Twilight
discussion
Why do you think people hate twilight so much?
message 351:
by
Lena
(new)
-
rated it 1 star
Apr 07, 2012 04:52AM

reply
|
flag

It may be fantasy, but the representation of relationships are not (people can have similar relationships minus the creature); nor is making consistent misuses of words, abusing adverbs nor poor use of detail (of course, my opinion). The majority of people that dislike it are not disliking it because of the "Vampires", "Werewolves" and "Fantasy". The majority of people dislike it because of characters (perhaps the representation of said creatures), the relationships and the writing.

However I ' m not hate it, just don' t want to read.;P

You know if she's happy, that's fine with me, but I still don't agree with the portrayal of the Edward/Bella relationship as being healthy.

I think the story could've been a lot better than it was, and the way it was gone about just doesn't really appeal to me, personally. I don't mind people loving the series and obsessing over it so long as they don't go overboard and do things to hurt people (physically or emotionally), I.E. insulting people for disliking it as I see so often, and while I think the same goes for people who dislike it, people really just overdid it and got a little bit too overboard with their obsessions.
In terms of the movies, I watched a little of the first one and my parents made me watch the second with them - I wasn't much a fan of the acting or the portrayal of the story that I already wasn't a fan of, although I think Kristen is gorgeous and was a good choice for Bella's character in terms of appearance.

Evil parents! No offence meant"
Yeah - they made my brother watch it, too. We were able to make it much more bearable by joking around about things amongst ourselves while they watched. XD

I remember 4years ago, Twilight wasn't so famous yet and everyone who knew about the book loved it. And to be honest, The Twilight Saga is what got me into reading novels.


And this is what I think some people see when they read or watch them.
I love the books, but I think that most people who don't like them either haven't read them, or have read them with an already critical mind.
And of course the films will not appeal to everyone, which can put people off the whole idea quickly, without having chapters to ease them in slowly and explain things where people will give it a proper chance.
I think that people go into the story after hearing people talk about it, and having the idea of the plot that I mentioned, and already made up their minds, thinking it's silly
And there is a lot of jumping on the bandwagon as well.

Not liking fantasy, as many people do, rules many out!
And you can plain not just like the book, characters, ideas, plot, style of writing etc.
Which is fine :D
And I think the movies are mostly what started off people not liking the series.
But some people really do seem to hate it, which seems a wierd thing, as they are only books and films!

Among the valid reasons, I most commonly hear that Bella's character is weak and undermines women. I also understand that the "love" that Bella and Edward share seems creepy and downright nonexistent at times.
And let us not forget that many people complain about the mediocrity of the writing.
Personally, I find the series mediocre, but I don't spend a heap of time announcing my disdain for it. It is beyond me why someone who "hates" something rants about hating that thing, ultimately giving that most hated thing the publicity that it needs to thrive. Beyond me.

nope petty sure I dislike the books and the movies...probably dislike the books more than i dislike the movies. At least the movies had good music.


Somehow I doubt that everyone "loved it", but it becoming popular (which the movie coming out seemed to make it so) I think caused people to wonder what the fuss is about. When something isn't that popular it's easier to miss the ones that didn't like it. Some just hated it for no reason, basing it on other people's opinions, but there were people like me that GENUINELY read at least the first book (I read the ENTIRE series) and didn't like it or hated it.

*Sigh* I disagree. I don't get where this comes from...

*Sigh* I disagree. I don't get where this comes from..."
Let it go Carly. I did. Save your i..."
LMAAAAAAOOO

OMG HOW COULD ANYONE EVER START A DISSCUSION ABOUT ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING SERIES OF THE CENTURY!!!!! THIS IS AN ABOMINATION TOWARDS NATURE AND THE WELL BEING OF ALL VAMPIRES AND WEREWOLVES!!!! YOU PEOPLE BETTER JUST SHUT THE CRAP UP!!!!!!! TWILIGHT IS AMAZING! TWILIGHT IS AMAZING! TWILIGHT IS AMAZING TWILIGHT IS AMAZING! TWILIGHT IS AMAZING! AND DONT YOU EVA FORGET THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OH AND BTW EDWARD IS SO PERFECT FOR BELLA AND DONT GO HATING ON THE LOVE TRIANGLE ROMANCE ITS THE BEST PART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm not kidding this is a quote off another discussion board.

There are many other books in this genre that are a different take on the lore that really spark the imagination of readers.


And Bells likes Edward because...he is gorgeous and inhumanly strong...and he treats her like an incapable child. i'm usually not into the whole feminist thing but Bella has NO dignity.
i only liked Bella at all when she was friends with Jake after Edward left and when renesmae was in danger because of the Volturi.
Plus the fact that they live forever is hardly discussed. in any book that i have read where people are immortal (or long lived and hard to kill) the merits of immortality are always put into question. not so here.

Can anyone explain it (in clear listed reasons :P ), from their point of view, of either why they think this, or why they think people think this?
I didn't really find that (my just thinking about the story perhaps), and I was wondering why this is thought, or why people don't like her. (Not everyone has a very strong personalitiy after all).
I thought it was just meant to be a story about love, as that intense love can be felt - the vampireness gives the intense love an explaination.
And after all, it is only "a bit of escapist fantasy"

Aren't the two themes you mentioned also popular in classic fairytales? Not everything has to have a heavy moral theme, love just for love's sake is the fantasy.

Exactly. Fans who say they would kill themselves for Rob Pattinson make me want to puke.

Yeah it reminds me of the Chris Brown fans who say he can punch them in the face any day...pretty sure thats not healthy.

Bella just complains all the time, the weather, living in Forks, the boys asking her out, Edward looking at her, Edward not looking at her, Charlie telling her mum she was almost killed-its very very annoying.
The Pathetic thing I think comes from a) she meets Edward for 5 minutes and is in love with him and then b) when he leaves her she curls up on the floor of a forrest before later throwing herself off a cliff. Edward is the sole focus of her life and thats pretty pathetic.
Plus there are no positive female characters in these books, Bella's mum makes her sadness so obvious her daughter decides to move across the country to live with a man she doesn't really know in a town she hates so Renee can follow her boyfriend from place to place, Esme spends her time mothering a bunch of adults who aren't her kids and don't really need mothering and Bella wants nothing more from life than a man and becomes a vampire housewife and mother. I have no issue with women being housewives and mothers but in twilight it is shown as the only thing that women do, all that matters is being with your man, not university, not a job you just need a man.
Problems with the relationships are a lot of the actions of Edward and Jacob like:
-breaking into Bella's house at night to watch her (stalker)
-constantly condescends her and calls her a "silly little thing"
-is so dependant on her he will kill himself without her there
-damages her property to prevent her seeing her friends or has his family members kidnap Bella to stop her
- Edward is a physical threat to her when he is angry so she spends time afraid of what he could do (pretty sure fear isn't what you should feel for your partner)
-carries her around and treats her like a child
-manipulates her into doing what he wants
-Jacob threatens to kill himself if she does not kiss him
-or kisses her forcefully against her will (sexual abuse) (Jacob)

I agree. There seem to be a lot of voiced distaste for the female characters in the book. I don't want to live my life like the woman in this book, most people don't want to, but it's not sick or abusive. Yes, Edward's actions taken out of context could be called stalker, scary, dangerous, etc. But here's the thing, Bella loves him. She likes the danger, the over-protectedness, the volatile relationship, the over-intensity of it all. Some women like that, some things are not black and white. There are several different kinds of attractions out there and one women's abuse may be another person's romance.

Hey - I loved the book but refuse to be put alongside the masses of people who are obsessed with it! (:


I guess from the perspective of just the books, it's not such a big deal, since it's fiction. MY problem with it is that there are millions of impressionable teenage girls out there who don't think it's really love unless it's fraught with drama and danger- Lea, what you said "one girl's abuse is another girl's romance" scares the ever-loving hell out of me. Can I ask how old you are? Because that really worries me, and illustrates why I had a problem with the stories being read by teenage girls. When I was 15 I dated a very abusive man (emotionally at first, but then physical after I had our son 1 year later) and I had those same thoughts. Our relationship was so passionate and dramatic, and he "needed me", no one else would ever understand, etc etc. He used the term "soul mates" and said he would die without me because "he loved me so much". Love isn't supposed to be that way. Tragic is never romantic. Hell, real-life love isn't always romantic forever. I think- I KNOW- that teenage love is some of the most powerful stuff in the world. That's why things can go so very wrong with it. So, anyway, that's why it worries me, because the behaviors of Bella and Edward truly are co-dependent and unhealthy. As an adult, I don't want teenage girls to think this is how their relationships should be. That being said, again, these are just books, so I try not to over-analyse them too much. All YA romance is a little unhealthy, because really, if they were realistic no one would read them-they'd be too bored. Romeo and Juliet are the original culprits, but we love the story! I found the Katniss/Peeta romance to be different because Katniss didn't love him yet- and really had no intention of eating those berries. She is a strong female character to me BECAUSE she refused to let her feelings get in the way of what she knew must be done. She used Peeta to save their lives. Anyway, sorry so long, just needed to get that out.


Your concern is sweet. And don't worry, I'm really not a disillusioned little girl talking a big game. I'm 26 years old and have a group of close friends who lead what they call alternative lifestyles. They are into...the darker side of romance and sexuality, stories like The Secretary and The Story of O. I jokingly make fun of them and am definitely not into it myself - but they're some of my best friends and they'd do anything for each other.
Please don't walk away in disgust. I went through a lot of thinking when I realized my friends were into this sort of behavior and have decided to be accepting of it. They're beautiful people, and for them, this kind of behavior is normal. It's their way of life not mine. I also don't think anyone, ESPECIALLY young girls who have a tendency for getting carried away should ever go along with something their uncomfortable with. I would never promote Bella as someone a young girl should model after. I was just pointing out that some people have a very different view of things. It's not always so black and white and Edward's behavior is taken out of context. (: I'm not sure why I chose to even bring this discussion to light and I hope I haven't made everyone uncomfortable. I really enjoy having the debates/conversations about the books.

Romeo and Juliet are
1) Way younger than Bella
2) Have over-protective parents that hate the other side and Juliet was going to be forced into a loveless marriage
3) It's a tragedy that should not be viewed as a model romance (in fact, tragedy is its official genre, despite romance seeming to be the focus)
Bella and Edward aren't in any of those positions for which it would be deemed as a simple tragedy, thus where people tend to think it's desperate and pathetic.

I agree with you... especially about this part: Lea, what you said "one girl's abuse is another girl's romance" scares the ever-loving hell out of me. I felt the same way. D: I also experienced an emotionally abusive relationship in my teens. Very rough.


D: I terribly terribly disagree that it's some alternative lifestyle. There are consequences to abusive relationships, besides always feeling like you are walking on eggshells such as the tendency to
1) Distance oneself from other loved ones
2) Depressive and risky behavior
3) Physical and psychological damage
After my abusive relationship (and unfortunately, I know a family member that is also emotionally abusive in similar ways) I experienced more issues with memory, self-esteem/confidence, trauma (physically you can begin shaking when you are excited or in any argument, normal ones even), increased defensive behavior, increased anxiety, increased paranoia over men(a healthy amount of caution is okay).
I have even experienced inheriting some inappropriate behaviors such as manipulation. Probably the worst thing to think about in a relationship like that is not the dignity you lose, but the type of person it causes you to become! You should become a better person, not worse when you are in a relationship.
I have managed to deal with some of these behaviors, but it is a process over time. This is not something I would wish on anyone. I know friends that have been or are in a suspected abusive relationship. Unfortunately I don't think it's my place to say anything unless I have more evidence, but even then it has to be done in a way where it's still their choice.
For me after what I've been through I absolutely cannot say that it's healthy for anyone. S&M in the bedroom? Mutual S&M sex is one thing, but when someone is a twisted human being that only gets pleasure in degrading you and controlling you beyond those realms, this is just terribly unhealthy and abuse survivors I believe are complete and total proof of that.

Yes, it's not really a fair comparison. They were an entirely different situation.

I think there is a big difference between being in a alternative relationship that has been agreed upon by the people in a relationship and a guy breaking into a girls house to watch her sleep. I think it would take a discussion and a lot of trust between partners to enter into an alternative relationship, I think there would need to be a lot of trust for one partner to even bring up an interest in this sort of lifestyle. But when it is something all the people in a relationship feel good about then I do not see the harm.
However that is very different to Edward stalking Bella, isolating her and forbidding her to see her only other real friend and having his family members kidnap her. Edward seems to need to control Bella and Bella even expresses fear of Edward and what he is capable of. I'm pretty sure fear of your partners isn't something that is usually involved in good relationships. Even in alternative relationships I don't think real fear is a feeling, it takes a lot of trust to be involved in that kind of lifestyle, and that trust is absent from Bella and Edwards relationship. Instead of discussing things with Bella, Edward decides what is best autonomously and then either carries it out by force or manipulates Bella into doing what he wants.

Of course, I would never want another woman to be degraded or in an abusive relationship. I've volunteered at women's shelters and seen the damage, it's hard to swallow. But the relationships I've seen among the 'alternative lifestyle' group are enjoyed by both people in them. Some of the things they do seem completely alien to me and I don't get it - but the women in that group are in control in what's going on. I tell them it looks crazy to me all time. I was just offering up another viewpoint for discussion. I just don't think the context of a book should be looked at in such a black and white manner. Bella must be enjoying some aspect of the relationship and Edward's domination of her. Not that I wouldn't run screaming out of my room if I ever found someone perched on my windowsill.

Yes, it's not really a fair comparison. They were an entirely different ..."
Lol, I KNOW they're very incomparable. I am very addicted to Shakespeare. I was just comparing the three young couples (which is a similiarity) and the different motivations and settings in which the suicides (or attemps at) take place. It's a thin thread - but it is there.

Mmm, see the thing is is that Bella DOESN'T always seem happy with what's going on, in fact she often complains in the instances where he tries to control her and in fact has mentioned being afraid of his anger, to me that's not a completely happy relationship.

Good, I'm glad I don't have to worry about you. I agree that if two people are mutually into that kind of relationship and it's based on trust and communication, more power to them. I don't judge anything anyone wants to do as long as they are both in agreement. I definitely don't think anyone as young as the character of Bella could ever be mature enough to agree to that kind of lifestyle though. I have boys, and when I think of what I went through and what I believed love was when I was 16, I am grateful for it. I don't have any invested stake in what teenage girls do or think, except that I wouldn't want to see any girl go through that kind of relationship. I read YA (at 32) and I enjoy it because it's escapism, and I like the romance because it is all fantasy- I know that's not what love is like, but I think all of us enjoy the thought that our significant others would talk or act like some of these male characters do! I just get worried when I see the millions of teenage girls who are fans of Twilight and actually believe that their relationship is the ideal they should be looking for. I mean, poor teenage boys! They don't stand a chance of measuring up! Nor should they. I made a lot of mistakes in my teen years because I believed the only love worth having was the kind that hurt. I was in my 20's before I realized how wrong that was. That's honestly my only complaint about stories like this, that it gives teenagers the wrong idea about love and life. However, to teach them otherwise is up to their parents. Ironically, when I was 13, 14, 15 I didn't read young adult fiction. I was reading at a college level at 8 years old. So I skipped all that and didn't really pick up on it until two years ago. I think I got my stupid notions about relationships from TV, and didn't have the parental input to tell me otherwise. I try to teach my oldest, who's 15, how to treat a woman, and both his father and I show by example how to be to someone else- to the best of our ability of course.
As far as Shakespeare goes...lol I see the thread, Lea, which I am sure was an inspiration to Meyers when she was writing Twilight. Off topic a little, I don't understand why Twilight was so poorly written when The Host was so amazing (to me)!


She's not perfectly happy with it all the time, no. I have always know I would have to read it again someday and will be specifically paying attention to that.
all discussions on this book
|
post a new topic
Presenting Robert Cormier (other topics)
Presenting Madeleine L'Engle (other topics)
Misery (other topics)
Lincoln's Melancholy: How Depression Challenged a President and Fueled His Greatness (other topics)
More...
V.C. Andrews (other topics)
Books mentioned in this topic
Presenting S.E. Hinton (other topics)Presenting Robert Cormier (other topics)
Presenting Madeleine L'Engle (other topics)
Misery (other topics)
Lincoln's Melancholy: How Depression Challenged a President and Fueled His Greatness (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Laurell K. Hamilton (other topics)V.C. Andrews (other topics)