Stephanie Meyer's popular novel, Twilight, tells the tale of two young lovers who are tempted to be together, knowing the consequences of this decision. The cover art used on the novel represents something deeper. Two hands cup the red apple, the “Forbidden Fruit.” It has existed since the beginning of time—temptation, I mean. The apple represents something more though, something that Fanpire, a short novel by Tanya Erzen about the Twilight Saga and its fandom, argues only popular culture allows: choice. There exists the choice of good or evil, right and wrong.
We all want what we can’t have. Everything that seems impossible to have seems better. Edward wants Bella. He is tempted to bite her, knowing well that this will only benefit him and hurt her. Bella is tempted to betray Edward, when the two are in a relationship, to get with Jacob. Edward’s family takes Edward’s temptation to bite Bella onto their own shoulders wanting this too…perhaps more. Bella is tempted to leave her own father for the unknown, knowing good and well that she and her father will likely get hurt in the end. Bella is tempted to dig too deep and meddle in places that ought not to be meddled in: bringing vampires and werewolves together. Her researching the history in the area reveals that the two will never be alike, but still, Bella, in essence, starts a whole new battle between the sworn enemies (vampires and werewolves).
Everyone wants what they know that they shouldn’t or can’t have. The page before the Preface, in Twilight, says, “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, though shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Genesis 2:17 Stephenie Meyer seems to have chosen this verse to foreshadow the temptations characters would be faced with.
Even in a book filled with fantasy, the theme of temptation is relatable to everyone. I believe that temptation and religion go hand-in-hand. Stephenie Meyer included many other religious references in the novel, for example, saving sex for marriage. Fanpire writes about the current “hook up” culture and argues that it does not agree with Meyer’s belief. People are tempted to take the easy way out—meet a guy, hook up with him from time to time (when it’s convenient, of course!). But this is a temptation. Regardless of which is right or wrong, staying in a relationship or just hooking up, we have a choice. Just like the “Forbidden Fruit,” we know one is the more tempting but can also end badly.
We all want what we can’t have. Everything that seems impossible to have seems better. Edward wants Bella. He is tempted to bite her, knowing well that this will only benefit him and hurt her. Bella is tempted to betray Edward, when the two are in a relationship, to get with Jacob. Edward’s family takes Edward’s temptation to bite Bella onto their own shoulders wanting this too…perhaps more. Bella is tempted to leave her own father for the unknown, knowing good and well that she and her father will likely get hurt in the end. Bella is tempted to dig too deep and meddle in places that ought not to be meddled in: bringing vampires and werewolves together. Her researching the history in the area reveals that the two will never be alike, but still, Bella, in essence, starts a whole new battle between the sworn enemies (vampires and werewolves).
Everyone wants what they know that they shouldn’t or can’t have. The page before the Preface, in Twilight, says, “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, though shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Genesis 2:17 Stephenie Meyer seems to have chosen this verse to foreshadow the temptations characters would be faced with.
Even in a book filled with fantasy, the theme of temptation is relatable to everyone. I believe that temptation and religion go hand-in-hand. Stephenie Meyer included many other religious references in the novel, for example, saving sex for marriage. Fanpire writes about the current “hook up” culture and argues that it does not agree with Meyer’s belief. People are tempted to take the easy way out—meet a guy, hook up with him from time to time (when it’s convenient, of course!). But this is a temptation. Regardless of which is right or wrong, staying in a relationship or just hooking up, we have a choice. Just like the “Forbidden Fruit,” we know one is the more tempting but can also end badly.