Jazz Girl wrote:MVL~ Oh, no worries. I completely see where Edward's behavior certainly can be suspect. But, in my opinion, it goes back to the fact that, having read the book, I know the motivations behind both Edward's and Jacob's actions. Edward's only motivations ever in everything he did were to protect Bella. Even going into her room and watching her sleep was a form of protection. In Twilight, he says that he sneaks into her room to listen to her talk in her sleep, because she fascinates him. But, in MS, we find out a little more. Edward didn't lie to her about that, but nor was he completely honest at first. His first trip to her room was in trying to confirm for the family, and specifically Rose and Jasper who were okay with killing her to prevent a threat to the family, that she hadn't said anything and didn't suspect anything. Once he entered her room and she said his name, he found a new purpose in the nighttime visits. It was his way of desensitizing himself to her scent, to keep it from overwhelming him. He was trying to protect her from himself.
Jacob's motivations are a little more straightforward. He wants Bella and he's bound and determined to convince her she wants him too, that she might love him. How one interprets that motivation is, according to some, up for debate. I say (as do many others) he's being a manipulative, selfish pain in the backside who doesn't accept no for an answer. Some say he's trying to save Bella's life. I vehemently disagree. But, everyone is welcome to their opinion.
Ultimately, what we see here is where the original failure of Melissa Rosenberg started. Melissa left out a lot of important detail, like Edward explaining about Bella talking in her sleep, or his downright terror at the idea of hurting Bella, or the true nature of the risk he poses, or any explanation of why Edward might be SO protective of Bella ie the heightened vampire emotions and reactions. And, that is a failure that has continued through the films. What we end up with is the reason why many people are, in fact, so worried about Eclipse. MR very clearly has a preference and the way that she has portrayed both Edward and Jacob shows it quite clearly. The major problem comes in when, in the end, the ultimate "choice" is already made, but the events don't lead up to it. We know Edward is a loving, caring, wonderful guy who only wants Bella to be happy and safe. Whether or not that translates and people who haven't read what we have and don't know what we do will figure that out. OR, will they just decry this movie as idealizing and romantisizing controlling relationships. I guess that's what we're all waiting to find out.
It's all about perception. I too have read the books, I have read the entire series 8 times in the past year, (never read them until last June) I just started reading them again.
I could justify BOTH of their behavior and I can not justify both of their behavior. They are very different characters. Having a teenage son myself, well having 3 sons but one is teenage and one is almost teen. I totally get Jacobs behaviour and personality. He is acting like a typical teen boy. SM has said that herself.
From what I have seen on this board, it seems like in the general consensus is you have to only like Edward and dislike Jacob. I don't understand that at all. I like them both, I think they both have flaws and they both have great qualities. I am glad Edward and Bella ended up together. I really like Edward. I am glad Jacob found his happiness as well. As I really like his character also.
I do not feel the movies have portrayed Jacob in a better light than Edward. I saw the first Twilight movie before reading the book. I didn't get the hype at all. I saw it when it came out on DVD. I finally caved and read the books, the biggest thing I disliked about the first movie besides all that was left out and added nonsense that didn't need to be in there, I didn't feel they pinned the deep connection between Edward and Bella. When I watched the movie, it seemed like a little school girl crush. When I read the book, it was much different, the emotions I could feel. When I read MS it really gave me a better sense of Edward and who he is. Jacob was hardly a presence in the first movie.
Jacob was shown in such a good light in the second movie because he was in the book. Bella wouldn't have made it through without Jacob. I thought the movie followed the book, I thought it showed the characters fairly in regards to Edward and Jacob. If anything I think the movies don't give enough Justice to Bella. I think her personality is stronger in the books, I think in both movies they really took away a lot of her character from the book. I see where people keep saying MR favors Jacob and I just don't get it. Now I guess after Eclipse I will be able to see more if I agree or even BD. But Twilight was all about Edward, as it should have been, and NM was mainly about Jacob, as it should have been by going off the books. Eclipse was about both of them pretty dang equally so it will be easier to see if one is favored over the other that shouldn't have been.
Eclipse was my favorite book, so far to me the previews look great. I don't like how they changed one of the scenes around for the confrontation of the kiss. But overall I am eager to see it.
I think it's hard to have an unbiased opinion when their is an obvious biased. It's human nature to make excuses for the things you agree with and be quick to condemn things coming from things you don't like, even if the same arguments can be made. This is seen throughout all kinds of debates.
I see on this forum a lot of people are "Team Edward", ok that's great, I like him to. But it seems to get to the point that nothing can be looked at rationally. People with differing opinions are shot down quickly, excuses for anything Edward is done and Jacob is burned at the stake. (ok so not quite that dramatic.) Again, I get why people do this, it's part of who we are.
There are things that I have gone through in life and things I have done, that I have an easier time looking at things rationally from all angles. I have been told this. Even if I am pro immigration (just to put an example out there), I can still put myself on the other side and find good things that I can understand and support on that side. Or understand why they feel like they do.
In fact, I myself was "Team Edward" well, I still am. I have never felt the need to defend Jacob until I have read a lot of things here. That is when I stop to think, Ok now, to be fair consider this.
This isn't a put down on any one person or any group of people. Just things I have noticed. At the end of the day I still love this series, I am still happy with the ending, I am still happy with who ended up with who. I just don't feel like because I favor one character, I have to dislike the other. If that makes sense.
Sorry for rambling on.