Twilight

By Stephanie MeyerSymbolism, Imagery & Allegory

The Apple

"Hey, what's up with the apple?" you may be wondering, especially if you've read the

copy of Twilight that has the original cover. That question ran through our heads, too. We

thought we were going to be reading a love story with vampires, not an ode to shiny fruit.

Then we saw the epigraph. Aha!

The quick answer is that the apple is a symbol for temptation. The Biblical Adam and

Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden for giving into temptation and eating fruit

from a forbidden tree. (You can read more on Adam in Eve in Genesis 3). Traditionally

in art and literature, the fruit that Adam and Eve eat is an apple.

Aside from the apple on the original book cover, the apple pops up in the Forks High

cafeteria in Chapter 10. Bella sits there rolling around that apple in her hands, as though

she's trying to decide whether to eat it or not. Keep in mind that this happens to coincide

with the period of time when Bella is trying to figure out exactly what she should do

about the Edward situation. She's not quite sure if she should cave to temptation and

pursue a relationship with Edward despite the danger.

Animals

"And so the lion fell in love with the lamb..." (13.130). When Edward says this, it's pretty

obvious that he means that he's the lion and Bella is the lamb in their situation. While

most lions wouldn't hesitate to eat a lamb for dinner, what happens if the lion loves the

lamb and doesn't want to eat her? A few other predator-prey pairs appear as well,

including a shark and an angelfish, and a killer whale and baby seal, and "a bird locked in

the eyes of a snake" (13.38). These animal references emphasize how, in the natural

scheme of things, Bella is actually Edward's prey.

There's something else we noticed about animals in Twilight: the Cullens are often

compared to animals. Emmett is compared to a bear – he's big and powerful.

Interestingly, Emmett joined the Cullen clan when he was nearly killed by a bear in the

woods, but rescued by Rosalie. Now, Emmett's favorite animal to hunt is a bear.

Edward is frequently compared to big cats. His favorite game to hunt is the mountain

lion, and during the Cullen baseball game, Bella says that he runs like a cheetah. From

these descriptions, we come to see Edward as rather sleek, elegant, and fast.

Also during the baseball game, Bella compares the graceful Alice to a gazelle, although

we're willing to bet that she's a lot more dangerous.

In general, though, humans are compared to benign creatures, and vampires are compared

to dangerous predators. Speaking of benign creatures, on more than one occasion, Bella

compares Mike to a friendly, tail-wagging dog. This description works pretty well,

because Mike is harmless, eager to please Bella, and always hoping for her attention.

Cars

A bunch of specific cars are mentioned in Twilight. The humans tend to have average

vehicles, while each member of the Cullen clan has an amazing car. Let's take a quick

review of who drives what

Edward: Silver Volvo S60R

Carlisle: Black Mercedes S55 AMG

Emmett: Jeep Wrangler

Rosalie: red BMW M3 Convertible

Bella: 1953 Chevrolet Pickup Truck

Charlie: Police Chief Cruiser

Jacob: 1986 Volkswagen Rabbit

Mike: Suburban

Tyler: Van, and later a used Sentra

Jessica: Old, White Mercury

Here's a question: did Stephenie Meyer choose to give each character a particular vehicle

at random, or was there some reasoning behind her choices? Well, we can't be sure, but

each car does seem to hint at the personality traits of each owner.

Let's start with Edward. Volvos have a reputation for being super-safe for their

passengers, so this vehicle seems to go along nicely with Edward's protective and

cautious nature. The color silver fits well because it isn't too flashy – Edward doesn't like

to stick out too much. But even though it's a safe car, it's not boring – this car can go fast

and it's "shiny."

Carlisle's black Mercedes is high performance car, but also not too attention-grabbing.

Emmett's Jeep Wrangler is rough and tough, just like he is. Rosalie's hot little BMW is

flashy and fiery (it's red), just like she is.

As for Bella's truck, well, it's a vintage classic. An oldie but goodie. It sticks out among

the other humans' cars because it has a lot of personality. It may be somewhat near

death's door, but as of now it seems to be surviving just fine. Kind of like its owner.

Like Bella's truck, Jacob's car stands out as having a bit more personality than the

average human vehicle. It's a 1986 Volkswagen Rabbit…but it's not quite running yet. In

fact, Jacob is working on repairing it and needs a master cylinder. All the same, it's a

relatively fun little car.

Charlie's police chief cruiser points to him being responsible for rules and order, and

hints at him being a protective dad.

Carlisle's Cross

The 370-ish-year-old cross that hangs outside Carlisle's office belonged to his father – a

17th-century pastor who was intolerant not only of Catholics, but also of werewolves,

witches, and vampires. He led hunts for all of these creatures, as did his son. Carlisle kept

the cross as a family heirloom of sorts after he transformed. Is that the only reason? We

don't think so. Carlisle's dad hated "evil" beings, and Carlisle, like his dad, abhorred evil

acts. Now as a vampire, a creature to whom evil comes instinctively – he works hard not

to give in to his primal nature. It's our theory that the Carlisle's cross serves to remind

him that although he may be a vampire, he can resist his inner-urge to kill humans. The

cross is also funny in an ironic way, as Edward notes, as certain versions of vampire

myths say that crosses keep vampires away.

Light and Dark, Sun and Rain, Warm and Cold

It seems like lots of things in Twilight can be sorted into two opposing categories, all

based on one major dichotomy: humans versus vampires. Bella (representing humans)

states on the first page of the book that she prefers her warm, dry, sunny Phoenix to cold,

rainy, cloudy Forks. Guess who's cold all the time? Ding ding! Edward (representing

vampires). There's a big divide between the two species, and it seems that humans are

mostly identified with "good" things, while vampire has lots of "bad" or "evil" things on

its side.

Then there are a few confusing moments in the novel, when it seems that a person or two

might be switching sides. There's the scene with Bella and Edward in the meadow –

when Edward reveals his sparkling ability – that contradicts lots of the "cold" and "dark"

associations we have with his character. He does like the sun, the light, the warmth – he

just can't take advantage of it around people who don't understand his "species."

Remember, the Cullen home is very light and airy; it's the "one place [the Cullens] don't

have to hide" (15.212). Like the other Cullens, Edward would indeed rather not be a

"monster" – hence their no-human diets. That doesn't change the fact that they have to

live in the land of dark, wet, rainy, cloudy, cold Forks in order to have a relatively normal

life.

On the other side of the dichotomy, Bella's initial move to Forks could symbolize her

inching toward the dark side of the spectrum – except she vocally hates it. Over time, the

closer she grows to Edward, the less she hates Forks. By the end of the novel, she's ready

to completely transfer to the vampire side, but that's when Edward draws the line and

won't let Bella cross it. When the novel ends, Bella still longs for him to transform her.

The last line of the novel, "And then the night closed over me," made us think that maybe

her changeover is inevitable.

Baseball

Baseball seems to be a symbol of decent, "average Americans" in Twilight. Charlie and

Billy enjoy watching baseball, and Charlie even seems to feel more comfortable with the

idea that his daughter is going on a date with Edward Cullen when he finds out that

baseball is involved. That the Cullens enjoy playing baseball shows that they're actually a

fairly normal American family. Sure, they put their own spin on the game, but could we

really expect them to play on a normal diamond? The baseball game in Twilight displays

just how similar to humans the Cullens truly are, as well as their attempt to follow social

norms, even if that means they have to "tweak" that norm a little first.

Fashion

The vampires that we meet in Twilight tend to have an amazing fashion sense. Bella

emphasizes how the Cullens all look like models due not only to their stellar physiques,

but also in the way they dress. On the other hand, Bella constantly reminds us that she's a

normal girl and judging by her own description of her wardrobe, her clothes seem

average too. So there's a fairly simple division: humans = normal/dull dressers; vampires

= stylistic superstars.

But take a look at the Epilogue, when Alice helps Bella get ready for the prom. Suddenly

Bella is looking quite stylish (vampire-ish?) herself. Does this symbolize that she's fitting

in with the Cullens more and more, or that she's destined to soon become a vampire

herself? We'll have to read the sequels to find out...

Setting:Present-day Forks, Washington, and Phoenix, Arizona;

As far as time period is concerned, all of Twilight goes down in modern-time (technically

around 2005, since that's when Meyer originally published it). The location of the action

jumps around a bit, though. Read on for our Tour de Twilight!

Forks and Phoenix

Most of the story takes place in Forks, Washington, and its surrounding areas. According

to Bella, Forks claims the highest rainfall per year in the United States. To put it bluntly,

it's dreary and gray 99% of the time. The cloudy, rainy climate is one of the reasons the

Cullens have chosen to live in Forks – because it's rarely sunny, they can go out in the

daylight without having the sun sparkling off their glittery skin and exposing them. The

dreary weather allows vampires to live relatively normal lives.

Another factor that distinguishes Forks is that it's surrounded by forests and wildlife. The

woods are especially important to the novel, since the Cullens rely on wildlife for their

diet. Not to mention, the damp greenery adds a "dark" element to Forks's location. You

could say that Forks is the land of the dark.

If Forks is the land of the dark, Phoenix is the land of the light. When Bella hops on her

plane to depart from Phoenix, it's 75 degrees and sunny. Bella, therefore, is a child of the

light; she readily admits she prefers dry, warm climates.

When Bella first moves to Forks, she hates it. She tells us, "It was from this town and its

gloomy, omnipresent shade that my mother escaped with me when I was only a few

months old"(1.2). Later, Bella describes her feelings of confinement in Forks: "Thick fog

was all I could see out my window in the morning, and I could feel the claustrophobia

creeping up on me. You could never see the sky here; it was like a cage" (1.65.1-2). Over

time, however, as Bella's relationship with Edward becomes more intense, Bella comes to

like Forks. In fact, when she returns to Phoenix and is about to confront James, she says,

The sun was hot on my skin, too bright as it bounced off the white concrete and blinded

me. I felt dangerously exposed. More fiercely than I would have dreamed I was capable

of, I wished for the green, protective forests of Forks…of home. (22.81.4-6)

By the end of the novel, Bella has experienced a complete reversal in her feelings about

the two locations.

The Forest

The forest is an interesting setting for a number of scenes. Commonly in literature, the

forest represents a wilderness where evil and/or mystery may reside. If you've read

Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter or Arthur Miller's The Crucible, you'll know

what we're talking about. This may be the case in Twilight to some extent.

But in this novel (and in much of literature, including Shakespeare's As You Like It and A

Midsummer Night's Dream, among others), the forest also represents safety from the

confinement of society. The Cullens' home is nestled in the woods, away from the human

world, and as Bella tries to sort out whether or not Edward is a vampire, she runs to the

forest:

Here in the trees it was much easier to believe the absurdities that embarrassed me

indoors. Nothing had changed in this forest for thousands of years, and all the myths and

legends of a hundred different lands seemed much more likely in this green haze than

they had in my clear-cut bedroom. (7.48.1-2)

Bella and Edward's Meadow

A secluded meadow in the middle of the forest hosts Bella's first sight of Edward's skin

when exposed to the sun. Bella describes the meadow almost like we'd imagine the

Garden of Eden:

The meadow was small, perfectly round, and filled with wildflowers – violet, yellow and

soft white. Somewhere nearby, I could hear the bubbling music of a stream. The sun was

directly overhead, filling the circle with a haze of buttery sunshine. (12.257.2-3)

In this private setting, Edward can be himself in front of Bella for the first time. He

shows her his super-speed and strength in addition to his sparkling skin. The meadow is

also where Edward and Bella take their love affair to the next emotional level.

La Push

Lastly, La Push serves as the place of Bella's epiphany over Edward's "kind." Jacob

Black, the son of one of Charlie's friends, fills in Bella on the local lore and informs Bella

that the Cullens aren't allowed on La Push reservation. This new setting clues us into the

competition between Jacob and Edward – each guy has his own territory on which neither

can trespass, yet Bella is free to move between them.

Point Of View:First Person (Limited)

The story is told from the first-person view of Bella Swan. This allows the reader to

experience the story with her and to live in her thoughts and her mind. It makes the story

that much moe personal, as if we feel exactly what she is feeling.

The Point of view is limited because we do not know what any other characters are

thinking, only what Bella thinks, feel, and knows.

Tone:Romantic, Suspenseful, Melodramatic

The mood is serious and at times melodramatic. This is in keeping with both the horror

and romance genres that Twilight embodies: in both traditions, situations and emotions

are heightened beyond the usual everyday concerns.

The style of Twilight is straightforward, conversational, and highly accessible, as one

would expect from a Young Adult novel. Written from the perspective of a teenage girl

going through difficult situations, there are canny observations on her parents and peers,

as well as moments of self-deprecating humor. There are also pop cultural allusions

which help give a sense of timeliness to the story.

Themes:*Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work.

1) Theme of Choices

Personal choice pops up as a huge component of all the action in Twilight. The defining

aspect of the Cullens – the "good" vampires – is that they've chosen to suppress their

natural desire for human blood and only feed on animals. And driving the main plot, both

Edward and Bella know what the safe action is for each of them – to stay away from each

other – but they both struggle with how that route conflicts with their desires. Bella

chooses to pursue Edward even though it's a dangerous. Edward chooses to engage in a

relationship with Bella even though his instincts tell him that she's his prey. But the

biggest choice hanging over the whole novel is: will Bella choose to become a vampire,

and will Edward allow that?

2) Theme of Love

Twilight is a story of forbidden love. Because Edward is a vampire and Bella a human,

Edward technically should consider Bella his prey. While Edward does love Bella, his

primal instincts lead him to thirst for her blood. Similarly, Bella's natural instincts should

warn her that Edward is dangerous, that she should stay away from him, but instead she

craves being near him at all times. For this couple, even kissing is dangerous, yet their

passion is so intense that they each claim to have no choice but to be with the other

3) Theme of Good vs. Evil

Generally, vampires are seen as evil. They're considered "monsters" in cultural lore. Most

vampires give in to their desire for human blood, but the Cullens don't. It's not easy for

them, but Carlisle's mission to avoid "evil" acts is focused and strong-willed enough for

the Cullens to successfully live without partaking in their natural craving for human

blood. Overriding that urge isn't always so easy for Edward when delicious-smelling

Bella is around. Edward's conscious desire to not be a monster constantly conflicts with

his unconscious urge to drink Bella's blood. Overall, in Twilight, being good or evil is a

decision an individual makes, rather that being an uncontrollable fate.

4) Theme of Fear

Fear is an instinctive reaction for all the characters in Twilight, and all are faced with

choosing to embrace or disregard the fears that grip them. For instance, Edward fears for

Bella's safety when he's near her, but his attraction to her is strong enough to override that

fear. Bella is sometimes scared of Edward, but she refuses to let herself believe that he

would harm her. In fact, Bella sometimes seems to like fear – it excites her. The strongest

fear that drives both Edward and Bella is the thought of losing one another, and each is

willing to risk happiness or safety to secure the other's well-being. Lastly, Bella has some

very typical, human fears: dancing, blood, and needles.

5) Theme of Mortality

From the Preface we knew that there was going to be some life-and-death business going

down in Twilight, but little did we know how often Bella's life would be in danger.

Whenever Edward is present, she's in danger (in theory). Tyler almost hits Bella with his

truck, and then some thugs attempt to attack her in an alley in Port Angeles. Eventually

James enters the story and it's only a matter of time before Bella becomes his next victim.

In the end, Bella is actually willing to give up her mortal life that Edward's been fighting

so hard to save – if and only if he'll transform her into a vampire. Meanwhile, the

vampires are all immortal.

6) Theme of Isolation

Isolation appears in two forms in Twilight. There's physical isolation – Forks is a small,

secluded, rain-soaked town – and emotional isolation. Bella shares with the Cullen family

a feeling of isolation from the community around her. At first Bella isn't exactly

complaining – she enjoys being alone – but before meeting Edward, she is lonely.

Edward may be the loneliest character we meet in the novel, as he went about 90 years

looking for someone to love before he found Bella. The Cullens as a family are also

isolated. They must keep themselves somewhat separate from the human society in which

they live, but they are also isolated from other vampire communities because of their

choice to maintain a "vegetarian" diet.

7) Theme of Language and Communication

Communication is a big deal in Twilight. Edward is accustomed to reading minds, but

when he's unable to do this with Bella, he doesn't know quite how to communicate with

her. They have to form a new communication style, which involves asking each other

tons of questions and reading each other's body posture, facial expressions, and tone of

voice. Bella even judges Edward's mood by his changing eye color. Communication is

especially important in this inter-species relationship. Bella and Edward both have

different communication styles within their families as well. Bella tends to keep secrets

from her parents, while Edward and his family share everything.

8) Theme of Appearances

At least initially, Bella and Edward seem to be attracted to one another because of their

looks (and smell, too, especially in Edward's case). Bella is baffled that Edward could

possibly find her attractive, which makes him state that she must not see herself clearly.

Though Bella considers herself to be "absolutely ordinary" (10.171), all members of the

Cullen family are inhumanly beautiful. In a different way, appearance is very important

to the Cullens, who count on blending in to keep their secret under wraps. However, since

they are all so good looking, and since their outward appearances don't age, they have the

potential to arouse suspicion. As for human appearances, Edward has no problem seeing

through outward demeanor since he has the ability to read minds. However, Bella's mind

is untouchable to him, which makes her all the more alluring.

9) Theme of The Supernatural

Vampires are not real. Or, shall we say, we don't think they're real. That makes them

supernatural. Author Stephenie Meyer invented an incredible mythology surrounding

vampires – their skin sparkling in the sun, their off-the-charts beauty, their strength and

sixth senses. Her version of the vampire world clashes a bit with Western culture's

traditional perception of vampires, but three things remain centrally important: 1)

vampires' primary food source is human blood, 2) vampires have an immense amount of

sex appeal, which makes them even more effective predators of humans, and 3) vampires

are immortal.

10) Theme of Strength and Skill

Bella and Edward's relationship is ironic when it comes to strength and skill – she's a

klutz with zero muscle power, and he's a smooth-stepping superhero (well, "bad guy"

from his perspective). All vampires are much stronger and faster than humans, making

them dangerous predators, but some of the Cullens have extra "skills," such as Edward's

mind-reading and Alice's ability to see the future. Bella's immunity to Edward's sixth

sense makes her all the more interesting and appealing to him. Vampires also have

impossibly acute senses, which give them another upper-hand over the human

population. But for all their physical advantages, vampires seem to have a harder time

controlling their primal urges – mainly, their hankering for human blood. Edward worries

about his inner strength constantly, fearing he's not powerful enough when it comes to

that force inside him.

11) Theme of Family

Family is central to both Edward and Bella's lives. While Bella has grown up close to her

mother, she has an understandably awkward relationship with her father Charlie. Though

Charlie gives Bella plenty of space, he does watch over her like a protective dad. The

Cullen clan has a more complex family dynamic. The Cullens are bound together by their

"diet" – none of them prey on humans – and the fact that Carlisle adopted each family

member. Though none of them are blood-related, the Cullens understand each other like

no humans can, and have genuine affection for each other. Interestingly, the human

family (Bella's family) that we see has divorced parents, whereas the vampire family

includes several committed, happy marriages.

12) Theme of Hate

The most common form of hate we see in Twilight is actually self-hate. Edward hates

himself for the danger he brings into Bella's life, and he frequently expresses horror at his

bloodlust. Remember how Edward considers himself to be a "monster"? Some of the

other vampires with a "conscience" also experience moments of self-hate, particularly

Rosalie who is jealous of Bella simply because Bella is human. Other examples of hate

crop up when Edward fears for Bella's safety. Edward hates any being – human or

vampire – that threatens Bella, including the alley thugs that Edward has to talk himself

out of killing, and James, whom Edward wishes he could have joined in on killing.

13) Theme of Sacrifice

Stephenie Meyer presents Twilight's star, Bella, as a selfless character. Not only does she

risk her life to keep her mother safe, but she also endures a lot of personal discomfort for

her parents' happiness. Bella makes other sacrifices, which may not be entirely altruistic:

she sacrifices her own personal safety for the sake of love, and is even willing to give up

her own human life to be with Edward forever as a vampire. Besides Bella, the Cullens

endure a monstrous sacrifice (pun intended!) by not eating humans, and they all accept a

certain amount of inconvenience just by welcoming Bella into their lives. Edward is

willing to give up absolutely anything to ensure Bella's safety.

14) Theme of Man and the Natural World

In Twilight, many characters fight their natural instincts. It's natural for vampires to drink

human blood, but the Cullens work hard to resist this urge. Edward and Bella's love for

each other goes against the laws of nature – as Edward points out by stating, "And so the

lion fell in love with the lamb…" (13.128) – yet they can't stand the idea of being apart.

Other forces of nature show the differences between Bella and Edward's lifestyles. She

needs to eat and sleep; he doesn't. He can only lay out in the sun when in trustworthy

company; she can whenever she wants. Edward is used to having an immense amount of

strength and speed; Bella has trouble traveling at Edward's natural walking pace. The pair

may be in seemingly separate worlds, but their love for one another feels completely

natural to them.

15) Theme of Memory and The Past

Memory in the vampire world works much like it does for humans, it just extends a bit

further back in time. But while human memories fade, vampire memories are stronger.

Edward doesn't remember his human life well, and Alice can't remember hers at all. All

the vampires have been around for much longer than their appearance suggests – they

don't age once transformed into a vampire. Additionally, they are immortal. Edward, in

fact, has been alive for over a hundred years, and sometimes seems to be a relic of the

past. As Bella notes, Edward "sometimes spoke […] with unfamiliar cadences and

phrases that better fit the style of a turn-of-the-century novel than of a twenty-first-

century classroom" (7.50). Despite having been alive for over a century, Edward had

lived a life of loneliness before meeting Bella.

Major Characters:

Isabella “Bella” Swan -  Bella as an “Everygirl”

Here's how our narrator Bella describes herself: "I'm absolutely ordinary – well, except

for bad things like all the near-death experiences and being so clumsy that I'm almost

disabled" (10.171).

We want to let you in on a little secret: Bella’s average-ness was no mistake. Stephenie

Meyer says, "I left out a detailed description of Bella in the book so that the reader could

more easily step into her shoes" .

In addition to not having a specific physical appearance, Bella isn't really exceptional in

any way. She's not an Olympic-caliber athlete (in fact, she's quite uncoordinated), she's

not a genius (although she seems to do well in school), and she has no particularly

remarkable skills. In essence, she's like most people – "absolutely ordinary." When asked

in an Entertainment Weekly interview why she thought Twilight was so popular,

Stephenie Meyer responded:

I think some of it's because Bella is an everygirl. She's not a hero […]. She doesn't

always have to be cool, or wear the coolest clothes ever. She's normal. And there aren't a

lot of girls in literature that are normal. Another thing is that Bella's a good girl, which is

just sort of how I imagine teenagers, because that's how my teenage years were.

Meyer said it herself: she intended Bella to be an "everygirl." Ideally, that means anyone

can relate to Bella, so it's all the more exciting when something incredible and magical

happens to her – a gorgeous boy/man of mythic proportions sees her as unique and

completely irresistible. She becomes so precious to this man that he's willing to sacrifice

anything for her. And maybe, through the average Bella, we can imagine that it's possible

for something magical to happen to us, too.

These "average" or "everygirl" characters are meant to capture our imagination because

we can picture ourselves in their position. Do you think Meyer succeeded in this goal

when she created Bella? It's interesting that Meyer didn't intend to write for teens:

I didn't write these books specifically for the young-adult audience. I wrote them for me. I

don't know why they span the ages so well, but I find it comforting that a lot of

thirtysomethings with kids, like myself, respond to them as well – so I know that it's not

just that I'm a 15-year-old on the inside! (Source)

As a result, do you think that Bella works well as a teen everygirl? Or maybe she's more

convincing as an average thirtysomething-year-old?

Bella's Coming-of-Age, and How She Changes

Whether or not you see Bella as more of a teenager or thirty-year-old, Bella changes quite

a bit throughout Twilight. In the story she's a junior in high school and on the brink of

becoming an adult. She's moving across the country from her mom, and starting a new

life in rainy Forks, Washington with her father. And she's about to have her first romantic

relationship (though she isn't expecting it).

Overall, Bella begins the story as a quiet and solitary individual. She's also quite

responsible for her age, having looked after her mother (to make sure she paid the bills on

time, and such) and now taking on a heap of domestic responsibilities in her father's

house (according to Bella, "he can't cook at all" [24.106]). Bella artfully dodges the high

school boys who have crushes on her, avoids getting wrapped up in the Forks High social

scene, and spends most of her time doing homework and chores. Like her father Charlie,

she enjoys solitude.

Just as she's adjusting to her new life – BAM! – there’s Edward in Biology class. From

this point on, an ever-increasing amount of Bella’s conscious and subconscious mind are

devoted to the beautiful-pale-guy-with-smoldering-eyes.

Bella even admits that she’s embarrassed of how often she thinks of Edward. She’s feels

stupid when she starts to dream about him. Yet when their interest in each other becomes

clear, Bella clings to Edward and demands that he doesn't ever leave her. "You are my

life," Bella states. "You're the only thing it would hurt me to lose" (24.204). By prom,

she’s ready to lose herself completely (a.k.a. die to her human life and become a vampire)

in order to be with Edward forever.

Bella's transformation begs a question: is she obsessed with Edward to an unhealthy

degree, or are her feelings for Edward the typical feelings of infatuation that many

experience when falling in love for the first time?

From one perspective, Bella's feelings aren't all together unique. First love for many

people is tinged with obsession. Since this is all new for Bella, she doesn't yet know how

to be in love and in a relationship while also maintaining her sense of self and

individuality.

Even if you haven't personally experienced the feeling, you've probably seen examples

obsessive first-love experiences that end up developing into normal relationships. A good

example is Jane Eyre, who spends nearly the first half of the novel Jane Eyre obsessed

with Mr. Rochester, completely idolizing him, but eventually comes to see him as her

equal. So, is that what's going on with Bella and Edward?

We've also seen examples from literature where the obsession is unhealthy. Take James

Gatz from The Great Gatsby, as an example. He becomes so consumed with his love for

Daisy that he creates a new persona for himself, Jay Gatsby, in order to pursue her. Yet

he puts her on a pedestal and she can never meet his high expectations. When his dream

of being with her dies, he dies as well. Another example is Heathcliff of Wuthering

Heights, who becomes so infatuated with Catherine that he becomes a villain in an

attempt to get revenge on her husband. When she dies, Heathcliff gives free reign to his

violent tendencies.

The question is: into which category does Bella and Edward's relationship fall? Let us

know what you think!

Bella as a... Pretty Bird?

Isabella Swan. That’s quite a name. “Bella” means beautiful in Italian, and since she’s

dating a vampire, can’t help but imagine the movie poster for Disney’s Beauty and the

Beast, in which the main character is named Belle. Edward certainly considers himself to

be a monster, and Bella coaxes him into partaking in some human activity and emotion,

just as Belle did with her Beast.

Then there’s the “Swan” part of Bella's name. What do swans make you think of? For us

it brings to mind graceful, quietly poised birds that are somewhat fragile. Besides the

graceful part (Bella is super clumsy), it sounds like a good description of Bella (at least

from Edward's perspective). But what we really think of is the classic "Ugly Duckling"

story, and that, friends, applies beautifully to Bella. Before coming to Forks, Bella is kind

of awkward and doesn't stand out. But when she gets to Forks, in Edward's eyes at least,

she's a swan.

Bedward, or Edwella

So, here’s our big finale: is this thing between Bella and Edward really true love? Oh,

man. That's a big question. One that we also ask about the famous Romeo and Juliet,

mind you. Let's check out both sides – the negative and the positive – and let you decide.

The Negative

Bella is initially drawn to Edward only because he’s utterly beautiful. He also saves her

from Tyler’s runaway van. He also acts really mysterious...all the time. He repeatedly

tells her to be afraid of him. His skin is really cold. His eyes change color. He knows a lot

about cell mitosis. Doth this true love maketh?

You could argue that Bella's interest in Edward escalates to love too quickly to be

believable. Bella has very few conversations with Edward before she declares herself in

love with him. They are discussing risking their lives for each other at about the same

time that most of us would be busy wondering, “Hmm, I wish I knew if this was

supposed to be a date-date or just a friend-date...”

The Positive

When was the last time that love was explainable? Have you ever met someone and just

had that inexplicable connection right away – that weird zest, that baffling spark, the

mystifying fireworks? Have you ever been struck by how Mr./Miss New Guy/Girl in

Your Life seems perfectly tailored for you and only you? Have you ever gotten the

butterflies for no good reason over someone? Ever gotten the wind knocked out of you;

been afraid you might just suddenly die if you can’t see the New Guy/Girl again, and

soon?

It’s chemistry, folks. Some sort of connection has zapped both Bella and Edward in a

spine-tingling type of way. Also, Edward’s been alone for over 100 years, so presumably

he's not making a rash decision by picking Bella.

So what do you think, is it true love?

Edward Cullen -  Edward Cullen is our protagonist vampire and deep love interest of

Bella. Though Bella repeatedly describes Edward as angelic, Edward is the first to

acknowledge that he has a dark side. When he and Bella are first getting to know each

other, he warns her, "What if I'm not a superhero? What if I'm the bad guy?" (5.19) Bella

insists that he's "dangerous […] but not bad" (5.112, 114), but Edward says simply,

"You're wrong" (5.115).

Much of the tension in the novel results from Edward's very nature as a predator, a

vampire. He's a conflicted character because he sees himself as a monster – he hates that

he craves human blood, especially Bella's. He's horrified by his natural instincts.

When telling Bella about his past, he admits that he did, at one point in his life, give in

and prey on humans. Edward returned to Carlisle and committed to the "vegetarian" diet

after he "began to see the monster in [his] eyes" (16.82). Yet when Edward encountered

Bella for the first time in Biology class, he almost lost control for the first time in

decades:

"To me, it was like you were some kind of demon, summoned straight from my own

personal hell to ruin me. The fragrance coming off your skin…I thought it would make

me deranged that first day. In that one hour, I thought of a hundred different ways to lure

you from the room, to get you alone. And I fought them each back, thinking of my family,

what I could do to them. I had to run out, to get away before I could speak the words that

would make you follow…" (13.102)

Despite his primal urges, Edward tells Bella, "I couldn't live with myself if I ever hurt

you. You don't know how it's tortured me" (13.124). Though he loves Bella, Edward

struggles against his nature, and continues to worry that he won't be able to control

himself and will accidentally hurt her.

All the same, Bella can't resist him. Edward repeatedly tells her that he's dangerous, but

Bella insists, "I would rather die than stay away from you" (13.126). Why is that?

Edward's Appeal

In an interview with Newsweek, Stephenie Meyer was asked why she made Edward so

"perfect." Her response: "I just wanted to write for myself, a fantasy. And that's what

Edward is" (source). In another interview, Meyer was asked if she'd ever met an Edward,

to which she replied, "No, no, I wish" (source). In other words, Meyer is presenting

Edward as the masculine ideal. And Meyer is not the only one who finds Edward

compelling.

Go ahead and Google "Edward Cullen." You'll find tons of Edward fan sites, such as e-

cullen.org and a site titled "Edward Cullen – Every Girl's Dream." He has his own

definition in the Urban Dictionary, including entries that call him "the most amazing

being to walk the earth" and "the perfect guy." There are also over 500 Facebook groups

dedicated to him.

What is it about Edward that people find so appealing?

Edward does have the "distant, aloof, handsome, dangerous" act down pat. But Meyer

takes her hero to the next level. Instead of Edward a simply a bad boy human (which, as

we've seen, has had plenty of appeal in the past), she makes him a vampire, a mythic and

inherently violent creature. He's a character built of extremes. He's indescribably good

looking – women can't focus when they're around him, and Bella constantly comments on

how "godlike" and "perfect" he looks. He's also inhumanly strong and fast, which allows

him to be a powerful protector, but also makes him very dangerous. And not only does he

desire Bella as a woman, but he also aches to drink her blood. Do Edward's extreme

qualities make him more appealing?

Edward has some other unusual qualities that Bella finds attractive. When Edward saves

Bella from the alley thugs, we learn that he's been following her around. Bella's

response? "I wondered if it should bother me that he was following me; instead I felt a

strange sense of pleasure" (8.212). Interestingly, Bella also doesn't seem at all creeped

out when she learns that he's been sneaking into her bedroom at night and watching her

sleep. (In fact, she tells us, "I was flattered" [14.61].) How would Bella (or we readers)

respond if Mike or Tyler did that? Would Bella be calling them stalkers? Why is it that

when Edward acts in this way it's charming?

What's in a Name?

Like Bella, Edward's name alone says a lot about him. Bella herself realizes that

"Edward" is the first name of several heroes of Victorian novels – Edward from Sense

and Sensibility, Edmund (close to "Edward") in Mansfield Park, and Edward Rochester

from Jane Eyre... coincidence? We think not. Meyer was looking for a good, old-

fashioned name for Bella's 100+ -year-old vampire lover. Here's what Meyer has to say

about the process of naming Edward:

I decided to use a name that had once been considered romantic, but had fallen out of

popularity for decades. Charlotte Bronte's Mr. [Edward] Rochester and Jane Austen's

Mr. [Edward] Ferrars were the characters that led me to the name Edward. I tried it on

for size, and found that it fit well. (Source)

We absolutely agree that the name fits him well. (See above to read more on how Edward

is particularly like Mr. Edward Rochester.)

Then there's Edward's last name to consider: Cullen. We looked up "cull" in our handy

Merriam-Webster Dictionary, and it's defined as "1. to select from a group; to choose, 2.

to reduce or control the size of (as a herd) by removal (as by hunting) of especially

weaker animals." Very interesting. This name seems to hint at Edward's major conflict:

he both "selects from a group" and chooses Bella as his true love, and on the other hand,

he wants to hunt her like he would an animal. Whether it was intentional or not, Meyer

picked the perfect word on which to base Edward's last name.

Edward, Spanish Influenza to La Bella Vita

Now that we know about Edward through his name, let's jump into some specifics about

his life. Here's what we know about Edward's past. Carlisle found him in the summer of

1918, almost dead from Spanish influenza (Spanish flu), and saved him by turning him

into a vampire. Born in 1901, Edward would be over 100 years old, were his body not

stuck forever at seventeen. Mature yet youthful looking? What an excellent combo.

Edward is smart, even if we think the mind-reading power is sort of cheating when it

comes to analyzing those around him. He's got a good deal of neuroses about his

vampirism, and his self-hate complex makes him into the tortured soul kind of guy. As a

vampire, he automatically gets the good looks, great physique, stellar style. However,

like Bella, Meyer doesn't give us many specifics about his appearance. We just know that

Bella finds him disarmingly attractive (as does every other female that lays eyes on him).

If we're all supposed to relate to Bella's character, that would make Edward whatever we

imagine an ideal guy to be.

Rosalie was originally meant to be Edward's vampire wife, but that didn't click, so he's

been on his own for his entire life. With his other four siblings paired off with each other,

Edward's the odd-man out. Talk about feeling like the fifth wheel. He doesn't seem to be

too bothered by that fact, until he gets a whiff of Miss Swan.

So what had Edward been doing with all that free time? Well, he's obviously a music

junkie; he enjoys baseball; he's well-read and educated; he's an amazing driver and a car

lover; and he hunts. He's bored by most humans, though, so he doesn't have to bother

with hiding his vampire lifestyle to any human friends. Basically, he entertains himself,

much like Bella does. That is, until he has to deal with his newfound human

preoccupation... courting a human girl can be really time-consuming.

From that point on, he's all about Bella, and her presence in his life creates enough

turmoil to keep him busy. He's an attentive boyfriend, if not a bit of a hoverer.

Carlisle Cullen- Carlisle Cullen is an incredibly handsome, conscientious, morally-

sound doctor. As patriarch of the Cullen clan, Carlisle started the whole "vegetarian" (no-

human) diet. Carlisle is a vampire with a conscience.

As a human in the 17th century, Carlisle was the son of an ardently anti-"evil-being"

(witches, vampires, werewolves, etc.) pastor. Carlisle followed in his father's footsteps

and hunted and killed these "monsters." While chasing down a vampire, Carlisle was

bitten. After hiding in a pile of rotting potatoes while he underwent his painful

transformation into a vampire, Carlisle realized what had happened to him. Horrified at

what he had become, he tried for years to kill himself, but nothing seemed to harm him.

Eventually, Carlisle reached a sort of peace with himself when he decided to hunt only

animals. He gained enough self-control that he could even handle being around human

blood, and eventually became a doctor. An outsider among vampires because of his diet,

Carlisle, like the Pilgrims that settled in New England, traveled to America to start a new

life.

Just as Carlisle has rules about his diet, he also has a set of rules regarding creating new

vampires: he will only transform people who are about to die and have no other option.

When the human Edward was about to die of Spanish influenza, Carlisle transformed

him. He also saved his wife Esme, Rosalie, and Emmett. One of Carlisle's most important

characteristics is his compassion, and when he transforms someone into a vampire, he's

sure to look after him or her.

We're not sure if Stephenie Meyer had this in mind when designing Carlisle's character,

but we find it interesting to consider is how Dr. Carlisle Cullen and Dr. Victor

Frankenstein from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein stack up next to each other. Both men

create "monsters," but the primary difference between them lies in how they treat their

creations. Dr. Frankenstein is horrified by the monster he's made and abandons it.

Carlisle, on the other hand, invites his creations into his home and treats them as family.

In fact, we find out from Edward that to abandon a vampire you've created is considered

unethical, at least by the Cullens. Alice was alone when she woke up a vampire, and the

Cullens are amazed that she didn't become a "total savage" (14.44) as a result.

Interestingly, in contrast, Dr. Frankenstein did abandon his monster, and the monster did

become a "total savage."

As you might expect, Dr. Cullen is a family man, and he's open to expanding his family.

When James, Victoria, and Laurent show up in the middle of the Cullen baseball game,

Carlisle introduces his family, and includes Bella among them.

Esme Cullen-  Esme's role in the Cullen family is fairly straightforward – she's the

mother figure, and Carlisle's wife. She joined the family after Edward and presumably

before Rosalie. With Renée on the other side of the country, Esme steps in as Bella's

mother figure for a short time. Esme is also the five Cullen siblings' "mother," although

she can't look too much older than any of them. She does support them and seems to

nurture them as though she really is their mother, which creates a warm family dynamic.

She takes a motherly attitude toward Edward's relationship with Bella as well. When

Bella asks Edward if Esme and Carlisle like her, he responds,

"[Carlisle and Esme] are happy to see me happy. Actually, Esme wouldn't care if you had

a third eye and webbed feet. All this time she's been worried about me, afraid that there

was something missing in my essential makeup, that I was too young when Carlisle

changed me…She's ecstatic. Every time I touch you, she just about chokes with

satisfaction." (15.189)

Alice Cullen-  Alice is Edward's adoptive sister and the most supportive of his

relationship with Bella because she knows how lonely he has been. When Bella sees

Alice for the first time, she describes her as "pixielike, thin in the extreme, with small

features. Her hair was deep black, cropped short and pointing in every direction" (1.110),

and Bella often comments on how gracefully Alice moves.

Unlike the other members of the Cullen family, Alice remembers nothing of her human

life – Carlisle and the Cullens found her when she had already been transformed into a

vampire. We learn that Alice is unique in that she developed a "conscience" on her own,

meaning that without any guidance, she decided against preying on humans. Later we

learn from James that Alice was the only human he hunted who got away from him, and

that an old vampire transformed her so she'd be safe. Then James killed the old vampire,

leaving Alice alone to learn about life as a vampire. We also find out from James that

Alice was locked up in an asylum as a human and given shock-treatments, since she had

"visions" and her contemporary human beings thought she was insane.

Jump to the present, and Alice has a special power: she can see the future – but just what

is being planned. In other words, the future can change. Knowing what is "on track" to

happen, she can shift choices and actions to prevent that future, if it's undesirable. This

occurs when James is planning to kill Bella – Alice sees James's plan, and helps prevent

it.

Alice sees one possible future that is particularly disturbing to Edward: she sees Bella as

a vampire. This is why, during her arguments with Edward over whether she should

become a vampire, Bella says, "I'm betting on Alice" (24.287).

Alice takes a liking to Bella immediately and treats her like a sister. Not only does Alice

take care of Bella while James is hunting her, but Alice also dresses Bella up for the

prom. Though Bella isn't so happy about being Alice's "Guinea Pig Barbie," whenever

Bella complained, Alice "reminded [Bella] that she didn't have any memories of being

human, and asked [Bella] not to ruin her vicarious fun" (Epilogue.8). Overall, Alice is a

warm, encouraging, and supportive presence.

Jasper Cullen-  Romantically partnered up with Alice, Jasper is the friendliest Cullen

brother to Bella. From the baseball game onward, Jasper is Alice's accomplice in keeping

Bella safe while James is tracking her. His presence is helpful, since his sixth sense

allows him to feel (and to some extent manipulate) others' emotions. This talent makes

him an empathetic and calming presence to Bella, who's not exactly happy or calm

through the adventure to Phoenix in Chapters 20 through 21. (Though Bella does get sick

of feeling like he's altering her emotions.)

It's important to note that while Jasper is decidedly friendlier than Emmett and Rosalie,

he isn't as close with Bella as Alice is, by a long shot. It seems he still has issues with

self-control around Bella. For instance, when Alice says that she and Jasper will take care

of Bella, Edward questions whether Jasper can "handle this," meaning, handle being

around a human. Alice responds, "Give him some credit, Edward. He's been doing very,

very well, all things considered" (19.165, 166). All the same, Jasper and Emmett both

have to flee the dance studio where Bella is hurt because there's so much blood. Jasper is

interesting in that he actually evolved into a "vegetarian" vampire after an unspecified

amount of time as a human-eater – somehow he developed a conscience, just like Alice.

After that "adaptation," he moved in with the Cullens.

Rosalie Cullen-  Rosalie is a member of the Cullen clan, and one of Edward's adoptive

siblings. According to Bella, Rosalie has "a beautiful figure, the kind you saw on the

cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue" (1.110), and later Bella describes her as

"beyond belief" (Epilogue.34). Though Carlisle originally intended for Rosalie to be

Edward's companion, it's very clear that neither are romantically interested in each other.

Rosalie is now with Emmett, and every couple of years they get married again.

As you may have noticed, Rosalie is by far the coldest Cullen to Bella, and she remains

that way through the very end of the novel. She never opens her arms to Bella like the

rest of Edward's family does. She gives Bella nasty looks at every opportunity and

literally runs away anytime Bella joins a conversation. We learn why she acts this way

from Edward, who explains that Rosalie struggles the most with their vampirism, and

she's jealous of Bella, since Bella is a human.

It's important to note, that Rosalie doesn't let her issues with Bella overshadow her duty

to her brother Edward. When James enters and starts to cause trouble, Rosalie camps out

at Charlie's house to make sure that James's female vampire companion, Victoria, doesn't

try anything.

Emmett Cullen-  Emmett is one of Edward's vampire siblings. Since Edward is

frequently described as the "youngest" of the Cullens, we assume that Emmett looks

around nineteen or twenty years old, and we know he's large and powerful. In fact, when

Bella first tells Charlie that's she's dating Edward, Charlie mistakes Emmett for Edward

and says, "I don't like the look of that big one. I'm sure he's a nice boy and all, but he

looks too…mature for you" (17.118).

Emmett joined the Cullen family when Rosalie rescued him after a bear mauled him in an

Appalachian forest. Badly wounded and near death, Emmett was carried by Rosalie to

Carlisle to change into a vampire. Emmett is now romantically involved with Rosalie

(they've been married several times), which explains why he doesn't get too close to Bella

throughout the novel (see Rosalie's "Character Analysis" for more on that). Emmett

seems to enjoy challenges, hence his interest in hunting bears and his confidence about

hunting down and killing James. In the end, Emmett does actually kill James (with

Jasper's help). Overall, he doesn't take anything too seriously, and enjoys teasing Bella.

Charlie and Renee - Charlie and Renée are Bella's parents, and their marriage didn't last

long. Renée hated Forks, and just a few months after Bella was born, Renée left for

Phoenix and took baby Bella with her. While Bella gets her quiet, solitary nature from

her dad, we're thinking she inherited the love for the sun from her mom.

Both Charlie and Renée are loving, but they express it in different ways. Charlie gives

Bella plenty of room; he's a conversation minimalist. He's not around a whole lot, being

police chief and all. When he is around, both he and Bella's awkwardness comes out in

full-force. Charlie's care for Bella comes through in the little things he does for her, for

which he never asks any credit. Although he's unsure exactly how to be a father to a

teenage daughter, he tries hard to please his daughter. When Bella has to lie to him in a

cruel way at the end of the novel, it nearly breaks her heart, though it seems he forgives

her when she returns to live with him in Forks.

In contrast to the somewhat awkward relationship between Bella and Charlie, Bella gets

along well with her mother. Bella only left Phoenix so her mother wouldn't stick around

for her, losing her love life in the process. Since we only see Renée in one scene at the

end of the novel, we have to trust what Bella tells us about her. According to Bella,

Renée is scatterbrained, fun, spontaneous, and a social person, unlike her ex-husband and

her daughter. She likes communication and constant contact with those important in her

life, hence her frequent emails to Bella, checking up on her. We get the impression that

Bella doesn't mind her mother's somewhat absentminded lifestyle. Bella and her mother

probably get along so well because they complement one another.

Jacob Black-  Young Jacob may be Bella's favorite non-vampire friend. He's a Quileute

Indian and lives on La Push reservation, not far from Forks. Upon first meeting, Bella is

genuinely charmed and impressed by Jacob in many ways – he's a breath of fresh air

compared to how clingy and suffocating Bella considers her Forks friends. Jacob and

Bella's initial connection is that Jacob's dad, Billy, is friends with Charlie, and Bella's

truck used to belong to Billy. Bella goes on to learn that Jacob is really into rebuilding

and fixing cars.

We get the impression fairly quickly that Jacob is similar to Bella in many ways. He's

very "normal," but there's something extra about him that makes him special. He's

interesting and genuine. Bella notes that Jacob seems to have a crush on her, but Bella

doesn't seem to be viewing Jacob in a completely platonic (non-romantic) way, either.

Let's take this one step further. Jacob seems like safe boyfriend material, the kind of guy

Charlie would be OK with Bella dating. Overall, part of Jacob's role in the book is as a

contrast to Edward, because both are potential love interests for Bella. Let's examine

some of the ways they're different.

For starters, Edward is older than Bella (about 90 years older, in fact) and has a lot of life

experience. Jacob, however, is a bit younger than Bella – Edward even calls him a

"child." Edward is mysterious and challenging for Bella to understand, whereas Jacob is

easy to read and even easy for Bella to manipulate. Edward represents danger and

excitement, while Jacob is kind of like a safe boy-next-door type (and the son of Charlie's

friend). Edward is graceful and sweeps Bella off her feet when dancing; Jacob is

endearingly awkward at prom. By the Epilogue when Bella says, "I was shocked to

notice that Jacob didn't have to look up [to glance at Edward]. He must have grown half a

foot since the first time I'd seen him" (Epilogue.59), we imagine that Stephenie Meyer is

going to have a bit of competition between Edward and Jacob in the sequel.

James (The Tracker)-  As the certifiable villain of the novel, James epitomizes the

worst kind of vampire. He embodies the evil that the Cullens have worked so hard not to

become. James takes an immense amount of pleasure in hunting his victims. In fact, he

goes after Bella because he knows that the Cullens will defend her, therefore giving him

an exciting challenge. Edward, with his mind-reading skills, is able to get into James's

head and understand his motivations. Here's how Edward describes him:

"If you didn't smell so appallingly luscious, [James] might not have bothered. But when I

defended you…well, that made it a lot worse. He's not used to being thwarted, no matter

how insignificant the object. He thinks of himself as a hunter and nothing else. His

existence is consumed with tracking, and a challenge is all he asks of life. Suddenly we've

presented him with a beautiful challenge – a large clan of strong fighters all bent on

protecting the one vulnerable element. You wouldn't believe how euphoric he is now. It's

his favorite game, and we've just made it his most exciting game ever." (19.79.4-11)

Even when James has Bella alone, he hopes that Edward will come after her. In fact, it

seems that what he truly wants is to use Bella to lure in a different, more challenging prey

– Edward.

We should also note that James is doubly a villain in Twilight, since we learn that he was

the reason Alice was transformed into a vampire. An old vampire, who evidently cared a

lot for Alice when she was a human, transformed her so she wouldn't become James's

next victim. Angry that his plan to feast on Alice was thwarted, James killed this caring

older vampire (with a lot of pleasure attached to that murder). In sum, James is nothing

but evil.