City of Glass

Clary is the main protagonist and point-of-view character of City of Glass and The Mortal Instruments series. In City of Glass, she journeys to the Shadowhunter home country on the hunt for a way to wake her mother, who’s been asleep almost since the beginning of the series. Clary is fiercely protective of those she cares about, often at the expense of her own safety and without considering the full repercussions of her actions. In Chapter 5, when Clary unexpectedly shows up where the Lightwoods are staying in Idris, Clary is determined to see Jace despite Isabelle’s attempts to stop her. Isabelle tells Clary to “go ahead and do whatever [she] want[s], regardless of who it hurts,” already understanding the fierce stubbornness of Clary’s resolve (117). Clary rushes headlong into situations, acting on instinct and rarely thinking first or considering how her actions will affect others.

As she spends more time around the Shadowhunters in Idris, Clary notices their habit of waiting and assessing before they act. Watching them, she becomes a bit more cautious and considerate, and by the end of the book, Clary sees the benefits of thinking before acting, even if her natural tendency is still to act first and think later.