http://www.crosswalk.com/
je's COMMENT I've read the whole series, and enjoyed them, and I think the fascination is simple: Edward is a vampire who does not kill humans, who loves a simple teenaged human girl. His attraction to her (for her blood) is strong because she has an enticing "fragrance," but his love for her is stronger. He's dangerous, but he controls himself. As a literary character, he fulfills innocent girls' wishes for a strong, brave, platonic hero, all romance without embarrassment, pain or messiness--prince charming--who sweeps the heroine off her feet, carries her to safety, cradles her, fights for her. He fights to save her life from those who want to kill her. He sweeps her behind him and stands bravely to defend. He can't bear to be separated from her and literally carries her to mountain heights and tops of towering trees. When she begs him to change her from human to vampire, he refuses because he loves her too much to see her miss out on meaningful life experiences as a human. The Twilight series doesn't follow any of the historical or literary precedents: vampires are able to live in the daylight but must hide because their skin sparkles as diamonds and they don't sleep in coffins or dress in 16th century costumes. They are fabulously wealthy because they've been around for decades or centuries. The werewolves are not the same either. They are protectors against vampires. Where vampires are cool, dangerous and independently powerful, werewolves are warm, strong and pack-oriented. Werewolves protect the town and their village from attack by aberrant vampires. They are always men and always strong and always physically attractive. Their werewolfishness is hereditary. People attacked do not become werewolves, they just die. Once a young man attains a certain age and there is danger in the area, he learns to change into his werewolf self (and to carry a change of clothing because what he was wearing is destroyed each time and running home in the nude is cold.) I haven't read the article, so I don't know what the writer says, but I don't think Twilight is likely to lead girls away from God. Twilight is a fairy tale dressed up in blue jeans and glittering skin with innocent temptations and heart-thumping gallantry. The books aren't even well written-- way too much dialogue and hardly any narrative or description. The writer's skill improved with each book, but never approaches literature. It's simply mind-candy, a 21st century fairy tale. The girls who read Twilight long for a man who loves them, defends them, shelters them and desires them. That's not such a bad thing to wish for now, is it?
friend's REBUTTAL
Thanks for writing from the perspective that I can't...and that is, one who has read the series. But just speaking to what you mentioned in your last paragraph...
"It's simply mind-candy, a 21st century fairy tale. The girls who read Twilight long for a man who loves them, defends them, shelters them and desires them. That's not such a bad thing to wish for now, is it?"
...that can be a concern, depending on the emotional makeup of the girls themselves. I think what the author of the article is trying to say is, if a young lady looks to a human to fulfill the ultimate longings of her heart for love, acceptance, protection, then she will be misled and ultimately disappointed and unfulfilled, because only God can meet the deepest needs we have--and that's true for males or females. Further, I think she's concerned about the "dysfunction" of the relationship...based on what you wrote, it truly is unworkable from the outset, because they are mismatched, and it can be said that the unattainable/impermissible relationship has more allure than one that can be pursued freely. The clandestine or "forbidden fruit" factor is one that we don't want to foster in our kids, if that is indeed a concept that fits this series. The author of this book is "cashing in" on the natural desire of a woman's heart. But those natural desires can lead us astray, if we aren't taught discernment. I have 3 nieces who are reaping the heartbreaking consequences of following ONLY their heart and instincts...literally, having "looked for love in all the wrong places"...and their children are bearing, and will continue to bear, the brunt of their choices, as well. As I know all too well, unhealthy relationships and choices can reap generational pain, even for those who belong to the Lord. With the divorce rate in the US well above 50% (and even within the church), we have many young people whose hearts ARE yearning for love, assurance, safety, acceptance from the opposite sex; looking for the foundation and affirmations that come from a healthy, intact family, but it's not there. Teen pregnancies and rampant STD's are one indicator that kids are looking for love...and yet are settling for the counterfeit that the enemy offers. In my own life, I know that the lack of those things was a big factor in my "Cinderella/Prince Charming" mentality, and only by the grace of God did I not end up in some reallllly bad relationships. So...providing our young people with positive role models and examples of healthy, godly, mature relationships founded on God's principles--and investing in one's own healthy relationship with God first and finding wholeness in Him--is what I think the author is driving at. I think what it confirmed for me is that it's incumbent upon John and me to offer words of warning to Joseph to guard his heart and mind...to look at everything through the lens of Scripture and God's principles and seek Him first.
No comments:
Post a Comment