Cassandra Clare took to Tumblr recently to answer fan questions about Will & Tessa, and Jem & Tessa. Y'all know I can't pass up an opportunity to share what Cassie has to say about one of my all time favorite literary couples.... Here's what she said about Will & Tessa, and Jem & Tessa.
Hi Cassie, I have a question about CP2. Will obviously knows that Tessa loves him at the end of CP2, but that night in the drawing room (when Tessa burned her hand on the fireplace poker) when she didn’t tell him she loved him, he believed she didn’t and was obviously hurt. Unless I’m mistaken, which I could be, she never explained that to him later when they started dating/got married. Did he know? I mean, he’s very smart, so I feel like he could’ve figured it out, but did he? I can’t bear the thought of poor Will not knowing :( also, will Isabelle find a parabatai? D: thanks! — isabelleligtwood
Isabelle is not going to have a parabatai. Most people don’t, and Izzy is fine and happy without one. They are a lot of work and trouble. :)
I was confused at first reading the question and I thought that the question was whether Will ever realized Tessa loved him (which, after fifty years and two kids and a fabulous marriage, if he still didn’t, Will should get so much therapy) but I think now it’s whether Will realized Tessa loved him specifically that night in the drawing room.
As you said, Will is smart, and I think he figured out why she did what she did. He knows she loved him and she also loved Jem, and he knows she let him think she didn’t love him because she was trying to set him free. He would have done the same thing.
Even if he couldn’t intuit it (and he could), she does say this:
"I know how you are with your words, and, Will—I love all of them. Every word you say. The silly ones, the mad ones, the beautiful ones, and the ones that are only for me. I love them, and I love you.”
Will began to speak, but Tessa covered his mouth with her hand.
“I love your words, my Will, but hold them for a moment,” she said, and smiled into his eyes. “Think of all the words I have held inside all this time, while I did not know your intentions. When you came to me in the drawing room and told me that you loved me, it was the hardest thing I have ever done to send you away. You said you loved the words of my heart, the shape of my soul. I remember. I remember every word you said from that day to this. I will never forget them. There are so many words I wish to say to you, and so many I wish to hear you say to me. I hope we have all our lives to say them to each other.”
That’s pretty explicit. You have to be careful, when characters are explaining things to each other (especially things readers already know) that they don’t sound like they think the other character is a dunce who needs everything spelled out for them. Tessa has to trust Will’s understanding of her, because if he isn’t someone who could understand this, she shouldn’t love or marry him.
Hi Cassie. <3 :="" about="" and="" art="" as="" be="" carinaolsen="" font="" for="" from="" have="" hih.="" i="" important="" in="" just="" love="" me="" more="" new="" of="" or="" point="" question.="" s="" scenes="" sharing.="" sst="" tessa="" thank="" the="" them.="" this="" to="" view="" well="" will="" writing="" you="">
Cassandra Jean is a fantastic artist, for sure. I think that it’s important to remember that TLH is about Cordelia, Jesse, Lucie, James, Matthew and the rest — though Tessa and Will are in it, and they are certainly the most important parents. They do have, also, I think some touching scenes just about them … and they also loom large in James’ mind, and indeed the minds of many in their circle as a Great Love Story (there’s more about that and James worrying his own life can never compete in Midnight Heir.)
Maybe the best way to think about their role is to think about them as Charlotte and Henry in TID. They’re not the protagonists, but they’re background important figures who have their own relationship, do on occasion get POV scenes, and serve as a force of order in an otherwise chaotic world. :)
(There are definitely events in TLH that have specifically to do with Will and Tessa’s relationship, and Jem’s place in it, too. Just like there are also moments in TDA about Jem and Tessa. It’s interestingly difficult keeping the balance, but one could say that about the whole Clockwork series.)
Gotta keep the balance!
Hi Cassie! I loved all of your books, especially The Infernal Devices - I fell in love with Will *-*. I have a question about Jessa after CoHF: will they have children? I hope you’ll answer me :) Thank you for the amazing world you have created! — mrsherondale-eaton-waters
Hello Cassie! I absolutely adore your books like many other people, but my boyfriend (who showed me your books) and I had one question, after Jem is no longer a silent brother, does he remain immortal like Tessa? Or will she end up losing him like she lost Will? Thank you for your time if you answer this, we’re both really curious. — sammy-mantha
Hello Cassie! I love your books!!!So… I finished to read Cohf and we know that Tessa is immortal and can have children, but I have a doubt. After so long, she can still have children? Or all these years, even with immortality, impair in any way? Thanks! — lightwoodparabatai
I love your books, and my favorite character is Jem, I just love it, then tell me we will see him next in the books of the shadowhunters? I loved him and Tessa on COHF. One more question, Jem and Tessa will have children ?? I’m so curious !!!! Please answer me !!! — anacarstairs
herondalectable said: Quick question: I know you’ve confirmed that the TMI characters will appear in future books, but what about Jem and Tessa? We know their story as far as the comic strip scene in CoHF, but what about beyond that? I’m not expecting anywhere near as much as we get of Will and Tessa’s married life (which I understand is not the main focus of TLH, but will be included as it was in TBC), but will we at least get a mention of how there doing and maybe of some Jessa babies?
gloriousburritos said: Hi Cassie! I just finished CoHF and I know this might sound weird but will Jem and Tessa ever appear in TDA since they were leaving for Los Angeles? Also, will they ever have children? I’m DYING to know because Jem is like my all-time fave character♡
Hey Cassie! I just had a little question about Tessa Gray. She’s immortal, but she was able to have children with Will. Is there any chance she can have one with Jem? Also, how does she put up with 130 years of periods? — 50shadesoftessagray
About Jem being mortal: Page 562 of Clockwork Princess:
Jem was mortal now. He would grow old like Will, and like Will he would die, and she did not know if she could bear it again.
Page 711 of City of Heavenly Fire:
“So he is—Zachariah is mortal now?” Clary asked. “Just— an ordinary Shadowhunter?”
“Yes,” Tessa said. “He and I have known each other a long time. We had a standing meeting every year in early January. This year, when he arrived for it, to my shock, he was mortal.”
“And you didn’t know before he just showed up? I would have killed him.”
Tessa grinned. “Well, that would have somewhat defeated the point. And I think he wasn’t sure how I would receive him, mortal as he is, when I am not mortal.”
“Yes,” Tessa said. “He and I have known each other a long time. We had a standing meeting every year in early January. This year, when he arrived for it, to my shock, he was mortal.”
“And you didn’t know before he just showed up? I would have killed him.”
Tessa grinned. “Well, that would have somewhat defeated the point. And I think he wasn’t sure how I would receive him, mortal as he is, when I am not mortal.”
Jem is mortal. He has a human lifespan to live. That is a terrible thing for Tessa, but as I think you can probably tell by now, I’m not really a fan of “fixing” mortal-immortal relationships by making those who are mortal, immortal, or taking immortal characters’ immortality away. Immortality is a curse and a gift, and you undermine both aspects by taking it away easily; mortality is a curse and a gift and you undermine both aspects by taking it away easily.
Jem and Tessa will have a lifetime together; Jem will cross over and see Will “on the other side of the river”; Tessa will be left to mourn him. I’ve always thought of all the characters in Clockwork Princess, in many ways Tessa’s is the saddest fate. Though:
About Tessa having kids: She can absolutely have kids! She doesn’t age out of that, because she doesn’t age. Cindy Pon has even been so kind as to help me with Chinese baby names so Jem’s family name, Ke, can be represented. I imagine Tessa and Jem would want to do some traveling and letting Jem adjust to life in the modern world (I think he would enjoy having an iPod filled with violin music) — and as I said, they have their own agenda in LA — before they have children, but they can certainly have them.
About 130 years of periods: I would guess this falls under the “not so great” aspect of being immortal. However, there are pretty easy ways to not have your period if you don’t want to (birth control pills) and I’d imagine Tessa has access to magical solutions as well. Boy, I never thought I’d be answering that question!
I know you’ve confirmed that the TMI characters will appear in future books, but what about Jem and Tessa?
At the moment, they literally appear in the first chapter of Lady Midnight.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment