The City of Bones contains various quotes from the author, Cassandra Clare, which help on creating the theme of the story. The quotes explained have relevance to the story through religion, revenge, prejudice, love, jealousy and many other themes.
“A shadow hunter who kills another of his brothers is worse than a demon and should be put down like one” (Clare, 10. 264). The use of the term ‘put down’ means the elimination of an unwanted animal. The quote shows that the there is a high level of anger in the story making the moral code appear old school. The quote shows the theme of revenge for any shadow hunter who kills his kind by also being hunted and killed as revenge. There appears to be no gray area or wiggle room for revenge.
“Who could argue, really that the Fair Folk do not belong in this world when they have been here longer than we have?” (Clare, 5.244). The quote shows the theme of prejudice in the story where the argument described as ‘we-were-here-first does not seem to apply. The people are confronted by angry people with weapons making it difficult to resist.
“Demons are religiously defined as hell’s denizens, the servants of Satan, but understood here for the purpose of the Clave” (Clare, 1.64). The quote shows the religious point of view or theme where the shadow hunters appear to be clueless of the demons origins. They do not know if the demons spawn of Satan or another supernatural being leading to conflict with Jace’s inner religious beliefs.
“I’m not blind you know.” “Oh, but you are,” said Jace (Clare, 1.80). The words of Jace show that he had the knowledge and the vision that Clary did not have so he could guide her into the underworld. The words show the versions of reality between Jace and Clary.
“Simon pushed her strap back up absently, his finger lingering on the bare skin of her shoulder” (Clare, 2.139). The theme of unrequited love is portrayed in the scene of the story after ten years between the Simon and Clary. However, it is not evident whether Simon does that consciously but Clary does not recognize the lingering touch.
Work Cited
Clare, Cassandra. City of Bones. Book On of the mortal instruments. McElderry Books. 2007.
Print.
