Journal Article Analysis

Twilight: The Glamorization of Abuse, Codependency, and White Privilege Analysis

Background of Twilight

Twilight is a paranormal romance series of books by Stephen Meyer which was made into movies beginning in 2008. Bella Swan is the main character who moves to a small town in which vampires and werewolves inhibit. She is quickly drawn to Edward Cullen, a vampire, who is unlike the other boys at her school in that he does not seem interested in the other girls. Bella’s family is friends with the Black’s, who has a son named Jacob. Jacob and his family are part of the werewolf tribe (Hardwicke, 2008).

Summary of Article

Danielle N. Borgia wrote an extensive article on the Twilight saga promoting abuse, codependency, and white privilege. Borgia repeatedly refers to Edward as Bella’s Byronic hero. A Byronic hero is a character who is a rebel and troubled by one’s past. Those qualities are just two of many that can classify one as a Byronic hero (byronic hero, n.d.). In her article, Borgia highlights the fact that Bella dismisses Edward’s “abuse” because he is unable to control himself being that he is a vampire. His abuse is listed as being repulsed by Bella (which only makes her want him more), putting her in harm’s way from himself and other vampires, forbidding her to hang out with her werewolf friends at La Push, and creating bruises on her after they consummate their love on their wedding night. Edward uses his elite status to draw Bella into his clutches. He uses money, cars, and clothes also which she claims she doesn’t want. Bella becomes codependent on Edward so much that her world is shattered when he leaves for a while. She becomes depressed, withdrawing herself from others. She becomes reckless with a motorcycle in hopes of getting him to return. She also uses her friend Jacob, a werewolf, in place of Edward to fulfill her codependent needs. This further exemplifies her codependency with men. White privilege is glorified by Bella as she is fixated on the Cullen family beauty, stating that they are so beautifully paler than the rest of the town. Edward sparkling in the sunlight further shows Bella’s appreciation for the vampires. The werewolves are darker skinned, Native Americans, which portrays Stephanie Meyers Mormon belief that those who are darker are beneath those that are white. The author relays that wealth, status, and beauty are all part of white privilege (Borgia, 2011).

Abuse

            Borgia listed Bella’s abuse as Edward degrading, controlling, and physically abusing her. He forbids her to leave on multiple occasions, he is repulsed by her at the beginning, and he physically caused bruising on her after their honeymoon (Borgia, 2011). This is the most prominent area in which I agree with the abusive relationship between Bella and Edward. Edward is controlling, jealous, and physically abusive. His abuse is dismissed by Bella and readers alike as he battles with pleasing Bella. She accepts the way he treats her and she is the one who initiates the physical contact on their honeymoon that leads to the bruising (Hardwicke, 2008). Psychologist Wind Goodfriend, Ph.D. examines the abusive relationship that Bella and Edward have as well. She states that Bella has many qualities that would form her to be the perfect victim in a relationship: 1) Bella has low self-esteem, 2) She is drawn to Edward although he seems repulsed by her, and 3) She enjoys danger. Let’s not forget about the other half of the abusive pair. Edward has qualities as well for the abuser: 1) He is controlling, 2) He manipulates by use of material items, and 3) He is possessive (Goodfriend, 2011).

Codependency

Borgia views on Bella’s codependency with Edward are shown mainly when he leaves her. She becomes isolated, reckless, and depressed. She shuts everyone out and begins doing dangerous things to lure Edward back to her (Borgia, 2011). In another analysis of the movie Twilight, Bonnie Norman stated the definition of codependency from Wikipedia as “Symptoms of codependence may include controlling behavior, distrust, perfectionism, avoidance of feelings, problems with intimacy, excessive caretaking, hypervigilance, or physical illness related to stress. Codependence is often accompanied by clinical depression, as the codependent person succumbs to feelings of frustration or sadness over their inability to improve their situation”. Norman reiterates Borgia’s views that Bella is in a controlling, destructive relationship with Edward. Edward dismantles Bella’s truck to prevent her from going to La Push, where Jacob and the other werewolves live, or anywhere else. He also bribes his sister, Alice, with a new car to keep watch of Bella when he is unable to (Norman, 2009). Bella’s codependency of men is likely to stem from her parenting. Her mother is more like the child in their relationship. Bella feels regret and worry about moving to live with her Dad but feels better knowing that her Mom’s boyfriend will be there to support her. This line of thinking shows that Bella doesn’t think that women can survive without a man in their life. Bella’s father is at work the majority of the time, being the sheriff of the town. This further drives her to seek male companionship to replace her father’s parental duties, which Edward does do in a stalker kind of way. He “grounds” Bella from seeing her friends at La Push and even watches her at night while she sleep, which she finds comforting instead of creepy (Hardwicke, 2008).

White Privilege

            Borgia delves into the theory that the werewolves are inferior to vampires which is exemplified by the darker skin of the Native Americans versus the alabaster white of the vampires. Borgia points out that the werewolves imprint with their mate which is seen as beneath the way that vampires find their mate, further showing white privilege. The Cullen’s also show how the werewolves are beneath them as they provide clothing and human food although the werewolves prefer their wolf form. To further prove the difference in color, at one point Jacob even compares his skin to Bella’s. Her skin is almost as white as the vampires where his is dark like the other Native Americans. Borgia continues to compare the color issue as Stephanie Meyer’s Mormon beliefs in which darker skin is associated with blasphemy (Borgia, 2011). Literature and women’s studies scholar Natalie Wilson backs up Borgia’s white privilege theories especially on the color differences of the werewolves versus vampires and Stephanie Meyer’s Mormon beliefs role into white privilege (Wilson, 2010). I think the white privilege angle is one that these reviewers are reading too much into. Although they prove their points, it seems like they are stretching for those points. The Cullen family has more than the Native Americans because they have been around longer, providing more time to obtain the riches that they endure (Hardwicke, 2008).

Conclusion

            Borgia, as well as the others, provide many interesting points and thoughts towards the Twilight saga, but I think they have analyzed it a little far in some aspects. The book is fiction, not meant to be a guideline to how people base their relationships. Readers should have the common sense to acknowledge that works of fiction are just that and not meant to be recreated in any way. The majority of the readers understand that vampires and werewolves are not real and do not believe that the relationships within the book are a way to hold one’s standards. This is not to say that the article is not important, it is. Society should have varying views in which to compare and contrast each other’s point of views. It gives us something to ponder and respond intelligently with others.

References

Borgia, D. N. (2011). Twilight: The Glamorization of Abuse, Codependency, and White Privilege. The Journal of Popular Culture, 47, 153-173. Retrieved October 28, 2014, from http://0-journals.ohiolink.edu.olinkserver.franklin.edu/ejc/pdf.cgi/Borgia_Danielle_N.pdf?issn=00223840&issue=v47i0001&article=153_ttgoacawp

byronic hero. (n.d.). Retrieved October 27, 2014, from The American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/byronic%20hero

Goodfriend, W. P. (2011, November 9). Relationship Violence in "Twilight". Retrieved October 29, 2014, from A Psychologist at the Movies: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/psychologist-the-movies/201111/relationship-violence-in-twilight

Hardwicke, C. (Director). (2008). Twilight [Motion Picture]. Retrieved October 28, 2014, from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1099212/?ref_=nv_sr_2

Norman, B. (2009, November 19). Don't Touch That Book, or Why Twilight is Not for Girls. Retrieved October 29, 2014, from Professor Beej: http://www.professorbeej.com/2009/11/why-twilight-is-not-for-girls.html

Wilson, N. (2010, April). Monstrous Musings: Got Vampire Privilege?: The Whiteness of Twilight. Retrieved October 29, 2014, from Womanist Musings: http://www.womanist-musings.com/2010/04/monstrous-musings-got-vampire-privilege.html