When the Elderly read
I do not believe that the movies represent the books true potential. Before you either celebrate or bash me, I must remind everyone that I have not claimed excellence in the book. In fact, it is hardly a literary masterpiece. Sure, it may be entertaining but the execution of literary devices is mediocre, at best. Call me an old scrooge wanting to piss the kiddies off, but that is not my intention. All I wish to do is to give an intellectual approach and, hopefully, convince the kids of today that Twilight is not an appropriate example of a literary masterpiece. The book itself has been blown out of proportion when it offers nothing new to the table.
We seem to have put our love in a book because of a simplistic fantasy. Many of us are completely unaware of the lack of an actual story. The entire saga surrounds an old tale of "girl meets bad-boy, girl falls in love, boy reluctantly falls in love too, their love is forbidden, a crazy spiral of events occur, boy and girl either die or live happily ever after". Since originality is missing, what else does it offer? Lovable characters? Actually, if you actually read the book instead of fantasizing about sexual favors from your lover, Edward Cullen is far from a memorable boyfriend. His attitude yells "abusive boyfriend". Given, such a stance is not new.
A few sources that explain "general characteristics" of abusive boyfriends:
I'm sure that if you actually looked through the few sources, you would see how the "abusive boyfriend" persona is present in Edward Cullen. If you fail to see the connection, then, well... Your comprehension is flawed; your opinion is no longer valid as I cannot believe that you are capable of understanding the books and/or this blog post.
Apart from horrible character creation and development, Stephanie Meyer is far from a literary genius.
"How old are you?"
"Seventeen" he answered promptly.
"And how long have you been seventeen?"
His lips twitched as he stared at the road, "Awhile", he admitted at last.
"Okay", I smiled, pleased that he was still being honest with me. He stared down at me with watchful eyes, much as he had before when he'd been worried that I would go into shock. I smiled wider in encouragment, and he frowned.
"Seventeen" he answered promptly.
"And how long have you been seventeen?"
His lips twitched as he stared at the road, "Awhile", he admitted at last.
"Okay", I smiled, pleased that he was still being honest with me. He stared down at me with watchful eyes, much as he had before when he'd been worried that I would go into shock. I smiled wider in encouragment, and he frowned.
A giant of a man was standing in the doorway. His face was almost completely hidden by a long, shaggy mane of hair and a wild, tangled beard, but you could make out his eyes, glinting like black beetles under all the hair.
The gaint squeezed his way into the hut, stooping so that his head just brushed the ceiling. He bent down, picked up the door and fitted it easily back into its frame. The noise of the storm outside dropped a little. He turned to look at them all.
"Couldn't make up a cup o' tea, could yeh? It's not been an easy journey ..."
He strode over to the sofa where Dudley sat frozen with fear.
"Budge up, yeh great lump," said the stranger.
Dudley squeaked and ran to hide behind his mother, who was crouching, terrified, behind Uncle Vernon.
"An' here's Harry!" said the gaint.
Harry looked up into the fierce, wild, shadowy face and saw that the beetle eyes were crinkled in a smile.
"Las' time I saw you, you was only a baby, " said the giant. "Yeh look a lot like yer dad, but yeh've got yer mum's eyes. "
Uncle vernon made a funny rasping noise.
"I demand that you leave at once, sir!"he said. " You are breaking and entering!"
"Ah, shut up. Dursley, yeh great prune," said the giant.
The gaint squeezed his way into the hut, stooping so that his head just brushed the ceiling. He bent down, picked up the door and fitted it easily back into its frame. The noise of the storm outside dropped a little. He turned to look at them all.
"Couldn't make up a cup o' tea, could yeh? It's not been an easy journey ..."
He strode over to the sofa where Dudley sat frozen with fear.
"Budge up, yeh great lump," said the stranger.
Dudley squeaked and ran to hide behind his mother, who was crouching, terrified, behind Uncle Vernon.
"An' here's Harry!" said the gaint.
Harry looked up into the fierce, wild, shadowy face and saw that the beetle eyes were crinkled in a smile.
"Las' time I saw you, you was only a baby, " said the giant. "Yeh look a lot like yer dad, but yeh've got yer mum's eyes. "
Uncle vernon made a funny rasping noise.
"I demand that you leave at once, sir!"he said. " You are breaking and entering!"
"Ah, shut up. Dursley, yeh great prune," said the giant.
One excerpt is from Twilight while the other is from Harry Potter. Hoping that you actually read it, I will not indicate which is which. Why? Because it's terribly obvious. Excluding the apparent humour in one, or the lack thereof, both are decently similar. However, I would assume that "one" of them seems a little... "Simplistic"? Face it, though I'm not a huge Harry Potter fan myself (no, I enjoy reading Cormac McCarthy), Meyer should not be known for being a literary genius. For the hell of it, I'll now grant you an excerpt from "The Road" written by McCarthy:
Nights dark beyond darkness and the days more gray each one than what had gone before. Like the onset of some cold glaucoma dimming away the world. His hand rose and fell softly with each precious breath. He pushed away the plastic tarpaulin and raised himself in the stinking robes and blankets and looked toward the east for any light but there was none.
There.
We established Meyer's inability to construct healthy characters and her mediocre literary talent. More or less, I find her creation of Edward Cullen extremely harmful. Such a fantasy where Edward is "Romeo" is quite frightening. Why must we look forward to a man who is so harmful that he has the potential to kill you? Is that not, at all, quite questionable? Before anyone decides to flame on my post, really, look at what I have provided you. I do not think that it is appropriate to claim that Edward is far from a abusive boyfriend. Denying his "overprotective and controlling" behaviour only shows your ignorance to fully accept analytical pieces written by those who do have a fond understanding of psychology. I have done studies on my own and yes, I do agree that Edward Cullen is a threat to Bella and he should be considered as one; not as Romeo.
It is vital that all fans have a standard understanding of potential abusers. Edward Cullen is NOT a model boyfriend. He will give you more pain than love, I assure you.
That, and anyone who has been abused probably does not like this book all too much. Meyer, you lack sensitivity. It's awfully saddening...
Comment
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Comment by caitlin on March 30, 2010 at 11:19am -
haha ok, you think your awesome so discussion with you is pointless.
instead of brilliantly criticizing books on their own sites why dont you go to webs.com and start your own constructive criticism site.
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Comment by SKEPTIC TEA PARTY on March 30, 2010 at 9:09am -
Because I'm brilliant when it comes to constructive criticism.
Now, I never stated that the characters were under-developed. The literature is simplistic. I did say that, yes, but where did I say that the characters were "under-developed"? Please, if you must criticize, do so after reading this properly.
I said the characters were "unhealthy". Not under-developed, but "unhealthy". Meaning that they aren't characters that should become idols or some of the sort.
Nevertheless, you are aware that domestic abuse goes far beyond the physical spectrum, correct? Are you also aware that Edward follows through with psychological expressions meant to make Bella feel guilty or pathetic. He continuously disses Bella throughout the entire book then threatens that he would kill himself if she left. Not only that, but he constricts her of seeing or doing things with her friends/family. It seems as though, even if you may have a personal connection, you know nothing about abusive relationships apart from the physical aspects of it. It's quite sad.
Before you even start discussing abuse, I suggest you take some time and read over a few sources that I have provided. Then, when you're done that, re-read the blogs that I have posted which also analytically describes Edward's abusive behaviour.
'
Any questions?
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Comment by caitlin on March 29, 2010 at 10:38pm
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ok, i do agree its not a literary masterpiece, and so did my college english professor yet we are both still huge fans, (there were a couple passages in the books where i was mentally correcting the grammar). i do not agree with you that the characters are under developed though, i am a very visual person and i thought meyers descriptions were pretty good i could easily picture the characters in my head.
as far as the abusive boyfriend thing goes, im sorry, but i think that claim is dumb. since he never hurts bella how is he abusive? the only time he hurts is when he leaves her because hes trying to protect her from the dangers of his families condition. abusive people hurt you and then pull you back in by claiming they love you and need you, he never does that.
im geussing that you have never been in an abusive relationship but i personally know some people who have, and their lives were and are nothing like that of the fictional bella swan, i am absolutely positive they would have chosen an edward cullen over their ex-husband.
most people who have read the books know and understand that the plot is an old one, my teacher said that meyer just changed the names and circumstances of romeo and juliet, and meyer has commented herself that the twilight saga is rough and she wishes she could go back and change a few things, and yet we all still love it.
it sounds like your not really a fan so im just curious as to why you're on the fan site?
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