eclipserox wrote:Who likes Jasper and Alice's relationship better than Edward and Bella's? Why?
I do. I was just noticing that on the Edward and Bella board, a lot of people are commenting on the problems in their relationship and wondered how many people like Alice and Jasper better. Jasper is protective of Alice without being overbearing. Jasper is protective in a sweet way. Edward could be overprotective, overbearing and controlling. Granted, Bella was weaker as a human, but I still found Edward's behavior to be a turnoff. Both Jasper and Edward are very chivalrous gentlemen, which makes sense since they both came from a different time. Alice pretty much does whatever she wants and Jasper never questions it-it's kind of funny. She decided they were leaving in BD, and Jasper followed. Edward seems to like being the one to make final decisions, whereas Alice does and gets whatever she wants and Jasper doesn't care. Alice is, in my opinion, more selfless than Bella. When she lied to Jasper before going to Italy in Eclipse because she knew she might die but couldn't stand it if Jasper got hurt, I thought so much of her. Bella continuously let Edward and the other Cullens fight for her. I know she was a human and couldn't really fight, but after a few times of people coming after you, you'd think she'd either insist on becoming a vamp immediately or let the bad guys get her.
I'd like to just point out a few things here- please don't take it personally.
First- the story is, after all, about Edward and Bella. Of course we're going to see more about their problems than any other- we aren't treated to the story from Alice's or Jasper's points-of-view (the closest we'll get is Edward's, once Midnight Sun is published).
I agree that Jasper is protective of Alice. I don't agree that Jasper is any less zealous of protecting Alice than Edward is of Bella. Sure, Edward takes it to extremes, given Bella's vulnerability as a human, but Jasper is just as extreme. He wanted to kill Bella to protect Alice- he was so intent on his decision that he didn't care what the Cullens decided. If it had not been for Alice's intervention, I'm sure he would have acted upon his plan. (Midnight Sun)
When Alice takes Jasper with her in Breaking Dawn, though I didn't know what was going to happen, I knew that Alice would never leave Jasper's side. Jasper would never leave her, either. I really doubt that he didn't question what Alice was up to- I'm sure he could sense her emotional turmoil when she realized what she had to do- but he would do anything for Alice, and so he went.
I suppose it does seem like Edward wants to have the final say in everything, but given his character, can you see him being any other way? He likes to know what's coming- his frustration at not hearing the thoughts behind Bella's words driving him insane is proof positive of that. He is after all the one to warn his family if something is amiss. Alice is, well, Alice- for lack of a better term. But she has just as difficult a time as Edward does, seeing as she has to watch out for and interpret who knows how many possible futures there are and choose the appropriate course of action.
Regarding Alice being selfless, I would have to disagree. Bella is much more selfless- she doesn't want anyone else to get hurt. In New Moon, Alice lied to Jasper so he wouldn't come, not wanting him to get hurt- even if it meant her death. Even if it meant Edward's death. Even if it meant Bella's death. Bella would never have wanted that to happen, if she had the choice.
Lastly, Bella doesn't let the Cullens continuously fight for her. The Cullens continuously fight for her,
despite her protests otherwise. Remember how she didn't want them fighting the newborns in Eclipse? How she was vehemently opposed to Jacob and the pack joining the fight? She didn't want them to fight, but they made their choices.
As for the last comment about her vulnerability- she
has been insisting on becoming a vampire- since Twilight! She has been wanting the bad guys to just get her and leave everyone else alone- again, since Twilight. Of course Edward has a lot to do with both issues, but you made it sound like she had a choice and didn't make it.
/end reply
On topic. After reading Breaking Dawn, and the first night Bella and Edward stay in their house (no knocking her house!), Edward tells her about the other couples and what they do at night. Which got me thinking.
If you were Alice or Jasper, would you or wouldn't you use your ability to "enhance" the experience?