Breaking Dawn: Chapter 1 - Engaged
Jan. 31st, 2010 03:14 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
zelda_queenZeldaQueen: Bring it!
Chapter 1 - Engaged
ZeldaQueen: We start off with Bella fussing because she thinks that everyone is staring at her. She continues to reassure herself that no one is, only to turn and see that some woman named Mrs. Weber is indeed staring. Bella gets all upset over this and goes on about how staring is rude and no one applies that rule to her. Apparently the car Bella is driving is something new and oh-so-wonderful and attracting a lot of unwanted attention. We also see that two pedestrians are apparently so captivated by the car that they forget to cross the street and someone named Mr. Marshall who is staring through his shop window. "At least he didn't have his nose pressed up against the glass. Yet." Normally, I'd consider that rather self-centered and want to shout "No one gives a hoot about your car!" Except that it seems that people actually do. Because everything that Bella has is that good.
So we find out that this is not Bella's old truck, which she had a love/hate relationship with in the prior books (love/hate as in she said she loved it, but whined about every little thing wrong with it). This new car seems to be much newer and faster and she's having a terrible time handling it. She also mentions how she has gone without Pop-Tarts and shoelaces just because she doesn't want to drive into town and have people stare. Poor her.
We get a recap on Forks, which she lives in (it's drizzly and depressing), how she doesn't care if people stare at her (she does), and how she has been the center of attention since she became engaged, was accepted to an Ivy-League college, and got the new car and a "shiny black credit card". Yes, that really sounds like a terrible lot in life, doesn't it? Considering that her life used to be middle-class and dull, suddenly finding herself with a great car, college, and the man of her dreams just isn't worth the pesky inconvenience of being stared at. Also, how would so many people even know about half of that stuff? The car, fine. But how would they know she was engaged? Edward didn't seem to talk to anybody outside of his family and Bella, freaked out as she is, wouldn't seem likely to tell anyone. As for the college, again it's not like the entire town would know. One would imagine that Bella would only tell her friends (which appear to be limited to Angela and Mike and Ben on the human end) and her family (which seems to consist only of her parents). So unless she went singing from the rooftops "La la la, I got into an Ivy League college!" the entire population of Forks shouldn't know. And all of that should go doubly for her credit card. It's a little bit of plastic that fits in her pocket. The only people who ought to see it are, again, the people she shows it to. And the people she uses it to buy stuff from of course. So why does she worry about these things? It's not like the people of Forks go around and gossip about what college Bella got into. Actually, given how the previous books went, that probably is how it works. *sighs*
Oh, and black credit card? I wonder... *scans Wikipedia* Ah! Here we go! Looks like the black credit card was originally an urban legend about a card with high spending power. If we go off of the real thing, it's a card issued by American Express by invitation only. While the exact requirements for an invitation aren't know, Wikipedia here says that "reported that U.S requirements include minimum card activity of $250,000 in a 12 month period, substantial net worth, and exceptional credit history. Requirements may be waived for celebrities or major public figures."
Right, I call shenanigans here. While it's not explicitly stated, the credit card is a gift from Edward Cullen. It's really the only way Bella could get a card like that. Here's the thing though: if it's by invitation only, then wouldn't it be in Edward's name? Edward's the one with the huge amount of money to hit the speculated 250k requirement. And no, I refuse to believe that Bella would ever be considered a celebrity or major public figure to have the requirements waived for her. So how could Bella use the card then, if it's in her fiance's name? She's definitely not an Edward and they're not married yet so there's no relation at all. And surely American Express wouldn't want such a prestigious card to be transferred to a random chick in Forks who obviously doesn't spend that much money. Oh, and one more thing - I'm not exactly sure what signing up for a credit card entails (having never had one myself), but I'd assume that some personal information is required (Social Security Number, bank info, etc). Since Edward gave her the card (and let's pretend that he somehow got it in her name), I'd presume that Edward filled out her information for it. Bella obviously isn't comfortable with the card, which leads me to conclude that either (A) Edward pressured her into giving him the information to fill out or (B) He filled it out without her knowledge or consent. And if it's (B), then HOW DOES HE KNOW THAT STUFF??? Seriously? If a guy knows that sort of information about you, you're usually urged to CALL THE POLICE!
Ugh! Moving on, Bella is asked by some men about her car and it turns out to be a Mercedes Guardian. Huh. She seems rather unimpressed with their enthusiasm over it. Although considering that she's driving a car that, according to Mr. Wikipedia, is used by ninety governments to protect world leaders, I'm not surprised that car geeks would go nuts. That'd be like a Harry Potter fan finding out that someone got a finished copy of Deathly Hallows months before it was scheduled for sale. Bella, for her part, seems far more interested in mentally whining about how she's going to be married, hates the thought of it (Why? You already want to spend an eternity with the guy, what's making it legal going to matter?), and can't imagine Edward in anything as mundane as a wedding. Hooo boy...
She then jumps to reminiscing about her old truck, which "mysteriously" broke down beyond repair just weeks after Bella agreed that Edward could replace it, in the event that it went to the Junkyard In The Sky. *closes eyes and then jumps onto Google* Well dearie me, look at what we have here: Top 10 Signs of a Controlling Boyfriend. And right there in the #3 spot - the buying of expensive presents to help him feel superior over the girl. I might add that on a creepier note, Bella's old truck was a homecoming gift from her dad, one of the few things he did for her that she seemed to enjoy and appreciate to a degree. And it seriously looks like Edward broke it, just so that he could replace it. With something expensive and shiny that he picked out. Despite surely knowing that Bella really liked the truck and wasn't comfortable with expensive, extravagant presents. Gee, if I didn't know any better, it would sound like HE WAS TRYING TO REPLACE HER FAMILY WITH HIMSELF! And yes, yes, I know that it's only a suspicion and we never really know if he broke the truck, but I might also point to the fact that Edward had no problem screwing with the engine to keep the truck from running in Eclipse and stealing the keys from Bella to bring her truck home in Twilight/Midnight Sun. I'm sensing a kind of frightening patter here, between Edward and Bella's truck. How about you?
And then we get this:
“'Huh,” the tall one said. “Maybe. Can't imagine what you'd need missile-proof glass and four thousand pounds of body armor for around here. Must be headed somewhere more hazardous.'
Body armor. Four thousand pounds of body armor. And missile-proof glass? Nice. What had happened to good old-fashioned bulletproof?
Well, at least this made some sense–if you had a twisted sense of humor.
It wasn't like I hadn't expected Edward to take advantage of our deal, to weight it on his side so that he could give so much more than he would receive. I'd agreed that he could replace my truck when it needed replacing, not expecting that moment to come quite so soon, of course. When I'd been forced to admit that the truck had become no more than a still-life tribute to classic Chevys on my curb, I knew his idea of a replacement was probably going to embarrass me. Make me the focus of stares and whispers. I'd been right about that part. But even in my darkest imaginings I had not foreseen that he would get me two cars. The “before” car and the “after” car, he'd explained when I'd flipped out. This was just the “before” car. He'd told me it was a loaner and promised that he was returning it after the wedding. It all had made absolutely no sense to me. Until now. Ha ha. Because I was so fragilely human, so accident-prone, so much a victim to my own dangerous bad luck, apparently I needed a tank-resistant car to keep me safe. Hilarious. I was sure he and his brothers had enjoyed the joke quite a bit behind my back. Or maybe, just maybe, a small voice whispered in my head, it's not a joke, silly. Maybe he's really that worried about you. This wouldn't be the first time he's gone a little overboard trying to protect you."
ZeldaQueen: *sighs* Bella, m'dear, the fact that you are even thinking all of this about your fiance is not a good thing. I would like to point you to Point #2 of the aforementioned list - it's simply titled "You're Worthless". In short, a controlling boyfriend will make the girl feel as if she is helpless or worthless without him, usually during times of stress. Here, we see that Bella again finds it totally believable - even expected - of Edward to "take advantage" of their bargain. So not only does she suspect that he destroyed something of hers to replace it with something of his own, she also expected him to do it in such a way that would bother her. Embarrass her. Again, it was well established that she had issues with expensive gifts and repeatedly asked that he give her none. Here we see that he broke that rule twice - by giving her an uber-expensive and fancy car and by telling her that she's getting two cars. The first, the missile proof and armored one, is for before the wedding only. And Bella understands that it's because he thinks that she's so weak and fragile that she very well might get fatally injured in the weeks between their engagement and wedding and requires an armored car to protect herself. And she also believes that he and his brothers laughed about it. So I can only conclude that either Edward honestly believes that she is that clumsy and in danger or that he in fact gave her the car as a joke to insinuate that she is. If it's the first option, then that seems to speak very poorly of the amount of confidence he has in his soon-to-be-wife (although given some of the accidents she has had, one has to wonder if that would be totally unfounded. In which case, Meyer needs to make her main character a lot less ridiculous). If it's the second option, then I believe that would fit very nicely under the "You're Worthless" category. Edward knows that she's upset with the upcoming wedding and he gives her a gift that she obviously is bothered by as a joke to imply that she attracts more trouble than a Looney Tune character. Again, WTF?
Oh, and that "he really does care" line? Besides the fact that it sounds almost exactly like an abused wife quote, it kind of sounds like he doesn't care. Because if he did, he would sit down with Bella and discuss things before breaking her truck and giving her a car she obviously wouldn't like. Not to mention the fact that again, it would imply that he seems to consider herself to have the survival instincts of a dead fish, which I'm sure many people would agree with, but it's still rather cruel to give a gift that all but comes out and states it. If my boyfriend did something like that, I'd be a bit insulted really.
Anyway, we are also introduced to the fact that after getting married, she will be turned into a vampire. "The best parts about being a Cullen were not expensive cars and impressive credit cards." Oh, that's nice Bella. Besides getting to be filthy rich, you consider the "best part" to be ditching your humanity and getting to be gorgeous and indestructible and immortal. I would have thought that it would be to finally be married to the Man Of Your Dreams. That must come in as a close second or something.
Jumping from there, we move with all of the grace of a derailing train to the topic of Jacob Black the wolf boy. Who is apparently Jacob Black the Missing Wolf Boy. Seems that he was so cut up that Bella Swan, the only girl he would ever love (seriously, he's 16!) up and refused his advances and agreed to marry a vampire that he ran off in wolf form and hasn't been seen or heard from since. Bella's father is mighty bothered by this and for the life of him cannot understand why Jacob's father (or most of the people who know Jake) aren't more worried about this. Don't worry Charlie Swan, it's nothing personal. No one ever lets you into the loop, it's not just this one. For her part, Bella is all guilt-ridden and angsty and calls up one of the members of the wolf pack - Seth Clearwater - for any news. No one has any ideas though, since Jake is keeping his mind animal-like and thus is giving the pack no way of telling where he is. It also turns out that the wolves aren't very happy with Bella for rejecting Jacob, since God knows that a guy who forcibly kisses a girl and sends her on a guilt trip deserves her love. Given how they view imprinting (look at how they pick on poor Leah), I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Seth, God bless his heart, is the only one with a reasonable view, pointing out that Jacob and Bella both made their decisions. Turns out that Seth will also be at the wedding.
We are then treated to a flashback. It's at the Swan household, with Bella and Edward waiting to tell her dad, Charlie, the news about their engagement. Bella is terrified and Edward laughs at her for being so upset (how nice of him) and Charlie asks what's up. Bella fumbles with telling him that they have "good news" and Charlie quickly (and rather reasonably) jumps to the conclusion that she's pregnant. She quickly assures him that this is not the case and that she and Edward are actually getting married. He handles that marginally better and asks why they're in such a hurry. Bella knows it's because she's "getting closer to nineteen every stinking day, while Edward stayed frozen in all his seventeen-year-old perfection, as he had for over ninety years." I'm sorry, but why would it matter if Bella is biologically two years older than Edward? It's not uncommon for there to be gaps of five or ten years between the husband and wife. And if she's going to be frozen in time forever after they're married, it should only really matter if she looks close in age to Edward, shouldn't it? Vain girl. Anyway, Edward tells Charlie that it's because the two of them are going off to Dartmouth soon and they'd rather do things "the right way" before heading there. And:
"Charlie's mouth twisted to the side. Looking for an angle to argue from. But what could he say? I'd prefer you live in sin first? He was a dad; his hands were tied."
ZeldaQueen: How about "Get separate living quarters"? Seriously, there's no one forcing them to live together even if they attend the same college. Anyway, Charlie gives his blessing but then leaves handling Bella's mom Renee to them - which they all anticipate to be an ordeal since Renee married Charlie young and ended up leaving him and doesn't want her daughter to make the same mistakes she did.
Except that Renee apparently feels that Bella is so much more responsible and mature than she had been (HA, you obviously haven't been around your daughter that much, lady) and obviously loves Edward so much, that she's only miffed that Bella waited "so long" to tell her the news. Yes, apparently it was obvious to Renee that Bella and Edward were going to marry when they visited her back in April. After having known each other for, more or less, a YEAR, at least four of those months having been spent apart, in catatonic states.
You know, Meyer honestly should have just made Bella an orphan. She clearly had no idea how to believably handle a girl's parents reacting to an eighteen-year-old wedding, so she just did the Mary Sue "Everyone thinks it's so beautiful and accepts it without an issue" technique. And considering that the series is supposed to be about their forbidden love and the obstacles in it, what good is it when one of the potentially biggest obstacles (Bella's parents) just roll over and let them pass on by?
Oh, and I really love Charlie there. He's by far being the sensible one and the image of him going around muttering about not being able to trust anyone in the world is actually kind of funny.
Back in the present times, Bella comes home to find that Alice is fitting Charlie in a tux and he apparently looks quite handsome in it. There's a bit of nice interaction where Bella compliments him on it, before she goes into fits over the wedding dress which Alice brought for her to try on. Alice tells Bella to go to her happy place, which might have been kind of funny except that Bella then goes on for roughly ten paragraphs about sitting in a field with Edward, post-wedding, and him turning her into a vampire. It annoys me partly because I swear she can't go for two minutes without being with Edward or imagining being with him, but also because she says that "Edward had an obsessive sort of concern over the human things that I would be giving up, the experiences he didn't want me to miss. Most of them–like the prom, for example–seemed silly to me. There was only one human experience I worried about missing. Of course it would be the one he wished I would forget completely." You'know, as insensitive and controlling as Edward is, Bella comes off as just as bad sometimes. She has pressured him into sex before vamping which he is clearly concerned about (pretty legitimate concern too, seeing as he could break her in half if he so much as hugged her passionately) and dismisses his concern that she'd be giving up things to be with him. Things like prom - which are social events, where one spends time with friends (seriously, how often does Bella go out with her friends, hm? Especially without ulterior motives) - but also things like eating (which can honestly be an enjoyable thing that people like), and her family and friends! She seems unusually eager to jump into a life that means not only severing all ties with them, but leaving them under the impression that she died! There was another book that did something like that - Cirque du Freak - and let me tell you, the funeral scene wasn't happy or easy, it was sad. The main character talked about how everyone wept over his body and how he wanted to just sit up and go home with them and it was heartbreaking. And Bella is just ready to skip off and leave it all behind. And considers Edward's worrying over her losing these things as "obsessive concern".
AUGH! Hopefully this gets easier...
Projection Voices: Okay, ten minute break! Snacks and water in the next room.
ZeldaQueen: Thank God! *wanders off to get some Cheez-Its, Peanut M&Ms, and a banana. Because she actually likes food, unlike some*
Onward to: Chapter 2: Long Night
Back to: Preface
Return to: Table of Contents
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2010-01-31 08:51 am (UTC)Although might I request an LJ-cut?
(no subject)
Date: 2010-01-31 04:16 pm (UTC)And I'd love to, but I still need to figure out how to do those. ^^; The last time I tried, the post got all screwy.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-01-31 05:32 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-01 10:18 am (UTC)*Hoists FGM-148 Javelin Anti-Tank Missile*
That sounds like an invitation to me.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-01 12:22 pm (UTC)I'm sure she can give you tips. XD
(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-04 07:41 pm (UTC)/You'know, as insensitive and controlling as Edward is, Bella comes off as just as bad sometimes./
Oh, yes, at times I loathe her even more than I loathe Edward.
/She has pressured him into sex before vamping which he is clearly concerned about (pretty legitimate concern too, seeing as he could break her in half if he so much as hugged her passionately) and dismisses his concern that she'd be giving up things to be with him. Things like prom - which are social events, where one spends time with friends (seriously, how often does Bella go out with her friends, hm? Especially without ulterior motives) - but also things like eating (which can honestly be an enjoyable thing that people like), and her family and friends! She seems unusually eager to jump into a life that means not only severing all ties with them, but leaving them under the impression that she died!...And Bella is just ready to skip off and leave it all behind. And considers Edward's worrying over her losing these things as "obsessive concern"./
Because she's a selfish, inconsiderate brat who doesn't care about anybody but herself.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-04 05:54 pm (UTC)http://www.homestudycredit.com/courses/contentCR/secCR16.html
Counting, it's easy to see:
#1 - Edward pulling Bella, moving her, restraining her, actually grabbing her and dragging her along (i.e. physically moving). No hitting, but that's not the only physically abusive treatment an abusive boyfriend can commit.
#2 - At first sight Edward has decided he's found his "True Love" and within weeks, he's telling Bella she's the love of his life. Even worse, she reciprocates.
#3 - Edward has a crazy temper, as seen with his internal reactions with Mike, Jacob, and other perceived threats. His reaction toward normal humans, and his killing spree early in his life show off his frightening lack of control over his anger.
#4 - "Repeatedly puts you down"? Sound familiar? Edward constantly tells Bella how clumsy she is, how silly she is. he puts down all humans, Bella included, as "weak".
#5 - Bella's lifelines are slowly cut off during her infatuation with Edward. She stops speaking with her friends, many of whom are obviously concerned with her behavior. Edward drives a wedge between her and her father, always disrespecting Charlie and encouraging Bella to do likewise.
#6 - Edward is bipolar, alternatively mean and abusive to Bella, then sweet and romantic.
#7 - It's not systemic, but Edward does have occasions where he blames Bella for his own, sometimes violent, actions.
#8 - Edward does flip out at the thought of breakup, but it's hard to see this one because Bella never has the spine to even think of breaking up with him (although seeing how she acted in New Moon, it's easy to see the sociopathy related to this point as well).
#9 - Bella slowly loses her interests in all things that don't relate to Edward. She's a pretty shallow character as it is, but soon we see nothing of her personal hobbies outside of obsessing over Edward.
#10 - Umm, watching over Bella while she sleeps, anyone? He's always checking in on her, asking her about her behavior. And when Jacob gets involved, the controlling gets so much worse.
#11 - Don't see too much of this, but it is there occasionally. Edward will often make jokes at Bella's expense, often to his own family (especially Alice).
#12 - Edward does play the passive-aggressive game often with Bella, but it's hard to see this due to her infatuation with Edward.
#13 - This is obvious. Edward feels entitled in the extreme. From flashy cars and expensive clothes to breaking of the law (even murder), he always feels he is in the right.
#14 - Jessica and Charlie both cotton on quick. They tell Bella Edward is dangerous and both bring up red flags in Bella's behavior. They are labelled "enemies" and Edward encourages Bella to not listen to them.
#15 - Edward is full of terrible stories, of abuse, murder, and other dark imagery.
#16 - Edward treats neutral members of the opposite sex with disdain, arrogance, violent thoughts, insults, and disgust.
#17 - Edward's reputation is filled with hints about his dark side, and even a few whispers should be enough to raise a flag.
#18 - Bella is always considering her words around Edward, fearful of making him mad or upset. Other characters are likewise careful with their actions and conversation when Edward is near.
#19 - Edward clearly despises other people's opinions, Bella's least of all. Only Edward knows what is best for Bella, and her feelings are rarely taken into account. He even actively derides them.
#20 - Bella acts crazy most of the time. Her actions make little sense. She'll drop down and wait to die because he breaks up with her. She does crazy stunts to try and feel his presence again. She's always in "flight or fight" mode, never very predictable with her actions.
I have to assume Meyer is took these lists, made her "perfect boyfriend" have all of these traits, and set up a bunch of emo, self-abusive tweens and broken, lonely housewives in the biggest joke of the new century.
That's got to be it...
Exercise for the reader: How many of these traits does BELLA show?
(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-05 03:19 am (UTC)1. I don't remember Bella actually physically attacking Edward at any point, though she does yell at him quite a lot.
2. It's implied that Bella falls for Edward the very first time she sees him. Certainly she pays far too much attention to his snubbing than one normally would. The two are together for about twelve days by the end of the first book. Well before then, Bella is constantly telling Edward that she loves him and will love him forever, that he's the most perfect person in the world, and so on. In New Moon, she tells him that he can have her soul if he wants it.
3. Bella constantly pitches fits. It's hard to say how this relates, because while it's usually enough to cow a regular character, Edward just laughs at it and is clearly not intimidated.
4. Killing Your Self-Confidence: When Bella is in her snit in New Moon, she basically uses Jacob.
5. Granted it's indirect, but Edward's relationship with Bella drives a stake in the Cullen family, to an extent. When Rosalie voices a valid concern, that Bella will be too much of a temptation for Edward, she's promptly labeled a bitch and ignored.
6. See above, about Bella throwing tantrums when Edward tries to give her nice things.
7. Bella blames Edward for making her faint or fall over. She also blames him for leaving her alone in New Moon, which leads to her trying to hurt him by putting herself at great risk. Her justification is more or less "I'll be dead and it's YOUR FAULT for leaving me!"
8. New Moon. That is all.
9. Like with Bella, Edward is a pretty shallow character anyway. From what we're told though, he spent his time before dating Bella studying, playing music, doing art, and other various hobbies. During the course of the books, we only hear about them being together and any time they are not, Bella is depressed, upset, and pissy, essentially guilting him into staying with her.
10. This goes more for Bella towards Jacob. When Jake turned into a werewolf and went missing, Bella was constantly calling the house and sitting outside of his place in her car. Even though Billy gave perfectly valid excuses as to why Jacob couldn't come to the phone, she still would not leave him alone.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-05 03:20 am (UTC)12. Bella complains about how Edward won't have sex and turn her into a vampire, despite his many other attempts to show his love for her. This is in spite of the fact that she knows full well that he does not believe in sex before marriage and thinks that turning her into a vampire is damning her to Hell.
13. Do I really need to explain this one?
14. When Edward first hooked up with Bella, half of his family insisted that "she's not one of us" and that it's dangerous for them all if he pursues a relationship with her. He ignores them.
15. While Bella never tells any true stories like that, she does make a number boasts, all in poor taste. These include implying that she killed a person in Phoenix and suggesting that she lock the doors during Prom so that the vampires can kill everyone. Keep in mind that she tells both of these things to her vampire boyfriend who admitted he killed people before.
16. Look at how Bella treats Mike, Eric, Taylor, Jacob (before New Moon), Billy, and her own father (to an extent).
17. Bella has the people like Mike, Angela, and most of the Cullens, who constantly sing her praises. There are then the people like Jessica, Lauren, and Leah, who call her out as a bitch. And it has been stated many times that Bella has no friends, only minions.
18. Edward does his hardest to dissuade Bella from wanting sex with him and demanding that he make her a vampire. While not exactly walking on eggshells, it does cause him a lot of stress and upsets him. When Bella and Jacob are together in New Moon, he constantly has to mind what he does, to accommodate Bella's "wounded" feelings over Edward.
19. Bella thinks that Edward's desire for her to have a normal, human life is ridiculous and silly. She also hates on anyone for criticizing or calling her out on inappropriate behavior.
20. Jacob beings to act very moody and aggressive when Bella strings him along. He insists that Leah just doesn't get it and is jealous, he completely abandons his family several times over her, and devotes unhealthy fixations on her.