Why Didn't the Citadel Send Maesters to Investigate the White Walkers?

The White Walkers are a formidable threat to the Seven Kingdoms, yet the historical records and systematic investigations by the Citadel have been insufficient to combat this danger. This article delves into the complex reasons why the Citadel, despite having the knowledge and resources, did not send more maesters to investigate the White Walkers.

Castle Black's Maesters and the Sentient Threat

The maester of Castle Black, a position held concurrently by Benjen Stark, played a crucial role in the early warning against the White Walkers. His first-hand observations and subsequent reports to the Kings of Westeros laid the groundwork for a call for assistance, indicating the growing threat from the north. However, the Citadel, located in the capital of Oldtown, has a more methodical approach to data collection and analysis, relying on the reports sent by the maester at Castle Black and those from various other sources.

Challenges of Investigating the White Walkers

The White Walkers pose a unique challenge because of their cryptic nature. Unlike well-known threats, the White Walkers are elusive and often result in traumatic or fatal outcomes for those who encounter them. This makes obtaining reliable evidence highly difficult. Here are some reasons why the Citadel and Castle Black have not been more proactive:

Few Witnesses, High Trauma Rates: Survivors of encounters with the White Walkers are rare and those who survive often suffer from severe trauma, making them unreliable witnesses. Motivated Reporting: There is always a possibility that reports are motivated by political or personal agendas, such as the wildlings seeking justification to cross the Wall or a ranger traumatized by something different. Hallucinations and Misinterpretations: The sheer uncertainty and fear can cause individuals to misinterpret their experiences or hallucinate, leading to false or exaggerated reports.

Until concrete, verifiable evidence is available, the Citadel waits for a significant accumulation of data before taking action. By this time, the threat may have already materialized, making timely intervention critical.

The Role of Maesters in Westeros

Maesters in Westeros are not merely healers but also scientists, philosophers, and scholars. They rely on empirical evidence and rational analysis to understand the world around them. In the case of the White Walkers, the maesters of the Citadel would be the logical choice to lead an investigation. However, their skepticism and reluctance to accept supernatural elements without concrete proof hinder the effectiveness of their responses.

Indifference to the Supernatural

The maesters at the Citadel have a pragmatic and scientific mindset. When presented with the notion of the White Walkers, they are likely to dismiss it as unproven and suspect. Consider the scene in the show where Maester Luwin advises Bronn to laugh when the idea of Satan coming from the north is proposed. Such a suggestion would be met with disbelief and a lack of serious consideration.

Maesters are trained to question and demand evidence. Without concrete proof, they would be hesitant to allocate resources for an investigation, which is also why they were not more proactive in the early stages of the threat.

The Need for Empirical Verification

Empirical verification is at the heart of scientific and scholarly inquiry. The maesters of the Citadel, like many scholars, rely on tangible evidence and systematic analysis. In the realm of magic and supernatural phenomena, this approach can be limiting. However, systematic observation and reporting from Castle Black provide a basis for action.

The Importance of Evidence and Analysis

Given the limited resources and the dangers associated with the White Walkers, Castle Black has been the primary source of information and potential evidence. The Lord Commander chose to send the maester along with a witness back to the Citadel to provide tangible proof. This step is crucial because it turns anecdotal reports into verifiable evidence, providing a foundation for the Citadel to take necessary steps.

Conclusion

The decision of the Citadel not to send more maesters to investigate the White Walkers is a result of their methodical approach to evidence-based decision-making. While the maesters at Castle Black have provided valuable reports, the uncertainties and potential biases in the data make a full investigation by the Citadel difficult. However, the situation highlights the need for a more holistic approach, combining empirical evidence with practical action to combat the imminent threat.

Understanding the challenges and perspectives of the maesters in Westeros provides a deeper insight into the story of Game of Thrones, where the line between science and magic is often blurred, and the reliability of evidence is everything.

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