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Chapter 8
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
Shade jumps Mare, Cal, Kilorn, and Farley out of Barracks 1 and into one of Tuck’s hangars. They rush into a large black airjet, called a Blackrun, which the Scarlet Guard stole from a Nortan airfield. Farley argues with a mechanic to open the hangar door for them, while Cal prepares to pilot the jet. Reassuring herself of her own strength, Mare uses her electricity to power the jet to life and push the hangar door open. Farley runs inside the Blackrun as Lakelanders and Scarlet Guardsmen try to stop them. Cal flies the jet up into the sky and out of reach successfully.
Mare is able to escape from Tuck because Shade, Kilorn, Farley, and Cal help her. Evidently, Mare isn’t alone; she has friends whom she can depend on, even if she can’t yet recognize how trustworthy they are. Also, that Shade, Kilorn, and Farley are willing to help Cal escape from Tuck too shows that they trust him as an ally even though he’s Silver. As they all work together successfully, combining their various skills and abilities, they demonstrate the value of cooperation among Reds, newbloods, and Silvers.
Active
Themes
As they fly away from Tuck, Cal asks what their destination is. Kilorn says they should land near Harbor Bay, and he brings out maps that he stole from the Colonel. Mare studies the maps and sees that on the outskirts of Harbor Bay is a slum called New Town. New Town is one of many polluted cities where skilled Reds called “techies” are forced to build machines and technology for Silvers. Techies can’t leave their cities or even be conscripted.
New Town is yet another example of the oppression Reds face under Silver rule. Because their red blood supposedly makes them inferior, Reds are treated inhumanely. They’re confined in poor living conditions, and their freedom is restricted. Moreover, Silvers exploit Reds’ labor for their own comfort and luxury. Reds suffer immensely within the unjust blood-based hierarchy Silvers have created.
Active
Themes
Mare realizes she now has the opportunity to start finding and saving the newbloods. Kilorn returns Julian’s list to her, which he stole from the Colonel. Mare now understands that Kilorn only pretended to imprison Mare for the Colonel. This diversion allowed him, Farley, and Shade to pull off their plan to take back Julian’s list and escape Tuck together.
Active
Themes
Farley tells Cal to land at Nine-Five Field, which the Silvers believe is an ancient ruin. But the Scarlet Guard has secretly restored a stretch of road to act as a functioning runway. Farley also proudly announces that the Guard will soon possess more stolen jets, especially from Piedmont. This news alerts Mare to the fact that the Scarlet Guard has influence across multiple nations, not just within Norta. Mare feels overwhelmed by how extensive the Guard is.
Active
Themes
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Mare comforts herself with the thought that she and the newbloods can change the world for the better, once they aren’t hidden or feared. Mare also hopes that soon Maven won’t be able to do more harm, and she won’t bear the guilt of any more deaths. She tells everyone that she wants to go to Coraunt, a village where a newblood man named Nix Marsten lives.
Active
Themes
