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Twilight on Equality MAG
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that while reading Twilight I was “dazzled” (pun intended). Almost anyone alive for the past couple of months is certainly aware of the saga, which has received excited acclaim not only from teenagers worldwide but also such esteemed reviewers as The New York Times and Publishers Weekly. So why do I have a problem with it?
Twilight is about Bella Swan, a teen who moves to a new town and is immediately adored by everyone. She instantly has several men vying for her attention and a couple of pretty nice friends as well. Her adoration of classic books would imply that she is at least marginally intelligent. Then she meets Edward Cullen (who has a unique background that is not relevant here), and as their relationship grows, so does her obsession, until it consumes her. Seems harmless, right?
Actually, no. Bella is depicted as an evil temptress trying to persuade a morally honorable man into evil, while he attempts to keep their virtues intact. Succinctly, Edward and Bella are a modern Adam and Eve.
But the book goes further in asserting that women are inferior to men. Every time Bella is faced with a conflict and has to make a choice, Edward swoops in to save her, because apparently she can’t possibly decide on her own. He goes beyond protective to borderline abusive in Twilight, but Bella justifies it as “love” every time. When Edward dumps her for a couple months in New Moon, Bella becomes seriously depressed and dangerous to herself.
All the female characters in this series eventually portray similar helplessness. Even the first relationship introduced in the book – that of Bella’s mother and stepfather – is sexist. Bella expresses concern about leaving her mother, but then reasons that it’s okay now that Phil is looking after her.
What’s even more ridiculous is that many female readers look up to Bella! Her situation is idealized. After finding Edward, Bella is happy only when she is with him. She feels that he is her one true purpose in life. So what are girls who read the novels left wanting? Their own Edward, of course! Not only do they want one – they need one. The fact that so many intelligent young men and women have been sucked into the Twilight series and have swallowed its sexist manifesto has me worried about the future of gender equality.
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This article has 589 comments.
@ Wicked-princess
Well, possibly not. Many of us are only teenagers. Also, Bella does not act strong or like she is in love with Edward. She is completely and unhealthily obessessed with.
i have to disagree. Bella isn't representing the entire female population of the world. she is simply a character made up by stephenie meyer (granted, i don't really like bella, she deffinetly is WAYYYYY too dependent). but you must also remember in the end of twilight and in the end of eclipse she was about to sacrifice herself for edward and her mother. i personally do not agree with you; twilight is not a sexist series, it simply has a lot of characters that lack common sense.
but the essay was well written anyhow :)
I agree half and half.
1. Twilight is a horrible peace of literature. It is plotless and horribly written. It is super annoying that Bella must be carried by Edward all the time. She is whiny and way to dependent.
2. However, I do not think that Bella is "Evil".. she is just sort of selfish and self absorbed.
Good essay, though! Nice jumb start!
I meant to post this with a comment already said.
The point is that I disagree with the views of this article.
I agree with the comment above, there are some very powerful women characters in Twilight. Take Jane for example. She is feared by most, even Edward is afraid of her power. Sure, she’s not the most liked of the cast but she is still a strong, independent woman who can fend for herself.
I think I’d also have to disagree with the idea that Bella is an evil temptress. Her views and standards are different from Edward’s, that doesn’t make her wicked. I doubt the author ever wanted the reader’s to see Bella as the downfall to Edward or to anyone else.
I agree. It seems ridiculous that although Bella is just a human, she couldn't do anything to defend herself. and in the last book, SPOILER ALERT when she does become a vampire, she doesn't really even fight! she just stands there and uses this mind shield.
Now I don't want anyone going to my work, Alice's Return and saying that I made her look weak either, because i didn't!! I made her overwhelmed from society, and trying to escape from it through the Rabbit Hole. So yeah.
But if you want to read my piece and comment, thats fine with me too!
That's pure nonsense !
i totally disagree..tWILIGHT portrays Bella as an independent girl. She's not dependent on Edward. She's is love with Edward ! And Edward is a VAMPIRE. What do you expect from a vampire,i mean,obviously he will be more protective and stronger..
Besides, its a highly entertaining novel and makes kids value themselves more as the main character is not the stereotype popular cheerleader..
Don't hate the book on some stupid sexist nonsense..
i would like to address two things mentioned above: first, bella is not being protected by edward because he is a man, it is because he is a vapire. alice or rosalie could have easily protected her the way he did. the book shows how fragile humans are, not how fragile women are.
second:when girls say they want their own edward, its not because they want a protector. they want someone who loves them more than they love themselves, more than life itself even. they want someone who will do absolutely anything for them and not ask for anything in return. now im not sure if that kind of love exists, but if it does, then i hope with all of my being that i might one day be able to experience it with my own "edward cullen".