False Peace

Often in a fantasy or a science fiction book, real world social issues are masked behind the curtains of a new world or mythical creatures. Readers of these books often miss the subtle message the author is sending sneakily. Audiences of fantasy and sci-fi books are mainly readers who are just there for the exciting story, not those who turn to books for wisdom. But wisdom is not in lack in fantasy books, its there to the ones who search for it. The science fiction book, City of Bones, the first book of the popular series, The Mortal Instruments, by Cassandra Clare, holds a few hidden social justice issues. The book revolves around a sixteen-year-old Clary Fray who discovers the supernatural world of the Shadowhunters; a race of half human and half angels whose sole purpose is to rid the world of demons. After her mother mysteriously vanishes, Clary begins to discover the truths about herself, her past, her mother, and the Shadow world. One impacting issue Cassandra Clare hints in this book is, “false peace” among people of different races. I believe the false peace between the characters described in this fantasy packed book can reflect the false peace among the people of the real world.

In City of Bones, Cassandra Clare portrays false peace between people through the struggle of superiority within the Downworlders (supernatural creatures) and the Shadowhunters. More specifically the struggle arises within different races of creatures. For example; in this book, like the stereotype; the vampires and the werewolves harbor hatred for each other. This hints at the raw scope of racism that still exists in the world. The antagonist Valentine strongly believes anyone with demon blood in their veins is evil and therefore should not have the right to own a life. The beliefs of the antagonist portray the discrimination of superiority on race feels over another in this world. It shows how one race might think the other cannot have the same rights as they do.  The Clave (Shadowhunter government) formed accords (laws) which had to be signed by Downworlders and Shadowhunters that called a truce among the creatures. This is similar to how our government has passed bills and amendments which called for equality. But in truth, these documents did not render us true peace but peace that only showed in the surface.

When Cassandra Clare used the term “false peace” she probably intended to thread her readers into thinking about if our world is truly in peace. The world is not in peace, in fact, it’s under a peace that exists on the surface, which is worse. People harbor opinions and emotions within them because it’s wrong or even illegal to express them. This only fuels their opinions or hatred. So below the surface everyone has a grudge against someone else. But what makes this dangerous is that not many are aware of this. To rise awareness of the falsity of what we know as peace Cassandra Clare most likely hid a message in her very unrealistic story for the world to know.