer dies to protect Bran, just as Bran is willing to sacrifice himself for the greater good
- Shaggydog’s abrupt beheading foretells Rickon’s sudden demise at Ramsay’s hands
The direwolves’ presence enhances the Stark children’s connection to their ancestral home and provides meaningful foreshadowing throughout the story. Their ultimate demise represents the suffering and fragmentation of House Stark as the game of thrones tears the family apart.
Which Direwolves Survived?
By the end of Game of Thrones, only two of the original six direwolves are still alive:
Nymeria
Arya’s direwolf Nymeria manages to escape death and remains at large in the Riverlands leading her wolfpack. Her survival represents Arya’s independence and refusal to be tied down. However, without a Stark companion, Nymeria’s future remains uncertain.
Ghost
Jon Snow’s loyal direwolf Ghost stays by his side until Jon leaves for King’s Landing. He remains safely at Winterfell through the final season, making him the only Stark direwolf to survive until the end. His survival offers hope that the Starks and their ancestral bond with their direwolves live on despite such devastation.
Conclusion
The direwolves’ fates eerily mirror those of the Stark children and provide deeper meaning as the story progresses. Their wargs-like bond connects the Starks to their ancestral home. But the machinations of those vying for power in Westeros destroy the Starks and tear them away from their direwolf companions. In the end, the direwolves fall victim to the game of thrones just as the Starks do.