Protective Destruction

Author's Note:  This is a timed response, that was supposed to be to Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare. I hadn't started reading yet, because my iPad didn't want to download the book, so I instead decided to use the sequel series (The Mortal Instruments), to craft my response to the prompt:"Discuss the character’s perspective on the world and how it is reflected by the setting of the novel." I would openly admit, I didn't respond very accurately to the response, as it was a long time ago that I read this series, but I did come up with something to say, which was good. I will be practicing more timed responses in the future. 

Throughout our lives, we are protected by our family, and those who love us. They guard us from evil, and make sure to keep us out of harm’s way. Lots of parents have this task managed, and know when to let their baby birds fly, but others lack that gut feeling. Lots of children are shielded from reality, they don’t know about struggles in their parents’ lives, and often have never had to pay for a single thing since the day they were born. This seems very slight to the case of Clarissa Morgenstern. Clary was brought up by her mother, Jocelyn, and her mom’s best friend, Luke. She was taken to Magnus Bane – the High Warlock of New York City – every year to have all of her sights of the other world erased. Her mother was lying to Clary, constantly, though she was keeping her daughter from her mistakes, and keeping her out of the life she once had. Too many people in this world lie to loved ones, in order to protect them from themselves.

It is funny what we think is protection. We avoid telling our loved ones something, because it will be hard for us to say. Humans, in their nature, are constantly selfish. Jocelyn didn’t want the same life she had for Clary, so she kept her from it. She didn’t want to have to face her mistakes, so she secretly went behind Clary’s back, and lied to her face. Every night, Jocelyn would cry over a silver box with a lock of her only son’s hair, and some of his belongings. While Jocelyn knew it was her son, Jonathan’s, she told Clary and everyone else, it was her husband, Jonathan’s. She had an image of a stranger in a military suit on the mantel, and would claim that to be Clary’s father. All that came from Jocelyn’s overprotection was danger. It endangered Clary more, because eventually she was bound to find out about this other world around her.  Oftentimes when we are not straightforward with someone, they find out in the wrong way. We are then accused of lying, and being a bad friend, when we were only trying to protect them.

Clary did indeed find out, in nearly the worst way possible. Her mother, in her battle to protect her, announced that they would be spending the summer at Luke’s farm out of the city, with a stop by Magnus’ on the way. This is because Jocelyn knew that they would be coming for her, that her husband would want to get her back. This, of course, made Clary mad, so she went out with friends and ignored her mother’s calls for a while. This is when he came for her. While Clary was out, she saw the shadowhunters, on their prey of a demon. By the time she got home, her mother had been taken. She had just been thrown into the ocean, on her own. She was supposed to try and comprehend all that had happened, while in the midst of danger. If only her mother had been more truthful with her, she would have known what happened. She would’ve known what to do. It was the shield of protection that her mom had put up, that had put her into danger.

True protection doesn’t come from avoidance, it comes from honesty. Being honest with someone, and being able to have a level of trust, is the most you can ask for. If a person is truly protected, they will know all of their own vices, without being self-depreciative. We should avoid cutting corners, and maintain honesty in all relationships. Being honest, in all forms, is being protective. There is no way to protect them from themselves, you just must be truthful, and hope for understanding.