Something that has been controversial since I was a middle schooler is the Twilight Saga. The amount of hate I have seen that series receive is astounding, with the hate to love ration being basically 99 to 1. Most critics will say that Bella is bland, thoughtless, self-centered, and overall just a baseless character. The same is usually said about Edward and his family members. I, however, have never really agreed with this statement. As someone who read the books as a child, I may have originally agreed that everything seemed a little tactless, but I would remember that the main premise of the book was to be a forbidden love story. However, as an adult who has recently reread the entire series in a week, I have a much bigger appreciation for those books.
Bella has so much more character than people are willing to admit. She is incredibly considerate when it comes to her father. Their relationship is definitely strained in the first book, yet as it progresses, you can see how much more emotionally mature Bella becomes when her father is involved in things. This love simply continues to blossom throughout each of the books, a true and meaningful connection being established between Charlie and Bella that should really pull at readers heartstrings. In fact, I would really argue that Bella comes to love her father much more than her mother, who she actually preferred to be with during most of her life. Renee is mentioned numerous times throughout the series, yet the love that Bella displays for Charlie isn't something I ever really saw for Renee. There is also the fact that Bella is incredibly insecure about herself. Readers can see her constantly comparing herself to those she's around, and this comparison isn't just towards the Cullens. There are moments of insecurity that Bella shows when she looks at Angela and Jessica as well as Victoria and Emily. That inward struggle of accepting ones self is something that is a constant battle for Bella throughout all the books until she becomes a vampire. A lot of this is due to the uncomfortability that Bella has in her own skin. She doesn't feel like herself throughout every single book except for brief moments when she is surrounded by the Cullens. When she finally becomes a vampire, readers are able to see how much more put together and serene Bella feels in her own body. She is no longer ashamed about herself and now embraces the uniqueness that she's displayed from the first book. Many can argue that this acceptance into her own skin is because she finally got what she wanted and became a vampire, but the feelings that Bella shows deal more with finally finding out who you are than becoming something you've wanted to be. She feels at home in the identity she has now created for herself, whereas she didn't feel right in the body that she was born into.
This then leads into Edward. Originally, I would have agreed with many that he didn't seem to have a lot of character to him besides the fact that he was absolutely obsessed with Bella. However, after the publication of Midnight Sun, his personality has become so much more intriguing. The love and protectiveness that he has for his family, especially Alice, is something I never really picked up on in the original book. However, being able to truly see into his mind in his own book and understand the struggles he faced when first meeting Bella really gave insight into his own restraint he had to display in order for Bella to live. This in and of itself showed how much he truly cared for Bella. After seeing the countless deadly endings that Alice saw happening, he focused instead on the one that had Bella happy and healthy, living life by his side as a human. It's this love and optimism that allowed him to conquer the overwhelming desire he had to feed off the blood that called to him like no other. The family dynamic that we also got to see, those scenes of him interacting with his family in ways never before even imagined, really showcased just how much their family was like any other. There were disagreements between siblings, family meetings had to discuss troubles, compromises made even though some didn't like it. The Cullens, regardless of their supernatural status, were about as regular a family as any other. All this added to Edwards character is a way that made me come to appreciate him more as a lover and family man. Readers really got to see just how much he struggled to not be himself while still wanting nothing but the best for Bella.
The Twilight series is something that gains popularity every few years, bringing forth many who would cringe at it and sparking many debates (especially when it comes to Jacob and Reneseme), but honestly? This series is one that will hold a nostalgic feeling for many, including myself. I truly do appreciate the work in and of itself as well as the characters inside it's pages. Don't get me wrong, this isn't some literary genius, however, it isn't nearly as bad as people have always made it out to be. I would have no problem reading this series over and over again, much like I do with the movies. I know many won't agree with this opinion and that's okay. Let's just keep in mind that everyone is entitled to their own opinions and their own love of books, even if it goes against the status quo.
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