Clockwork Expectations - A Review on the correlation between Dickens Great Expectations & Cassandra Clare’s Clockwork Prince
The year began with me interacting with two very contrasting books. As a Christmas indulgence I had decided to read Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare before the actual two books I needed to read for class once Christmas break was over. Being a fan on this series beforehand, I had speculated the uselessness of reading this book was close to being as useful as a chocolate candy bar in a rigid diet. Still I decided to do so anyway and I was up for a big surprise.
Previously on my encounter with the first book – Clockwork Angel – I hadn’t paid much attention to the main characters reading preferences. I skipped through it in my head, concentrated only in the action and essence of the new prequel series. Upon my recent encounter with Clockwork Prince the name Charles Dickens captured my attention for one of the books I had to read was by that author. As it turns out, besides the wonderful action, dialogue, character development and romance the rare shadowhunter book had to offer, it gave me a perspective on Dickens I had never expected to find. As the main character turned to Dickens quite a few times during the novel for means of support, to quote, or to recall a memory my intrigue to read this author’s works sparked and I found myself looking forward to it. So enthralled did I become with understanding the characters more thoroughly that when I did find myself reading Charles Dickens and his world renounced novel “Great Expectations” the dullness that had struck me years before when I first tried to read it – didn’t hit me. I was enjoying it to the very fullest and with a highly critical eye.
Of course, this enjoyment is not just due to Dickens appearance in Cassandra Clare’s novel, growing up makes you appreciate these types of books a whole lot more. The book was, of course, slow and irrational in its surface, but deep inside into the character, Pip’s story is full of dynamic life turmoil. I couldn’t stop appreciating the reflection of a child’s young mind and its evolving nature through the years of his life. I cannot say I can relate to Pip in life experiences for I was not brought up by hand, traumatized by a convict and then given high sums of money out of the blue but everyone knows what is like to grow up and see your perspective change trough times. Impressions of those young years still linger in your mind and probably contribute to that idiosyncrasy of yours. For example, Pip was always good at heart and noble, and that followed him till the end of the book.
Overall what I enjoyed most of this experience was reading these two books back to back. It is not the most likely combination and perhaps by doing this yourself you might find it was a really wrong way to approach Great Expectations. I was forced to read it, for academic reasons, which is one strong force that drives me upon encountering books that at first glance I do not enjoy at all, but as I progress I find myself both enlighten and extremely happy to have read. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens is a wonderful book, one that can be enjoyed by any who set their mind to enjoy it (or likes Victorian Age writing with passion in which in that case you have already read it). Either way, both books are marvelous & extremely differently written. It is quite a ride to read two stories set on Victorian Age, one written by a contemporary author and the other from someone who was actually there. It shows perspective and contrasts beautifully in a clash between generations. Reading these two books as complementary to the other served as a wonderful exercise to learn how time affects the brain and perception. Life has indeed changed and time keeps running but human emotions shall forever be kept intact.
