The Twilight novels and films are a pop-culture phenomenon, raking in vast sums of money for a mere tale of teen romance. I have no problem with mindless entertainment, as I myself enjoy several novels and films no deeper than a typical Facebook post. But there's the rub -- I admit that my entertainment is mindless, whereas the reverence and even cultishness surrounding Twilight say something about modern notions of love, and it's rather disheartening.
Consider that the story presents love as nothing more than lust -- Edward "loves" Bella because she smells good, and Bella "loves" Edward because he's gorgeous and superhuman. There is virtually no character development to explain why these people might identify with each other on a spiritual level. Bella vocalizes this shallowness by offering to stay with Edward forever even if it means parting with her soul, "whatever that is," she mutters. The fans agree, apparently lacking a concept of their own spiritual existence or worth.
Bella yearns to become a vampire while still young so she and Edward can be gorgeous, hot, and bothered together forever. Getting old is gross, and the modern (materialistic) mind has difficulty grasping the idea of staying in love after strength or beauty has waned. I never thought I'd say this, but Shallow Hal is insightful on this point: the physically beautiful are often inwardly ugly, and vice versa. Twilight throws this wisdom out the window and preaches that beauty truly is skin deep.
Bella and Edward's youthful lust will endure forever, which supposedly means that their love will too. But at the "twilight" of real life, the body withers and only the soul remains fresh. If you want a love that lasts forever, you must base it on the soul. Unfortunately, hordes of Twilight fans -- young and old alike -- are founding their hopes and dreams on the ephemeral body. They will ache when true twilight comes.
Consider that the story presents love as nothing more than lust -- Edward "loves" Bella because she smells good, and Bella "loves" Edward because he's gorgeous and superhuman. There is virtually no character development to explain why these people might identify with each other on a spiritual level. Bella vocalizes this shallowness by offering to stay with Edward forever even if it means parting with her soul, "whatever that is," she mutters. The fans agree, apparently lacking a concept of their own spiritual existence or worth.
Bella yearns to become a vampire while still young so she and Edward can be gorgeous, hot, and bothered together forever. Getting old is gross, and the modern (materialistic) mind has difficulty grasping the idea of staying in love after strength or beauty has waned. I never thought I'd say this, but Shallow Hal is insightful on this point: the physically beautiful are often inwardly ugly, and vice versa. Twilight throws this wisdom out the window and preaches that beauty truly is skin deep.
Bella and Edward's youthful lust will endure forever, which supposedly means that their love will too. But at the "twilight" of real life, the body withers and only the soul remains fresh. If you want a love that lasts forever, you must base it on the soul. Unfortunately, hordes of Twilight fans -- young and old alike -- are founding their hopes and dreams on the ephemeral body. They will ache when true twilight comes.
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