Those things were incredibly selfless. I believe I mentioned them, or if I didn't, I meant to.Heart_in_Hand wrote: I really feel like everyone does selfish things, but that does not make any one person selfish. To be a selfish person, you need to nearly constantly be doing things that are selfish, and I don't think Bella does. For one, I don't think going to the Volturi to save Edward at the risk of her own life was selfish. And to go meet James head on to take her mothers place (or at least that is what she thought she was doing) was portrayed pretty self-sacrificing to me. She was even willing to give up Edward and the life she could potentially have with him to save her mothers life.
I guess selfish was too strong a word? I think she's pretty self-centered, pretty un-self-aware, and pretty immature in a lot of ways. But these things, by nature, come and go. I know a lot of self-centered people who are very kind and generous. I think immaturity covers those moments. Bella's an interesting character, like her or not, because she is such a contrast to herself. She is so responsible in most ways, and so self-reliant in terms of her parents. But then in other ways she's so immature, or I guess better to say would be inexperienced. I think that you can say that all three main characters' mistakes come from inexperience. Bella's personality just happens to rub me the wrong way, and this is what happens when I try to articulate why!! I say it, but then I realize that's not really why, and I just go in circles!!! So thank you for bearing with me so patiently, Heart_In_Hand. I really appreciate your point of view.
I realized a few things watching New Moon tonight. People always say that Bella made all her intentions clear to Jacob - which is true. Regardless of the things she did (obviously subconciously) that made him think that she just needed time to heal from Edward, or she just didn't realize she loved him (that part turned out true, after all), she DID tell him she wouldn't ever be able to function right without Edward, or at least her heart wouldn't.
But Jacob did the same thing. He let her know from the very start that he loved her as a friend and he would always be there for her, but he would fight for her love until her heart stopped beating. They both knew what was at stake. Does that mean that they're not responsible for their actions? Of course not, at least not in my opinion, but it's something to remember.