When I Grow Up, I Want To Be Like Elizabeth Bennet

Last night Barefoot and I went to a Murder Mystery Dinner at The District. It was quite enjoyable, though we were much saddened that we did not know we could have dressed up, because she, like I, love to dress up any opportunity we get!

On the way home the conversation moved from the theatre to books. We discussed the many novels we have read and loved, the ones we have read and enjoyed, and the ones that were just awful. And then we began our rant.

Warning: If you love the Twilight Series and take offense easily when one has a differing opinion as yourself, do NOT continue reading.

You have been warned.

Both Barefoot and I have read the Twilight Series, and we both enjoyed it. However, we began to discuss (or shall I say, passionately rave about) the characters and the author, how we felt about them, what role model they are becoming to the next generation and how it is just disappointing.

Here are our conclusions.

Bella Swan - We whole heartedly can't stand her. She is whiny, weak, submissive, has no mind of her own and has no self confidence or self worth. She doesn't know how anyone like Edward could ever want to be with her (c'mon...give yourself a little credit honey!). Her life is over because a man decides to leave her, and then she can't get over it and move on. She whines about it for a whole freakin' book! Move on! You are still worth something without him. Plus, you are in HIGH SCHOOL! And then she only finds happiness when he comes back to her. To make matters worse, she thinks she is all noble and self sacrificing, but in reality she makes everything worse for those around her. Annoying, right? Right.

Edward Cullen - We admit that we enjoy his character and that is he is interestingly attractive (and I am an "Edward Fan" all the way). But we find the fact that he finds Bella so fascinating because of her mind and who she is, ridiculous. I honestly believe that if he could hear her thoughts he'd be so utterly turned off by them because of how little confidence she has. I much preferred reading Midnight Sun, written from Edwards perspective than Twilight, written from Bella's. Her attitude and personality drove me crazy.

Stephenie Meyer - She is very creative and writes well. However, we think that what she has created as the new heroine for the next generation is disappointing. Girls are going to grow up thinking that if they have no opinion or no confidence whatsoever to speak their mind, that men, like Edward, are going to fall madly in love with them.

WRONG.

MEN LOVE STRONG WOMEN!!!

Girls need to grow up knowing that if they have confidence, know what they want, head out to conquer the world and speak their mind, that men will be attracted to them and they can get whoever they want. Not just the first man that pays attention to them in high school.

These girls need heroines like Elizabeth Bennet, Anne Shirley, Scarlett O'Hara and Jo March!
They need to know that they can be strong, confident, intelligent and successful! Girls need strong female role models who can help them build self-esteem and confidence, not ones that depict a teenager willing to dispose of her mortal life for the crush she has on her high school vampire boyfriend.

Bella has become the new role model, and I'll be damned if I let my daughters grow up thinking that is who they should be like!

We also agreed that there is an incredible abundance of grown, married women who are OBSESSED with Twilight. They have Edward decals all over their minivans and SUVs. They've read the whole Twilight series 15 times but have not once read Pride and Prejudice or Gone With The Wind (or they find them (by them, I mean the movie versions) dull and the characters not to their liking). These woman need to educate themselves and read these books to help be a greater heroine for their own daughters!

We find that in most of these cases, these woman are most likely using Twilight and their passion for Edward to compensate for what is lacking in their own marriage. But ladies! You could be so much more! Don't settle for Bella being your role model and having all the passion you get in your life what you get from reading Twilight. Really. You can!

We are not Twilight haters. We are just realistic about what it really is. We like the books, they are enjoyable for some entertaining reading. But we are not so obsessed that we are going to ask Robert Pattinson what it is like to be a vampire (really? Is this the intelligence level we are looking at here?)

Speaking of Robert Pattinson. Who thought he was a good choice for Edward? He is skinny and honestly looks like some big dumb oaf. He looks like he has no idea what is going on and can't form an intelligent sentence if his life depended on it.

And don't get me started on Kristin Stewart. Talk about an annoying actress. But I guess that makes her perfect to play Bella.

But that is off the topic.

Please. We ask you to please go home and read Pride and Prejudice. Read it to your daughters! Help them to know what a real heroine is, and what they can become in their own life.

We don't need any more women who define themselves by the man that they date, or think they are only worth something if they have a boyfriend.

We are women. We are God's crowning creation. Act like it.

Domestic Me

Here are some photos of my most recent amazing domestic abilities.



Yes, I am aware that I am amazing. *Wink*