Twilight: A Shallow Sparkle

Twilight (2005), written by Stephenie Meyer, is a young adult vampire-romance novel. It is the first book in the Twilight series and centers around Isabella “Bella” Swan, a seventeen-year-old girl who begrudgingly agrees to move from Phoenix, Arizona, to rainy Forks, Washington. Twilight is a widely known saga, and its adaptation touched the screens of many eager and passionate fans. However, I have a strong critique that casts a shadow over my ability to genuinely enjoy this famous novel. I believe that Bella’s obsession with Edward runs deeper than pure romance and is more symbolic of her inner self. Also, Edward’s attraction to Bella felt more creepy than romantic. Finally, the popular characters are two-dimensional in their development and depth, especially Bella. This novel, and even the romance between Edward and Bella, conveys an underdeveloped and childish narrative.

This whirlwind of a story starts with Bella arriving in Forks to live with her dad so that her mother can have more time with her husband. Bella is quiet, shy, and awkward — the typical high-school transfer student. While reading, it was easy to determine that she was depressed and would even cry herself to sleep during the early days after she moved to Forks. At school, she consistently looks past any regular high-school students. If they showed youthful interest, she clocked out. If they talked about social events, she was detached. She even stated, “I didn’t relate well to people my age. Maybe the truth was that I didn’t relate well to people, period” (Meyer, p. 9). The only thing that seems to pique her interest is the mysterious Cullen family, with their stunning beauty and grace.

Edward Cullen enters Bella’s life first cautiously and then all at once. It begins in biology, where they are lab partners. Edward reacts strangely to Bella and visibly appears uncomfortable and disgusted. This reaction hilariously prompts Bella to think she smells, which then elicits an angry and confused disposition. For the next few days, Bella anxiously searches for Edward, but he and his family are not there, which noticeably affects Bella’s mood, appetite, and socializing. Following this interaction, the relationship that ensues between the two shifts constantly and could be hot or cold at any given moment. This, of course, depends on Edward, while Bella keeps her emotions, time, and energy open until Edward shows interest again. Because, per Edward, “It’s better if we’re not friends” (Meyer, p. 61).

Bella becomes even more enthralled when she is almost crushed by a skidding van in the school parking lot. Edward crosses the lot to stop the van with his bare hands, revealing to Bella that he is much more than a simple human. Of course, Edward lies, gaslights, and denies Bella’s assumptions. A conversation between Bella and Jacob Black at La Push beach clues Bella in to a more accurate theory to explain the Cullens’ peculiarities, detailing the tensions and legends between the Quileutes — the werewolves — and the “cold ones,” the Cullens. But the crazy theory, extensive research, and old legend aren’t enough to confidently settle on an answer. The only thing she knows is that “Edward Cullen was not … human. He was something more” (Meyer, p. 113).

Their next interaction involves Edward essentially following and listening in on Bella’s friends’ thoughts while they are in Port Angeles. A detour leads to Bella being cornered by four men, and Edward saves Bella (again) from potential danger. Instead of being frightened by her near attack, she is only concerned about Edward and what he is. Through clues, conversations with Jacob, and research, she deduces that Edward is a vampire, and when she brings it to him she says, “I decided it didn’t matter” (Meyer, p. 150).

It goes without saying that the Cullens are extraordinary, and several of them possess abilities that are unique to them, including Edward. His knack for reading people’s minds like he’s controlling a radio system — which doesn’t work on Bella — combined with Bella’s unique and intoxicating scent, makes her an enigma to him. The Cullens are also different because of their “vegetarian” or animalitarian lifestyle and their willingness to mingle and assume human lives.

Bella and Edward quickly develop an intense and obsessive relationship. Edward becomes hyper-protective and watchful, indirectly guiding her social interactions and sneaking into her room just to watch her sleep. Bella becomes codependent and emotionally attached to Edward to a fault. She willingly walks into a house full of vampires, and her only concern is whether or not they will like her. Her fascination with the Cullens leads her to a thunderous and exciting vampire baseball game, which attracts a group of vampires, one of whom is a tracker. This tracker and his partner become obsessed with Bella and hunt her for sport.

To protect her and her family, she leaves Forks and ends up back in Phoenix. However, James, the tracker, tricks Bella by making her think her mom is in danger and traps her alone at her old ballet studio. James attacks Bella, bites her, and nearly kills her. Edward and the Cullens arrive just in time to kill James and for Edward to suck the venom out of Bella’s blood. Bella wakes up in the hospital and insists that in a relationship both parties should be equal. After being brutally attacked, she is only concerned with becoming a vampire. Edward and Bella are left at an impasse, and in an attempt to force Bella to appreciate and take in every moment of her human life, he secretly escorts her to prom. However, Bella, per usual, cannot accept this human rite of passage: “I wished there was some way to explain how very uninterested I was in a normal human life” (Meyer, p. 400).

After reading this novel, like Bella, I have my own theories. My theory is that Bella is in love with depression or darkness. She was already a gloomy, depressed person, and she essentially attracted the one person who embodied that, even though she could have had other normal suitors. Bella’s attraction to Edward seemed more symbolic to me. When you look at her before he enters her life, she’s already withdrawn, detached, and carrying this quiet melancholy. Forks itself mirrors that: gray skies, rain, isolation. It’s like she’s drawn to Edward not just because he’s mysterious, but because he reflects her inner world — her depression, her fascination with danger, and her longing for intensity in a life that otherwise feels numb. In that light, her “love” for Edward might really be a love for the feeling of being consumed — something that finally makes her feel after being emotionally muted. Edward, as a vampire, literally embodies darkness and death, and she’s magnetized to that. It’s like she’s not running from her sadness — she’s falling in love with it, personified through him.

I believe she wants to be near death or someone who could kill her with a snap of their fingers. It excites her. “He’d never been less human … or more beautiful… I sat like a bird locked in the eyes of a snake” (Meyer, p. 216). It’s almost like someone who chooses to be with a murderer in reality. Their love is less romantic to me and more predatory, fatalistic, and submissive. Bella isn’t just in love — she’s entranced by danger itself. Bella shows clear signs of depressive or self-destructive attraction patterns — wanting to be near what could end you because at least it will make her feel something. She finds her purpose and sense of life when flirting with danger.

Edward’s restraint feeds this cycle because he is like a dog on a leash. Bella is safe only because Edward chooses not to kill her, but that inherent threat always stays there. Bella also diminishes herself because she believes that Edward and the Cullens are far superior—more attractive and simply more in every way than she could ever be. So, essentially, in order to love Edward, Bella leans into isolation, negative self-talk, loss of appetite, and obsessive tendencies that border on the suicidal. That teeter-totter between love and death defines Edward and Bella’s relationship and stains their identity like smoke stuck in clothes.

Edward’s attraction to Bella felt more creepy than romantic. Similarly, to Bella, Edward’s attraction and behavior mirror obsession, not affection. Edward was unrepentant when questioned about his late-night spying while Bella was sleeping, justifying it by saying, “What else is there to do at night?” and admitting that he watches her sleep every night. He also hovers close by to ensure that she stays safe, such as when she went to Port Angeles for a day trip. He was there, poking around in people’s heads to keep tabs on her. While this was helpful in the moment, it was creepy and controlling in the grand scheme of things.

He constantly—and almost annoyingly—comments that he should stay away from her and that it would be better if they weren’t friends. Yet he still keeps Bella close and caught on his hook, ready to reel her back in whenever he is ready. In a sense, he indulges Bella to the point where she has emotional whiplash. Bella’s lack of boundaries and low sense of intuition make her incredibly susceptible to these advances. She accepts his behavior without question, often feels unworthy and small next to him, and centers her entire self around him. This amplifies the imbalance and makes Edward look even more predatory.

Also, the fact that he can read everyone’s mind except hers provides the perfect puzzle for him. His attraction seems derived from his curiosity, confusion, and the scent of her blood. Their love is rooted in mystery, and if these mysteries were not present, I am unsure whether they would even be compatible. It is clear that Edward was not interested in a regular schoolgirl, according to Jessica: “That’s Edward. He’s gorgeous, of course, but don’t waste your time. He doesn’t date. Apparently none of the girls here are good-looking enough for him” (Meyer, p. 18). If Bella did not posses the qualities that captivated Edward, then this romance wouldn’t have happened. By any means, Bella fits the description of the regular schoolgirl that Edward would not have dated. Meyer frames Edward’s behavior as love, but in reality Edward is a walking red flag. If the exact same actions happened with a normal teenage boy who isn’t a supernatural vampire, we would see it as it is: stalking, monitoring, obsession, emotional dominance. The only reason this story is framed as a romance is because the story wants it to be. This is not a healthy, normal kind of love, but I guess that’s the point. It was never meant to be a normal kind of love.

The characters in Twilight felt underdeveloped as I was reading. This is for several reasons. Since Twilight is written in such a close, first-person perspective, everything is filtered through Bella’s internal lens. Bella is telling the story and since she chooses not to analyze anything outside of Edward, the characters come off as flat. A lot of the characters just serve as archetypes and not deep personalities, such as Esme and Carlisle who represents the perfect parental figures or Jessica who is the jealous girlfriend. There weren’t any notable character arcs in this story because everything and everyone else that exists is simply a supporting device, not a fully developed character. Everyone from Mike and Angela to the Cullens serve to move Bella toward Edward. Edward is consumed with Bella and Bella is consumed with Edward. This means that there are no developed character hobbies, side plots, meaningful friendships, character conflicts outside the romance, or personal arcs for most characters. There isn’t any space for character development because Edward and Bella’s romance takes all the oxygen.

While the supporting characters were underdeveloped, the main character should have a well developed arc. However, Bella comes across as immature and childish. She’s a 17 year old dealing with first love, identity insecurity, low self esteem, an obsessive crush and social awkwardness. While this description describes her youthfulness and does not make her childish itself, there are behavioral patterns that Bella possess that makes her underdeveloped to the reader. She becomes intensely attracted to Edward after only a few interactions. She makes dramatic life-changing decisions quickly, with no regard to her family.

“You are my life. You’re her only thing it would hurt me to lose… Renée has always made the choices that work for her - she’d want me to do the same. And Charlie’s resilient, he’s used to being on his own. I can’t take care of them forever. I have my own life to live” (Meyer, p. 384 & 385).

Her worldview revolves entirely around Edward and she sees herself has having no identity outside of him. Bella has no depth or drive. She has nothing to wake her up in the morning or illicit passion. That entirely lies in the hands of Edward. She has no clear hobbies, she rarely drives the plot herself, and things happen to her so she reacts more than she initiates.

While there are things that I hated, like the characters underdevelopment, lack of arcs and the obsession with romance, there are things that I liked and was intrigued by. The lore that Meyer created around the cold ones was interesting. From the legends of the Quileutes detailed by Jacob to the stories of how each vampire came to be was great storytelling. I specifically liked Carlisle backstory and how his personality as a caring human translated into his experience with vampirism. He knew who he was and he wasn’t going to let bloodlust control him which explains why he is willing to work in a hospital. “It took Carlisle two centuries of tortuous effort to perfect his self- control. Now he is all but immune to the scent of blood” (Meyer, p. 276).

Stephanie Meyer wrote an explosive and beautifully dark romance that lived in the hearts of many. The dynamic between Edward and Bella is written and viewed by many as a love story. However I deduced it to a predatory advance made by a controlling, and obsessive vampire onto an insecure and docile little girl. That dynamic doesn’t feel like love — it feels like fixation.