There's A Connection Between Twilight and Jane Austen?!?!

I think its crazy that for over 200 years people still have this debate over what’s acceptable to read. I believe everyone is entitled to his or her own opinions, and some books just aren’t meant for little kids, but it fascinates me that we are still obsessed with the idea. What is it that gets people worried about the younger generation being corrupted to soon? Or if they can even handle a topic?

Have you read this little thing called the Twilight Saga?  It’s only a New York Times Bestseller, a multi-billion dollar movie franchise and the most recent example of the constant debate over what it is acceptable to read—with a modern twist.

The premise of Twilight is that Bella moves to the dreary town of Forks, Washington the first week into her junior year of high school. She’s described as a shy, clumsy girl who doesn’t see herself clearly. Bella’s first day she notices the “uncommonly” beautiful Cullen family and is immediately attracted to the loner brother, Edward. As the book details, against all odds, Edward likes her as well and as they get closer it is revealed that he is a vampire. But since Bella loves him so much she accepts who he is and they stay together, not without some difficulties, and eventually get married, have a half-vampire half human baby and Bella becomes a vampire, completing their undead happily ever after.  

The debate over Twilight is that it gives girls the wrong idea about love, gender roles and submissive nature versus a dominant male character in the main characters of Bella and Edward. A debate that spurs from a constant struggle over what is feminism—and how much of it as changed over the years?

Feminism is advocacy to create equality between men and women in economic, social and political issues. It is divided though between the newer and the older generations. The older generations fight for equality in all places of life. They believe that women should have an equal chance in relationships, job environments, etc. Where as the newer generations are relying on the “ability to choose” as stated by academic scholar, Anne Peterson, in her essay,  “That Teenage Feeling: Twilight, Fantasy, and Feminist Readers” (Peterson 54).  The new generation, or the “post-feminist” as they are referred to, believe that as long as women have the option to decide between, for example, becoming a career woman or a stay at home mom they are satisfied. Because it is women’s choice and Twilight it is a prime example of choice and making your own decisions.

As stated in the last post people should be able to make their own judgment on books and I think Twilight is no exception. Besides the whole stance on “making the call for yourself” Twilight is based on the idea to choose. Even though we as the reader may think she may be forced into certain situations with becoming involved with a vampire, Edward through out the novels always tries to convince her otherwise, in asking if this situation is really what she really wants and always argues he wants better for her and that being involved with him will not end well. Bella may roll her eyes at him when he makes these claims but she does take his opinion in consideration—just like a person should when dealing with questionable fiction. Even though she may go against others judgment, choosing Edward was the best thing for her to do and she ended up with a happily ever after.

Twilight both deals with cautionary content and also ways to deal with the warned content. Twilight does have submissive tendencies and lacks a strong female character in Bella—but it is also fiction. And when dealing with fiction people do need to remember it is fantasy and shouldn’t be applied to the real world at all times, just like Northanger Abbey and those pesky gothic novels as told by Austen and Chapone.

I think certain books should be read with caution because some books do deal with “borderline” subject matter, but a person needs to know about the world around them—or they will be swallowed whole.

Knowledge is key and the more a person has of it, the more likely they will be a well-rounded individual and make knowledgeable decisions. That’s what Austen and Chapone wanted when they talked about using a guide and reading with caution. No book should be off limits—whether it be vampire love or a gothic satire—because it helps you understand the society in which you live.