Twilight…Saga of Sexism

• Bella: the selfish cyborg with no personality

  

  "I wish acting was all about twitching and breathing through your mouth"

So we start off with this whinging, borderline emo girl who is as grey and dull as her surrounds. Rather than draw     herself out of this cesspit she has to await an encounter with an exotic male whose interesting character adds spice that is lacking in her life.

While it is true that it is a common fault for protagonists to lack somewhat of a defining personality, Bella’s   personality is defined as…well nothing. Even her vampire alter ego is quite boring with her special powers being, wait for it…she can SHIELD people. Whoopee, a power that has no offensive capability and merely serves as a defense for when others initiate a battle. Another way for Meyer to avoid a battle scene. Another reflection of Bella’s subservient character.

Take New Moon for instance, as soon as Edward leaves her she gets depressed. Big time. I cannot understand why this girl who is supposed to be reasonably intelligent (remember her showing off to Edward her apparent biology skills. The only mention of this intelligence within the series) cannot somehow make something of her life without the male she has known for a pitifully small amount of time. She harshly brushes off female friends who reach out to her in a selfish indulgent manner. So she then relies on another male character, Jacob (Mr. Walking-Women’s Calendar Poser) and when he leaves falls into a hole so deep nothing can retrieve her but the visions of her beloved Edward (donning a ‘ghost of Christmas Past’ type watery texture in the film)

This is teaching girls that the only thing that matters in life is the male; that female friendships cannot be as exciting or fulfilling, and that your life should revolve around this ‘Sun God’ (or should that be glittery diamond boy).

Take the imagery the very title implies. The fourth book is called ‘Breaking Dawn’ which reflects Bella’s birth as a vampire and suggests that this is the first time Bella has had a personality and a fulfilling life of her own. Therefore by inference the other titles ‘Twilight’, ‘New Moon’ and ‘Eclipse’ suggest Bella’s inadequacies and her role in the periphery of her relationships.

• The other females

But the degrading female stereotypes do not stop at Bella. Oh no, the major quality prized in other females is one of beauty. Especially the vampire girls.

"Don't hate me cos I'm beautiful"

Rosalie is your token heinous bitch who is a supermodel to boot. You may be forgiven for likening her to Paris Hilton. Here we have femininity portrayed at its “finest” with the vicious back stabbing qualities and vain spirit Rosalie’s finest traits. But we don’t stop there either because later in the book it is coupled with this intense mothering desire, selfishly protecting Bella for the sake of the baby. Rosalie is also only redeemed by her relationship with her husband the likeable Emmet.

Even with the vampire parents, Carlisle and Esme have unequal character traits. Carlisle is the model of upright morality, initiating the ultimately noble strain of

Carlisle and Esme

vampirism. He is presented as flawless, never drinking human blood. Esme follows the subservient role we see women playing constantly in this little drama, her defining characteristic being ‘nuturing’. Yet another female stereotype from the unimaginative Meyer.

I thought we had a chance for some positive female role models with the character of Alice. She’s my favourite. She’s supposedly quirky, friendly, spunky and has some kick ass powers the Volturi would dearly love to get their hands on. But wait, how can we not miss that streak of superficiality with her other defining characteristic being shopping and clothing obsessed. You’re letting me down Meyer, left right and centre.

Where is a female to look for a role model in this book? All the characters Meyer presents fulfill stereotypes that women for over fifty years have been working hard to break.

• Edward: “Bad Boy” syndrome

  

  "I will carry you Bella and any shakey plot device there may be"

On the contrary, Meyer’s male character are a predominantly likeable and interesting bunch. Especially Edward. Isn’t he just the most dreamy male one could conceive. Just look at his finely carved “marble” features; they glow people! Now I may just be fussy but I cannot imagine how comfortable it would be to hug a rock. Isn’t Edward just a walking talking pretty rock?

One of the things I find disturbing is the nature of attraction between him and Bella. Initially he lusts after her blood; fighting an irresistible desire to kill her. Then he stalks her and watches her while she sleeps. Now I have heard girls gushing over how “romantic” Edward is…but think about it…how romantic would you find it if you found out the guy who sits next to you in English had been watching you sleep for the last two months without telling you? Would you fall into his arms? Or put the police onto him? But then to make matters worse Edward enters the realm of some serious emotional abuse with his lying and leaving of Bella in New Moon only to finish in the end with proposing to marry her. (For more on this emotional abuse this article writes a checklist)

I have not finished with Edward yet. He represents the “bad boy” syndrome prevalent in chick flick culture. You know, ordinary looking heroine finds life rather boring until she stumbles upon a ‘bad boy’ and suddenly her life is interesting and she feels fulfilled. It seems like Meyer is telling us girls that the highest ambition in life is to be desired by males, yes multiple because not only is there Edward, but Jacob for Bella to toy with in her selfish way.

• Unequal alliance

So Edward the prince rescues Bella the princess from a terrible fate of a boring life. Throughout the novel Bella bemoans how much better he is than her, how much she feels like she doesn’t deserve him. Excuse me girl I know I dissed you something fierce in the opening paragraph but do not believe for a second that you need a male to compensate for your perceived weaknesses. Why is Bella unable to stand on her two feet and always has to rely on Edward. Is this what constitutes a romance or something?

• Lack of a battle scene

Bella never gets to fight. She’s always put in a position of powerlessness just when something is exciting is happening in the novel. Now this could just be Meyer’s way of avoiding writing a battle scene, a likely scenario, but also says something about the lack of assertive qualities with the protagonist and her reliance on males for her protection and happiness.

• Meyer’s ultimate destiny for the book

So does Bella end the series with a moment of self realisation that perhaps acts like saving them all from the Volturi might bring? Of course not, let’s see what happens….

–         She gets married

–         She consummates that marriage

–         She has a child that almost eats her from the inside out

–         She moves the shield away from herself so that Edward can read her mind.

Look what’s in store for you girls…instead of going to college, developing a skill, finding friends and learning who you are you can marry that bad boy you found and spend the rest of your life defined by him!

Bella validates her existence by association with Edward (who in many ways serves the purpose of reinforcing stereotypical notions of appeal as he adheres clearly to clichés of desirable masculinity) this is demeaning to an incredible degree as the plot of the saga ultimately culminates in Bella’s adoption of Edward’s lifestyle in the most extreme sense possible. Bella ultimately comes to be holistically defined by Edward and semblance of dualism or individuality is lost.

• But clearly I read this novel, persisting with all four books so there must have been something in there that drew me in. Even my boyfriend read the series and enjoyed it, we had some deep conversations about the symbolism and backstory within the novels. There are levels to these books that are interesting to contemplate (if you’re the bookish nerd like me that does that sort of thing.) I did have fun reading these books, even with their corny clichés and predictable plot devices.

But the negative elements I have outlined have a persistent underlying presence within the books and it’s important to be aware of them and reject the stereotypes presented.

I’m also concerned for female readers younger than me, impressionable things who perhaps will now see Bella “achievements” as the most desirable thing to vie for in life. To balance such books it’s important to read books much more empowering to women everywhere, books like:

–         ‘The Lioness Quartet’ by Tamora Pierce or ‘Lady Knight’ (includes plenty of fight scenes with woman kicking butt)

–         Saving Francesca (realistic, not fantasy but my favourite teen read) by Melina Marchetta.

–         ‘Tomorrow when the war began’ series by John Marsden (a group of teenagers during a futurist war in Australia fight in the resistance)

–          Biographies of woman such as Joan of Arc, Eleanor Roosevelt, Queen Elizabeth, Corrie Ten Boom, Marie Curie, Amelia Earheart or of the many female authors out there.

LINKS

• For a fascinating racial take on the Twilight Series, try ‘Running With Wolves’
• Why Not Team Bella?
• 7 Popular Chick Flicks that Secretly Hate Women
• David’s (Hilarious) Guide to Reading Twilight
• Relevant Magazine: New Moon Movie Review