Clockwork Prince
question
Why on earth does everybody think that Tessa doesn't love Jem?!
Laura
Mar 07, 2012 09:34AM
I just had to get this off my chest because, yes, I am Team Jem. Don't get me wrong, I like Will & I feel for his situation and character, but I don't understand how everyone can deny the fact that Tessa loves Jem just because they're Team Will. CC herself has said, on her twitter, during her Character Q&A's, that Tessa DOES love Jem. Also, during Tessa's nightmare at the York Institute when Henry holds his heart in her hand, it is split into two EQUAL pieces. EQUAL! She loves them both equally, only in different ways for different reasons. Just because Will is a bad boy (allegedly) and represents passion and excitment doesn't mean that she should automatically love him more. Because what Jem represents means just as much to her. Like Sophie said he represents security, safety and trust. I don't know how many people here have been in love but trust is one of the BIGGEST things when it comes to love. It's what separates lust and love. And just because Jem is not as impulsive and charming as Will does not, in any way, mean that Tessa's love for him is any less deep or meaningful.
I understand that Tessa loves Will, even though I am Team Jem. It's obvious that she's in love with 2 people at the same time, but it seems to me that everyone on Team Will is so eager to just write Jem/Tessa off as friendship and pity, when that couldn't be further from the truth. Jem/Tessa started as friendship. That's what their foundation is built on. That's where the trust comes from. But it has developed into more. It slowly, over time and gradually, developed into romantic love. She's sexually attracted to him in the same way that she is with Will, it's just that she never realised it before. Because in her head Jem was her friend, and only that. She was so used to him being just that and it's only when she was encouraged to consider him in another light (in the bedroom when he revealed his feelings) did she realise that her feelings towards him had changed. Hence the love/makeout scene which followed which could easily have proceeded into more, had they not been interrupted. Tessa wanted him. She was attracted to him because of her feelings and she wanted him! She loves him! Her feelings, once she realised that they were romantic, only developed further after that. Like when she was nervous to be in a carriage alone with him. If he was really just her friend, then why did she feel that way?
With Will, it is different. From day 1, she was attracted to him and had a massive crush on him in CA. She always looked upon him in that light so she was used to looking at him in that way. When he spurned her, although we now know the real reason, Tessa did NOT, and so it hurt her badly. She didn't understand how he could be so charming and kind to her and then be so cold. She was hurt, as any girl would be. It doesn't mean the feelings she had for him before went away. They didn't. She was angry at him, of course, but she still felt the same way about him as she has always done. Because those feelings don't just go away, and if they do, they take time. I'm not sure how much time is supposed to have passed between CA and CP, but it's not long. She's still hurting over Will's rejection. Of course she still has feelings for him.
BUT, when she realises her feelings for Jem are romantic and that she truly loves him, she's conflicted because she also has feelings for Will at the same time, even though she wishes she didn't, because as far as she's concerned, he hates her. She thinks he dislikes her and she doesn't understand him. She would rather NOT have feelings for him, she even says that she hates how he makes her feel. But, alas, she DOES have feelings for him, and at the same time, she has the same feelings for Jem, and the two of these guys are best friends. So even if she chooses one and not the other, she would still see the other on a daily basis and be reminded of what she had or could have had with them. It's a terrible situation. No wonder she's confused.
Will was her first love. And that's a poweful thing. She won't ever forget him or the way he made her feel. But that doesn't mean that they are soul mates and it doesn't mean that she loves him more than Jem. She loves them equally. It's just that these feelings are sitting side by side in her heart and it's a little crowded in there. She would have given anything, in CA and a little during the beginning of CP when her feelings for Will are still fresh, for him to have loved her back. She would have given anything for that to happen. Then she moved on with Jem. NOT as a rebound, but because she genuninly fell in love with him. She didn't forget about her feelings for Will, she just put them to one side because her feelings for someone else took over. Then when Will eventually reveals his love for her, she is confused because this is what she had always wanted before. A part of her had always wanted this and now he was giving it to her, only his timing was terrible. Because she had already opened her heart to someone else and felt the exact same love for that other person. So even though one half of her wanted to leap into Will's arms, the other part of her which loves Jem did not. She can't just forget about her feelings for Jem. They will never go away, just like her feelings for Will won't. Because they are the same. It would have been the exact same if the situation were reversd. If Will had proposed and then Jem had revealed his love at the end of CP, half of her would have wanted to accept and the other half, on behalf of her love for Will, would have wanted to reject him. This love triangle is equal no matter which way you spin it.
It killed Tessa to reject Will, but it would also kill Tessa in equal measure to be with Will and reject Jem. And you know why? Because she LOVES HIM! Not as a friend, either. She loves him!!! Will even made her promise that she loves Jem enough to marry him. I know how it was in those days. Not a lot of love was always required for marriage, but for Tessa, the romantic, fantasist Tessa who lives in her books and imagination, love IS the most important thing. She would never marry Jem out of pity or friendship. She would only marry him out of love. And she would never lie to Will and promise that she loved Jem if she didn't. Because if everyone finds out that she lied, and she doesn't love Jem as much as everyone thought, then not only would that hurt Jem, but it would also hurt Will, because he loves Jem so much and doesn't want to see him hurt.
We need to have more faith in our heroine. She would NEVER marry Jem if she knew that she didn't really want to. It would hurt him to call off the engagement but she would do it if she had to. Because if there's anyone she can tell anything to it is James. She even says so herself in CP. But she doesn't, because she doesn't want to. Because she loves him. Yes, she constantly talks about looking after him, but that's only because she knows he dying and is fragile and wants to keep him safe. She feels this intense need to keep him safe because of her love for him. Because she couldn't bare to lose him. When you truly love someone your need to protect them almost becomes overbearing. And especially with someone in a situation like Jem's (where he could die at any moment) Tessa is only being natural in her worry and need to look after him. It is BECAUSE of her love that she wants to protect him. It is not the REASON for her love.
I just wanted to make that clear because it's really getting to me how people are constantly saying that Will and Tessa belong together, that they are soul mates, and that she loves him more. What on earth gives you that idea? She loved him, yes, but he was horrible to her where Jem was kind. She fell for Jem AFTER Will but it doesn't mean that she loves Will more just because she loved him first. That has nothing to do with it. Jem was loving to her when Will was not. Will, in CP, had been nothing but off with her. Why WOULDN'T she love Jem when THAT was the alternative? Any girl in their right mind would. It's only natural.
It bothers me how in all these YA books, the female lead almost always chooses the dark, mysterious character. Why does the nice guy always have to finish last? In reality, Jem has given Tessa more reasons than Will to love him. So she should. And I believe she does. Why should Tessa love Will MORE just because he was first? For the majority of time that she's known him he has been horrible to her. Why would she love him after that? I, again, believe she DOES love Will, and a part of her always will, because of the feelings she developed for him in CA, but please don't dismiss Tessa's love for Jem as friendship and pity when it really and clearly isn't.
She loves them both, equally and just as deeply. These feelings just happened and came about differently and in different ways. With Will it was quickly and exciting, and with Jem it developed over time, transforming from friendship into love. Passion may be exciting and deep, but something that blossoms tenderly out of something as special as friendship is just as beautiful.
We shouldn't dismiss it.
I understand that Tessa loves Will, even though I am Team Jem. It's obvious that she's in love with 2 people at the same time, but it seems to me that everyone on Team Will is so eager to just write Jem/Tessa off as friendship and pity, when that couldn't be further from the truth. Jem/Tessa started as friendship. That's what their foundation is built on. That's where the trust comes from. But it has developed into more. It slowly, over time and gradually, developed into romantic love. She's sexually attracted to him in the same way that she is with Will, it's just that she never realised it before. Because in her head Jem was her friend, and only that. She was so used to him being just that and it's only when she was encouraged to consider him in another light (in the bedroom when he revealed his feelings) did she realise that her feelings towards him had changed. Hence the love/makeout scene which followed which could easily have proceeded into more, had they not been interrupted. Tessa wanted him. She was attracted to him because of her feelings and she wanted him! She loves him! Her feelings, once she realised that they were romantic, only developed further after that. Like when she was nervous to be in a carriage alone with him. If he was really just her friend, then why did she feel that way?
With Will, it is different. From day 1, she was attracted to him and had a massive crush on him in CA. She always looked upon him in that light so she was used to looking at him in that way. When he spurned her, although we now know the real reason, Tessa did NOT, and so it hurt her badly. She didn't understand how he could be so charming and kind to her and then be so cold. She was hurt, as any girl would be. It doesn't mean the feelings she had for him before went away. They didn't. She was angry at him, of course, but she still felt the same way about him as she has always done. Because those feelings don't just go away, and if they do, they take time. I'm not sure how much time is supposed to have passed between CA and CP, but it's not long. She's still hurting over Will's rejection. Of course she still has feelings for him.
BUT, when she realises her feelings for Jem are romantic and that she truly loves him, she's conflicted because she also has feelings for Will at the same time, even though she wishes she didn't, because as far as she's concerned, he hates her. She thinks he dislikes her and she doesn't understand him. She would rather NOT have feelings for him, she even says that she hates how he makes her feel. But, alas, she DOES have feelings for him, and at the same time, she has the same feelings for Jem, and the two of these guys are best friends. So even if she chooses one and not the other, she would still see the other on a daily basis and be reminded of what she had or could have had with them. It's a terrible situation. No wonder she's confused.
Will was her first love. And that's a poweful thing. She won't ever forget him or the way he made her feel. But that doesn't mean that they are soul mates and it doesn't mean that she loves him more than Jem. She loves them equally. It's just that these feelings are sitting side by side in her heart and it's a little crowded in there. She would have given anything, in CA and a little during the beginning of CP when her feelings for Will are still fresh, for him to have loved her back. She would have given anything for that to happen. Then she moved on with Jem. NOT as a rebound, but because she genuninly fell in love with him. She didn't forget about her feelings for Will, she just put them to one side because her feelings for someone else took over. Then when Will eventually reveals his love for her, she is confused because this is what she had always wanted before. A part of her had always wanted this and now he was giving it to her, only his timing was terrible. Because she had already opened her heart to someone else and felt the exact same love for that other person. So even though one half of her wanted to leap into Will's arms, the other part of her which loves Jem did not. She can't just forget about her feelings for Jem. They will never go away, just like her feelings for Will won't. Because they are the same. It would have been the exact same if the situation were reversd. If Will had proposed and then Jem had revealed his love at the end of CP, half of her would have wanted to accept and the other half, on behalf of her love for Will, would have wanted to reject him. This love triangle is equal no matter which way you spin it.
It killed Tessa to reject Will, but it would also kill Tessa in equal measure to be with Will and reject Jem. And you know why? Because she LOVES HIM! Not as a friend, either. She loves him!!! Will even made her promise that she loves Jem enough to marry him. I know how it was in those days. Not a lot of love was always required for marriage, but for Tessa, the romantic, fantasist Tessa who lives in her books and imagination, love IS the most important thing. She would never marry Jem out of pity or friendship. She would only marry him out of love. And she would never lie to Will and promise that she loved Jem if she didn't. Because if everyone finds out that she lied, and she doesn't love Jem as much as everyone thought, then not only would that hurt Jem, but it would also hurt Will, because he loves Jem so much and doesn't want to see him hurt.
We need to have more faith in our heroine. She would NEVER marry Jem if she knew that she didn't really want to. It would hurt him to call off the engagement but she would do it if she had to. Because if there's anyone she can tell anything to it is James. She even says so herself in CP. But she doesn't, because she doesn't want to. Because she loves him. Yes, she constantly talks about looking after him, but that's only because she knows he dying and is fragile and wants to keep him safe. She feels this intense need to keep him safe because of her love for him. Because she couldn't bare to lose him. When you truly love someone your need to protect them almost becomes overbearing. And especially with someone in a situation like Jem's (where he could die at any moment) Tessa is only being natural in her worry and need to look after him. It is BECAUSE of her love that she wants to protect him. It is not the REASON for her love.
I just wanted to make that clear because it's really getting to me how people are constantly saying that Will and Tessa belong together, that they are soul mates, and that she loves him more. What on earth gives you that idea? She loved him, yes, but he was horrible to her where Jem was kind. She fell for Jem AFTER Will but it doesn't mean that she loves Will more just because she loved him first. That has nothing to do with it. Jem was loving to her when Will was not. Will, in CP, had been nothing but off with her. Why WOULDN'T she love Jem when THAT was the alternative? Any girl in their right mind would. It's only natural.
It bothers me how in all these YA books, the female lead almost always chooses the dark, mysterious character. Why does the nice guy always have to finish last? In reality, Jem has given Tessa more reasons than Will to love him. So she should. And I believe she does. Why should Tessa love Will MORE just because he was first? For the majority of time that she's known him he has been horrible to her. Why would she love him after that? I, again, believe she DOES love Will, and a part of her always will, because of the feelings she developed for him in CA, but please don't dismiss Tessa's love for Jem as friendship and pity when it really and clearly isn't.
She loves them both, equally and just as deeply. These feelings just happened and came about differently and in different ways. With Will it was quickly and exciting, and with Jem it developed over time, transforming from friendship into love. Passion may be exciting and deep, but something that blossoms tenderly out of something as special as friendship is just as beautiful.
We shouldn't dismiss it.
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Okay WOW I didn't read your essay but I just want to agree with the topic and say that Tessa definitey loves Jem. She might love Will too but she would not say in her mind and to Will that she loved Jem if she didn't. She also wouldn't agree to marrying Jem. I hope she ends up with him because I think he is the better choice and it is just too late now for Will. His curse is off his chest now so he has a chance to move on and find someone else.
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Tessa loves both Jem and Will. Tessa and Will have so much in common; and I agree in CP she fell in love with Jem. But when she is with Jem Will is still on her mind.. When Tessa is with Will Jem isn't in her mind; she's worried about Jem but he's not occupying her thoughts like Will does; she loves both guys but she loves Will more
I think that maybe the love between jem and tessa sems a little forced for some people bcs there is a period of time between clockwork angel and clockwork prince where their relationship and we didn't get the chance to read it so when their romance begins it seems a little to fast. Also will is the typical guy wich the girl ends with and jem isn't ( by this i don't mean i don't love will, i love will and jem almost equaly ) but i think you can realise how mutch tessa loves jem by the sacrifices she makes for him and their relationship such as pretent to go with mormaint so jem can get yin fen, waiting for him 130 years, say no to will who were his first love interest, etc etc etc . It isn't the same kind of love she has with will , bcs every relationship is unique and unrepeatable but that doesn't mean it is less valid or strong
I believe that Tessa loves Jem as a friend. She loves him because he understands her and he cares for her, but not in the way that Will does. Will and Tessa are passionate where Tessa and Jem are affectionate. Tessa, I think, tells herself she loves Jem because after what Will did to her (in the attic and on other occasions) she has convinced herself that he can not possibly love her so she settled for Jem who loved her.
When Jem proposed, Tessa said yes because Will wasn't there with her, not like Jem had been. Will was going through a difficult time with his curse and fighting his love with Tessa that she felt he was pushing her away and as he pushed, Jem was there to hold her. I think that if the 'curse' had been 'lifted' sooner then Tessa would have been with Will. Tessa just settled for Jem because she know she loves him and could be happy with him, just not as happy as she could be with Will.
Cassandra Clare's new twist on this little triangle is incredible and I can't wait to see how she ends it!
When Jem proposed, Tessa said yes because Will wasn't there with her, not like Jem had been. Will was going through a difficult time with his curse and fighting his love with Tessa that she felt he was pushing her away and as he pushed, Jem was there to hold her. I think that if the 'curse' had been 'lifted' sooner then Tessa would have been with Will. Tessa just settled for Jem because she know she loves him and could be happy with him, just not as happy as she could be with Will.
Cassandra Clare's new twist on this little triangle is incredible and I can't wait to see how she ends it!
I believe that Tessa loves Will and Jem but I also think Jem will die of his yin fen addiction before any marriage takes place.So in my mind that will eliminate her need to choose between them as sad as it is.So I think this series will definitely end with Tessa and Will together.
I always thought I would only want a burning and passionate love like Will and Tessa, and I loved someone like Will. Someone like Mr. Darcy in a way. Tough outside because life has been hard. Often I think I may have been influenced by the protagonists of media and books I consumed. I had hoped the person that set me on fire would love books as passionately as I do. I know Will’s behavior was to protect those around him because he loved them. The man I loved had goodness in him, but was not like Will in that he was not able to overcome the darkness within him. He hurt me deeply and truly. A wound so dee I can still a still feel the scar today. As a teenager, if I had read these books, I would have thought that Tessa loved Will more and I may have discredited her relationship with Jem. Now, I do not feel that way at all.
When I met my husband I thought I wanted to just be friends. There were sparks, but it was not a blazing fire. He didn’t read fiction like me, but he was philosophical and voraciously read news and ethics. He was calm and kind and when I was around him I always felt safe. He was trustworthy and reliable. He is breath of saltwater air while the sunshine warms my face. I have found that he is tougher than anyone that put up walls because even though terrible things have happened to him, he loves freely, giving himself to others. When I was younger, I thought being in a relationship like the one with my husband or Jem would be settling but it isn’t at all. It is like a salve for my soul. There is something deeply wonderful about being with someone that kind. It makes me a better person. The connection is deep and true. It is a different love, one that sustains and endures long after the flames of a burning passion have made ashes of everyone around them. The kind of love that would call me to return to the same spot for 130 years to experience a single lungful of fresh air. A shelter and refuge from life’s hard truths. When his hand rests on mine I feel like no matter what comes we will love each other. His sunshine warms and nurtures me and can warm me in ways a fire never could.
Neither love is greater or less than the other. They are just different.
When I met my husband I thought I wanted to just be friends. There were sparks, but it was not a blazing fire. He didn’t read fiction like me, but he was philosophical and voraciously read news and ethics. He was calm and kind and when I was around him I always felt safe. He was trustworthy and reliable. He is breath of saltwater air while the sunshine warms my face. I have found that he is tougher than anyone that put up walls because even though terrible things have happened to him, he loves freely, giving himself to others. When I was younger, I thought being in a relationship like the one with my husband or Jem would be settling but it isn’t at all. It is like a salve for my soul. There is something deeply wonderful about being with someone that kind. It makes me a better person. The connection is deep and true. It is a different love, one that sustains and endures long after the flames of a burning passion have made ashes of everyone around them. The kind of love that would call me to return to the same spot for 130 years to experience a single lungful of fresh air. A shelter and refuge from life’s hard truths. When his hand rests on mine I feel like no matter what comes we will love each other. His sunshine warms and nurtures me and can warm me in ways a fire never could.
Neither love is greater or less than the other. They are just different.
I see so many people arguing over who Tessa loves more. I think that a lot people jump to the conclusion that Tessa loves Will but in reality I think that the connection she had with Will was so different from her connection with Jem that it may seem like her love with Will was stronger, when in reality it wasn't. She loves Will and Jem completely equally and this isn't just my opinion Cassandra Clare said it herself. She said so in a Tumblr post and the back of Clockwork Princess also says that WIll and Jem lay equal claim on her heart. I think that sometimes the boy that we as readers favor more can cloud our perspective on the other boy. And btw this is coming from a whole hearted Will girl :)
I can't even choose a team. I love both ships. My heart can't handle it. But honestly, Tessa does love Jem. I've been in the position of being forced to choose between two people I loved and because I loved both of them, I couldn't even make a decision. However, in Tessa's case, she chose Jem before she even knew Will was a legitimate option. And she's loyal to her decision and wouldn't have chosen him if she hadn't had true feelings for him.
If Jem wouldn't say anything to Tessa about his love for her Tessa would never love Jem that way.
Ok, I'm team Will, but I do agree with the TITLE of this discussion. Tessa does love Jem, and believes that she loves him as much as Will (who knows, maybe she does) but confused people can never be completely trusted when they themselves don't know how they feel. I do believe that she loves Jem, but he was indeed the person she went to after Will hurt her, like the "second choice." Also, what's all this whith Will being the "bad guy"? The thing I love about this series is there is no bad guy !!! Will pretends to be the bad guy because he thinks it will make him hated, whereas he truly (as he tells Magnus) does not like any of the things he pretends to enjoy in CA.
This "essay" is sort of contradictory though. Sometimes it says "loves" Will and sometimes it says "loved", but she obviously still loves him and never stopped. Also, it wasn't that she was "attracted" to him or just had a "crush" on him, she felt as though he understood her because of their mutual love for similar books. He loves her for similar reasons, including but not limited to the words she wrote. He even gave her a list of why he loved her in the attic in CA and the end of CP.
Yes, she does love Jem. Yes, she does love Will. It is for these reasons that I believe she will end up with neither of them at the end of CP. As Cassie said herself, Tessa will be put in a situation where she has no choice but to hurt them both in a way that she believes will be less than whatever other option she may have. Ever wonder how the cat Church ended up in NY? Perhaps Tessa takes him back. She is immortal after all, as it is clearly stated in "Magnus' Vow". After some sort of tragedy and the full truth of everything is revealed, she probably leaves.
This "essay" is sort of contradictory though. Sometimes it says "loves" Will and sometimes it says "loved", but she obviously still loves him and never stopped. Also, it wasn't that she was "attracted" to him or just had a "crush" on him, she felt as though he understood her because of their mutual love for similar books. He loves her for similar reasons, including but not limited to the words she wrote. He even gave her a list of why he loved her in the attic in CA and the end of CP.
Yes, she does love Jem. Yes, she does love Will. It is for these reasons that I believe she will end up with neither of them at the end of CP. As Cassie said herself, Tessa will be put in a situation where she has no choice but to hurt them both in a way that she believes will be less than whatever other option she may have. Ever wonder how the cat Church ended up in NY? Perhaps Tessa takes him back. She is immortal after all, as it is clearly stated in "Magnus' Vow". After some sort of tragedy and the full truth of everything is revealed, she probably leaves.
I know she loves Jem, she basically says so. But I believe she loves Will more, and that they will end up together. At least I hope they do!
Thankfully someone else agrees with me. Tessa loves will yes but she also loves jem just as much. The only thing is that her feelings for jem snuck up on her she just didn't relise she loved him till they made out. It was natural for her to turn to jem after what will said and did to her and she was hurting from that that she didn't notice her feelings before they were to much
I am totally team WILL all the way. Dont get me wrong i still love jem. But her being with jem just feels wrong. I understand he is dying but Will lost everyones love because of the curse. IDK i just feel like it should be tessa and will. They are more a like and something tells me hes not going to stop putting up a fight.
It's not that i don't think she loves Jem, because i believe she does. I just don't think she loves him as much as she loves Will. But that's just my opinion. To me, Jem is just her second option.
What i don't agree with people saying is that Will is the "bad guy" and that Jem is the "good guy". That's wrong. Even Cassie says that Will isn't the bad boy, she said something about Jem being more of the bad boy.
What i don't agree with people saying is that Will is the "bad guy" and that Jem is the "good guy". That's wrong. Even Cassie says that Will isn't the bad boy, she said something about Jem being more of the bad boy.
I don't think she loves them equally. I think that she loves Will much more. She always wonders what Will is thinking when she is with Jem. But no one is correct but youself.
To be clear from the start i'm all for Will. But i agree with you that Tessa loves both equaly. And Jem would surely be the better husband because he would care for her and do everything to make her happy. The other thing is that it was naturly for her to turn to Jem after Will made it clear at first that there was no chance of a relationship/marriage. It's just that i think it would be funnier to read about Tessa & Will together.
I was team JEM until the end of CP. I agree, she loves both equally, but something tells me that she's going to pick Jem in the end. I think that's a good thing, because in Jem's dying world, he deserves some happiness...even if it means breaking his best friend's heart. But honestly? Will could do better.
She "loved" Jem until she found out Will "loved" her.
And I'm team Jem.
And I'm team Jem.
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