Twilight: Good, Bad, or Ugly?

The Good

Scenery and Symbolism

The scenery for this novel is well-chosen, well-crafted and aids in setting the mood. Dreary overcast days on more than eighty percent of the year in a backwater town allow the perfect backdrop for a secretive coven of vampires. The story that follows does not necessarily patternize itself with the weather, but there are many spots within that do have that connection through symbolism; rain and sunlight being the most obvious. The fog of course is more of a symbol for ambiguity and mystery. (Yet eventually, because of the monotonous drear, the reader loses a sense for the fog, and becomes more concerned about the actual mystery.)

Narrative Voice

In many ways this is an easy read. It has a vernacular flow and rhythm which sets the pace for the entire series, and it maintains a level of suspense throughout. Aside from the fact that it’s written in the first person point of view, the narrative voice or style presents a keen perspective which is somewhat empathetic, and immediately sympathetic. Of course, that has partly to do with the first person perspective chosen, but not all to do with it. We don’t empathize completely because of certain disbelievable actions and reactions on the part of the main protagonist, Bella.

However, it was particularly clever on Meyer’s part to choose a first person point of view. It gave an extra edge to the suspense she unfolded. It allowed her to create an even thicker veil of fog between the reader and the reserved Cullens. It also could be said to represent the barrier between Edward’s and Bella’s minds.

The first person POV could be considered both good and bad…

The Bad

Scenery and Symbolism

It is highly recommended that amateur or beginner writers not attempt first person point of view. Because of the difficulties mentioned below, it is a very challenging mode of operation for a writer. That’s why first person novels are rare.

When composing scenery for novels, most writers rely on the third person point of view because they are able to pick and choose details that would not readily be available to or understood symbolically by the characters within. It is an easier process for the writer who chooses the third person perspective. By writing in the first person, Meyer denied herself that luxury and hence was restricted to details that were only available to Bella or that were conveyed to her by other characters. This can be a particularly difficult process and can make or break a novel. This of course means that the author must consider the appropriateness of the character for the first person story, in order that good scenery and symbolism is chosen.

That person must be of an astute, aware, and observational nature, not just ‘cultured’. That person must understand their circumstances, their actions and reactions (if not before then after), and how they affect and are affected by their surroundings. This is one area in which Meyer failed to deliver: Bella is not a very observant person. The scenery we are shown is barely enough to get us along from scene to scene. Meyer relies too heavily on the suspense to carry the reader through. The novel may be successful, but it is not because of Bella.

Narrative Voice

It is partly because of Bella’s lack of self-awareness that everything happens in this story. She does not fully understand what is happening, and that in turn does slightly add to the suspense.

However, the connection between reader and story is limited through Bella, and that could have been a catalyst for the novel’s downfall. In her narrative, Meyer lacks a convincing voice in Bella. Bella is not a confident or smart girl, and her carelessness is not attributable to being awkward: she just does not care for her own safety. This remiss attitude toward her own well-being puts others in harm’s way. She does not make smart choices. She has many flaws that turn readers’ attention away from her.

Fortunately for Meyer, she had a counterweight to that problem: Edward. Bella herself said that Edward was flawless, and for the novel’s sake, he is. He has what Bella does not. Bella may be the main protagonist of the book, but Edward is the hero. It is his decisions, his awareness and observant nature that carry the story through to its end. He cares. That is why the story with its flawed main character works: because Edward comes to her rescue, in more ways than the normal reader can count.

The Ugly

Personally, I didn’t think the novel was great. It was okay reading because it was interesting. My beef was with Bella. I disagree with Meyer’s choice for a main character here. There were so many times that I read through Bella’s careless mistakes or stupidity shaking my head and wanting to throw the book away. Now, I may be only one person, so mine may be only one opinion, but if Edward wasn’t the character that he was, I seriously doubt the novel would’ve gotten past an editor’s desk.