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Emily asked this question about A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire, #2):
Why does Stannis have to be so stern? Sure he's got the most rightful claim to the throne but I don't understand why he has to be so serious.
Vigneswara Prabhu There is a Quote in ACOK
"“Robert was the true steel. Stannis is pure iron, black and hard and strong, yes, but brittle, the way iron gets. He'll break…moreThere is a Quote in ACOK
"“Robert was the true steel. Stannis is pure iron, black and hard and strong, yes, but brittle, the way iron gets. He'll break before he bends. And Renly, that one, he's copper, bright and shiny, pretty to look at but not worth all that much at the end of the day.”

This pretty much encompasses the nature of the three brothers. And they never had the best of childhoods. While children they saw their parents' ship crash & sink in the Treacherous sea outside of Storm's End. Something changed in them from that day.

Robert was the most charismatic. He was able to make people love & Die for him. Evident since he became the King.
Renly with Robert's facial feature and charisma was able to gain loyalty fast and easy, but it was just as shallow.
But Stannis, while may seem stern and unbending at first glance cares for his men. His strategies are often well thought of & favor superior tactics in place of blind rushes. Unlike tywin who sees his men as Meat shields with blades Stannis lives with his soldiers. Like one of them. In the WotFK, Stannis' Tent & garb are more spartan & Utilitarian in comparison to Renly.
Stannis Plans strategies trying to Keep the losses on his side to a Minimum ( It a whole different issue when his plans go awry; courtesy the demon Monkey)
The Loyalty that Stannis Inspires is Deep and Unflinching, but takes longer to gain. Do you think soldiers would stand with the Lord of a besieged Storm's End for over a Year; if he was stern & unlikeable.
They resorted to Eating Mice& horses when their Food ran out, and came close to eating their corpses; until Davos came through.
But only ONE tried to defect; in all year.

The biggest fault in Stannis, is that he is incapable of playing the Game of thrones. Of the type of deception that helps you rise in King's Landing. And he can be a Hypocrite at times, Reneging on his ideals when it suits him. (Aka shadow assassin)

But some of his nature can be traced back to an inferiority complex to his more liked brother. and perhaps a subconscious desire to be the farthest from his Glory hogging, Whoring Elder.
Robert didn't help, by giving preference to Ned stark over his own brothers.
And who can forget the ultimate slap on the cheek, giving Storm's end which Stannis Slaved to Protect to Renly. And giving Stannis Dragon Stone ( although Since DS was the ancestral seat of Targaeryn Kings Some argue Robert might've thought he was honoring Stannis)

Still at the end of the day while Stannis Baratheon has the qualities to be the King, His Uncompromising & Uncharismatic nature would sour him to most if not all the Power Players. (less)
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A Clash of Kings
by George R.R. Martin
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