Twilight: Does it Portray an Unhealthy Image of Relationships?
Is Twilight by Stephanie Meyer Sending a Negative Message to Young Girls?
A good work of fiction isn't always believable, but that's okay when the subject isn't meant to be taken seriously in the first place. That's the charm of escapism. However, I do believe that most books or movies convey a message, unintentional or not. And I believe that the message shouldn't be a harmful or misleading one.
That said, I must say that I wasn't excited about the novel Twilight by author Stephanie Meyer. Now, I can only speak on the novel as I have yet to see the movie. Let me say that I love fantasy and dark fantasy has an appeal to me when done with a twist that takes it away from the norm. So when my niece loaned me her copy of Twilight, I was curious to read how these vampires would differ from vampires in other novels that I have read in the past.
The story within itself was simply okay. I wouldn't say that it was great and I couldn't help but wish that the author would have delved deeper into the characters and their development; given them a little more color and depth. But I took the story for what it was, a teen novel meant for teen reading and enjoyment, so I could overlook these minor flaws. If it got kids reading then it was doing its job, and by the immense popularity of the series by adults and teens alike I would say that Twilight does its job well.
My objections to the story had more to do with the character of Bella Swan, her lack of good sense and the negative message that could be taken away by teen and tween fans. Certainly I know that Twilight is just a novel. It isn't real by any stretch of the imagination, but I do believe that the portrayal of this teenage girl is one that promotes a negative image and mindset for girls that are already in a very impressionable and confusing period of their lives.
Bella is the epitome of the "save me I'm weak, I will gladly die for you" type of protagonist. She falls in love with the hero, Edward Cullen, despite the fact that he treated her with disgust for their first several meetings. In fact he behaved as if he hated her and yet she is attracted to his poor behavior anyway. He warned her away from him and tells her that being his friend isn't a good idea, implying that he may be one of the "bad guys". Edward even warned her that that he wasn't sure if he would be able to bring her back alive after their first real outing together. He is quick tempered, controlling and obsessive to the point that he watches her constantly when she isn't aware. Edward even admits that he watches her as she sleeps! And yet Bella remains enamored of him even after he refers to himself as a predator and her as prey - literally speaking. Poor Bella is so dazzled by his striking good looks and the fact that he has saved her life that she doesn't care that he may be unable to stop himself from killing her. She loves Edward so much after a very short period of time (weeks if not a month or two) that she is willing to die for him.
Whoa! As I said before I read fantasy for what it is, but these are teenage girls we are talking about. Is this the message that we want them to take away from reading this book? And they will take a message away from it. Reading Twilight, the message is very clear. Love is obsessive. Love is dangerous and the danger is thrilling. Love is controlling. And most of all, love is a willingness to die for or even at the hands of the object of your affection. As long as he loves you (and is good looking enough), his hurting you is acceptable.
I'll admit that for a lot of women, we deep down like a take control sort of man. The man who looks out for us, who will protect us touches on a secret feminine fantasy. But this sounds a bit like an abusive relationship to me. The question is can a teenager tell the difference?
What may be fantasy in a grown woman's mind is just that, a fantasy. In reality if a man wants to control us the way Edward controls Bella the last thing that will cross any modern woman's mind is "isn't he romantic". And face it, if a man you've known for a week or two tells you he's been watching you sleep, a restraining order not a confession of undying love is all that he's likely to get. But will a teenage girl high off the sheer romanticism of reading Twilight and desperate for a love so romantic as the one that she has just read, ignore or misinterpret the danger signs of an unhealthy abusive relationship?
If you think that this is a big deal over nothing, you might find a few statistics startling. According to a survey on the Love is Not Abuse website a survey was done by TRU based on 2000 online interviews of 'tweens (ages 11 to 14), parents of 'tweens and teenagers (ages 15 to 18) in February of 2008. They found:
47% of 'tweens 11 to 14 years old had been or are currently in a dating relationship.
36% had been pressured by their boyfriend or girlfriend to do things they didn't want to do.
20% between the ages of 13 and 14 had been struck in anger (this includes kicked, slapped or punched) by their boyfriend or girlfriend.
The Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence states that: "teen dating violence is influenced by how teens look at themselves and others." and that young women may believe that "their boyfriend's jealousy, possessiveness and even physical abuse, is "romantic."
Perhaps if the author had chosen to make Bella a character with a stronger spirit and a greater sense of self preservation the message that Twilight conveys would have been a much more positive one for teenage girls.
Published by Nya Bruce
I am a freelance writer who believes in the art of self expression. It's my belief that by learning to first accept and love yourself for the person that you are today, you can achieve the life you want tomo... View profile
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16 Comments
Post a CommentI am the owner of InoInsanity.webs.com, and I did a speech on Twilight not too long ago. This article has helped improve my paper for this semester. I thank thee.
I agree with this article. This relationship is unhealthy to the core. This is not about love and being romantic, it's about being passionate and blind. The characters have almost no personalities, hobbies or interests. They are extremely unattractive, if you think about it. The whole plot turns around their dependency towards each other and sells this as an ideal to a population of easily influenced teens, which is very sad. Besides his lack of personality, the fact that he must be somewhat of a perve (he is much much older than Bella), I find that Edward is a control-freak that constantly puts down the so-called love of his life (he tells her what she should do, makes decisions for the both of them, etc.).
Loved the article and particularly the part about how the Author should have portrayed Bella better. I didn't enjoy the books for the fact that I couldn't relate to her pathetic attitude and negative outlook on everything (says me being negative). But at the end of the day it's the parents job to teach their children what relationships are good and bad
I think it's porn for women. I believe husbands and boyfriends have just as much of a right to get pissed off at their wives and girlfriends for reading such drivel. Women get pissed that men look at figures of woman that are unrealistic, well dreaming about some man acting like Edward is equally unrealistic and yes, unhealthy.
I'm reading the series because it is mildly entertaining, (hey, I've even watched a little porn here and there) but I'm having a hard time finishing breaking dawn. I am soooooooooooo bored with the obsessive longing for bland bella by both Jacob and Edward. Enough already. No one is that fantastic. Bella, who is most likely supposed to represent the average american girl, is about as original as dry toast.
If anyone reads this and wishes for an Edward, they are delusional and on a path to disappointment. If you are over the age of 16 and find Stephanie Meyer's writing palatable, then you are juvenile beyond an endearing level.
Thanks for writing this article, I couldn't agree more. I find the books entertaining to read, but never could understand the unhealthy relationship between Bella and Edward. Why does she choose him over Jacob, who is funny and normal? Why is she willing to give up her own life and not see her family anymore for this guy who constantly gets her into dangerous situations? Oh right, because he's perfect. I think he's loser who constantly is reminding Bella of her insecurities and makes all of the decisions in the relationship under the guise of caring. He's a dud.
omg i can't believe twilight has been compared to Shakespeare! If this was targeted to the young adult market, why are there women much older than me (i'm a teenager myself) treating it like its the next best thing? Because of twilight i've been sort of put of vampire novels.
I am 23, and I have read the Twilight series. I liked the story, but the writing was more of something on a pre-teenage reading level, which I believe is what was intended. I think the story may give it's female readers unrealistic expectations in boyfriends, and it may be harder to be happy with someone after reading, but i wouldn't call it unhealthy, exactly. Everyone knows Twilight is a fictional story with fictional characters. When Edward is doing the things that are being called "abusive", "controlling" or "obsessive", he is doing them to keep Bella safe. When dating a vampire, and constantly being put in danger, I think it may be best if the vampire was a little over protective. Also, I think boys and men could learn a little from the loving Edward Cullen.
Stephenie Meyer can't write. And Twilight fans are hilariously stupid girls and women.
believe it or not that's the second moron i've heard compare this awful excuse for literature to Shakespeare. i find it appalling that anyone is willing to compare one of the most brilliant writers in history to this garbage writing! Bella has NO personality and exists solely to please and be infatuated with her boyfriend the SPARKLY vampire Edward. *ROLL EYES*
here read this too: http://bitchmagazine.org/article/bite-me-or-dont
Its not that Romeo and Juliette are a representation of a healthy relationship, they are not, the issue is that the target audience of Romeo and Juliette were Victorian Era adults, fully expected to be aware of what was and wasn't a healthy relationship. Additionally Shakespeare had to condence the relationship so that it could be done in a play. The problem with Twilight is that it targets young women entering an age where they are confused and looking for answers about relationships and romance and in an age where increasingly, and depressingly, parents are not a viable avenue to turn to in search of advice everything that they are intrested in should be suspect. I'm not at all for censorship and kudos to Stephanie Myers for being successful but if Twilight is a young ladies only source for relationship advice, which it is in some cases that I know personally, then that lady is going to grow up with a skewed view of love and life. This is where the concern comes up from people about