going into the lunar chronicles tag is so silly…oh it’s me….oh it’s my friend ….my friend…..my other friend….me again……and then repeat for a million years
Carswell Thorne was never truly loved by his parents. On the surface, they were a picturesque family: a wealthy military man and a beautiful socialite woman, a lavish LA home and their son to follow in his father's footsteps. Carswell's value in the family is contingent on whether or not he adheres to this carefully constructed family image. Kingsley requires that his son join the military against Carswell's personal wishes, reprimands him for his lacking grades, and even forces his son to call him "Sir."
Carswell's mother is not much better. Rather than be overly strict, she is too concerned with her elitist lifestyle to be an involved mother. She chastises her son for wanting simple things instead of flashy designer items, and when he vents his frustrations about his father to her, she acts like he never spoke to begin with.
The couple won't let him have a real cat, because that's too much work, too likely to taint their impeccable home with its shedding and clawing. His mother doesn't want him to wear a Rampion pin because it isn't a luxurious ship and they have an image to uphold. Carswell's kindest exchanges at home are with their maid Janette. She treats him like the boy he is, not the man his parents expect him to be at only thirteen, even calling him 'Captain' because she knows any thirteen-year-old boy enjoys feeling a bit superior.
Nothing he does is ever good enough, so Carswell starts seeking attention elsewhere. If he's always in trouble, he might as well risk discipline for things that could potentially benefit him. Stealing, lying, even freeing a big cat from a zoo cage. If he is never praised for doing good, why bother feeling guilty about doing bad? This becomes his dream: to travel the world as a Captain--away from his parents--without anyone to tell him what to do.
People become expendable and relationships transactional to a young Carswell, a means to an end to reach his profit goals. Girls are pretty and he likes the attention from them, but he's never interested in pursuing a serious relationship with those who bat their lashes and twirl their hair at him. He doesn't know love, so he has no craving for it. But he does know what it means to be unloved. Charisma becomes his currency; if he controls the situation through his wit and charm, he cannot be unloved as he always holds the advantage. When people flatter and adore him, he fills the void of emotional connection with the superficial. He dates casually, tells every girl he sees that he loves them. He never means it and never sees anything wrong with it.
His first divergence from this pattern is Kate Fallow. For the first time, he truly cares about someone on more than a surface level. And when he does, he acts in goodness, not in deceit, saving her portscreen from bullies although it is of no benefit to his profit goals. Under the surface of subterfuge, there lies a Carswell with good intentions. A boy with integrity who is hiding.
As he ages, he's enlisted in the military. But the military lifestyle requires discipline and self-control, and Carswell is in the habit of just taking what he wants. Why put in the effort when he could speed straight past the hard work to become a Captain? So he abandons his entire crew and takes off with the Rampion, committing to a life of crime. His underlying integrity is wavering.
But then he's arrested and his next divergence is Linh Cinder. Having already been convicted, Thorne doesn't have much to gain from being around Linh Cinder. Sure, a ticket out of prison is appreciated, but she has a far larger bounty on her head than even he does, making him a prime target for recapture. The so-called 'monetary prize' he imagines he will earn for finding Selene is merely his own invention, and it becomes clear after the first wolf soldier attack in Rieux that the threat of death is more likely than any reward for sticking around Cinder. Yet Thorne stays with Cinder. Because she needs someone. He--the man supposedly obsessed with looks and appearance--never cares that she's a cyborg. He's gaining little from this--except for friendship.
Cress is another girl like Cinder. Young, unsure of herself. He guides her through the desert and those military skills come in handy. He is not the silly man we met earlier. In the desert, he is responsible and driven. Cress is alike Kate Fallow; sweet and unassuming and leagues smarter than him. When Cress feverishly confesses her love for him, he brushes it off. He's dealt with girls and their affection before. His conscience, though, is starting to sharpen. Cress is so good and gentle. She insists that he is a hero and he denies it. That goodness living within him knows that his life course thus far has been wrong, and he cannot let a girl like Cress be duped into a lie.
He says he isn't sure he would recognise love if it was right in front of him but trails off, because Cress is in front of him. He doesn't know what he feels for her, but he knows that it's the first time he's felt it, and he knows he's unworthy. Kai prods him with a "but you do like her?" and confident, flirtatious Carswell Thorne cannot even voice his attraction to her. Throughout the series, when worldly, well-spoken Thorne is showing his true vulnerability, words fail him. Thorne knows that Cress deserves better than him, so Kai suggests that he try to become better.
Thorne admits to the crew that he is helping Cinder because it's the right thing to do. When Cress is separated from the group, presumed dead, he doesn't treat her as throwaway eye-candy like a former Thorne would have. His guilt is an insurmountable wave crushing him. He tries to punch Wolf in the face to go back and rescue her. He now acts, not out of his own self-interest, but always to support Cinder, the revolution, his friends, and Cress.
Thorne is transforming. As his selfishness recedes, he is able to recognise his feelings for what they truly are. When he and Cress are walking through the Lunar palace on an undercover mission, Cress wraps her arms around him and kisses him. He cannot hold back what has been mounting in his heart and he echoes her words from the desert: "I think I'm in love with you." Then Cress turns into an entirely different Lunar woman who manipulated him. Thorne, who always had the upper hand, the advantage in all romantic interactions, is now the one being manipulated. He admits to the real Cress that he believed it was her he was kissing. When she probes, "but you told her you loved her," he stammers in response, unable to say what he's so easily said before but never meant, because for the first time, it's real.
Thorne then does exactly what he was afraid of. He betrays Cress. His hand under Levana's control pierces into her gut. He tried to be worthy and he failed. Except he didn't. Thorne has become a man who sticks to his word, a loyal friend. Yes, he's charming and smooth, but he's also dorky and lame and cringe at times. He's terrified of bugs and medical procedures. He's also a voice of reason in the toughest times. Again, his speech falters when he tries to convince Cress to stay on his crew. He is learning about love and he admits that he's "terrified" of it. But he's willing to be taught.
A year later, he dedicates a medal to Cress, threatens to skin alive anyone who hurts her, and tells her that they have the rest of their lives for him to show her the world. This man, who had shirked all responsibility and told anything with legs and a heartbeat that he loved it, already sees himself with this girl for the rest of his life.
Thorne swindled and bribed, but he also won an escort-droid just to make his friend smile. He comforted Cinder through her freak-outs and assured her that the war pursuing them was not her fault. For the first time, Thorne held back from recklessly flirting because he knew with Cress, it wasn't right.
Thorne's parents taught him that love was give and no take. So he sought validation from everyone around him in charm and charisma, masking how very unloved he felt. But he learns to love, and when he shows it to Cress, to Cinder, to all the Rampion Crew, it isn't a lie at all.
I’m back on my lunar chronicles bullshit and Carswell Thorne the man you are. Man finally meets a girl who thinks he’s cool and goes “aw shit guess I gotta live up to her expectations” And then he DOES. Sacrifices himself over and over again for Cinder’s cause while currently spiralling over the fact that he left Cress behind. Takes the reins when Cinder and Wolf get captured without a moment’s hesitation. Punches Jacin in the face and then hugs him for keeping Cress safe. Carswell “I’ve been waiting for you to admit you wanted my body” Thorne. Carswell “I’m not sure I’m happy with all of you cutting into my profits” Thorne. Carswell “She looked like you” Thorne. Carswell “Tell Cress I meant it” Thorne. I will never be normal about him.
I'm sure Cinder would've probably turned out evil/crazy if she'd been raised as Queen Selene...but on the other hand, think about how the outfits would slay
snowghoul
origamiaround
turnnoffyourmind
dailybridgerton
baratheonpilled
jacobvanloon
