TA TALKS BACK: MOTHERHOOD IN 'TWILIGHT'

TA fan Oretha writes about the women in Twilight:

Often the least sung stories are the strongest and most profound. The Twilight Saga continuously shines the light on motherhood with the Renee, Esme and Bella. In a world where traditional roles often get scoffed at or ridiculed we are immersed in a worked where three types of mothers come to meet on a grand drama.

Esme Cullen, the consummate traditional mother who uses her authority with is a force to be reckoned with. In the book and the movie you hear few words from her and see so little her influence permeates the saga. When you first meet her she already is offering love and compassion beyond understand and reason. When you discover her back story she actually bares the scars of what was is more common place than has been discussed. Its recent incarnation is that of abuse. You are shocked as you read between the lines of her suffering and how she found true love and a family that she wanted from the beginning of time. If there were one character that most fans would want just a little more of it would be Esme. She truly makes her home a hearth. Esme has the knowledge and skill of running her home, keeping “her kids “in line and supporting and loving her husband are paramount in her mind. I was overjoyed when I saw the scene in which she and Carlisle were watching Edward and Bella. I wondered what they were thinking and doing. It was great to see that snapshot of his their relationship. Esme represents the traditional with a modern flair.

Renee Dwyer represents the modern woman who came of age in the 1980’s. She tries to be as understanding and “hip” as she can be. She’s been divorced and remarried and now has to balance not smothering her daughter with a new found life. This mother represents the common mother that we have come to see more and more of. Whether this is right or wrong is a non issue. This is the role she is playing. There is slight distrust of the establishment and you are almost as shocked as Bella when she starts a gab session that asks “that” question. You can only believe that her mother is trying to live and adapt expectations on what her conversations should be with her daughter in the ever changing now as a product of the “Me Generation”. The funny part is that Bella reacts in a timeless teenager way. She quickly disengages from the query.

Bella takes to both women in a way that many teenagers do. In the very least many teenagers do. Female teens can all recall “the cool mom” Bella rides the world between two such mothers and is able to get from them both what she needs. Truth is this has always been the way of the world. Whether it’s an aunt, or god-mother or best friend’s mom we have all adopted women into the way that we think and adapt our lives. Esme is the one on the field who instantly throws Bella behind her back to protect her. Renee questions her choice and tries to absorb as much as she can in the relationship between Edward and Bella each time she is with them. She is trying to ascertain whether Edward is truly “good” for Bella. It all plays itself out in Bella who realizes what the sacrifices of having to make a choice to allow her child to survive is. She takes the nurture of Esme and the strength of Renee and becomes stronger and makes a choice and plan that is truly the product of them both. So, both roles in motherhood can be of great benefits.

Talk Back to us….what do you think?