Close View of Thick Weaved Rope by Michael Melford
I am undertaking this project to evaluate Twilight from the only perspective I can, as a Catholic mom.
As parents we are faced with the daunting task of deciding what may or may not be proper reading or movie viewing for our children. However, as they get older we aren’t always given the option, as some books or movies that I would have steered them away from seem to be made available to them even within the confines of school and friends homes. Therefore at times, we have found it best to have open dialogue on what they are reading or watching and offer opportunities to teach them how the material relates to our faith and popular culture.
The goal of this critique is to analyze and separate the wheat from the weeds, to find ways to teach our youth about our rich Catholic faith. This series is very reflective of today’s society where most people don’t recognize a clear line between right and wrong and we have found this wish to redeem evil, as if it could be redeemed. It is also filled with messages that point to some basic theology.
In this review, I will attempt to avoid any disrespect or unkind regard for Stephanie Meyer, the author of the Twilight saga. My aim is to recognize that Stephanie Meyer is a talented writer – she has a gift and has used it to reach our youth, she has them enthralled and excited about reading.
I do find it disturbing however that many mothers have also become so enthralled with this series they are neglecting their household duties to spend time tantalizing about the characters in this series. There is an on-line community for these moms to meet, discuss and share their fantasies.
My first impression of Twilight is that it’s a twisted love story; while discussing it with others, youth and adults alike, fans and critics, I found so many mixed feelings and viewpoints – however, what was similar in all the discussions is that Stephanie Meyer has managed to get people talking about, chastity, modesty, souls, immortality and self-sacrifice.
I figure when you can sit in a room with people who are on different stages of their spiritual journey and you can talk about these tough topics, then there must be some wheat in the series, therefore I am seeking to untwist this love story.
Having read some of Stephanie Meyer’s interviews on-line, she claims that she writes only to tell a good story and the only intentional message is that of free will choice. However, I sense her writing is rich with messages, some are full of wheat, but of course there is also much to weed through.
So if you can relate to my situation, being a Catholic mom with a deep wish to raise children steeped in the faith while facing the challenge of living in this world that is full of distortions of truth and inconsistencies. The Twilight series has provided us with a new challenge to discern whether or not to expose/allow our children to watch/read this series.
Perhaps your teen, pre-teen has already read the series and watched the movies and now you want to use it as a teaching tool. Rest assured that is what you may find here; a resource to teach the faith to your teen/pre-teen through the choices that are made by the characters in this series.
Be warned, if you have not read the books or watched the movies, this critique will include spoilers. There is no way to complete a thorough review without giving away much of the plot/storyline.
Living Water 