Teens@Random

(SPOLIERS FOR BREAKING DAWN... READ AT YOUR OWN RISK)

I agree with the whole "old vampire" thing. He's mentally a lot older than her, even though she appears to be older than him. I still wish she ended up with Mike Newton...  I don't know... I just didn't want Ms. Meyer having Bella sacrafice everything she was to be with a guy. I mean, I don't care if he was the best man on earth - it's a bad message to be sending to girls, especially ones who aren't as old as most of the girls reading these books (13, 14, 15 and older) and will be more affected by what the message is. Basically, Bella lies to all her family and friends about changing into a vampire and cuts herself off from the outside world because Edward tells her to. I don't know about you guys, but I had to take a course in Health back in 8th grade called "Healthy and Unhealthy Relationships," and this has all the trappings of an abusive relationship: he controls where she goes, who she talks to, and what she can say. It's actually very scary that this is being packaged as a "good example" book for younger girls. I mean, there are other books that are much, much worse in content and message, but still... I'd be worried if I were a parent of a little girl.

Posted Aug 14, 2008, 08:49:14 AM

I love your response. I do believe Edward is emotionally abusive as well as somewhat unstable as well. He tried to commit suicide in New Moon after thinking that Bella died. I know that was supposed to be romantic, but it just came off as crazy to me.

Throughout the series, he's really controlling. He makes decisions for her, such as applying her to Dartmouth, even though she didn't want to. He brings her to prom, though she clearly doesn't want to.

Edward is really abusive in Breaking Dawn, and I've only read about half of it (the book was so long and tedious I had trouble through it).

[Breaking Dawn SPOILERS]

He tried to get Bella to abort her baby without her consent; and when she absolutely refused, he tried to pawn her off to Jacob. I wanted to quit reading at that point.

I guess Edward would be another character I can't stand. So much for perfection.

Last Modified Aug 15, 2008, 01:24:59 AM

I'd glad you agree - I was afraid I was going to get flamed! Thanks imperfectionists!  But, yes - it is a very disturbing thing to try to weave innocently into a children's book (because, at the end of the day, Twilight is a book for kids - not just young adults). I mean, if you really think about it - is Bella anything without Edward? Because the way Meyer paints her, her whole world revolves around him - she has no talents, no hobbies, almost no other friends (except Jacob, but then Meyer brings in the whole, "straight boys and girls can't be friends!" thing)... She really is not a compelling character except for Edward. She's basically a plot vehicle for introducing him. The message - "Girls, it's ok to be totally dependant on a guy right out of high school and have his child right away. Don't worry! He's hot, and his family will take care of your baby while you two go drive around in your fancy car and kiss non-stop." Uh, I don't know what planet she's living on, but that's not how teenage marriage and pregnancy works on Earth.

Scary indeed.

Last Modified Aug 15, 2008, 02:59:48 PM

I like your way of thinking; you clearly are a deep thinker.

Some people would say that Twilight is only fiction and shouldn't be taken seriously, but I like to think that books can teach you a lot about life if you really think about their messages. Even the simplest stories, such as fairy tales, have underlying morals and important messages. As for Twilight, I think some of its messages are not good for young girls at all. Even if they don't imitate the story characters' actions completely, it still leaves an impression.

Posted Aug 15, 2008, 11:19:37 PM

I thought that Leah Clearwater in the Twilight Series was annoying at the beginning of Breaking Dawn.. but now that I understand her pain... I think I can relate to her more. Like Jacob said, whenever you have heavy pain, you try to push it onto other people.

Posted Aug 17, 2008, 03:48:19 AM

Thanks for the compliment, imperfectionists!

Posted Aug 17, 2008, 01:45:54 PM

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Last Modified Jan 14, 2009, 11:22:40 AM

Hmm...I prefer neither topically but if I had to pick I'd say Edward. I liked Jacob at first but he was positively abusive in Eclipse. Edward would never hurt Bella if he could help it.

Posted Dec 11, 2008, 02:23:32 PM

I HATE Rita Skeeter, Umbridge, and Lockhart from the Harry Potter series. I hate them with a passion.

I don't like Roran either.

Posted Nov 10, 2009, 06:23:36 PM

I HATE Savannah in Dear John! I mean could things be anymore about her?! And what she did to John! I soooooo hate her!

Posted Jan 29, 2010, 04:01:04 PM

I cannot stand the following characters:

Pippa from A great and terrible beauty

Ron Weasly from Harry Potter

Peeta from the Hunger Games

Bella from Twilight

Mr. Collins from Pride and Prejudice

Col. Brandon from Sense and Sensibility

Posted Feb 06, 2010, 07:52:16 PM