Colonel Farley Character Analysis in Glass Sword

Colonel Farley is a leader within the Scarlet Guard and Diana Farley’s father. The Colonel is a Red Lakelander, has white-blond hair and a bloody eye, and possesses a cold demeanor. He commands the Scarlet Guard’s base on Tuck. The Colonel resents Silvers and will do anything to protect “true Reds.” He dislikes Mare and newbloods in general, whom he considers “freaks.” Despite his prejudice against newbloods, the Colonel is willing to work with Mare to bring about civil war in Norta and save the Little Legion. The Colonel is harsh and strict, even with his own daughter. He demotes Farley and strips her of her command to punish her for failing in her duties. Nevertheless, he seems to worry for Farley’s safety with paternal love.

Colonel Farley Quotes in Glass Sword

The Glass Sword quotes below are all either spoken by Colonel Farley or refer to Colonel Farley. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Oppression, Cruelty, and Inequality Theme Icon

“And even if, if, the list is true, and the names do lead to other”—[the Colonel] searches for the word, not bothering to be gentle—“things like you, then what? Do we dodge the worst agents of the kingdom, hunters better and faster than us, to find them? Do we attempt a mass exodus of the ones we can save? Do we found the Barrow School for Freaks, and spend years training them to fight? Do we ignore everything else, all the suffering, the child soldiers, the executions, for them?”

Related Characters: (speaker), ,

Page Number and Citation: 80

Explanation and Analysis:

After Mare explains her goal to save the newbloods from Julian’s list, the Colonel disparages her plan. First, he doubts whether the list is reliable, because he doesn’t trust that a Silver such as Julian could be a true ally to the Red resistance. Though the Colonel has good reason to be wary of Silvers, who actively harm and oppress Reds, he wrongfully assumes Julian must be villainous simply because he’s Silver, which only reinforces the damaging division between Silvers and Reds. Second, the Colonel argues that newbloods aren’t worth saving. With his sarcastic questions, he implies that no efforts to help newbloods are justifiable. From the Colonel’s perspective, newbloods’ lives don’t matter as much as Reds’ do. The Colonel is more concerned about ending the cruel injustices that Reds face: “the suffering, the child soldiers, the executions.”

In this passage, the Colonel exposes his prejudice against people who are different from him. He dehumanizes newbloods by calling them “things” and insinuates that they shouldn’t exist because they’re “[f]reaks.” In doing so, he frames newbloods as inferior to Reds, similarly to how Silvers have claimed that redbloods are inferior to silverbloods. The Colonel fails to realize he’s feeding into the dangerous narrative that differences in blood make some people better or worse than others. Newbloods’ lives shouldn’t be more or less valuable than Reds’, just as Reds’ lives shouldn’t be more or less valuable than Silvers’.

When my fingers knot in her frayed hair, holding her head up to face the decrepit, sputtering camera, I’m fighting tears. As much as I hate her, I hate this more. It feels against nature, against anything good I might have left inside myself. I’ve already lost Cal—thrown him away—but now I feel I’m losing my soul. And yet I speak the words I must.

Related Characters: Mare Barrow (speaker), Colonel Farley, Cal (Tiberias Calore), Queen Elara Merandus

Page Number and Citation: 400

Explanation and Analysis:

Colonel Farley Character Timeline in Glass Sword

The timeline below shows where the character Colonel Farley appears in Glass Sword. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...Guard. Now Mare, Cal, and their rescuers are fleeing to safety on an underground train. Farley gives Mare and Cal rags to hide their faces. Wearing his rag, Cal looks like... (full context)

Farley orders Shade to look after Mare. Mare understands that she’s valuable because of her power... (full context)

Betrayal, Distrust, and Isolation Theme Icon

Farley and Shade seem unbothered by Cal’s warnings, but they don’t explain why or what their... (full context)

Mare falls, and a missile explodes nearby. Cal guards her from the flames, and Farley helps Mare to her feet. Although Farley tries to drag Mare away, Mare won’t leave... (full context)

Mare, Cal, and Farley reach a dead end at the edge of a river. After signaling for Mare and... (full context)

On the underwater boat, or “mersive,” Farley takes Mare to visit Cal. Mare doesn’t like how Farley has treated Cal—with distrust and... (full context)

Farley and Mare reach Cal’s door. When Farley taunts Cal, Mare chides her, and Farley flinches... (full context)

Outside the barracks, Mare sees foreign-looking soldiers in blue uniforms. They’re Lakelanders, led by the Colonel—the same man with the bloody eye who imprisoned Cal. Farley has been demoted within the... (full context)

...and she feels like he’s betrayed her. The person beside Shade turns out to be Farley, who asks Mare what she thinks of Tuck and the Colonel. Mare shrugs, not knowing... (full context)

The Colonel himself enters the infirmary. He advances on Farley and mocks her for trying to hide... (full context)

Before the Colonel departs, Farley brings up Mare’s plan to find the newbloods. Mare explains that she wants... (full context)

As the Colonel leaves, Mare is so angry that she almost loses control of her lightning. Farley tells... (full context)

...for naively believing everyone in the Scarlet Guard is “on the same side,” when the Colonel clearly sees Mare as a freak and an enemy. Meanwhile, Kilorn is upset that Mare... (full context)

...intends to sneak into Barracks 1, an underwater bunker which contains Cal’s prison and the Colonel’s private quarters, later in the day. In the meantime, Mare helps her family unload blankets... (full context)

...swim beneath the dock, under the bunker, and through a moon pool that accesses the Colonel’s rooms. Once inside Barracks 1, they find an old photograph of the Colonel with his... (full context)

Seeing the Colonel appear in the hallway, Mare tries to summon her lightning, but nothing happens. Cal says... (full context)

...speculates that it was smuggled to Tuck from territories outside of Norta, just like the Colonel and his soldiers were somehow able to travel from the Lakelands to Tuck. Cal says... (full context)

Mare also informs Cal that, according to the Colonel, Julian is alive and working with Maven. Since the Colonel doesn’t trust Julian, a Silver,... (full context)

The Colonel enters the hallway outside Mare and Cal’s cell, accompanied by Lakelander soldiers and Kilorn. At... (full context)

The Colonel tells Mare and Cal that Maven has offered a trade. In return for Cal, Maven... (full context)

As for Mare’s fate, Kilorn says she’ll be safe but guarded, although Mare suspects the Colonel would rather have her killed. She asks if the Colonel plans to put all newbloods,... (full context)

Kilorn suddenly stabs a syringe into the Colonel, and Cal knocks the Colonel unconscious. Mare punches Kilorn, then hugs him. Kilorn explains that... (full context)

Shade jumps Mare, Cal, Kilorn, and Farley out of Barracks 1 and into one of Tuck’s hangars. They rush into a large... (full context)

...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... (full context)

...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... (full context)

Farley tells Cal to land at Nine-Five Field, which the Silvers believe is an ancient ruin.... (full context)

While Farley and Kilorn sort supplies on the Blackrun, Mare thinks of her family for the first... (full context)

...Shade. He reassures her that escaping Tuck was the right thing to do, because the Colonel would’ve eventually imprisoned them both. He says the Colonel is scared of people like them.... (full context)

At night, Mare, Cal, Shade, Kilorn, and Farley travel on foot through the forest to Coraunt. Mare is wary of running into any... (full context)

...the others arrive at a hill overlooking Coraunt. To Mare’s unease, the group splits up. Farley and Shade go to infiltrate the village and find Nix Marsten. Meanwhile, Mare and Cal... (full context)

After an hour, Shade and Farley return with Nix Marsten, a stocky middle-aged man. Nix came willingly, even though Security officers... (full context)

...more people like him, and Mare assures him that she’s trying to find them all. Farley also claims the Scarlet Guard will protect and train the newbloods, but Mare remembers the... (full context)

Farley tells Nix the truth about the Scarlet Guard to counter the lies that Silvers have... (full context)

...New Town nearby. Mare drifts off to sleep, but later in the night she overhears Farley and Cal hold a quiet conversation. Cal has been circling the jet over the ocean... (full context)

The Blackrun lands near Harbor Bay the next morning. To get into the city, Farley plans to use old tunnels that run underneath the Port Road. As Farley makes preparations,... (full context)

Farley wants Mare and Cal to accompany her and Shade into Harbor Bay. Cal fears that... (full context)

Mare, Cal, Farley, and Shade head through a sparse forest toward Harbor Bay. Mare senses a small source... (full context)

...has blocked the underground tunnels near Ocean Hill, the royal palace in Harbor Bay. Reluctantly, Farley makes new plans to take the tunnels to Fish Market instead. Meanwhile, Mare envisions Maven... (full context)

...Mariners, Mare asks Crance why he joined the Scarlet Guard. Crance remains suspiciously silent, and Farley realizes that Crance is leading them into a trap. Crance defends himself by saying he’s... (full context)

Underground, Mare, Cal, Shade, and Farley flee as more sections of tunnel collapse. Crance helps them navigate and escape through a... (full context)

Mare, Cal, and Farley travel through the Red sector of Harbor Bay. Houses are narrow here, and beggars line... (full context)

Mare, Cal, and Farley come across a ruined garden. Corpses wearing red pendants hang from trees. They were members... (full context)

Mare, Cal, and Farley reach an area of Harbor Bay where more prosperous Reds reside. These Reds are servants,... (full context)

Cal leads Mare and Farley through the back alleys of Harbor Bay’s opulent Star Sector. They follow a crowd of... (full context)

...Maven likely already knows they’re gathering the newbloods now that they’ve recruited Nix. Mare and Farley both desire to take greater risks. (full context)

Mare, Cal, and Farley approach four Silver officers guarding the Security Center’s back door. One officer spits at them... (full context)

Inside the Security Center, Cal leads Mare and Farley to the records room, fighting along the way. Cal still refuses to hurt any Silvers,... (full context)

...stoneskin—a Silver who can transform his skin into rock-hard armor—charges through the wall and attacks Farley. Mare takes the printed records and destroys the records machine. Then she and Cal escape... (full context)

Inside the library, Cal opens a secret passage and leads Mare and Farley down to the palace’s ground level. They follow Cal through empty hallways into the entrance... (full context)

In an alley far from Ocean Hill, with Cal and Farley close by, Shade seems angry at Mare, and she expects him to rebuke her for... (full context)

Mare, Shade, Farley, and Cal reach an empty square. Shade stops abruptly and apologizes to Mare. A recently... (full context)

Mare hears a clicking noise, and Silvers attack Shade and Farley before she can reach them. As the clicking sound continues, Mare tries to summon her... (full context)

...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... (full context)

As winter approaches, many Reds flee their homes to escape the harsh Measures. Farley and Kilorn want to provide aid to them, but Mare and Cal refuse on the... (full context)

...anything she sees. Meanwhile, Kilorn hunts for food for everyone living at the Notch, and Farley and Crance keep the camp supplied with other resources. Unfortunately, Mare can’t save every newblood,... (full context)

...a smuggler. According to Ellie, the Guard’s mysterious Command has ordered its members to aid Farley and Mare, so Ellie brings them supplies to take back to the Notch. Ellie also... (full context)

Leaving Crance with the cart, Farley leads Mare, Nix, and Harrick to the Marcher’s house. Harrick changes their appearances with illusions... (full context)

...lands the Blackrun near Pitarus, a city where Mare plans to locate four newbloods. Shade, Farley, and Nanny accompany them, as well as Gareth Baument, a newblood who can manipulate gravity.... (full context)

...mining village. Rosen is quiet, empty, and covered in gray ash. Cal is startled when Farley breaks a storefront window to free a flock of crows, who fly away and cry... (full context)

A stranger approaches Mare, Farley, and Cal. He’s dressed in gray, and his eyes are blood red. The stranger already... (full context)

...won’t pursue them, because he’s foolishly trying to cover up the existence of other newbloods. Farley doesn’t trust or want to listen to Jon, but Jon claims he saved them from... (full context)

Cal and Farley don’t believe Jon’s predictions, but Mare does. In the past, other people thought it was... (full context)

...Little Sword Lake, where she’ll find something important. He tells her that the answer to Farley’s future question will be yes. Before he leaves, Jon adds that Mare’s fate is to... (full context)

On the Blackrun, Farley is glad that Jon is gone. Cal thinks it’s too dangerous to assault Corros Prison,... (full context)

...that most of the newbloods don’t have enough training or experience for such a mission. Farley wonders if Elara was controlling Jon to draw them into a trap, but Mare still... (full context)

...the training session to check on Cal. Inside the Notch, Mare runs into Shade and Farley, who are coming from the bedrooms. For the first time, Mare realizes that Farley and... (full context)

Farley, Shade, and Kilorn help round up the newbloods, and Ada leads them away. Cal, Mare,... (full context)

...more than 300 freed prisoners from Corros. She remains in the jet’s upper level, where Farley kneels next to Shade. Meanwhile, Mare stares at Elara’s uncovered body. Kilorn is nervous for... (full context)

Devastated, Farley asks Mare if she knew Shade was going to die and chose to storm Corros... (full context)

...a martyr and wonders if she wants to return to Tuck just to supplant the Colonel and “take a throne” for herself. Moreover, Cal knows Mare has secretly kept Maven’s notes,... (full context)

...and realizes her family will only be able to welcome back one living child. The Colonel is displeased that Mare has brought so many people to Tuck, but he’s even more... (full context)

Later, Mare and the Colonel record their broadcast in front of cameras for a sixth time. Mare introduces herself, reveals... (full context)

The Colonel leads Mare to the control room in Barracks 1. There, she meets a pair of... (full context)

...or ignore the plights of Reds in Norta. When Mare leaves the control room, the Colonel follows her. He observes that her usual allies—Kilorn, Cal, and Farley—have been avoiding her. Mare... (full context)

In the mess hall, the Colonel gathers all the volunteers for a “top-priority operation.” The crowd is made up of Lakelanders,... (full context)

The Colonel and Mare explain their plan for the mission to save the Little Legion. Mare and... (full context)

...the prison assault was worth the high cost. During Shade’s funeral, Mare watches Gisa hug Farley, jealous of their closeness. In contrast, no one comforts Mare. Kilorn grieves Shade at a... (full context)

...laments the unfairness of Shade’s death, which Jon allowed to happen. Before leaving the cemetery, Farley tells Mare that she’s not going to the Choke. She doesn’t think Mare truly understands... (full context)

Colonel Farley Character Analysis

Colonel Farley Quotes in Glass Sword

Chapter 6 Quotes

Chapter 27 Quotes

Colonel Farley Character Timeline in Glass Sword