Summary: My final thoughts
So where does this leave us? Why is this book so popular when the entire story is set up so poorly written? It’s simple, everyone gets what they want. There is nothing that isn’t easily overcome in this story of love. Absolutely no one, other than a few who were unimportant beyond advancing the story, dies. No one really suffers and the action is must minimal at best. Bella Swan is the perfect little woman who exists to serve men and accept any trial that is put before her. Her outbursts of stubbornness are easily overlooked since her devotion to Edward is absolute.
This is the very heart of the similarity that I see between this and the author’s religious beliefs. Women do not have any goal other than to get married, raise babies and serve their husband. Bella and Edward fought the darkness and won, though it was more on Bella’s part than his. Edward had to do very little beyond just being around for her to love without question. She mindlessly devoted herself to Edward and had no thoughts for herself beyond that of pleasing Edward. She was the perfect Mary Sue to the core and the perfect example of the lengths I have seen women of this religion go to for their love. They give up everything in order to pursue this goal.
It’s no wonder it’s popular. These young girls are seeing someone dance with evil and the darkness that a vampire represents and yet getting it all in the end. There is no evil or trail that can’t be overcome. They don’t see the flaws or how she’s surrendering her own personality to love Edward. They are too ingrained to think in this manner. They have been raised to accept this kind of mentality of total subservience. I have run into people who are members of this religion who think Twilight is one of the most beautiful things ever written and my conclusion is that their upbringing influences this acceptance of an unhealthy obsession and relationship.
It may look like Bella is independent and a free thinker, but she’s really just stupid and stubborn. She never deviates if it means pushing Edward out of the limelight. That’s the real flaw to this story; she has no will of her own, just as Edward is obsessed with her in return. This isn’t a true love; this is a dysfunctional dance between two individuals who have never grown up.
I wish I could say I enjoyed reading it, but the more I read the more I was disgusted by the apparent overtones of women who only live for a man. I didn’t see any healthy love in this at all. It was just a painful waste of time and I genuinely feel sorry for anyone who thinks like this.
Anyway, as I said at the beginning, these are only my thoughts and opinions on the matter. Don’t take anything to heart since they’re just how I see it. I hope you were at least entertained by it.
