Re: Chapter 24 ~ Vote
Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2010 1:48 pm
1. What did you think of Bella's epiphany? Do you think she was justified in believing that Edward didn't love her and that the fact that he really did stunned her?
Bella’s hallucinations were a result of the great conflict between knowing deep down that Edward still loved her and believing Edward’s lie when he told her he didn’t want her anymore. Bella was justified in believing Edward didn't love her for two important reasons. The first was that Bella had issues with self-worth, and although she accepted Edward’s protestations of love she always had a hard time understanding what it was that Edward saw in her. The second reason was that Bella would have NEVER lied to Edward about her love for him, and so she could never envision a circumstance where he would lie about it himself. Bella accepted the lie because it made sense to her. Edward was leaving because he didn’t love her anymore; Edward didn’t love her anymore, and so he was leaving. Edward was interested in her once, fascinated with his inability to read her mind, but he was moving on now to pursue other distractions.
Bella’s epiphany isn’t just about Edward loving her, but finally realizing that Edward really would go to such extremes to try to protect her, even to the point of lying about his love for her. Everything finally adds up and makes sense, and something inside goes…Click!
2. How did you feel about the way the vote went? Did you understand Edward's reasoning? What about Rosalie's? Do you agree with Carlisle that it's the only logical choice?
I think it is interesting that the two people most responsible for forcing this vote, Rosalie and Edward, are voting “No”. Edward is just purely in denial as all of his plans and goals lie in ashes. Rosalie is fixated on what she would want the most, which is to stay human.
Carlisle has no other logical choice. Edward’s actions have caused an untold amount of pain for the entire family, and he nearly got himself, Bella, and Alice killed. The Volturi are now fully clued in to the size of the Cullen family and their bonds and gifted members. Regardless of Aro’s motivations, they have actually been very, very generous, and the promise that was demanded was only in keeping with the laws that every vampire must obey. There is no other way. Edward’s desire to keep Bella human is going to get everyone killed.
3. Were you as stunned as Bella was when Edward asked her to marry him? How do you feel about Bella's reasons for saying no to him?
Not stunned as much as surprised when Edward shifted from asking for more time to proposing to her. Bella’s reasons for saying “no” may or may not be valid to her, but Bella appears to have been mostly caught off guard for the moment.
4. At this point in the series - ignoring what you know from Eclipse and Breaking Dawn - did you think Bella should marry Edward? Did you think she should become a vampire as soon as possible? Or did you think she should stay mortal for a while longer?
Yes, she should marry him, they are both madly in love with each other. The exact timing of Bella’s change should be up to her, but the Volturi have extracted their promise so, tick-tock, tick-tock.
I think it is important to keep Edward’s marriage proposal in perspective as a logical development in their relationship and the storyline. In Twilight, Bella and Edward confess their love for each other. Here, at the end of New Moon, they have taken the next step and finally accept that they are mated with each other for life.
It is an interesting turn of events. Bella first forces Edward to accept the consequences of his actions, and then Edward forces Bella to consider the meaning of their committment to each other.
5. Did you want Edward to be the one to change Bella into a vampire? How would you feel if someone else were to change her?
Yes, Edward should be the one. I can’t picture anyone else.
Bella’s hallucinations were a result of the great conflict between knowing deep down that Edward still loved her and believing Edward’s lie when he told her he didn’t want her anymore. Bella was justified in believing Edward didn't love her for two important reasons. The first was that Bella had issues with self-worth, and although she accepted Edward’s protestations of love she always had a hard time understanding what it was that Edward saw in her. The second reason was that Bella would have NEVER lied to Edward about her love for him, and so she could never envision a circumstance where he would lie about it himself. Bella accepted the lie because it made sense to her. Edward was leaving because he didn’t love her anymore; Edward didn’t love her anymore, and so he was leaving. Edward was interested in her once, fascinated with his inability to read her mind, but he was moving on now to pursue other distractions.
Bella’s epiphany isn’t just about Edward loving her, but finally realizing that Edward really would go to such extremes to try to protect her, even to the point of lying about his love for her. Everything finally adds up and makes sense, and something inside goes…Click!
2. How did you feel about the way the vote went? Did you understand Edward's reasoning? What about Rosalie's? Do you agree with Carlisle that it's the only logical choice?
I think it is interesting that the two people most responsible for forcing this vote, Rosalie and Edward, are voting “No”. Edward is just purely in denial as all of his plans and goals lie in ashes. Rosalie is fixated on what she would want the most, which is to stay human.
Carlisle has no other logical choice. Edward’s actions have caused an untold amount of pain for the entire family, and he nearly got himself, Bella, and Alice killed. The Volturi are now fully clued in to the size of the Cullen family and their bonds and gifted members. Regardless of Aro’s motivations, they have actually been very, very generous, and the promise that was demanded was only in keeping with the laws that every vampire must obey. There is no other way. Edward’s desire to keep Bella human is going to get everyone killed.
3. Were you as stunned as Bella was when Edward asked her to marry him? How do you feel about Bella's reasons for saying no to him?
Not stunned as much as surprised when Edward shifted from asking for more time to proposing to her. Bella’s reasons for saying “no” may or may not be valid to her, but Bella appears to have been mostly caught off guard for the moment.
4. At this point in the series - ignoring what you know from Eclipse and Breaking Dawn - did you think Bella should marry Edward? Did you think she should become a vampire as soon as possible? Or did you think she should stay mortal for a while longer?
Yes, she should marry him, they are both madly in love with each other. The exact timing of Bella’s change should be up to her, but the Volturi have extracted their promise so, tick-tock, tick-tock.
I think it is important to keep Edward’s marriage proposal in perspective as a logical development in their relationship and the storyline. In Twilight, Bella and Edward confess their love for each other. Here, at the end of New Moon, they have taken the next step and finally accept that they are mated with each other for life.
It is an interesting turn of events. Bella first forces Edward to accept the consequences of his actions, and then Edward forces Bella to consider the meaning of their committment to each other.
5. Did you want Edward to be the one to change Bella into a vampire? How would you feel if someone else were to change her?
Yes, Edward should be the one. I can’t picture anyone else.