Twilight: Not to be a ranting femi-nazi but...

Okay. EVERYONE I know has read and raved about this book. It didn't sound like a book I would normally be interested in (a throwback to R.L. Stine? Admit it. You know you liked the goosebump series too), but I borrowed a copy from my sister nonetheless, fully expecting to love it since it has gotten such great reviews. I must be completely inept, because I really did not like this book. It was interesting, I'll give it credit for that, and I was curious to find out what would happen next (mostly because I was waiting for something to happen to make me fall in love with the book). However, I really don't see what all the fuss is about.

First of all, I really did not think the characters were well developed. The whole time I was reading I kept thinking- why are they so in love with each other? Aside from Edward's good looks and magnetism, what else is there to him? He's rude, fickle, and then there's the obvious: he has a hard time not eating her. Then there's Bella: she's clumsy, a self described pale plain-Jane, and comes off as a classic sullen teenager who is easily provoked. Her good qualities? Brains and "bravery" if you want to call it that (seems to me more like self destructive behavior?). I never really felt like I knew or identified with either of the characters.

Here's where my feminist prattle begins. WHEN ARE WE, AS A SOCIETY, GOING TO STOP ENCOURAGING WOMEN TO MAINTAIN RELATIONSHIPS WITH DANGEROUS MEN?! Bella is this helpless swooney female who repeatedly has to be saved by macho hero Edward, who she REPEATEDLY compares to A GOD. Hmmm. She is portrayed as being completely incapable to take care of herself or stay away from this mesmerizing vampire. The disturbing part is, one, Bella is willing to give up her mortal life, her friends, and her entire family for this guy who may kill her at any moment. Think about it!

Women around the world stay in relationships with physically and emotionally abusive spouses and boyfriends, and now its okay to date men who admittedly struggle to keep from killing you? I don’t get it. We see this same plot presented in a million different ways. Good girl meets bad boy and is inexplicably drawn to him, despite his behavior. Bad boy is abusive/ a jerk/ or just rude to good girl, and then shows his sensitive side. Good girl feels bad for him (usually because he has rough circumstances) and she is strung along until the next time he acts out. Every time he does, he swears he is sorry and it will never happen again. A lot of women DIE trapped in this cycle. The saddest part is that these examples are embedded in our minds from the time we are little girls (Disney’s Beauty and the Beast anyone?). My 14 year old sister and her best friend both read the book and many of their friends are obsessed!

After a few college literature courses and particularly a class on how the media represents race, class and gender in the U.S., I tend to analyze things I read a little differently. I will never for get a video I watched of a psychologist who interviewed a five year old who had just watched Beauty and the Beast. It was something to the effect of:

Interviewer: “ So if you had a friend that was in love with a boy that was mean to her, like the beast is to Belle, what advice would you give her”

Little girl: “I would tell her to be patient and remember the good things about him, because if she is really nice to him he will probably turn into a nice person too.”

Um, disturbing? Note to self: screen all Disney movies from now on.

Girls, lets wise up! Encourage strong females who are self assured and self sufficient and do not rely solely on men, particularly abusive men, to feel happy and complete. Be aware of the subliminal teachings of the media we expose ourselves and our families to.

There, I am done. I feel much better. I hope you don’t all think I am a complete lunatic, this just happens to be a topic I feel strongly about and I couldn’t leave it unsaid. This is also not meant to rip on those who loved the book (i.e. everyone on the planet but me). If you love it, you are entitled to that! I just wanted to throw out an opposing perspective to consider.