English Literature

The thing about literature is its often associated with the classics.  Although I cant help but agree, I also feel that its but right to try and focus on a piece of fiction that for some reason, captured the young people of today - the Twilight Series.

Perhaps the movie made it worse, or maybe, the Internet did, whatever is the reason, I cant help but notice that its a trend I cannot simply ignore.  It may pass but until then, Id like to be part of that group who knows whats happening than rather be part of that group who is ignorant of timely literature   even if its fiction.

The Twilight Series in essence, is a chic literature focusing on the love story between a human and a vampire (Bella and Edward)   something repelling so to speak. Meshed with that romance is the existence of the best friend-wolf, Jacob whos also in love with Bella making the love story a love triangle instead.  Further intricacies on family, sex, crime, society and culture makes the story more compelling (in one way or another) and as mentioned, truly popular.  This includes having vampire enemies, getting the vampire council (Volturi) interested and trying not to get killed or turned into a vampire in brutal way.  Come to think of it, its really a vampire story, just an awful setting and mushy direction to build up the story.  Many women  buy that .  They fall for the love spell over the gore and monstrousity of it.

Newtons Third Law of Motion states that  for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.  I have to establish that this essay adheres to that, even if you cant measure the  amount  of the reactants and the reaction itself.  A cause and an effect, when applied to life experiences, do not have an  end  result.  It becomes a continuous and evolving energy that moves itself without being noticed.  The gift of choice is a powerful tool, only, many abuse the fact that they have the options to choose from.

It was described in the book that Wolves are actually the protector of men.  Vampires being predators became the wolves greatest enemy as they are capable of killing and hurting human beings, something that the wolves will not allow.  Over time, the number of wolves has lessened as vampires began to choose solitary lives, most of the time, away from both humans and civility alike.  It was now vampires nature to move from one place to another and to feed with respect to life.  A new era is being born and along those lines came the Cullens, a group of 7 who has chosen a  vegetarian diet  (feeding off from animals and not on humans) and opting peach over the cold war with the wolves.  The Cullens and the Wolf pack of La Push made a truce, an agreement to keep the peace, respect territory and co-exist.  In a way, that agreement favors the pack and the human beings because it generally states the limitations the Cullens have in order to stay in Forks   that they will stay away from La Push, that they will not make more vampires and they will survive off in whatever diet, as long as its not murder (human).  Come to think of it, the Cullens must really either love humans too much or too tired to be the vampire that they were.  Their will, strength and power are more than enough to instill what they want and get it, but they chose otherwise.

It so happened that in that group of 7, one was isolatedsingled out for being so picky in finding a companion.  It was never going to be an issue for him until the first cause came.

The first cause is the arrival of Bella Swan.  Bella Swan is the daughter of Forks Chief, Charlie Swan.  She grew up with her mother but has decided to leave and move in with her dad.  She felt that her mother may not be saying anything but she knew that her mother would love to spend quality time and travel with her steady boyfriend.  With her out of the  worry , her mother will have a chance to be happy.  She just loves her mother too much.  Now, Bella is a very independent adolescent but what sets her apart are the weird things, like her unusual preference for books over clothes and parties and her leaning to instrumental music  She wasnt the friendly or talkative type either.  She was just a quiet kid who loves her mother so much that she will trade her good life to a different one in Forks   that weird of a person.  Bella has issues against her dad but nothing that shall ruin her sense of respect for him.  Her coming to Forks brought about a wave of effect on many people.

Charlie now has to face dealing with an adolescent.  Never choosing to re-marry, his life was mostly about his work and his friends.  Bella is now part of that list and major adjustment has to happen.  Being a new girl in town, Bella also affected the school.  Many boys were interested, mostly with how she looks rather than whatever other reason.   Even, Bellas childhood friend, Jacob, seemed interested. Then, there was Edward.

Bellas arrival meant one thing for Edward displacement.  When she arrived, Edward immediately noticed two things a quiet mind (he couldnt hear her thoughts) and a repugnant smell (her human blood is so strong its hard to resist the craving).  That means, for the first time in Edwards vampire existence, he couldnt quite figure out how to handle himself or better yet, how to handle Bella. And that was proven across the books with the actions he took.

So the first way to affect a character in a story is by mere existence or arrival.  This is true for Edward and Im sure, for Jacob too.

The second cause Id like to focus on is Bellas reaction to Jacob.  Bella was never the type of girl who will choose to lead you on.  Having that look of innocence and being a stranger in the town, it was hard to question her actions or doubt her intentions.  Going to La Push and taking time to be with Jacob, even if her mind was on Edward, was a sleek ploy.  What she found out then did help her have more ideas about Edward but what she did has a different effect on Jacob.  It was the beginning or probably, the continuation of Jacobs further interest in her.

Id like to say that taking the initiative to  do something  affects every other factor surrounding that action.  The action outweighs the intention.  I think if Bella didnt have to be so convincing with Jacob, he wouldnt have to suffer through the Twilight Series.  I think things would have changed a lot if she was honest with her intentions and if she was direct with her questions.  Why would it be so difficult to ask a guy something about another guy  Is it that pre-conceived notion that men are not supposed to be well-informed Or shall I say...  nosy  

If I was to focus on Bellas perspective based on the action she made, I would say that she was pretty successful.  I guess she was just not thinking of the possible consequence or repercussion of her actions.  In a way, everything she did throughout the book can be described as one thing she was in love with Edward all along.   She caught his interest, she tracked him and well, she got his attention.  I know that her being clumsy and all is part of the Bella picture, however, I just cant throw out that fact   that she was a disturbed and obsessed teenager.

Earlier I mentioned how the gift of choice makes a difference in life experiences.  In the wild, nature takes care of the plants and the life cycle continues, but that was just it   either they survive or they die  With human beings, its different.  They act upon a situation by assessing which will bring forth the most ideal result.  It may start off as a list of options but in the end, it was going to be  To do or not to do  and this is why I think the actual action   the initiative to do something, moves or affects a character as much as the first cause.

The third cause Id like to focus on is the  reaction  to an arrival.  This shall seal my notion about Newtons third law and closes my three causes in a circle.  The example I mentioned earlier pertains to Bellas arrival and the effect it brought about everyone.  This time, Id like to focus on the reaction   which is both the effect and the cause of something else.

After meeting Bella, Edward wanted to change his schedule and do everything he can to prevent seeing Bella.  This made Bella curious and was going to be the basis of the next turn of events, until the time that both of them found themselves in love with each other.

Jacob, on the other hand, made an extra effort after finding out that Bella arrived.  He drove the car he fixed for Charlie towards his house.  This made Bella feel grateful, knowing someone from long ago but Jacob, I guess didnt see it that way (and especially after the second cause).

There were other  arrival  situations within the book at where the reactioneffect became the cause of another.

After James covens arrival during the baseball match, Edwards reaction was that of unease, discomfort and immediate worry as such, he jumped on having to protect Bella.  Although he has every reason to do so, this reaction brought about a challenge for James   one that moved the story further into a rising piece.

James was another vampire passing through Forks but because of Edwards reaction, he took matters into a much complicated cause   to kill Bella, annoy Edward and pick up a fight.

The Cullens reaction on that was similar to Edward   to that of protection but I find Bellas reaction really funny.  She just went by whatever the vampires thought was best   which based on the book was better than by fending for herself.  Come to think of it, Bella rarely had a reaction that she acted upon in the book, whenever there was something that arrives or something that was acknowledged as existing, Bella does one thing, be afraid, be a victim.  I know thats too harsh of a description, its just annoying, it was always Bella needing saving.

Another example is The Cullens arrival brought about the reaction of  agreement  between the Wolves.  One that Edward was soon going to break and Jacob was going to prevent.

Discussing cause and effect is a fallacy, at least in my perspective.  Its an endless cycle of determining causes and effects, bringing about a reaction, a new cause and another effect.  One cause can bring about a penchant of results, in turn being causes themselves for other events.  Its like genetics.  There is really no finding out how it started or from where.  In literature on the other hand, in books, to be specific, it doesnt have to be too broad.  Pre-conditions and limitations are established and it will be easier to determine what was the first cause and how things fell into picture.  This is how it was for me with the book, Twilight.