Dec 24 2008
Why Edward Cullen Being A Scary Stalker and Bella Swan Being a Mary Sue Doesn’t Bother Me
First off I wanted to apologize for not being around lately. We’ve had really bad storms in the Midwest, and lots of power outages (at one point 70,000 people in my hometown had no power. The city population is roughly 250-260,000 people). Our power is FINALLY on for good I hope, so I hope that means more updating between now and when school starts.
Anyway, onto the important stuff. 
Yes, I have fallen victim to the Twilight craze. I saw the movie the night it opened, have read the series, own a Twilight t-shirt, and my name tag at work has a Twilight giftcard and a “Team Edward” pin affixed to it (I work at Hot Topic and as far as I know that’s just about the only place to buy any Twilight paraphenalia). So naturally, I get a lot of flack at work about it. I don’t mind; I just laugh with them and pick on myself for being a 23-year-old fangirl.
Now, granted I intended this blog to be more about writing tips and advice, rather than opinions and reviews. But,with all the criticism of Edward Cullen for being creepy/stalker/borderline abusive, and Bella Swan for being “Mary Sue”, I’ve gotten to thinking about it and compared the book a lot to my life. I figured this would be the best place to talk about it.
Yes, Bella does kind of read as a Mary Sue typed character. Especially in Breaking Dawn (but I have heardsome good explanations to how she turned out too that I never thought of while reading the books). At the same time though, it’s not bad Mary Sue fanfiction writing. It actually makes the plot work in this case. To me anyway. But, that’s not really my point. My point is Bella reminds me a lot of myself, with how boys react to her, and being kind of socially awkward. She sounds a lot like I was in high school, and even my first year or 2 of college. Guys noticed, and I never paid attention. That or I was like, “hahahaha yeah, riiiiiight, like I haven’t heard that one before, just to get cracked on for it later.” Yes, that happened to me a LOT in middle school especially, so I tended not to notice if gusy actually did pay attention to me. It got bad enough that if they did notice I was pretty sure they were making fun of me.
So when Edward noticed Bella, and fell for her immediately, I could really identify with that. It reminded me a lot of my fiance and me. And of course, once I found him and got all googly eyed for him, all the other gusy start noticing and I’m completely oblivious. Go figure, right? hahahaha!
And Edward being the creepy stalker. He is…I won’t say he’s not. But, well to be honest when you have the kind of dad I’ve had, Edward Cullen doesn’t seem so bad. No, no, I’m not painting my dad to be an awful, abusive father. Not at all. In fact, I’m trying to say this in a good way.
Everything Edward does, he does because he loves Bella, tha and/or she’s in a REALLY bad situation. I believe in Eclipse, he goes as far as taking the spark plugs out of Bella’s car to keep her from leaving. Yes, that’s CRAZY. That’s controlling. But, Bella has a vampire coven trying to trace her scent…no wonder he doesn’t want her to leave. Or, if she does, he has to know whom she is with, and for how long.
Sounds JUST like my father. He can be controlling, and severe. Never abusive, and yes there are times where I’ve been ranting about living with Hitler, but I do know in the end that he loves me, just as Edward loves Bella.
Like I said, I don’t always like it. In fact I was crying about it last night; feeling trapped, and feeling like I can’t do anything, can’t be anything, because Dad has to have his way or else. My dad is a very “my way or the high way” typed person. Granted it’s not always bad, but sometimes–ok A LOT of the time–it aggravates me. Just like Bella, I’m extremely independent, and just like Edward, my dad is just as independent. It causes a lot of problems, but just like Edward, my dad is only out to protect me, and just like Bella, I love him in the end for it. It’s definitely better than someone being controlling just to be a jerk.
It’s not really that I don’t agree with the popular (negative) opinions about Bella and Edward. But, because of my life, I guess maybe it doesn’t bother me so much. I’ve lived in a severe situation all my life, but I also know it’s because I’m loved. And, I also think somewhere deep down women want to be possessed like that. It’s not some weird, kinky submissive/domination thing. It’s just, well, women like knowing they’re important to someone…especially when they adore that someone. When a man is that possesive and protective of a woman, sometimes it’s comforting because we know that we’re cared about that stongly. And Edward does care about Bella completely. Everything he does is for her, and every risk he takes is to protect her. Everything in his life is about her, and I think that’s what everyone woman wants.
“Everything in his life is about her, and… that’s what every woman wants.” Selfish much, darling? Not only is that incredibly creepy, it’s incredibly narrowminded. He can’t have hobbies, interests, friends of his own, or even a simple day off from the job of incessantly worshipping His One and Only? Oh, my God. Therein lies the path to psychosis, little girl. Grow up. It’s one thing to be important to someone; it’s quite another thing to be an obsession. The latter isn’t healthy, and it certainly isn’t “what every woman wants.” Don’t project your arm-twist coping mechanisms onto the rest of us.