So, I got to thinking, when do you think Edward first realizes that he loves Bella? Because even in Midnight Sun, he seems fascinated by her and obviously loves the smell of her blood. And he mentions the desire to protect her. And in Twilight it's like a sudden thing. He hates her one day and then all of the sudden he loves her. But when or how do you think he finally realizes he loves her? And do you think his love is initially driven by the fascination? Because he can't read her thoughts? And her blood? Because if I'm remembering correctly, he isn't impressed initially with her looks either. Just something that's been on my mind lately. Wondering what you guys thought on the subject.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
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Ahhh...such a fun subject. And one that is frequently on my mine as well. In reading Twilight again and again, I keep realizing that it does happen very fast (see Port Angeles through to the baseball game) - it's really only like one week. But all the things that happen before that obviously build up to this one amazing week. Anyway, my point...I don't know, except that it was hard for me the first time through Twilight to think that Edward really loved Bella more than just because of his reaction to her blood. But wow, that is totally not the case. I think a lot of his interest at first has to do with not being able to know her thoughts. And like you said, for Edward, he didn't react to her looks like Bella reacted to his. But, that's not the really important part anyway...even though we sometimes get carried away!!! But remember, he would just be staring at her, getting caught up in her expressions and just her way of 'living' - she won his heart very quickly too!!
This is such a great subject, one of the best. That's what makes Twilight just a little more special than the other two books, because that's where it all happened, all that first realization of everything...all the magic of THEM! Of course this is just one more reason to look forward to Midnight Sun, we'll find so much more out there, in Edward's head. I read a Q & A once where someone asked some kind of question about when Edward fell in love with Bella, and Stephenie said it was in the 6 weeks that he was ignoring her. I can't wait to know what he was feeling and thinking and doing in that period he was ignoring her. As far as the reasons go though, I think there are many. For one reason, all these feelings took Edward by such surprise, he truly thought he was complete in himself. He does think she's beautiful, but at first that's true it seems he wasn't taken by her looks. I think it's because he never thought in his wildest dreams that he would ever be attracted to (let alone fall in love with) a human girl, especially where he initially just thinks she's probably just like the rest of them. She's isn't like anyone he's ever met before, so the fascination draws him in more and the crazy feelings he's having that he's never had before, he doesn't understand them. I know Stephanie says it was in that 6 weeks they didn't speak, but all the stuff before that time led him to falling in love, as well as after the 6 weeks, he didn't really know if it could ever be until after the meadow I believe. I think the fact remains that, he was going to fall for her because she was meant for him, the reason he thought he was content with his life was because Bella wasn't alive yet. It's a wonderful thing, it was fated. All the details just add to it!
What do you think Jill? Have you had any thoughts about when or how you thought it came to be? How about you Mary Ann? Melanie? Becky?
Am I lame to comment on my own post? Well, since first asking that question, I've thought a bit more about it. And I think that it was a few different things. I think he didn't really know how to identify the feelings he had for her initially because he had never felt anything like it before, like Trisha said, because Bella wasn't alive yet. And I also agree with Erin when she said that he really was fascinated with her. The smell of her and her blood, the inability to read her thoughts, her facial expressions, her apparent differences from all the other girls her age, etc...So during that 6 weeks, he had time to try and figure out what he was feeling and what he was going to do about it. I think he struggled much more with this than Bella. All she had to do was make up her mind about how she felt about him, but he really struggled with his feelings and all the moral issues of a relationship between them. I think he really did try to fight it for so long, even into New Moon. I don't think his mind was made up until then. He knew he loved her, but wasn't sure about what he was ultimately going to do about it. He WANTED to be with her but couldn't justify the risks in his own head. Thank goodness he finally realized that it was just meant to be and he stopped fighting!
Thank goodness, amen!
And no! Of course you're not lame for commenting on your own post, if that were the case I think we'd all be lame wouldn't we? I just love to hear what everyone thinks about things, and if anyone else gets stuff from others comments as much as I do. Thanks!
So, um, have you noticed I'm a bit wordy. My mind is usually chalked full of thoughts. I can't make them stop. I've been waiting to comment on this. Oooh such a great subject. Everyone has got it right on. I'll just add to that. I've put together my own little Edward falling for Bella time-line. Its essay length, sorry.
(Want a thrill? Read Midnight Sun again. Whew!)
*The first time he sees her:
He doesn't comment on her beauty, but I think Trisha is right. Why should he, she's a human. But he notices a lot of things about Bella. Too many details here to list. But detils of most importance: he mentions her eyes twice, the second time saying they were odd because of the depth to them. He usual found brown eyes "flat in their darkness." He notices her blush.
Then of course he has this feeling, well I'll let him tell it:
"I felt the strangest urge...to sheild this Bella Swan... What an odd thing to feel. Trying to ferret out the motivations behind the impulse, I examined the new girl one more time."
He is also intrigued by his inability to read her mind. This is all before her scent has ever reached him.
*After a week away, working to control his thirst, he returns. They have their first conversation:
And want another thrill, read that first conversation in biology again, concentrating on Edwards reactions. He is SO interested in her. Because he doesn't know what she is thinking, yes, but also because he is always surprised by her answers and her reactions. He can't help being fascinated by her. I forgot he was staring at her after school when she got in her truck. What was he thinking? After only one day of getting to know her, he wants to know more.
*The next day:
He has the feeling again to protect her, to risk everything for her, when he thinks "Not her" before saving Bella from the van.
And not because he was scared he couldn't resist her blood. But then of course he puts his family in danger by saving her. He has to distance himself from her now, but the pull she has on him has already started.
When she asks him why he saved her:
His "unexpectedly vulnerable face whispered, I don't know."
*Six weeks of silence:
That six weeks has to have been as hard, probably harder for him than her (why that is could by an entire discussion itself). All that time wondering why. Agonizing over why he cares, why he risked to save HER, and what he is going to do about it. He spends these 6 weeks watching, thinking, falling in love with her.
*The first time they talk in 6 weeks. It was a short and strained converstaion of course. Why did he give in then? I don't think he could stand to stay away from her anymore. This is the first night he goes to her room. About that night he says "I wrestled all night, while watching you sleep, with the chasm between what I knew was right, moral, ethical, and what I wanted... And then as you were sleeping, you said my name...And I knew I couldn't ignore you any longer."
*Until the meadow:
The more he finds out the more he adores her. She is what he wants. I agree with everyone though, he doesn't really decide until the meadow. I like how Bella put it the night before those fateful "confessions"
"Our relationship couldn't continue to balance, as it did, on the point of a knife. We would fall off one edge or the other, depending entirely upon his decision, or his instincts."
*Then the meadow and beyond:
He gives in. She has never seen him happier, laughing, free to be himself with her. He didn't know it was going to make him so happy to have her know everything about him (see her 1st trip to the Cullen residence.)
*Vampire adventures and then a danger free, blissful summer together. (And don't forget that incredible prom. Of course he thinks she is beautiful from the moment he starts to really look at her, and those compliments at the prom, my bones feel squishy just thinking about it.)
*Bella's 18th birthday on:
Jill is right here too. He has decided to be with her, but always conditionally in his mind. He even says this back in Twilight when they are talking in school. That she can't possibly think she cares more about him than he does her, because he says "if leaving is the right thing to do, then I'll hurt myself to keep from hurting you, to keep you safe."
I think in New Moon he has decided to be with Bella but only as his 2nd alternative (he describes 4 possibilites for their relationship in Eclipse, see "Fire and Ice".)
Edward says "from the second I realized that I loved her, I knew there were only 4 possibilities."
He goes on:
"The second alternative, THE ONE I"D ORIGINALLY CHOSEN, was to stay with her thoughout her human life". Of course that doesn't work, too dangerous, and the rest is history. He tries alternative 3 until he sees that she doesn't want to live without him, and now they are both ready for alternative 4.
*The marraige of Isabella Marie Swan to Edward Anthony Mason Cullen, August 13th, some time in the present. Followed (as soon as possible in my version of the story) by that moment of truth, THE BITE, the transformation of Bella into Edward's true equal, for eternity.
Oh please let Edward and Bella have their hard earned happiness Miss Meyer. They were meant to be, they were meant to find each other. "There must be something more for one such as Edward" [Carlisle Cullen] and his true love and soul mate, Bella, "the opposite of ordinary".
And that is how I see Edward falling in love with Bella. (Would you believe this is a condensed version of my thoughts?) Bella Penombra.
Mary Ann that was so freakin' awesome to read! Just reading all those little bits from the books made me be able to feel some of my feelings that I get when I'm actually reading them. That's what I love about them so much, is that time and time again of reading them I still get those same great feelings. I hope that doesn't stop.
I love how you pointed out that he had all of those thoughts of her 'before her scent ever reached him', I have forgotten that. His first sight of her brings him these strange, unknowing feelings and thoughts.
I can only imagine what he must have went through in that 6 weeks, conversations with his family. Fights with some, and real talks with others (Esme, Carlisle). Perhaps Alice telling him about her vision of Bella during that time. That is going to be SO totally amazing to read.
I love that he wants to know every single, little, insignificant detail about her and is enthralled by her answers and lets her talk and talk about her life, taking it all in.
I'm looking forward to reading about those 4 alternatives again, there's so much I've forgotten about, some parts I've only read once so I'm really enjoying it.
They are SO meant for each other!
I hope and pray for the same ending! Oh man, the suspense!
Oh yes Trisha, there were fights. He says the biggest fight they ever had was over Bella.
And I forgot to mention another new emotion Edward started to feel toward the end of that six weeks, jealousy! That is the emotion that caused him to act, sent him to Bella's room the first time. He wanted to know more, what feelings she had behind all her refusals for going to the dance.
Edwards words to Bella in the lunch room, after Port Angeles (I think)
"You're not like anyone I've ever known. You fascinate me." She was sure he was teasing. Do we think he was?
I also find it significant that Edward, who epitomizes self control, finds only one thing he can't control: his need to be with Bella. I think it is a need. He will say it's selfish, that he coveted and took her
(Eclipse - "But what did you ever covet?" I asked doubtfully. You have everything."
"I coveted you." His smile darkened. "I had no right to want you --but I reached out and took you anyway." )
But she needs him too. She chooses to be his, she has proven she has the strength to resist him, but her life without him was also unbearable. That for me is what makes their love so magnetic. It's unreal, in the best sense of the word.
That's right! He was very jealous of all those boys asking her to the dance. Mike in particular I believe. He was very intrigued with that feeling (he tells her that night after the meadow.)
I also totally forgot about the part where he talks about coveting Bella. I must not have gotten there yet again in Eclipse. Ooh, I really like that. He is just so hard on himself for not being able to stay away from her.
It really is unreal, I guess that's why we're all so fascinated with them.
I can't agree more than what has been said. Maryann, I am so glad that you bring things in from the books- it reminds me all again. Maybe that is why we all love this story because of the magnetic energy- it is not something that is written but felt and it keeps pulling at us. I haven't read anything for a long time until last night. Paul and I read about their trip to Arizona to see Renee- most young teenage romance is all in the physical relationship- not that Edward and bella don't have that- but even with them being careful not to touch around her- she is concerned because of how serious their relationship is- she has never seen a relationship like it- the magnetic- satelite toward each other. Like I said in another comment, I don't know how I will ever enjoy another book-that isn't about Bella and Edward.
That timeline is so perfect, Mary Ann! It helps me to see everything that way and the order it happened in.
So, is it me or would sneaking into someone's bedroom and basically stalking them be just plain creepy in any other circumstance? But somehow is so romantic when Edward does it! I had forgotten about all that and it's just a reminder of how interested he is her. To just sit and watch her sleep, that is true love. I can only imagine the pain he felt as he did that. Physical and emotional. Obviously the smell and the desire to taste her blood but also to know he loved her but couldn't justify being with her.
Something else that strikes me is the jealousy that Mary Ann and Trisha talked about. It just makes Edward even more amazing to me because the jealousy is something he really struggles with in the beginning of their relationship. And by Eclipse (I think I've said this before) he has Bella sleeping with a werewolf! It just emphasizes even more his desire for self control. He knows his weakness and works so hard to make them into strengths.
Like someone else said, Trisha, I think, I can't wait to be able to read what actually went on at the Cullen household during those 6 weeks. Rosalie must have been such a pain in the butt! But I can only imagine how helpful and supportive Alice, Carlisle and Esme were. He must have been so overwhelmed and confused. Bring on Midnight Sun!
I agree, anyone except Edward watching you sleep might be a bit weird. But it's Edward, and it's just wonderful that it's him. Seriously, how boring would that be to watch someone sleep? But he has found his true and only love after nearly 100 years of not knowing she would ever exist.
Edward is so awesome. He does work so hard to to make his weaknesses into strengths, thanks for pointing that out Jill C. He isn't perfect, but his intentions are good 95% of the time. (Right Stephenie).
I love how Jill N says that it's not something that's written but felt! How true! It's the emotions we all feel that make us love the books and especially Edward and Bella.
So this is my favorite discussion so far (I wonder why?). But I am going to move some of it to another post. Keep commenting here if you have anything to add about when Edward fell in love with Bella. Why he watches her sleep and why their relationship is so magnetic, these subjects are going to be moved to their own posts. Watch for them soon! I want everything to be very accessible. Thanks everybody.
Wow - this was awesome...all the research!! I see that now you've split it up, but it's great!
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