Twilight Synopsis:
Isabella "Bella" Swan moves from sunny Phoenix, Arizona to rainy Forks, Washington to live with her father, Charlie, while her mother, Renée, travels with her new husband, Phil Dwyer, a minor league baseball player. Bella attracts much attention at her new school and is quickly befriended by several students. Much to her dismay, several boys compete for shy Bella's attention.
When Bella is seated next to Edward Cullen in class on her first day of school, Edward seems utterly repulsed by her. He disappears for a few days, but warms up to Bella upon his return; their newfound relationship reaches a climax when Bella is nearly run over by a fellow classmate's van in the school parking lot. Edward saves her life when he instantaneously appears next to her and stops the van with his bare hands.
Bella becomes determined to find out how Edward saved her life, and constantly pesters him with questions. After a family friend, Jacob Black, tells her the local tribal legends, Bella concludes that Edward and his family are vampires who drink animal blood rather than human. Edward confesses that he initially avoided Bella because the scent of her blood was too desirable to him. Over time, Edward and Bella fall in love.
Their relationship is disturbed when another vampire coven arrives in Forks. James, a tracker vampire who is intrigued by the Cullens' relationship with a human, wants to hunt Bella for sport. The Cullens attempt to distract the tracker by splitting up Bella and Edward, and Bella is sent to hide in a hotel in Phoenix. There, Bella receives a phone call from James, who claims to be holding her mother captive. When Bella surrenders herself, James attacks her. Before she is killed, Edward, along with the other Cullens, rescues her and defeats James. Once they realize that James has bitten Bella's hand, Edward successfully sucks the poison from her bloodstream and prevents her from becoming a vampire, after which she is brought to a hospital. Upon returning to Forks, Bella and Edward attend their school prom and Bella expresses her desire to become a vampire, but Edward refuses.
The Heroic Archetypes of Edward:
Edward Cullen one of the main characters in Twilight, has many heroic qualities. He faces many physical challenges such as being able to control his thirst for Bella's blood. Edward also faces his enemy James who doesn't believe in the Cullen's way of life and thinks they should kill Bella. Edward is then left fighting for Bella's life. These two qualities represent the hero as warrior archetype. Although Edward doesn't see himself as a prince charming like Bella does he still demonstrates the hero as lover archetype. Edward doesn't set out to find Bella as he fears his thirst will over power him and he will lose control. So instead his quest becomes the strength to control himself around Bella and to make sure she never comes in harm. Hero as Scapegoat is another heroic Archetype Edward demonstrates when he has to suck the venom out of Bella's hand. Being a vampire this is very difficult for him as it will be all most impossible to stop once he tastes Bella's blood. So for the sake of saving his love of his life, Bella, he fights the pain of pulling away after sucking out the venom. Edward also has many characteristics of a hero, he meets monstrous men such as James. Dying from the Spanish influenza at the young age of 17, Carlisle who becomes his guardian bites him to save his life. Another characteristic is when the Cullen's return to their home land Forks . When they return they are not known because they never age as vampires so are forced to consistently move so people don't notice. Edward is also special and one of a kind, as he has the power to read minds. Edward also fits the character archetype, the star-crossed lovers. Bella and Edward are two characters engaged in a love affair that is said to end in tragedy, due to the disapproval from the other vampires.
Symbolic Archetypes:
Throughout analyzing this story I came across some symbolic archetypes. One that I found very ironic was the gold colour of Edwards eyes. Gold represent truth which is ironic being that Edward is hiding the biggest secret of all and not being truthful about who he is. What are your opinions on the ironic colour of Edwards eyes?
Another symbolic archetype I found was the number of vampires in the Cullen clan. There are 7 vampires in this clan and one of the things the number 7 represents is the seven deadly sins. Being that vampires are made to kill and hunt, do you think the author Stephenie Meyer purposely created the Cullen clan to consist of 7 vampires?
Madison,
ReplyDeleteI love your post about the Twilight archetypes, and this subject is my favorite aspect of the Twilight series. It's worth distinguishing between the hero archetype and the anti-hero archetype because while they have so many similar qualities (which you totally nailed in terms of Edward's heroic qualities!!), they have some interesting differences, too. Sort of like the archetypal differences between Superman (hero) and Batman (anti-hero).
The anti-hero struggles with internal darkness, internal flaws and his moral compass (he often subscribes to the theory that “the ends justify the means,” as we see time and time again with Edward). The anti-hero has a dangerous and intensely seductive “bad boy” quality that comes across as the brooding and often emotionally tortured man who wants to be good. In order to mask his struggle with low self-worth, the anti-hero displays grandiose arrogance, but the reality is he is quite vulnerable underneath the façade of superficial ego.
The traditional hero (Jake is a good example) has an impeccable ability to stay true to himself despite the many tragic and profoundly devastating hurts that are inflicted on him throughout his journey, which are necessarily integral to his journey. Through it all, though, the hero somehow maintains a certain light and certain purity that makes him magnetic, because people are naturally drawn to the authenticity and the deep sense of honor and integrity that is embodied by the hero.
Thanks again for your post -- the archetypes are fascinating throughout the entire series, and I'm glad to see people are interested in such material. I'd love to know your thoughts about the hero and anti-hero as they are embodied in slightly different ways. And did you enjoy Christoper Nolan's Batman movies? I'd love to hear your thoughts on that series, too! Keep up the awesome work with symbolic exploration!!
I took Edward Cullen's archetype to be that of a "tortured soul" and manly "best friend". He stays true to his core blaming himself for everything and thing acting unselfishly to protect those he imagines he has harmed; or to protect those he loves (family and Bella).
ReplyDeleteCheck out the book by Tami D. Cowden, Caro LaFever and Sue Viders; titled: The Complete Guide to Hero's and Heroines Sixteen master Archetypes. I think Bella is the BestFriend and Edward the Tortured Soul. Jakob grows into the Chief he was meant to be and all the responsibilities. His responsibilities he shoulders and he wraps those he loves in tenderness and demands compliance and loyalty of himself and others. Bella's archetype as a Best Friend fit perfectly with either Edward or Jacob. That's why there is such conflict. She loves to the detriment of herself and Edward and Jacob are trying to prevent that. I think she chooses Edward in the end because he needs her more and she needs to be needed...just a thought.
Are you tired of being human, having talented brain turning to a vampire in a good posture in ten minutes, Do you want to have power and influence over others, To be charming and desirable, To have wealth, health, without delaying in a good human posture and becoming an immortal? If yes, these your chance. It's a world of vampire where life get easier,We have made so many persons vampires and have turned them rich, You will assured long life and prosperity, You shall be made to be very sensitive to mental alertness, Stronger and also very fast, You will not be restricted to walking at night only even at the very middle of broad day light you will be made to walk, This is an opportunity to have the human vampire virus to perform in a good posture. If you are interested contact us on Vampirelord7878@gmail.com
ReplyDelete