Reflecting on the parable that Jesus gave us in Matthew 13:24-30; Some of the reviews of Twilight that I have read from other Catholics, have focussed more on pointing out the weeds in this story. However, if we listen to Christ, he tells us that when we do that we uproot what is good along with the weeds. So I want to focus a bit more on the wheat in this series. Granted this may be difficult at times since the good messages come from the most unlikely characters.
In the preface of the 1st book of the series, Twilight, Bella begins with a thought process of how it is noble to die for someone you love, or in place of someone you love.
At first glance we’d have to agree with Bella, this is a “good way to die” It is exactly what Jesus did for us: (Catechism of the Catholic Church # 609)
By embracing in his human heart the Father’s love for men, Jesus “loved them to the end”, for “greater love has no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.” In suffering and death his humanity became the free and perfect instrument of his divine love which desires the salvation of men. Indeed, out of love for his Father and for men, whom the Father wants to save, Jesus freely accepted his Passion and death: “No one takes [my life] from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.” Hence the sovereign freedom of God’s Son as he went out to his death.
However there is more to this character than someone wilfully choosing to die a noble death. Bella in fact has sacrificed moving to the town of Forks to live with her father. Her parents are divorced and her mother has re-married someone who will need to travel. She doesn’t like the town of Forks and does not have a very good relationship with her father. However, she places her mother’s happiness before her own.
Bella describes herself as awkward; doesn’t fit in and doesn’t relate well to others, even her peers; she is uncoordinated, sarcastic, and morbid and has very low self esteem. She is surprised by any positive attention or act of kindness given to her by those around her, including her own father.
However, it seems Bella fairs well when the adults in her life need her to take care of them. She describes her mother as erratic, hair brained; and flighty and when she moves in with her Dad she takes on the responsibility of preparing his meals, grocery shopping, laundry, easily stepping into the role of caregiver.
When Bella attracts the attention of Edward, a vampire with a conscience she instinctively misunderstands his aversion to her as something she has done wrong, playing on her own insecurities. She quickly becomes obsessed with Edward after he saves her from a near fatal car crash.
Edward seems to toy with her; he gives her verbal warnings that she is better off not becoming friends with him, but then dazzles her with his actions, such as, the way he looks at her; treats her; follows her. He consistently gives her mixed messages, his action are incongruent with his words. This can be seen as his own internal struggle, as he is genuinely attracted to her but is well aware that their friendship could be fatal for her.
Bella’s obsession begins to manifest itself through her view that if she chose not to be with Edward this would be a “self-imposed purgatory”
We have no reason to believe at this point that Bella knows that purgatory is the place where souls are purified; purged of any sin before entering into heaven. However there is a sense that she knows her wish to be with Edward is wrong somehow.
CCC 1031: The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned.
Bella knows that there is something inherently wrong with this situation; by choosing to move forward in this relationship with Edward she is purposefully placing her life in danger, but she acts on emotion alone, dismissing logic and intellect. Abusing her free will and devaluing her human life. Bella acknowledges and foreshadows that she could abuse Edward’s expressed desire to protect her from her own clumsiness by purposefully putting her life in danger.
CCC 2281: Suicide contradicts the natural inclination of the human being to preserve and perpetuate his life. It is gravely contrary to the just love of self. It likewise offends love of neighbour because it unjustly breaks the ties of solidarity with family, nation, and other human societies to which we continue to have obligations. Suicide is contrary to love for the living God.
We’ll focus more on this aspect in the review on the second book, New Moon.
Bella’s character is quite disappointing at times, she has very little regard for her own life and seems attracted to unhealthy relationships. She sees herself as being out of Edward’s league, yet quite easily claims to be “unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him” As if she has no control over her reaction or who she chooses to love. In fact, we do choose who we love, because love is not a mere emotion. This is when we must use our intellect and our will, even if it may cause some discomfort, or pain of emotional loss. We have to use our heart and our mind to discern what is the overall good.
Living Water 
Posted by Seeing Evil Among the Good on April 4, 2011 at 7:04 am
[…] I wrote a series of blog posts on a review of the “Twilight” series, I reflected on the parable of the wheat among the weeds […]