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Sam's father wanted to get rid of him so his younger brother could become the heir; he threatened Sam and forced him to join the Night's Watch. Ok, fine, but I have some problems with this. First: why the Watch? Given that Sam was a bookworm, if would've made much more sense to send him to the Citadel; this would also achieve the same purpose since Maesters forgo any claims and titles. Second, given that Sam had "chosen" to take the black out of free will (i.e., he wasn't a criminal), couldn't he just say he changed his mind after arriving on the Wall and so leave (before taking his vows, of course)?

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You may have missed that Sam had already explored the option of becoming a maester with his father. The result was that Lord Tarly said something to the effect of:

If you want to wear a chain, so be it.

...And chained him in the dungeon. Lord Tarly is a hard man, and has been trying many different things to make his son into what he wanted him to be. Allowing him to become maester would not be something he wanted.

As Sam says in AFFC/ADWD, the life of a maester is servitude, and no son of Lord Randyll Tarly could humiliate himself in that way. In the Night's Watch, Lord Tarly figures that Sam might finally become the hardened man he always wanted him to be. Although I don't think he really cares, he just wanted him gone, so his younger son Dickon could be his heir.

Finally, of course, Sam cannot exactly leave the watch. As long as he is alive and a free agent, he threatens Dickon's inheritance, so Lord Tarly would probably have him killed.

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I think it doesn't matter to his father if he leaves the Watch or not. Aside from being an embarrassment, I think it wouldn't change anything. The way I understand it, the oath is binding. Which would mean, once he has taken it he has forfeited all rights he once held and is no threat to his brother. Not to mention he will be hunted and executed because he is a deserter and would hardly be able to find enough support to cause any trouble. – Sebastian_H Nov 23 '12 at 9:24
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Well, your point is moot. If he leaves the Watch after taking the oath, his life is forfeit, so he cannot inherit anything. If he leaves it before taking the oath, which is what the OP meant IMO, then his father will kill him, just like he promised to do in the first place. – TLP Nov 23 '12 at 17:32
Taking the black voluntarily is also seen as the final means of redemption, the last way to save one's honour (not to mention the family's). – MPelletier Nov 23 '12 at 21:19
@MPelletier Yes, but I don't see what you mean in this case. – TLP Nov 23 '12 at 21:28
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@Elemememore If Sam was brave and adventurous he might try that, but he isn't. He would be alone and without money, since he no longer has his Tarly name and wealth to rely on. Oldtown is not far from his father's lands, and he would not live long there. – TLP Nov 25 '12 at 15:25
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up vote 9 down vote

Sam's father wanted Sam to disappear, and if that meant death, so be it.

In fact, I believe that was exactly the choice his father gave to Sam: take the black, or risk dying in a hunting "accident".

The life of a Maester is a relatively soft, easy life, and Maesters live to a very long age. Life on the Wall, on the other hand, is hard and dangerous, and many don't survive the first few years.

Sam's father was hoping Sam would die quickly, without leaving any blood (figurative or otherwise) on his own hands. Killing your kin is one of the biggest taboos in Westeros, but it doesn't prevent people from wishing their own kin dead, or even trying to bring it about indirectly.

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Later we learn that Sam's father also despised the thought of his son becoming a Maester. I think it was something like "no son of mine will wear chains" – Till B Nov 22 '12 at 19:06
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A long-lived Maester would be around to cause trouble (or embarrasment) for quite a while too. Not only Sam's father want him gone, but he wanted him gone fast and forever. – mh01 Nov 22 '12 at 23:16

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