Chapter 38: Power

[Alphie]

Thanks go out to Lady Di for these questions.

1. Power is demonstrated in many ways other than physical might. Describe two other powerful people or situations in this chapter.

2. What might have been going through the minds of some of the characters featured in this chapter? What would be Nahuel and Kachiri’s motivation for making their appearance in front of the Volturi?

3. Some readers were disappointed with the “lack of action” in this chapter (like Stefan and Vladimir). Debate whether or not the events of this chapter are reasonable or far-fetched, or whether the resolution was satisfying or consistent with the overall themes of the book.

[swedishskinjer]

As far as the lack of action is concerned, I agree with Stephenie's justification:

Why the big build-up for a fight that didn't happen?

I'm not the kind of person who writes a Hamlet ending. If the fight had happened, it would have ended with 90% of the combatants, Cullen and Volturi alike, destroyed. There was simply no other outcome once the fight got started, given the abilities and numbers of the opposing sides. Because I would never finish Bella's story on such a downer—Everybody dies!—I knew that the real battle would be mental. It was a game of maneuvering, with the champion winning not by destroying the other side, but by being able to walk away. This was another reason I liked the chess metaphor on the cover—it really fit the feel of that final game. I put a clue into the manuscript as well. Alice tore a page from The Merchant of Venice because the end of Breaking Dawn was going to be somewhat similar: bloodshed appears inevitable, doom approaches, and then the power is reversed and the game is won by some clever verbal strategies; no blood is shed, and the romantic pairings all have a happily ever after.

Not all tense scenes need action. A lot of it had to do with defense, particularly from Jane and Alec.

[Olderthandirt]

1. Power is demonstrated in many ways other than physical might. Describe two other powerful people or situations in this chapter.

Ah - group dynamics! Brings back memories of college and psych class!
This was a mental joust, or a classic debate, between the two mind readers, Aro and Edward, to decide the outcome.
Bella is a part of this is her new ability to "shield" the group when the Volturi acted.

2. What might have been going through the minds of some of the characters featured in this chapter? What would be Nahuel and Kachiri’s motivation for making their appearance in front of the Volturi?

The pople involved were taking a stand for an ideal they believed in and were prepared to defend with their lives if necessary.
I appreciated that it was not maudlin (sp?) in the minutes before Alice appeared. Close, but not.
Regarding N and K - resolution to their own lives - they are in contact with one of their one kind, they have violated no code, and they were bound to be discovered soon or later. why not help?

3. Some readers were disappointed with the “lack of action” in this chapter (like Stefan and Vladimir). Debate whether or not the events of this chapter are reasonable or far-fetched, or whether the resolution was satisfying or consistent with the overall themes of the book.

The Romanians were out for blood! (lol) Their reaction was humorous. I did not expect a battle like Eclipse because we are dealing with wise?, reasonable? and established codes of behavior for centuries - not newborns. As Stephanie describes the confrontation, I was visualizing a chess game ("mental war games"). I was expecting blood to be spilled, I could not envision a blood bath. But again, just a little too clean for my tastes.

[pennybug84]

1. Power is demonstrated in many ways other than physical might. Describe two other powerful people or situations in this chapter. Well I definitely think Aro & they way he tries to kind of manipulate words & situations to justify what he wants to do. He went there with the intent to get rid of the Cullens. And then I love how Edward is using his mind reading ability to do whatever he can to try to save his family & newfound happiness.

2. What might have been going through the minds of some of the characters featured in this chapter? What would be Nahuel and Kachiri’s motivation for making their appearance in front of the Volturi? I think a lot of them on the Cullens side were preparing to die. They couldn't see any other way out of it (I knew I couldn't till Alice showed up.) I think N & K probably were interested in their being another half vampire child & knew that they are not evil or bad & would want to help & meet this family.

3. Some readers were disappointed with the “lack of action” in this chapter (like Stefan and Vladimir). Debate whether or not the events of this chapter are reasonable or far-fetched, or whether the resolution was satisfying or consistent with the overall themes of the book. At first I was soo glad that none of my fav characters had to die. That they were able to use their minds & wits to get out of the situation. After readig the FAQs on SM's website & her explanation for the end, I'm satisified. I don't much like violence & death.

[sazykid]

1. Power is demonstrated in many ways other than physical might. Describe two other powerful people or situations in this chapter.
The first one I can think of is Aro. He is trying to put one over on the Cullens by twisting the events to make it look like they are really have broken the law. Bella is definitely a power here. She is protecting everyone she cares about with her metal shield. The Volturi were not expecting the Cullens to have that kind of power on their side. She obviously had to have a lot of power because she was able to stop Jane and Alec from hurting anyone.

2. What might have been going through the minds of some of the characters featured in this chapter? What would be Nahuel and Kachiri’s motivation for making their appearance in front of the Volturi?
Carlisle was probably upset that the outcome could very well result in violence with people who were supposed to be his friends. I sort of think Marcus was probably wishing the whole ordeal would just be over because he doesn't strike me as the violent type. This may also have been the first time that i believe Rosalie was truly worried about someone else in her family and willing to fight to the end for Nessie. Jacob was probably feeling bad for leaving his pack to fend for themselves, but he was probably also trying to figure out how he was going to raise and care for Nessie until she was older. While Nahuel has been able to live under the radar from the Volturi, Nessie has not been able to. Nahuel and Kachiri probably feel like they are the only ones who can make the Volturi understand and they want to help make the Cullens lives easier by giving them some guidance.

3. Some readers were disappointed with the “lack of action” in this chapter (like Stefan and Vladimir). Debate whether or not the events of this chapter are reasonable or far-fetched, or whether the resolution was satisfying or consistent with the overall themes of the book.
Ok, well first of all, we are talking about fictional vampires and werewolves so I think the whole thing is reasonably far-fetched. I mean it's all imaginary so there is no reason this couldn't have taken place. But I like the way the resolution played out. The suspense of what could happen kept me interested until the end and the strategy that was used was more of a mental game (like chess) than a physical fight. I really liked the end here. There couldn't have been a happy ending if anyone had ended up not surviving.

[misskiley]

1. Power is demonstrated in many ways other than physical might. Describe two other powerful people or situations in this chapter.
Bella with her shield,.. Zafrina being able to basically blind everyone,.. Alec blinding everyone,.. Aro and his amazing ability to turn and twist situations and Edward of course,.. being able to read minds and halfway control what was anwsered.

2. What might have been going through the minds of some of the characters featured in this chapter? What would be Nahuel and Kachiri’s motivation for making their appearance in front of the Volturi?
Maybe they are compassionate and willing to help people so they won't die. Maybe Nahuel wanted to meet the other one like him.

3. Some readers were disappointed with the “lack of action” in this chapter (like Stefan and Vladimir). Debate whether or not the events of this chapter are reasonable or far-fetched, or whether the resolution was satisfying or consistent with the overall themes of the book.
Eh, In every book (besides New Moon kind of,..) there has been a fight. I was disappointed at first until I read what SM had to say about the "Hamlet" ending. She is right, if part of the Cullens had died, it would have left the book on a sad note, and we all know that it couldn't end like that,.. everything has always worked out so perfect. I didn't like the ending at first but now I have grown to love it.

[SwanCullen]

1. Power is demonstrated in many ways other than physical might. Describe two other powerful people or situations in this chapter.
Aro. He uses the power of his touch to gain the information he needs then therefore use that against the Cullens. Bella's sheild is used. She protects her family and their witnesses.


2. What might have been going through the minds of some of the characters featured in this chapter? What would be Nahuel and Kachiri’s motivation for making their appearance in front of the Volturi?
One of the thigs probably would be if they would survive or not. Also, if someone DIDN'T survive, they would probably wonder what they would do in the absence of their mate/family member. I think part of their motovation would be to see if someone/thing like Nessie exisisted and if it/they did, to help the Cullen's out.


3. Some readers were disappointed with the “lack of action” in this chapter (like Stefan and Vladimir). Debate whether or not the events of this chapter are reasonable or far-fetched, or whether the resolution was satisfying or consistent with the overall themes of the book.
I think it's reasonable. Mental games can be worse in a way than a physical fight. It's more draining to have a mental "war" because the after-effects are far reaching. It could be years down the road and the memories can come up and bite you in the back-side.

[Gochiruzeru]

1. Power is demonstrated in many ways other than physical might. Describe two other powerful people or situations in this chapter.

I can't remember, sadly.

2. What might have been going through the minds of some of the characters featured in this chapter? What would be Nahuel and Kachiri’s motivation for making their appearance in front of the Volturi?

Nahuel and Kachiri because they wanted to prove that hybrids weren't evil. I think that the Cullens were probably really happy that Alice and Jasper were back, haha.

3. Some readers were disappointed with the “lack of action” in this chapter (like Stefan and Vladimir). Debate whether or not the events of this chapter are reasonable or far-fetched, or whether the resolution was satisfying or consistent with the overall themes of the book.

I think it was reasonable. Though it did get dark sometimes, the Twilight saga was never a horribly violent one, and things always turn out right in the end. Even if I didn't know the ending, I wouldn't have guessed that anyone would die, anyway.

[Tornado]

1. Power is demonstrated in many ways other than physical might. Describe two other powerful people or situations in this chapter.
Alice, because she has arrived with the solution that will back Aro into a corner. Edward, because he is the one to back Aro into the corner,

2. What might have been going through the minds of some of the characters featured in this chapter? What would be Nahuel and Kachiri’s motivation for making their appearance in front of the Volturi?
Kachiri, probably because her sisters were standing with Carlisle, so she wanted to as well. Nahuel, because he wanted to meet Renesmee and her family, and as Alice had probably told him about them, probably knew that they were the kind of family that he would relate to.

3. Some readers were disappointed with the “lack of action” in this chapter (like Stefan and Vladimir). Debate whether or not the events of this chapter are reasonable or far-fetched, or whether the resolution was satisfying or consistent with the overall themes of the book.
I thought that the ending was suitable. Anyone who wanted a violent ending would have had to be content with deaths amongst both the Cullens and the pack, and would have to think about who they are prepared to lose. This isn't like a sword fight in some old fashioned Errol Flynn flick. The fighting here would be head off first and straight into the fire - no parrying or play fights. And it would have been one in all in. Do you really think the others would have stood around while some did the fighting without joining in? No way. I was happy with the ending, because it meant the characters I loved lived on.

[Brienna]

1. Power is demonstrated in many ways other than physical might. Describe two other powerful people or situations in this chapter.
Bella off course, with her shield Edward with the way he talks Aro into a corner.

2. What might have been going through the minds of some of the characters featured in this chapter? What would be Nahuel and Kachiri’s motivation for making their appearance in front of the Volturi?
Good question! I haven't thought about that and can't think of anything either. Except for what we later learn: that Nahuel is curious about Renesmee.

3. Some readers were disappointed with the “lack of action” in this chapter (like Stefan and Vladimir). Debate whether or not the events of this chapter are reasonable or far-fetched, or whether the resolution was satisfying or consistent with the overall themes of the book.
At first, it felt like a anti-climax. After reading it a few times, I felt it was the best way to end.