City of Bones Chapter 11 Quotes
How we cite the quotes:
(Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote 1
"[Idris is] a place blessed by the Angel." (11.121)
Sounds like heaven on earth to us, except Shadowhunters don't have to die to go there. So why would they ever leave?
Quote 2
Quote 3
"So they're good enough to let live, good enough to make your food for you, good enough to flirt with—but not really good enough? I mean, not as good as people?" (11.63)
The Shadowhunter view of Downworlders seems to be along the lines of Thomas Jefferson's view of slaves. We'd like to introduce Kaelie, part-fey waitress, to Sally Hemings, President TJ's slave mistress. As these two examples show, prejudice is often rife with hypocrisy.
Quote 4
"A few hundred years of the Accords can't wipe out a thousand years of hostility." (11.73)
Just like the 13th Amendment abolished slavery, but it didn't wipe out racism.
Quote 5
"It's easier to confront a threat as a mass, a group, not individuals who must be evaluated one by one." (11.116)
Which is why stereotypes can be dangerous. Sometimes, we wish these characters would really listen to themselves. Alas, these words come from Hodge, who's not exactly a clear-thinking, levelheaded good guy.
Quote 6
"They would disown [Alec] and throw him out of the Clave." (11.210)
So, the Clave has no problem with djinns and faeries, but being gay is going too far? What's that all about?
Quote 7
Stifling a murderous rage, [Clary] refused on grounds of exhaustion. (11.91)
Clary's jealousy of Simon and Isabelle might just drive her... to murder! Okay, okay, so we're being a bit dramatic. But notice how Clary bottles up her jealousy and blames it on fatigue. She's afraid to share how she really feels—even with her best friend.
Quote 8
"Falcons are not meant to be loving pets: They are fierce and wild, savage and cruel. This bird was not tamed; it was broken." (11.160)
This story told by Jace says a lot about why he puts up a prickly façade to keep people away. He's both scared of loving and being loved. Vampires on the other hand? Not scary at all.
Quote 9
[Clary] recognized her mother instantly: Jocelyn, no more than seventeen or eighteen, her hair halfway down her back and her face a little rounder, the chin and mouth less defined. She looks like me, Clary thought dazedly. (11.96)
We wish this revelation would give Clary the self-confidence to realize that she, too, will age into an attractive woman once she's past her awkward teen years. We really wish she'd just get over her whole hang-up on appearance altogether, but at least this is a small step in the right direction.
Quote 10
"Demon hunting and fashion," Clary said. "I never would have thought they went together." (11.224)
Here's something we can get behind—showing your strength and taking charge, now that's hot.
Quote 11
[Simon] wasn't looking at [Clary's] backpack; he was looking at her legs as if he'd never seen them before. (11.228)
We wouldn't be surprised if Clary had a tomboy style, until she puts on one of Isabelle's dresses confirming that yes, she is a girl, and yes, she does have legs. This isn't going to help deter Simon's unrequited crush one bit. Poor guy.
Quote 12
Chiaroscuro, [Clary] thought. The art of shadows and light. (11.165)
Clary's art education enables her to make nifty arty metaphors about Jace and his inner conflict between light and dark.