Posted on 06/24/2010 10:40:45 PM PDT by Raider Sam
If there's anything people love more than reading Twilight, it's reading things into Twilight. The internet is abuzz with theories about the saga: that it's feminist or anti-feminist, pro-religion or anti-religion, a metaphor for sexual purity or a classic morality tale. But two of the most popular Twilight talking-points are the books' alleged Mormon and pro-life messages. Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart simply refuse to buy into the speculation.
In an upcoming interview with Entertainment Weekly, the Twilight Saga: Eclipse stars are asked whether Bella's vampiric pregnancy in Breaking Dawn (which she refuses to end, even though it endangers her life) is evidence of the story's pro-life, Mormon leanings.
"No, because it made sense," replies Stewart. "Not wanting to give up the baby is about her holding onto that last thing she would have to give up if she was not human anymore. Right after she and Edward sleep with each other for the first time, she says, 'Oh, f***, I might want to be human for a little bit longer.' The baby is just as an even more intense version of that."
Pattinson agrees, joking, "I think people make up all these Mormon references just so they can publish Twilight articles in respectable publications like the New York Times." He also points out that "even Stephenie [Meyer] said it doesn't mean any of that. It is based on a dream."
Fair enough. Of course, most who believe the Twilight books have a Mormon subtext don't think that Meyer was trying to write about her faith, but suspect that her strong Mormon beliefs subconsciously snuck into the story. So it's all still open for interpretation -- whether by Pattinson, the New York Times, or fanatic fans online.
The new EW interview also includes Kristen Stewart referring to Bella's child, Renesmee, as a "little teeth-baby" (after which Robert Pattinson laughs at her).
Um, Edward tears the baby out of her with his teeth and then shoves a syringe of vampire blood into her heart, “killing” her. The rest of that book is just as messed up.
I read a detailed review of the entire Twilight series, chapter-by-chapter: “Mark Reads Twilight (So You Don’t Have To).” The reviewer, Mark (a homosexual atheist, who acknowledged the book was not aimed for his demographic), nonetheless read through it all.
My goodness, the writing style was horrendous. Not only that, but a lot of the themes that the book seems to champion are...disturbing (the main characters, Bella and Edward, have the most dysfunctional relationship EVER. And they’re supposed to be role models?).
Thanks- checking out the blog!! My oldest daughter read books 1-3, but I wouldn’t let her read book 4. I gave her a lot of lectures while she read the books, based on research I did and feedback from friends. She liked them enough, but is happily moving on to better authors. We had a lot of talks about dysfunctional relationships and co-dependence while she was reading that crap (I couldn’t force myself to read it.)
Actually, it’s purposely written in a manipulative way. In an interview, Stephanie Myers said that she specifically made the Bella charcter very vague, with general chaacteristics (she has dark hair, she likes to cook). The reason why was so it would be easier for young girls to imagine themselves as Bella and fall for Edward, and that Bella is not the main character, Edward is.
Just as a word of warning, there is quite a bit of foul language.
Also, it’s quite long, given that it’s a chapter-by-chapter review of all four books (plus the fifth one that was leaked onto the Internet).
Why is being pro-life equated with being Mormon?
I read the first book before handing it off to my then 7th grade daughter, and then we read the remaining books in tandem. There is a very moral tone, and unlike the mainstay of teen light lit, no pre-marital relations. It’s a completely chaste love story. It’s amazing to me, how many teen girls refer to Edward as the “perfect” boyfriend. Meyer manages to present this, without preaching.
Um, actually his sister Rosalie gives her an emergency “c-section” type of abdominal cut with a scalpel.
In order to denigrate both.
I think its more of someone that has an answer before they start asking questions.
I don’t know about explicitly mormon, but it is definitely an abstinence tale.
No problem on the language; after reading his reviews so far, I’d be using bad language, too, if I subjected myself to that literary garbage. It’s pretty funny. Thank you!
Oh my, finished his reviews! I am even less impressed with this Twilight crap than before. UGGGGGGGGGGH! Thank you so much!
Now I am confused so many said the book was manipulative and preverted and than your post give another view...
I never read any of the books so I would not really know!
In Meyer’s vampire mythology, it would be dangerous for them to engage into anything other than light kissing. Edward loves Bella and therefore would not want anything to happen to her.
I think parents should take a close look at the books being marketed to their teens.
I am spending the summer reading teen fiction. I just finished The Gemma Doyle trilogy by Libba Bray, witchcraft, lesbianism, anti conservatism and capitalism.
The Bray books are targeted for 8th - 12th grade girls. No way would I hand these books to my daughter at that age.
When she was in 8th grade she was supposed to read The Color Purple. I told the teacher NO, my daughter would not be reading that garbage. The teacher told me that some girls my daughter knew at school probably came from backgrounds like that.
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