Parents POV: Twilight 1.2

Comments Last Updated Apr 07, 2010 Posted by
Jeff Smyth

twilight-movie-poster by Leanne Cabral (jr. high parent)

Part Two:

The Twilight series rocked the best-seller list for weeks. Teenage girls swooned, a movie deal was cut, and librarians were thrilled with the renewed interest in reading. However, I canʼt help but feel these books offer something dangerous alongside with the positive.

I read the series with the intent of previewing it for my daughter, who desperately wanted to read it like her peers. As much as I enjoyed the story, and the love triangle between Edward (vampire) Bella (human) and Jacob (wolf), I have some concerns.....

We are doing our daughters no favours by portraying love in such an unhealthy and unrealistic manner. Edward displays classic stalker like behaviour. He is controlling, and extremely possessive, yet these character traits are seen as positive attributes of true love. His sometimes violent outbursts are portrayed as romantic and a measure of his intense love for Bella. It disturbs me that he watches Bella sleep each night...The only one who should be watching you sleep is Jesus! Real love is not on the prowl and so suffocating. (read more below)

Edward is a lie. An intense soul mate and protector such as he does not exist. This
story leaves one longing for something...someone who isnʼt real. We canʼt have our
daughters dreaming of a mate who meets their every need and desire. This is
something only God can fulfill.

If you decide to pick up a copy of Twilight be prepared. There are some pretty strong
messages about love, dating and finding a soul mate. Part of our role as parents and
youth workers is to guard our kidsʼ hearts and minds from untruth. We need to provide
healthy, Godly, truth filled messages about love, dating and marriage and model that
before them.

Comments

+4 #1 Adam B.R. Clarke 2010-04-20 09:54

I think that anyone that is working with youth needs to be prepared for what their youth, or even own kids are going to be engaged in. Twilight isn't going anywhere, anytime soon, with two movies on the way and a novella in a month or so. I think the key to all of this is in choice. What choices do the characters make that we like and don't like. What choices and decisions we make based on what we have read, and what impact do the books have on our decisions.
The book plays into everything a jr. high girl is looking for, understanding, compassion and a boy that makes her feel special. The danger is how it is presented in the book, just like the article states. The relationship that is presented to our youth is fake, unattainable and suggest unfair expectations in a mate.

Quote

Refresh comments list