Cassandra Clare on ‘rape myths, rape culture and the damage done’
Know that if you were sexually assaulted, whatever your reaction, that reaction is okay. Know that if you were sexually assaulted and you are okay and happy with consensual sex and/or affection now, you are not a slut or a bad example of a woman. Know that just as there is no right way to be a girl, there is no right way to be a survivor of rape or sexual abuse.Click here to read her full response. Clare also reiterated her feelings about Alec, Magnus and homosexuality in her books:
I always wondered what the hell that was about. Did Alec and Magnus’ sexuality have to create world peace before it was okay to include it? Are gay people existing that shocking? Is anyone dumb enough to think that including gay characters in your story is going to net you the big bucks rather than what actually happens, which is that your book gets kept out of trade fairs and banned from libraries?First I'd like to commend and thank Clare for writing such an important and informative post about the subject of sexual assault and rape. It was brave, as she addressed personal situations of her own and lent a helping hand to those who have ever been sexually assaulted. Clare has never been one to shy away from the ugly truths we face in reality. And isn't that one of the biggest strengths to Clare's works? How she can so accurately and perfectly craft characters that we can all relate to? Let's face it, everyone can relate to a character (s) in 'The Mortal Instruments' and 'The Infernal Devices,' whether it's Team Good or Team Evil. There is a reason her characters are so relatable. They are based on real aspects and people in our reality. Warning: Spoilers below:
As far as the incestuous sexual assault that goes down between Clary and Sebastian in ‘City of Lost Souls,’ I understand that it was a very violent, scary and disgusting situation. But I don’t understand some of the “Clary had it coming” reactions by some fans. It’s upsetting and shows the ignorance of some people to go and mock a situation like that.
Sexual assault is a very real and scary thing and just because Clare addressed it in ‘City of Lost Souls’ doesn’t mean that she condones it. It is her job as a writer to address these “real” realities and help readers through these tough situations.
What are your thoughts about the situation and about what Clare had to say? Sound off in the comments!
TMI Source 
Clary impressed me with her maturity and growth in this book. The scene is in no way glorifying sexual assault or incest. It shows very clearly that Clary is disgusted by what her brother is attempting to do and shows her reacting strongly and bravely to try and take herself out of the situation at any cost.
As in regards to Magnus and Alec, the Mortal Instruments is a rare series in the fact that is a fantasy series that includes a gay couple, but does not revolve soley around homosexuality or the relationship. Magnus and Alex are not gay characters; they are characters, protagonists, who happen to be gay, and I commend Clare for that.
*Alec
Whoops
O M G, I cannot believe the stupidity and ignorance of people. Mrs. Clare, I cannot tell you enough, how sorry I am, for what you have had to deal with. I’m 43 years old And I am a very big fan of your writing. I think your writing is very well done. You have written about some very touchy subjects and I thought you wrote them with honesty and class. Not every story can be filled with flowers and rainbows. The attempted rape scene was very well written. Clary knew she was walking into danger and she did it willingly for Jace. She knew, going with Jace And Johnathan could be dangerous in many way’s. she threw caution to the wind and jumped in head first, to save the love of her life. When Johnathan attempted to hurt her, she beat his crazy A$$! She didn’t walk away happy, but she did walk away. Everyone who reads COLS most read it carefully, so there is no confusion. Clary is a hero!
It was brave, as she addressed personal situations of her own and lent a helping hand to those who have ever been sexually assaulted.
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OmyGosh! I haven’t got my book yet but I’m all wide-eyed as to what is going oooon! Haha. It’s getting me even more restless not knowing what’s coming next. Boohoo
this is one of the greatest moments in the mortal instruments series, its is shocking of what clary had to go through and she did it all for jace.<3 i just love clarys character, and i give props for cassandra clare for creating such a person, its as if shes so real! stay brave clary!!!!
Thank you for not including any spoilers in the email I had about this post! 🙂
mmhmm ^_^ nobody likes a spoiler. 😀
Totally not related to this converstation.. but I love your screen name!
I’ve always been a big fan of Clare… This book ruined it for me, it’s not because of the rape, or the gay characters. It’s because of how Clare is developing her characters. This book just seems to be more like Twilight than TMI on the character development level. I’m very sad with how this series is turning out. I wish they hadn’t have pushed Clare into making 3 more books after City of Glass.
Don’t be ridiculous, Nobody PUSHED her to write more than 3 books, SHE decided to carry on writing on TMI world and she also gave a lengthy explanations as to why she decided to extend the trilogy. Go to her blog and educate yourself. Don’t make assumptions.
I was simply stating my opinion on the books. NOT the fact that she has THREE other books. You’re simply getting worked up for nothing. There was no reason to post your reply, instead of getting upset. Just let an ” uneducated” reader make her assumptions on this side. As I’ll say again, I’m sad with how this series is turning out. It used to be my favorite, it’s just becoming a story I’m not liking as much.
Besides, what I do remember reading a few years ago was that the editors gave her the idea to write more books after The City of Glass. Sure, they might not have pushed her. They did give her the idea, which is why everything is wrapped up in the third book. Then she decides to write 3 more books that don’t need to be written.
Like I was saying, do not harp on me because of my “assumptions”. If you find them incorrect, just find them incorrect. No need to get worked up and feel the need to correct me.
If you did pay attention you SHOULD notice my OPINION. Which is what I wrote. I wasn’t assuming. I appreciate your concern to educate me, but next time just keep it to yourself. 🙂
Wow Nancee, your right, people shouldn’t get sooo worked up over things.
Get what I’m saying?
You’re telling someone not to get so worked up over something in your very obviously worked up reply to the reply.
Did you look at her blog? If you do you’ll see what Belle was trying to point out in a somewhat rude way I’ll admit.
So don’t get so worked up. if you don’t want someone responding to your comment. Don’t comment, It’s as simple as that. If you put yourself out there in the internet world, there is a possibility for backlash.
And don’t reply to this telling me I should keep it to myself. 😉
I find all characters from Twilight to be extremely weak, and unrealistic. I don’t find any characters in TMI to be weak. Jace softened up in the end, because his character has developed to a point where he has realized that he has a family that loves him, and is devoted to him, and that he deserves it. It’s incredibly common for abuse case victims to live their lives thinking they don’t deserve happiness, Jace was no exception. So what? You think that Jace should live his entire life in fear that he’ll ever be good enough for a loving family, and a girlfriend like Clary? I don’t think you really feel that the characters have grown just as weak as Twilight characters, I think you have a problem with the characters developing at all. I think you personally don’t want them to ‘ever’ change, and do not understand whether a character is fictional or real, people change throughout their lives due to many experiences in their lives. To write Jace, Alec, Clary, Simon, and Isabelle exactly the same throughout an entire series would prove there to be no point in writing at all. What would be the point in putting the characters through anything if they are not going to learn anything? hence develop… As for your opinon on her writing more. I really don’t know what book you were reading, but NOTHING was wrapped up in City Of Glass. Sebastian/Jonathon’s body was never found. Jace never truly confronted his inner demons. Jocelyn barely got a word in. And neither did the other characters. As much as it is your opinion, I literally do not understand how you thought the entire thing was wrapped up in book 3. I was incredibly irritated when finishing the last book. Too many open ends drove me crazy, and when I heard she planned on more, I was incredibly excited- not just because I missed my favorite characters, but because that SERIOUSLY was a shitty ass ending! The MAJORITY of fans feel the same way, so I am sorry, but in MY opinion, you are far from the truth. Now if you said that JK Rowling was crazy to write more Harry books, then YES! That makes more sense because that WAS wrapped up in the end. EVERYTHING was taken care of. So writing more would just ruin the whole series, but TMI was NOT wrapped up AT ALL in the end of City Of Glass. I really don’t understand where you got that idea, because 99.9% of everyone else feels the same way I do. City Of Glass = Shitty Ending…
Smalls – Hear, hear! I agree with EVERYTHING you said! 😀 I don’t know how she could compare Twilight’s poor character development to that of TMI characters… The characters in TMI can’t be the same as they were in CoB, they NEEDED to change and develop after going through too much.
I agree with you, but I think you could have gotten your point across without attacking her personally. That was a little uncalled for.
clary is a strong girl (she always has been) but she really matured throughout the series but also in city of lost souls. jace, izzy, and simon did and alec. she did not let the fact that sebastian tried to rape her ruin her,
I don’t like the evolution of Jace and Clary after City of Glass, they are too angsty for my taste, but I do love the way Simon, Izzy, and Alec evolved, Alec is on his way, not there yet, but he needed to change and he has. It was just obvious that the characters had to keep on moving, I do hope I get to like Jace and Clary’s chioces again in the last book 🙂
Clare never shied away from ugly truths? What world are you living in? She constantly chickens out. All the stuff Alec feared about coming out, which his oh so great boyfriend practically forced him to, never came to pass, in fact it was later stated that the Clave simply ignores its gay members, which is a whole lot different from being disowned and thrown out. And that is not the only thing, Magnus never faces any problems with dating men, he doesn’t face any problems period. Clare and her coauthors only led him state that he experienced this and that but his stories always feature nothing of it. There is never any homophobia, no racism and Magnus is never shunned for being a warlock and having cat eyes, except of course when Clare & Co want to let the Shadowhunters look like dicks.
Cassandra Clare doesn’t tackle anything, she even had Magnus being welcome in high society Paris in 1791, at a time when Marie Antoinette had problems due to her Austrian birth and we are supposed to believe that Magnus would have had none? Heck in Peru she had Ragnor run around unglamoured and there was no reaction to his green skin.
Cassandra Clare tackles nothing in her books, absolutely nothing. Not even her beloved Magnus and Jem seem genuine. They are characters of modern yaoi mangas rather than people being born and partially raised in Batavia and Post-Opium War China. All her nonstraight and “non-white” characters (all her main “non-whites” are actually half-whites) are a big mess and deserve no praise at all.