Bella Swan, Twilight Heroine?

While I am quite the literary lover, I have never really gotten interested in the whole Twilight phenomenon. I tend to be slightly behind the popular trends, so this has been one contributing factor to never having read or watched any of the sparkly vampire tales. I mean, after all, the first book of the Harry Potter series was released in 1997 and I didn’t read it until the fourth movie was released in 2005, and only then at the pestering of a dear friend to at least read one book prior to ruling it out all together. I read all six books that were out, rented the DVDs, and went alone to the theater to view the newest film before eagerly awaiting the arrival of the final book and remaining movies. Needless to say I was hooked.

 

While I did a bit better with the Hunger Games trilogy and, after some persuading, read all three books just prior to the movie’s release this year despite the initial 2008 release of the first title, I was still behind the times. And yet again, now I stand brimming with anticipation for the trilogy to be carried out on the big screen. Honestly I think The Lord of the Rings (& The Hobbit) and The Chronicles of Narnia are the only things I was way ahead of the curve on, simply because my older brother had to read them in school so naturally being the incredible nerd that I am, so did I.

 

So when a good friend spoke frequently of The Twilight Saga and her fondness for both the books and movies, I was intrigued at what this teen romance novel may possess. Now I try, albeit sometimes unsuccessfully, to postpone judgment on something as being good or bad until I try it, but I was less than optimistic with my view of Twilight to be as favorable as hers, or to be as captivated as I was with my previous two literary adventures. Perhaps my view of Twilight comes from having not read the books yet, but only watching the movies as I have never done this approach. So in some small way, my view may change after I conquer the books, though I doubt it.

 

I really wanted to title this post “All the Reasons ‘Twilight’ is Stupid”, but I thought that might be a tad dramatic. Aside from the terrible acting, (“Hang on spider monkey”? I mean, really?) the storyline is really what got me. I’m all for a little romance, fantasy, and even downright absurdity when it comes to the realm of the “supernatural”. It’s not because the story if full of vampires or werewolves by any means that this particular story didn’t intrigue me much. I mean, I would jump on the opportunity to visit Hogwarts, and heaven forbid that I rather enjoy the world of wizards, hobbits, and talking animals. It’s the plot of the story that gets me. (Though I must say the background music is pretty great.) The main takeaway from this saga is a story of a girl who would do anything for the love of a boy regardless of the consequences from those actions. And I prefer a ‘heroine’ to stand for more than lust and knowledge that she was “unconditionally and irrevocably in love” with a guy she barely knew. Someone who would have a stronger goal at a moment’s time than attempting every possible dangerous activity just to get him to be with her again. But maybe that’s just me.

 

Bella is so focused on Edward – will give up everything in her life for him – begging to have sex with him, and tried to push herself to death so he would save her. She gave up her friends, her family, her entire future, and her very life for this man. All as though he were her savior. The cover of the first novel alone brings to question the forbidden fruit imagery of Bella and Edward’s love. The idea that by partaking of Edward, Bella will at last have everything she’s every wanted. And by the finale she does. She gets Edward, has a baby, is given a beautiful cottage home complete with luxurious closet full of designer items, but at what cost? She had to die to be at that point. Bella is practically, and not deniably, creepily obsessed with Edward and is constantly and continuously putting everyone around her at risk for this borderline psychotic love-fest.  She even has to be reminded of her daughter’s existence because she is so enthralled with getting freaky with her new husband now that she awoken from her blood thirsty transformation.

 

Let’s just say she kinda sucks as a role model….

 

Ironically enough, the cold one is the one with more of a heart. Edward actually adheres to the ‘old views’ of keeping oneself for marriage and kept asking her to marry him for the millionth time and denying her many advances in the bedroom and to be turned into a vampire. Isn’t that what a woman wants? A man that respects her enough to make a lifelong commitment to her instead of pouncing on the opportunity to ravish her in the sack? Edward is more concerned with her soul than she is. All she wants is to indulge in her desires regardless of the cost. What picture of heroism is that? That a woman should throw herself at a man and throw away everything in their life so that said man can be the center of it?

 

And then there’s the feisty wolf. Jacob spent the entire time trying to break up Bella and Edward – telling her he knew she loved him but just wouldn’t admit it. Always looking for an opportunity to prove that in front of Edward as well. Even when Edward offers compliments, Jake flings them aside.  It’s more of a competition for Bella than what’s best for her or would make her happy. And what kind of message is this? That it’s ok to push someone into cheating on or leaving their significant other based on your feelings for them and what you could do or provide for them and how much you are than their current partner. Seriously? And society thinks women are the only home-wreckers. And really – why must he never have a shirt on? Narcissistic much? I get the whole nakedness to shift concept, but let’s get realistic for a moment, if he can wear shorts, why not a shirt as well? Just saying.

 

Oddly enough I did take to Carlisle, and even Edward on occasion, for their character strengths. Even Alice and Jasper I found to be rather precious, but these are not the characters being broadcasted as the faces of the series. And herein lies my lack of passion for the triangle of fame. One that is only perpetuated off screen by the vixen Kristen Stewart in her cheating ways on her leading man. Scripture, in James, speaks of those who are teachers being judged more strictly/harshly and I agree with that in more ways than simply within the body of Christ. If you are in a position of power or fame, your actions are in the spotlight. Whether you like it or not, you are a role model. And not every a-lister is an altogether terrible person.

 

And there are quite a few who are even pretty top notch. I even wrote about a few previously. Now everyone makes mistakes, yes. And everyone has faults, of course. And movies are mostly just make-believe and there is always going to be a villain, slut, or some other scoundrel. But if you conduct yourself likewise off screen you are telling the population that not only is it ok to behave in such a way, but it’s what the “cool kids” do. And young girls don’t need that to look up to. Faith aside, they need strong, confident, intelligent women who are genuinely decent people.  And perhaps we’re just looking in the wrong place to fulfill these images. Perhaps the best thing we can do in response to all of this is to be those women for the young girls in our lives. To live out what we know they need and attempt to be the best possible role models out there.

 

 

**Update** Evidently I’m not the only one who views Twilight in this manner.  I found some pretty funny pictures on Pinterest that I wanted to add to this post.