One of the worst things that a person can do on the outset of any relationship is begin talking about the long game, or moving too fast with plans for the relationship. No one, man or woman, wants to really hear about what things could be like if they move in together during the first couple weeks. The quicker a person tries to latch on the more pungent the stink of desperation. Some things should be enjoyed for what they are, living in the moment, and the first mention of the long term immediately ruins the "honeymoon" phase of the relationship, it becomes less dreamy and more real. Who really wants real when they are drunk on infatuation? Bella decides that after spending a chaste night with Edward to ruin the newness of the relationship, "Well, I did wonder...about you and me...someday."
Then again, she's young. At 17 I know this has a different impact than on someone who is 21-30 for two reasons: first a teenager tends to think that the way things are now is the way that things are always going to be. That first girlfriend/boyfriend is the one simply because they are the one. It's really the only relationship that there is experience with so why not act as if it will always be the case. Secondly at 17, no one really has any idea of what "the rest of your life" actually means. The body may be telling you that this relationship is going to last forever, but in the back of everyone's head at that age is the knowledge that life still needs to be lived; education, work, then possibly family.
Edward, though has every reason to act like a guy who has just been given the relationship talk by the new girlfriend. Because Edward isn't 17, despite how incorrectly he is written as being that age. He's had over a century of life under his belt and despite his insistence that he's "still a man" he acts like this is the first relationship he's ever had...which is possible but not plausible. We have been told that the Cullens have been nomadic but with their proclivity to interacting in society and repeatedly going to high school, there ought to have been at least one before. Maybe nothing serious but perhaps casual so when Bella drops the marriage bomb on him he should be thinking along the lines that he could just wait this out. After all the scythe of time will harvest her, but not him.
Secondly, if Bella thinks that this is going to be a life long relationship for her...it won't be for him. For Edward, who ought to be more experienced in such matters, should know that feelings change. In the long game, which for him is actually pretty short, she could just grow tired of his constant threats, tyranny, and iron handed treatment of her. Finally he acts like a real person telling Bella that the marriage between his siblings (remember they aren't really related) won't be their future. Unfortunately his reasons are not normal, "If I was hasty...if for one second I wasn't paying enough attention, I could reach out, meaning to touch your face, and crush your skull by mistake."
All of the times that Edward has gently brushed her cheek or removed a lock of hair from her eyes, he's been attempting to not crush her skull? Exactly how does he brush her face with an open hand applying his palm to her nose? I can't fathom for an instant how one could accidentally crush someone else's skull. The skull is one of the strongest parts of the human body being spherical in shape it resists that exact force, it's like trying to crush an egg in your fist (do over sink). There's no way that he can seriously fear accidentally killing her, unless he gets angry or frustrated at conversations about eternal commitment during their first couple weeks of dating.
There's also an awkward conversation about sex as well. The two makes sure that each one is physically attracted to each other. Edward subtly asks if Bella is a virgin, first laying the groundwork that love and lust don't necessarily coincide. Ok, that works, and once she answers that she's "never" he seems satisfied. I am curious to wonder what would have happened if she weren't a virgin. What if, back in Phoenix, under the guidance of her hippie mother she had sex with someone and that's why she's shy and introverted. Maybe the most popular guy in the school slept with her and then dumped her right after. Would Edward run or be disgusted? It's too bad we will never know because if that had happened in Phoenix Bella's character would be infinitely more sympathetic and likable even if nothing else was different. It would explain everything, her dislike of Mike, her unwillingness to enter into real friendships with the other girls in the school, etc. Unfortunately Bella's purity actually makes her more unlikable but more appealing to Edward. What about Edward?
"That's nice. We have that one thing in common, at least."
Edward's virginity is more of a mystery to me. Not because of his age, I guess he could really be saving himself, but because of the age he was when he was turned. At 17, during the earliest of the 20th century it's not uncommon for someone to have already been married or at least entered into an arranged marriage by their parents...depending on his social class. Yet, if he was as attractive then as he is now, it doesn't seem to be that far fetched that some shenanigans may have been indulged in. Remember, he used to be a teenager, and at 17 the male mind is pretty occupied with one thing and he's been 17 for a long time. Yet Edward's sexual status means nothing to his character. Unlike Bella, it wouldn't change my opinion of him at all.
Bella having spent the night cuddling with him in bed is now flushed with excitement, "The face in the mirror was practically a stranger-eyes too bright, hectic spots of red across my cheekbones." I love pointing out when Meyer does good work and again, it's with descriptions that she really shines. Bella has that flush that comes only from being high in the dawn of new love, our author really puts us into her shoes here.
She even continues with some playful flirting and joking too, it gives me hope for the rest of the book. Edward reminds Bella that she has to eat something, which I guess makes sense although it should have been Bella that reminded Edward. When he tells her that it's breakfast time, Bella jokingly guards her neck with her hands. I have to admit that I laughed. It's cute and it's funny, she's showing a human side of her playing with the notion that she's over the special difference between them. Unfortunately Edward doesn't think so and rebukes her for bringing levity to their relationship where it apparently has no place.
It was explained to me that an appeal of Edward is that he can sleep next to a girl, all night, and not grope or try to sex her up. Ok, I get that can be appealing, but he has no sense of humor which is the number one thing I hear from women about what is attractive in a guy. The joke, is funny, and I'm not the only one that thinks so.
"It was very funny, and you know it." But I examined his gold eyes carefully, to make sure that I was forgiven. Apparently, I was."
If his ability to not go for home base while sleeping next to a girl is desirable, I can buy it. But if he follows that up the next morning by getting so angry at a joke that Bella has to search for contrition after making a joke, I'm back to hating the character and by transition the people that adore him. Edward is apparently the ideal boyfriend unless he's hungry, in a bad mood, or otherwise agitated because then he's reminding Bella how easy it is for him to kill her. Which of course means that the next logical step is for him to introduce her to his family.
Then again, she's young. At 17 I know this has a different impact than on someone who is 21-30 for two reasons: first a teenager tends to think that the way things are now is the way that things are always going to be. That first girlfriend/boyfriend is the one simply because they are the one. It's really the only relationship that there is experience with so why not act as if it will always be the case. Secondly at 17, no one really has any idea of what "the rest of your life" actually means. The body may be telling you that this relationship is going to last forever, but in the back of everyone's head at that age is the knowledge that life still needs to be lived; education, work, then possibly family.
Edward, though has every reason to act like a guy who has just been given the relationship talk by the new girlfriend. Because Edward isn't 17, despite how incorrectly he is written as being that age. He's had over a century of life under his belt and despite his insistence that he's "still a man" he acts like this is the first relationship he's ever had...which is possible but not plausible. We have been told that the Cullens have been nomadic but with their proclivity to interacting in society and repeatedly going to high school, there ought to have been at least one before. Maybe nothing serious but perhaps casual so when Bella drops the marriage bomb on him he should be thinking along the lines that he could just wait this out. After all the scythe of time will harvest her, but not him.
Secondly, if Bella thinks that this is going to be a life long relationship for her...it won't be for him. For Edward, who ought to be more experienced in such matters, should know that feelings change. In the long game, which for him is actually pretty short, she could just grow tired of his constant threats, tyranny, and iron handed treatment of her. Finally he acts like a real person telling Bella that the marriage between his siblings (remember they aren't really related) won't be their future. Unfortunately his reasons are not normal, "If I was hasty...if for one second I wasn't paying enough attention, I could reach out, meaning to touch your face, and crush your skull by mistake."
All of the times that Edward has gently brushed her cheek or removed a lock of hair from her eyes, he's been attempting to not crush her skull? Exactly how does he brush her face with an open hand applying his palm to her nose? I can't fathom for an instant how one could accidentally crush someone else's skull. The skull is one of the strongest parts of the human body being spherical in shape it resists that exact force, it's like trying to crush an egg in your fist (do over sink). There's no way that he can seriously fear accidentally killing her, unless he gets angry or frustrated at conversations about eternal commitment during their first couple weeks of dating.
There's also an awkward conversation about sex as well. The two makes sure that each one is physically attracted to each other. Edward subtly asks if Bella is a virgin, first laying the groundwork that love and lust don't necessarily coincide. Ok, that works, and once she answers that she's "never" he seems satisfied. I am curious to wonder what would have happened if she weren't a virgin. What if, back in Phoenix, under the guidance of her hippie mother she had sex with someone and that's why she's shy and introverted. Maybe the most popular guy in the school slept with her and then dumped her right after. Would Edward run or be disgusted? It's too bad we will never know because if that had happened in Phoenix Bella's character would be infinitely more sympathetic and likable even if nothing else was different. It would explain everything, her dislike of Mike, her unwillingness to enter into real friendships with the other girls in the school, etc. Unfortunately Bella's purity actually makes her more unlikable but more appealing to Edward. What about Edward?
"That's nice. We have that one thing in common, at least."
Edward's virginity is more of a mystery to me. Not because of his age, I guess he could really be saving himself, but because of the age he was when he was turned. At 17, during the earliest of the 20th century it's not uncommon for someone to have already been married or at least entered into an arranged marriage by their parents...depending on his social class. Yet, if he was as attractive then as he is now, it doesn't seem to be that far fetched that some shenanigans may have been indulged in. Remember, he used to be a teenager, and at 17 the male mind is pretty occupied with one thing and he's been 17 for a long time. Yet Edward's sexual status means nothing to his character. Unlike Bella, it wouldn't change my opinion of him at all.
Bella having spent the night cuddling with him in bed is now flushed with excitement, "The face in the mirror was practically a stranger-eyes too bright, hectic spots of red across my cheekbones." I love pointing out when Meyer does good work and again, it's with descriptions that she really shines. Bella has that flush that comes only from being high in the dawn of new love, our author really puts us into her shoes here.
She even continues with some playful flirting and joking too, it gives me hope for the rest of the book. Edward reminds Bella that she has to eat something, which I guess makes sense although it should have been Bella that reminded Edward. When he tells her that it's breakfast time, Bella jokingly guards her neck with her hands. I have to admit that I laughed. It's cute and it's funny, she's showing a human side of her playing with the notion that she's over the special difference between them. Unfortunately Edward doesn't think so and rebukes her for bringing levity to their relationship where it apparently has no place.
It was explained to me that an appeal of Edward is that he can sleep next to a girl, all night, and not grope or try to sex her up. Ok, I get that can be appealing, but he has no sense of humor which is the number one thing I hear from women about what is attractive in a guy. The joke, is funny, and I'm not the only one that thinks so.
"It was very funny, and you know it." But I examined his gold eyes carefully, to make sure that I was forgiven. Apparently, I was."
If his ability to not go for home base while sleeping next to a girl is desirable, I can buy it. But if he follows that up the next morning by getting so angry at a joke that Bella has to search for contrition after making a joke, I'm back to hating the character and by transition the people that adore him. Edward is apparently the ideal boyfriend unless he's hungry, in a bad mood, or otherwise agitated because then he's reminding Bella how easy it is for him to kill her. Which of course means that the next logical step is for him to introduce her to his family.
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