The other night, my special lady friend was up all night reading the first book of the
Twilight series. Why? Apparently all of her girlfriends are in love with Edward Cullen, the vampire from the story that sweeps 17-year old Bella off of her feet.
So Mrs. Macchiato's going with all her girlfriends tonight to catch the premiere of Twilight. They're all super excited... but I don't really get the whole Edward Cullen phenomenon.
Why does Bella like a vampire so much... and why are women so attracted to him? Whatever his secret is, it must be pretty amazing stuff, because there are some pretty serious problems with dating a vampire.
Here are the top three concerns I would have if Edward Cullen was dating my daughter:
1) He's a pedophile.Edward was born in 1901. I looked it up, and Twilight was published in 2005. So Edward is 104 years old.
Does it bother anyone else that a 104 year old guy is dating a 17 year old girl?! I mean, I know he looks 17 forever...but still, come on. He's over 100!
I'm trying to imagine if my hypothetical daughter came home one day and said, "Hey Dad, I'd like you to meet my boyfriend...you guys have a lot in common; he's 104." Actually, if he's 104 and she's 17, I'd have the world's easiest case of statutory rape. I know it's legal to have sex with 16 year olds in some states, but what if the guy is 104?! I think I could win a jury trial.
I've heard that girls like older guys, but this is ridiculous.
2) He's a murderer. Edward has admitted to killing people back when he was first a vampire. Of course, they were "bad people"... so it's okay.
Umm...no. I watch
Dexter, this show on Showtime about a serial killer who only kills other serial killers. It's a lot of fun, but I don't think two wrongs make a right. What if Dexter and Edward are wrong about the people they kill?
Okay, I know Edward can read minds... but still. I have a pretty filthy mind... if Edward read my mind, I'd be a goner for sure.
If my hypothetical daughter were dating a vampire, the first thing I'd ask the vampire, "Have you ever killed someone to drink their blood?" If s/he said yes (my hypothetical daughter might be dating a lesbian vampire), I would be out of there.
In any case, let's assume he did kill those evil humans and drink their blood. Why doesn't he turn himself in and go to prison? I mean, the guy is immortal... he could do a life sentence standing on his head.
3) He wants to eat her.Edward is irresistibly attracted to Bella because of the "sweet smell" of her blood. He spends much of the book trying to resist his desire to
nom nom nom on her. Call me old-fashioned, but I don't believe in eating my girlfriend.
Is nobody else bothered by this?!?
So... in conclusion, Edward Cullen will not be dating my hypothetical daughter anytime soon.
Please, help me out. I don't understand why girls love Edward Cullen so much (let alone vampires in general). I think vampires are disgusting — especially pedophilic, murderous ones that want to eat people (oh sorry, the PC term is "drink their blood").
Help me understand: why would anyone want to date a vampire like Edward Cullen?!
Comments (642)
Apparently cause he wears the same shade of lipstick as they do.
go to my blog! I JUST wrote a weblog on why they love him! haha
It's a mystery to me too. I don't know.
I love him from the book.. not the movie. I think you have to be female, and hopelessly romantic to understand.
Edward is a very romantic, albeit fictional, character. His love and passion for Bella are very charming. He's also supposed to be extremely gorgeous (although I must confess I was disappointed with the mere mortal actor chosen) and intelligent as well.
He's the strong, sexy, silent, brooding type. A lot of girls dig this type of guy, you know the protector and Prince Charming in one. =) The vampire part adds to the danger.
hahahaah....LOL..
Vampires are boring, overplayed stereotypes anyway. But girls love them because they're dark and mysterious, injured personalities that are generally slap-bang in the centre of what makes men exciting.
I think vampires generally have a certain appeal as well because of the angsty feelings almost every teenager (male and female) goes through: you know, feeling like you're alone and seeing who in the world is evil and should be taken out, but without having the abilities to do so as a normal person without serious consequences. I know I always liked the idea of being a werewolf for similar reasons, because I felt I was weak in comparison to everyone else and just wanted to magically be able to stomp around and do what I wanted.
But yeah, if you were really 104, would you really be attracted to a teenager, who has infinitely less life experience than you do? Simply from a personality point of view you'd expect with all he's seen and done that he'd be more like all the ex-army guys I know, and generally have a need for something more mature in their outlook.
Very nice post ^_~
"my hypothetical daughter might be dating a lesbian vampire"
bahahahhaa, I literally LOL'd.
I think it's a matter of how good he is with words/his physical appearance/the fact that he's a "gentleman" and into details like leaving her notes and trying to save her life...weirdness of him being 104 and a vampire aside, Steph Meyer has really created a modern-day "ideal" (can't say ideal man b/c he's not, haha)...he's self-sacrificing and atleast in the first book (I promise you later on it gets annoying) it's sweet, it's a given that teenage girls will swoon for it.
I am a hopeless romantic and I don't understand. I own and have read all them, but i don't get it.
I've got a problem with the books because they seem to put Bella in a sort of passive, dependant, needy position. Edward is the same way. How on Earth is dependant and needy going to teach her target audience (young girls) anything about healthy relationships?
@two_days_until_forever@xanga - THANK YOU! You're the first person I come across that admits that R. Pat isn't that good-looking...just made my day.
UGH.
Edward Cullen is a fuck-bag.
Now, Jean-Claude...mmmm. That's a vamp worth dying for. (Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series, if anyone's curious)
I don't understand how Cullenators operate...I just don't! He has the whole brooding thing working for him but not to such a manic point!
CRAZY SHIT GOING ON:
http://thesuperficial.com/2008/11/robert_pattinson_attends_the_p.php
Good grief. I think you missed the entire point of the book: it's fiction. That should be answer enough.
Now, moving on to your concerns:
1) He's a pedophile
Er, nope. Read the books again: He's frozen in time at the age of 17. He cannot get younger; he cannot get older. Thus, they are still the same age. Again, he was born in 1901: thus he will have the "old-fashioned" morals and teachings of that age, so he is in no way, shape or fashion a predator. Most the series he is holding offBella, not trying to attack her. He is protecting her.
2) He's a murderer
Again, if you had actually read the books, you will have found out that new-born vampires have an unquenchable thirst and are ruled by instinct then any cold-blooded calculation to kill. Again, he changes and becomes a "vegetarian" who only feeds off animals - dangerous ones at that.
3) He wants to eat her
Dear oh dear. True, he wants to eat her. However, he also loves her incredibly and couldn't live without her. It's a catch-22 situation. You would have found that out by reading the books, too.
Hokay, now that I've dealt with your points, lets move on to your question:
Why do girls love Edward so much?
Firstly, he's hands-down handsome. No getting past that. Secondly, he's kind, helpful, witty and caring. He listens. He's considerate. He's honest.
That's just the start.
Really, go back and read the book(s) again, and you'll see all these points. And this is from a guy's perspective. If I can pick it up, is it any surprise the majority of girls who read it pick it up too and then find him absolutely adorable.
Old fashion and romantic. Plus there's the whole forbidden fruit aspect of it because he knows he shouldn't get close to her but he can't help himself. Anyway, I really like the name Edward.
While I wouldn't divorce my husband over it, if I was 17, single and had a gorgeous if a bit moody vampire like Edward in love with me, I would so go for it.
He might have been born in 1901, but he has the body of a 17 year old. Which means he's really smart, wise, and mature. And yet manages to cram that into a 17 year old's body. =]
And for the last two... he's a vampire. That comes with the territory.
Other than that, it's just the fact that he does everything right and is perfection personified.
hes gorgeous, perfect, loves her, cares about her more then anyone has cared about anyone in histroy, he respects her, hes honest, hes smooth as hell, hes romantic, hes the good bad guy
hes the idealistic boyfriend/husband
Because he is the idealistic man that every girl wants. He's perfect (besides being a 104 year old vampire) and got good looks. Mystery equals sexy too, and vampires have that majestic mysterious sexiness to them. Besides age is nothing but a number when the other looks so young.
I suggest you read the fourth book, the second and third are trash, you shall be in shock from it.
@cmdr_keen@xanga - I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that this post miiiiiiight just be a joke.
@britneybabe7@xanga - lol, you could be right. But just for those who might take it seriously...
I like Emmett better.
It was just like... Edward in the movie
wasn't 'flawless' like he was in the book.
It was like guhhh...
I'm ready to see the fourth one xDD
@cmdr_keen@xanga - AMEN!
You'd have to read the book to understand. Personally I'm not really "in" love with him but I do love his character in the book. Girls love him because of the lengths he goes for her because he loves her. Most guys wouldn’t do half the things he does for her, that’s the big appeal. It's hard to explain if you've never read the book.
Its the way Edward is like DEVOTED to her and only her. The whole blood thing, its more then physical blood, its that his whole being needs her. He physically needs her, wants her. Every ounce of him loves her and wants her and needs her. There is no question, no thought that someone else might be prettier or anything like that she is his world. There is noone else for him, forever. That kind of love is something I think all girls want. That no matter what he is there and loves, even if she goes crazy. Plus he is SO romantic its ridiculous. Its a great book you should read it. You might start to fall for Edward too, and if not you will definetly get some tips. I think all men should read Twilight just for tips from Edward. Good post!
@iconspiration@xanga - Wow, I'm shocked that qualified to make your day, but nevertheless glad I did! :)