Should Jaime Lannister Have Killed King Aerys?

As a human on our earth, there is a strong argument to be made that if King Aerys Targaryen had his way, he would go out with a bang. So in the interests of saving lives, many might argue that Jaime Lannister was justified in putting the sword through Aerys. However, from the perspective of the people of Westeros, Jaime's decision was more disgraceful than anything else.

Oaths and Loyalty in Westeros

Westeros is a society built on oaths and loyalty. Honoring one's promises and vows is at the top of their list. Robert Baratheon kept Barristan Selmy as a Kingsguard despite him serving a different king. Arthur Dayne fought until the bitter end, even though the war was lost. This displays the dedication of Kingsguards to their oaths. They swear to protect the king with their lives – full stop. Not just “protect the king... but unless he...” No, they are obligated to protect the king without compromise regardless of the situation. Because of the oaths they swear and the vows they take, these promises are meant to be kept.

Jaime, however, broke this vow. Consequently, Westeros society has rightly looked down upon him for it. It's not about the number of lives saved or what Aerys was planning to do; it's about the oath he took. And he broke it. Regardless of the legality, Jaime's actions were a moral failure.

Jaime's Loyalty to his Oath

Jaime was a Knight of the Kingsguard, sworn to protect Aerys at all costs. But before he was given the White Cloak, he was just a knight – any knight, except for the Hound, who was given the White Cloak due to nepotism.
As a knight, he was sworn to protect the innocents and the cities that were in danger. In order to fulfill one of his duties, he had to break another. Some may deem this unacceptable. Legally, he was wrong, but morally, he could be seen as right.

King Aerys and His Responsibilities

Aerys was a king and had the right to be protected, including by his royal bodyguards, including Jaime. However, he was also a king with duties to his people. One of these duties was to protect his subjects, including nobles and peasants, and never harm them unless strictly necessary. Aerys had failed to fulfill this duty, making him unfit to be a king and, by extension, losing his right to be protected as kings were.

The Social Contract of Westeros

Westeros was founded on a simple concept: the social contract. The people surrender their freedom and resources by kneeling to their rulers and paying taxes, ensuring stability and prosperity. In exchange, the rulers are supposed to provide protection against any threats to safety. Failure to do so makes the ruler unfit to rule and the people have the right to seek a new ruler who can fulfill their duties.

Aerys' failure to protect his people and harm them through his misguided actions disqualified him from being a king. Robert Baratheon and Ned Stark had the right to challenge his rule once he demanded their heads unjustly. However, the killing of Aerys should have been left to the new king and not Jaime, who was meant to protect him. This shows that what is morally right can sometimes be legally wrong.

Alternative Actions for Jaime

But what if Jaime had chosen other actions during the crisis? Here are some alternatives:

Knock Aerys unconscious, bind, and gag him. Put him in a room to hide. Kill the pyromancers except one, who could be used as a witness. Protect Elia against Tywin's men. Go to Ned Stark and tell him about the wildfire plots and where Aerys was. Bargain with Jon Arryn and offer to surrender if Robert spared Elia and her children. At the court, reveal the truth and request for forgiveness, potentially gaining Ned's support and protection.

Each of these actions, while less sensational, would still have prevented the disaster and potentially provided a better outcome.

Ultimately, whether or not Jaime's actions were justified is a matter of debate. However, it is clear that his decision to kill King Aerys was a complex moral issue with significant consequences for both the kingdom and Jaime himself.