|
Spoiler warning!
This article or section contains plot spoilers for the Mortal Engines quartet. Proceed at your own risk. |
Thaddeus Valentine was a London historian who was introduced in Mortal Engines.
Formerly a scavenger, he was taken under the wing of Magnus Crome and became the greatest Historian in the Traction Era and on London. He is the father of Katherine Valentine and Hester Shaw.
His position as London's head Historian was succeeded by Tom Natsworthy.
He was killed when he accidentally stabbed his youngest daughter;[1] inadvertently feeding MEDUSA an incorrect code, causing it to destroy London.[2]
In the 2018 adaptation, he was portrayed by English actor Hugo Weaving.
Appearance[]
Valentine was old,[9] tall, and handsome, with black hair[3] and sea-grey[10] "mariner's eyes".[3][11] Like other senior members of the Guild of Historians, he has a blue eye tattooed between his eyebrows.[3] He also has big hands;[12] a long[4] handsome face;[10] a hawk-like nose;[11] a beard;[11] and long fingers.[9] While hiding in Batmunkh Gompa, he wore a ragged red robe with a hood covering his face, carrying a staff in one hand; a pack on his back; and an amulet on his forehead that hides his Guildmark.[11] He has a confident stride, and wears an all-weather cape on his back.[5]
His granddaughter, Wren, has some of his physical features.[14]
Thaddeus was old, with pale skin, greying brown hair, and blue eyes. He wore fancy clothing. Unlike his book counterpart, he lacks the blue eye tattoo.[15]
Personality[]
At the beginning of the series, Thaddeus is shown to be ruthless.[13] He later begins to regret what he's done,[9][16] and its revealed that he is afraid of Crome and is a coward.[6] Magnus describes him as "worrisome".[16]
History[]
Pre-Series[]
On an expedition to the Dead Continent, Valentine and Pandora Rae found the plans of a weapon made by the Ancients, called MEDUSA. They became lovers, and Hester Shaw was born as a result. Several years later, Pandora returned to the base where they had found the plans for the weapon. After further exploration, she found the computer brain of MEDUSA and took it back with her. The brain was useless, though, without the plans and codes from the last trip, now held by Valentine. Pandora, wanting to sell both the plans and the computer to the Anti-Traction League, called Valentine to her home, so they could sell the items together and split the profits.
By this time, Valentine had fathered Katherine Valentine and became an agent for London. Knowing that if his city got the plans it would be unstoppable, he killed Pandora and her husband. Realising Hester had seen him, he slashed wildly at her, ruining her face but leaving her alive. Later, he took the plans and the artefact to London and helped the Lord Mayor, Magnus Crome, to recreate the weapon inside St Paul's Cathedral. As a result, he was elevated to the position of Head Historian.
Mortal Engines quartet[]
Mortal Engines[]
As Head Historian, Valentine became a popular public figure. After London's capture of Salthook, he was attacked by a veiled, knife-wielding girl. Tom Natsworthy saved his life, but Valentine pushed him off London to prevent him from speaking about the assassin, who he knew to be Hester. Unknown to Valentine, Hester and Tom had both survived the fall.
Later at Batmunkh Gompa, Valentine destroyed the Anti-Traction League's airfleet and was challenged by Anna Fang. They fought furiously in the snow until Anna disarmed him. However, just as she was about to finish him, Valentine's airship the 13th Floor Elevator, distracted her so that Valentine could grab her sword and plunge it through Anna's neck.
Upon his return to London, Valentine was confronted by Katherine, who had learnt of his murder of the Shaws. He admitted his suspicions that Hester was his daughter. He also refused to condemn the use of MEDUSA, prompting her to disown him.
Later, Hester was captured and brought before Valentine. Terrified of this reminder from his past he attempted to stab Hester, but Katherine jumped between the sword and Hester. As she lay dying in his arms, he, along with most of London, were vaporised as MEDUSA overloaded entered a meltdown state.
Predator's Gold[]
Valentine was mentioned by Pennyroyal when he told Tom about attempting to become a London Historian.
Sathya later mentioned him as the biological father of Hester.
Infernal Devices[]
Wren was mentioned to resemble Valentine.
A Darkling Plain[]
Valentine was mentioned by Tom when he was appointed Head Historian of London's ruins by Pomeroy.
He was also mentioned when Hester told her husband about her true heritage on the Jenny Haniver near the end of the novel.
Film[]
In the film, Valentine's role stays relatively the same, there are a few big differences. As opposed to being Chrome's underling, he is promoted to the main antagonist of the film and as such, is more villainous then his book counterpart. He also is aware of the relationship between him and Hester, and kills Magnus Chrome upon revealing his ambitions to him. Valentine's death also differs in the film; rather than being killed in London's destruction, his airship crashes after being shot down by Tom piloting the Jenny Haniver. Although Valentine survives the impact, he is trapped within the wreck, and is unable to escape as London barrels towards him and the treads roll over the ship, killing him instantly.
Relationships[]
Hester Shaw[]
Hester Shaw is Valentine's daughter with Pandora Rae.
When she first appeared, he was terrified of her, as her very existence could topple his public image.[4]
Katherine Valentine[]
Katherine is Valentine's daughter with another women.
Magnus Crome[]
Magnus is Thaddeus' boss.
Pandora Shaw[]
Thaddeus was once close to Pandora, and fathered Hester with her.[5]
Tom Natsworthy[]
Tom was an apprentice Historian that looked up to Valentine before his darker side was revealed.[17]
Trivia[]
- "Thaddeus" is the Greek form of the Aramaic name "Thaddai", which meant "heart".[18]
- In the original version of Mortal Engines, Thaddeus Valentine had a lover known as "Kathleen Beecroft". When Philip Reeve was modifying the story for Scholastic, he changed Kathleen to be Valentine's daughter - Katherine.[19]
Gallery[]
.png "Thaddeus Valentine (3).png (266 KB)")
.png "Thaddeus Valentine (1).png (260 KB)")
.png "Thaddeus Valentine (2).png (191 KB)")
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Mortal Engines, Chapter 35: "The Cathedral"
- ↑ Mortal Engines, Chapter 36: "The Shadow of Bones"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Mortal Engines, Chapter 2: "Valentine"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Mortal Engines, Chapter 5: "The Lord Mayor"
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Mortal Engines, Chapter 30: "A Hero's Welcome"
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Mortal Engines, Chapter 33: "Wine and Nibbles and the Dawn of a New Era"
- ↑ Predator's Gold, Chapter 19: "The Memory Chamber"
- ↑ Mortal Engines, Chapter 14: "The Guildhall"
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Mortal Engines, Chapter 31: "The Eavesdropper"
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Mortal Engines, Chapter 13: "The Resurrected Men"
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Mortal Engines, Chapter 26: "Batmunkh Gompa"
- ↑ Mortal Engines, Chapter 4: "The Out-Country"
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Mortal Engines, Chapter 28: "A Stranger in the Mountains of Heaven"
- ↑ Infernal Devices, Chapter 4: "The Legend of the Tin Book"
- ↑ Mortal Engines (2018)
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Mortal Engines, Chapter 34: "Idea for a Fireworks Display"
- ↑ Mortal Engines, Chapter 3: "The Waste Chute"
- ↑ Thaddeus - Behind the Name
- ↑ Mortal Engines: Twenty Years On - Philip Reeve's website