This week's Junior League Member is Valerie from Mom of 3 Crazy Kids.
Ok Ladies, I think this is what needs to be addressed...Why in the heck does she not want to marry Edward when he first proposes in New Moon. Come on...
You’re wounding my ego, Bella. I just proposed to you, and you think it’s a joke.
Edward Cullen, New Moon, Chapter 24, p.540
Well, I’m nearly a hundred and ten. It’s time I settled down.
Edward Cullen, New Moon, Chapter 24, p.540
Then in Eclipse when she won't keep the ring on until the end of the book. What is this all about?
This is the part of Bella that makes me crazy (besides her willingly kissing Jacob). Because even a girl brainwashed by her marriage-hating mom shouldn't be able to say no to Edward's proposal.
Well, I’m nearly a hundred and ten. It’s time I settled down.
Edward Cullen, New Moon, Chapter 24, p.540
Then in Eclipse when she won't keep the ring on until the end of the book. What is this all about?
This is the part of Bella that makes me crazy (besides her willingly kissing Jacob). Because even a girl brainwashed by her marriage-hating mom shouldn't be able to say no to Edward's proposal. 
I think this was all an effort to bring home the fact that Bella was still just a teenager. Why else would she care if people thought she was knocked up? (Especially since she was with Edward-freaking-Cullen. I mean, I'd have his babies. Spinecracking childbirth and all.) (You know you would too.) In the end I think it really WAS all about "But what with the neighbors think?" which didn't fit with what Stephenie Meyer had led us to believe about Bella's personality. I was glad that she seemed to "get it" at the wedding, but she's a smart girl. You'd think she wouldn't have been on the verge of passing out before walking downstairs. At some point it should have occurred to her that she was marrying EDWARD CULLEN. Which is a good thing.
There is a total disconnect here for me because you are on the one hand willing to end your life to become a "monster," and "eternally damned" as Edward so lovingly refers to his existence (which to us, really, is a gift from God) but then marriage is too much of a commitment for you? I actually even get the testing the waters with Jacob in New Moon after Edward leaves. But when Edward returns she makes her decision. That should be end of that story line (one would have hoped). Sorry, it's very hard to keep my focus when I am blinded by rage over Jacob. Back to the point - It simply baffles the mind how she whined about the proposal and marriage until virtually moments before she descends to stand before the most perfect undead man to ever walk the earth. That's just enough to make me think Stephenie Meyer is just a wee-bit Team Jacob. I mean, after all, who else would make a WHOLE PORTION OF A BOOK TOLD FROM JACOB'S PERSPECTIVE while Edward is suffering over his ever ungrateful pregnant and dying wife while taunting us with an unfinished manuscript of Midnight Sun coupled with threats of never finishing it? Okay, you know what? Now I just want to be AT the wedding so I can have run at Bella when Jacob's done howling and barking at that little insufferable ingrate.
There is a total disconnect here for me because you are on the one hand willing to end your life to become a "monster," and "eternally damned" as Edward so lovingly refers to his existence (which to us, really, is a gift from God) but then marriage is too much of a commitment for you? I actually even get the testing the waters with Jacob in New Moon after Edward leaves. But when Edward returns she makes her decision. That should be end of that story line (one would have hoped). Sorry, it's very hard to keep my focus when I am blinded by rage over Jacob. Back to the point - It simply baffles the mind how she whined about the proposal and marriage until virtually moments before she descends to stand before the most perfect undead man to ever walk the earth. That's just enough to make me think Stephenie Meyer is just a wee-bit Team Jacob. I mean, after all, who else would make a WHOLE PORTION OF A BOOK TOLD FROM JACOB'S PERSPECTIVE while Edward is suffering over his ever ungrateful pregnant and dying wife while taunting us with an unfinished manuscript of Midnight Sun coupled with threats of never finishing it? Okay, you know what? Now I just want to be AT the wedding so I can have run at Bella when Jacob's done howling and barking at that little insufferable ingrate.Amen, Spank. Preach it, sister. Ah, huh
She rejects the marriage because she's a stupid piss ant!
It's EDWARD CULLEN!!! *shaking head in disbelief*
29 comments:
I think you have hit the nail on the head about some of the flaws in the Saga. In essence this is where Stephenie jumped the shark.
Let's face it. Her gift to the world was Edward Cullen. It was not her incredible literature or perfect plots. In no way am I taking away from her success or condoning mean spirited Stephen King who, without provocation, called out a Junior member of the publishing elite who never claimed to be Jane Austen in the first place. Stephenie even said in her Vogue article that she still considers herself an amateur.
Back to the point. I read it but hated all the noise about Jacob, the Volturri, and even the gory pregnancy. It went on and on while completely ingnoring Edward's reaction or true feelings for Bella and made him seem like a wuss (for lack of a better word) which we know he is not! See how I've slipped back into reality?
I think Bella's reluctance was an attempt at having her assert her woman's lib in the middle of a bodice (er...pillow ripper) that never even got ripped.
Speaking of Ripped...I am still not over the fade to black. I think that Steph is just not comfortable with writing something more steamy for public critique. Why couldn't her sister's copy have been leaked insead of Midnight Sun so then we would have the honey moon and the possibility of EPOV in the near future?
Stephenie has a new Beta who is a darn good writer and may prevent such nonsense in the future. In the mean time, I fully support quality fan fic and sites like this for us to make up our own endings and hope that future movie Directors do some delicate adjusting of the plots besides adding murderous vampire scenes where there were none.
Wow! am I on a soap box tonight and messing with the Cannon. Just delete me if it's for my own good. Clearly, reluctant Bella was suffering from a recent head injury. Maybe I am, too.
AMEN SPIDER!!
Bella is def a piss ant!!
But I hate this whole part of the book. This is on of the parts that all the major haters use in their defence against Edward and make out that he's abusive.
Gee-wiz!
I think I just went to church and @songirl was the preacher, and all I can think to say is AMEN, and AMEN.
Stephen King can bite it for all I care. Writers should support each other publicly no matter what they feel privately, because writers are encouraging people to READ. I love how Stephenie considers herself an amateur and doesn't claim to be Jane Austen. And really, she is an amateur. She's not in league with J.K. Rowling and I mean no disrespect to Stephenie. Like you said, what Stephenie's gift to us was the STORY. The story is what is original and magical and hooked us all. But like you said, there are inconsistencies and Bella turning down Edward's proposal doesn't seem to fit.
@Ginger
http://kat-star.deviantart.com/art/HOW-TO-WRITE-LIKE-STEPHENIE-104253121
Amen Songirl, I can't even find anything to add....
Great post today ladies!
Thank you, Esteemed Women of the League(Bows deeply from the waist).
bella was a f'ing idiot! point blank... all that time she was agonizing over edward being gone and she finally gets him back, only to deny his proposal?! WHAT! if the love of my life disappeared, and i was a shell of my former self, then he returned, i would marry him in a heartbeat!!
@songirl and i too am still pissed off about the fade to black!! royally pissed!! lol
and a note about edward's POV- such a gem to this series.. i find bella's point of view to be superficial and downright annoying sometimes. edward's is well thought out, completely articulate and so in depth, it's mindblowing!!
wait a minute, maybe they did cast the perfect girl for the role of Bella..ummmm
I didn't understand why she didn't just scream YES! at the top of her lungs as soon as he said it...that drove me CRAZY!
The fact that you have very decisively made up your mind to become a 'monster' and that you want to be with Edward for 'FOREVER', but you won't commit? Its baffling. And once you finally do say 'yes' (in Eclipse) why the heck wouldn't you be screaming it at the top of your lungs and telling everyone?
I also didn't understand how Jacob seemed so upset about it. He obviously knew that Bella had made her decision and was not going to change her mind. Why did he have to go make that whole scene? (And why would you kiss a 'Dog' when you can kiss Edward?)
P.S. I'm still pissed as well about the fade to black...damn...got myself imagining the honeymoon again...Crap!
@becullen, not kidding huh?
Hey I'm so excited to be the jr. league member this week. Thanks ladies!
After reading my question, I thought I should of put in there that she doesn't want to be married but she wants to be a vampire? so thanks
spank for addressing that.
Even if she's only 18, if you're gonna be a vamp may as well get married to the most perfect man!
(And why would you kiss a 'Dog' when you can kiss Edward?)@ erin, oh my gosh, exactly!
I think it all comes down to her being impatient about becoming a vampire and getting to sleep with Edward. She didn't want to wait that long and have to go through the horror of a wedding day. She wanted to be a teenage vampire like the rest of the Cullens - not an old, married fogey. She thought it was an antiquated, stupid idea to have to wait until after graduation, get dolled up in a white frilly dress, and prance around with her friends and family staring at her. She hated the idea of it, and by then she had learned to stand up to Edward. She wasn't going to be forced into something she hated when all she wanted to do was get it on with him!
I am totally with you guys on this. I mean if Edward-freaking-Cullen was proposing to me, I wouldn't think twice about it, ESPECIALLY after we both just came back from almost being destroyed by the Volturi.
I don't get this "what will the neighbors think" stuff, you are dating a vampire for goodness sake!
Another thing I just don't get, is why she never wants to accept any gifts from Edward. I mean, if my boyfriend was stinking rich, I would take any gift he wanted to give me. It's not considered to be a gold digger if one is not asking for the gifts. If he wants to give her stuff, then dammit just take the stuff!
Sometimes I think Bella's just being stubborn because she can. She's spoiled and used to doing her own thing and heaven forbid anyone ask something of her that she doesn't feel comfortable doing. She has it in her mind that marriage is stupid...well, then throw a hissy fit instead of compromising, which we all know is a huge part of life and getting along with others. Bella needs to learn to relax and quit focusing so much on what SHE wants, rather consider the feelings and desires of those around her. I mean, for goodness sake, she is constantly putting those she loves in danger. I mean, yes, I'd put myself in danger for Edward, but geesh! Thing of others for once, woman!
I believe you all have voiced my opinion :)
I got distracted by the new Oscar pics in the Robapalooza section...what was today's topic??
I think the point was that Bella was a little different. That was why Edward was attracted to her to start with. She doesn't react the way a normal teenage girl would. She thinks something is wrong with her just like Edward doesn't see himself as perfect, she thinks she isn't good enough. She said many times that "this God like creature couldn't be intended for me". That was why she was able to believe (in New Moon) that he didn't love her anymore. She can't get over the idea that she didn't deserve him. She believes she isn’t good enough and that everyone knows it.
that ring is SOOO Fugly
having just read Eclipse for the 3rd time...i cannot for the life of me imagine why she would have said no -- and so many times. it makes no sense. she claims to LOVE him and cannot live without him and yet she's (1) unsure about marriage, but (2) wants to spend eternity with him, and (3) realizes "omg..i love jacob too" and then WEEPS for an entire night over it?
personally, i am now anti-bella in a way. she's a whiny, spoiled little girl in many parts of Eclipse...and it made me really not like her much. granted, she redeems herself as a bad-ass vampire in BD...but still.
who in their right mind would have said "no edward. i don't want to marry you."??? poor edward.
Hey if Edward proposed to me, I wouldn't care what the ring looked like(I would even take a leaf with a hole in it...haha)
First off, GRATZ to the latest junior leaguer! She knows I love her!
And now... I have read this like a hundred times and I still don't get it! Exactly what you guys said up there! You wanna be a monster but you won't marry him first?
Part of me wonders if this wasn't a whole sex before marriage plot point just so there could be vampy/human sex...
Yes, I'm here to smack that bitch(Bella Swan) up!
Where does the line start?
I would also like to get in the Smack Kstew line.
futureMrsP.
I'll say what I said after I read the book. This was a plot device that Stephenie Meyer used to try and create some drama and and friction...and she FAILED miserably.
You can't write a character that has this unwavering need to be with someone forever and then have her not want to get married.
It can't even be analyzed. It's poor writing on Meyer's part. She didn't keep her characters fluid. If she wanted the character of Bella to have this issue with settling down with someone permanently (marriage), then we should have seen Bella unwilling to give into her attraction to Edward throughout the entire series.
In my opinion, Twilight was a nice book, decently written (not great, just decent). New Moon was...ok. Eclipse was pretty lousy and Breaking Dawn sucked pineapples. Very poorly written. Not even the same characters, by a long shot. She completely forgot the personalities and traits she originally attributed to her characters.
It really is too bad. She could have written a nice story in an interesting world...but she didn't. It's like the first draft of an idea that should have been scrapped and reworked many times before being published.
Oh well, it is what it is. I've taken the good stuff from the saga and fleshed out the rest in my mind. My own story, my own idea of what it should be. :)
I think that when it came down to it, marriage seemed like such a cliche way of showing your love for someone when she's willing to do SO MUCH MORE than that (i.e. feast on the blood of forest creatures for the rest of eternity).
The main disconnect for me, though, is that one minute she is worried about being a married 18-year-old and the next she's got a masochistic case of baby fever. It's like we're seeing all of Stephenie Meyer's womanly stances all in one book. Ok Ok, we get it... premarital sex: BAD. Abortion, even in cases of monstrous half-breeds: BAD. Spare us, SM and at least if your going to make our heroine go through a dog-and-pony wedding, give her a proper honeymoon with absolutely NO fades to black. Am I right or am I right?
@EternalWaterfall, you're not actually Steven King in disguise, are you? ;)
@Ginger LOL Well, while he was entirely rude about it, he did say what I've been saying all along. She's not a good writer - mechanically. But, honestly, neither is he. Not to say I don't enjoy the stories, but Shakespeare they are not. ;)
@EternalWaterfall I agree with you on both counts... Steven King was entirely rude about it and Stephenie Meyer isn't the best writer in the world. But she readily admits it (like in the current Vogue article) which I appreciate. Neither one in my book holds a candle to the writing skills of J.K.Rowling. Having said that, I'll be forever indebted to Stephenie Meyer for giving us the story of Twilight.
@EternalWaterfall I'll agree it's a plot device, but that's where the agreement ends. This device is absolutely in character for Bella. She's the child of divorce. Her mother told her time and time again that marriage is bad, especially if you marry young. I'm sure growing up she never fully thought out, "But what if I meet someone I want to spend the rest of my life with?" She probably just had this "marriage, bad" thought in the back of her head, so when faced with a proposal her immediate response was to dig her heels in.
There are other things that go into her initial refusal too, I think. Like some of the others said, I believe once she really thought about it, it seemed more trite than anything. How could silly old-fashioned marriage possibly reflect the love she felt for this god-like creature she did not even deserve?
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