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Chapter 16
Themes
and Colors
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Glass Sword, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Oppression, Cruelty, and Inequality
Division and Hierarchy
Identity and Change
Betrayal, Distrust, and Isolation
Justice vs. Vengeance
Summary
Analysis
Mare wakes up, astonished to be alive and safe. Kilorn hugs and comforts her, and Cal soothes Mare too. They’re in a Scarlet Guard safe house, which is hidden in a forest. Kilorn and Cal look tired and stressed, which reminds Mare of her failure to save Wolliver Galt, but they’re both relieved that Mare is awake. Cal explains they had to find shelter on the ground after they left Harbor Bay, because Mare almost electrocuted the jet while she was in pain. Cal notices long scars running down Mare’s neck and back, which he calls lightning scars. Mare thinks of them as brands that Maven burned into her.
Kilorn and Cal’s careful tending of Mare is evidence that Mare does have people around her who love her and whom she can depend on, despite her fears that she can’t trust anyone. Mare’s new scars visually represent how her lightning is both empowering and endangering. Being strong is beneficial for Mare, but having an ability also brings her the pain of being isolated and attacked because of how powerful she is. As brands, the scars also symbolize Maven’s continual betrayal of Mare, cruelty, and possessiveness.
Active
Themes
Mare learns she’s been unconscious for four days, and she panics, wondering how many more newbloods Maven has murdered in that time. Kilorn reassures her that Shade, Farley, Nix, and Ada Wallace—whom Crance rescued—have been continuing the search for newbloods. When Mare gets angry that Nix and Ada have been put into danger, Kilorn reminds Mare of the time her sister Gisa tried to adopt a duckling, and Mare had to convince her to return the duckling to its mother. Kilorn concludes that Nix and Ada aren’t ducklings, and Mare isn’t a mother duck.
Mare believes she needs to save the newbloods by herself because she thinks this is the only way to protect the people she cares about. But, by doing so, Mare heaps too much pressure and responsibility on her own shoulders, and she incorrectly assumes her goals can be accomplished single-handedly. In fact, Mare needs allies to rescue newbloods and defeat Maven, even though she finds it difficult to trust and rely on these allies. Kilorn’s story about ducklings is a gentle reminder for Mare that she shouldn’t try to protect everyone all the time; that’s not her duty. Instead, she should learn how to lean on her friends and allies for help.
Active
Themes
Mare tries to smile at Kilorn, but the new scars Maven gave her hurt too much. Cal mentions that Crance is also helping to recruit newbloods. Mare is surprised that Crance has joined their cause and doubts he can be trusted. However, Kilorn and Cal both trust Crance as a useful ally. Kilorn is irritated by Mare’s stubborn distrust of everyone.
Active
Themes
Cal tells Mare about Ada’s ability, which allows her to remember everything she’s ever learned perfectly. At first, Mare isn’t impressed, but she’s awed that Ada can already fly the Blackrun after reading a flight manual. Cal has also been teaching Ada how to shoot a gun, and he’s proud of her progress. Meanwhile, Kilorn has been taking care of Mare. He leaves the room to bring her water, leaving Mare and Cal alone.
Active
Themes
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Cal thinks the machine Maven used to hurt Mare was a modified sounder device, which sent out electrical waves to overwhelm her. The existence of such a machine is proof of Maven’s cruel betrayal of Mare. Mare feels like she’s being buried underneath the weight of her memories and mistakes. She allows Cal to embrace her, comforted that his touch and presence mean she’s not alone, even though she thinks Cal is a dangerous distraction she should stay away from.
Active
Themes
Mare reveals that Maven burned an M into her chest to mark her. Cal understands now that Maven is killing newbloods to force Mare to come back to him. Mare refuses to go back to Maven no matter what, even though she’s ashamed of this decision.
Active
Themes
Mare reflects that she always runs away, even from people who love her. She wishes she didn’t have to run but feels like she can’t stop without endangering herself and other people. As Cal swears that they’ll kill Maven and his mother, Mare thinks of herself as a weapon “born to kill a king.” She kisses Cal, although she thinks she’s weak to do so. She’s so afraid of being alone that she considers herself a glass sword that’s about to shatter.
