Everyone, even those who have avoided the books and/or the films like the plague, knows of the famous love triangle in the second instalment of the Twilight Saga by Stephanie Meyer.
New Moon is once again narrated from the viewpoint of the female protagonist, Isabella 'Bella' Swan, but unlike its predecessor (simply named Twilight), New Moon also contains chapters dedicated and written to.explore the view point of teenage werewolf, Jacob Black. After the events of Twilight, smouldering vampire Edward Cullen leaves the town of Forks and girlfriend Bella in order for her to be safe, to forget about him and be able to lead a normal life. Of course, this does not settle well with Bella and she seeks solace with her new friend, Jacob.
Fan-girls raged and ‘Twihards’ became divided between Team Edward and Team Jacob in this book. In the end Bella is faced with choosing between the vampire and the wolf, both ancient enemies, knowing that neither relationship would succeed fully while the other also existed.
Point One – Friend-Zone!
To get to the main point of this article, to critically explore the relationships in New Moon, it would be fair to begin by saying that many people who have read the book will agree how typically 'friend-zoned' Jacob becomes. He was her best friend, and someone who treated her right and would do anything for her; some would say that he was lining himself up to be wound around Bella's little finger.
I personally believe that Jacob's character was introduced purposefully to be the opposite of Edward's (even their body temperatures are polar opposites!) by Meyer to exploit the 'good and bad' options Bella had to choose from between the two very different boys in front of her. The issue of whether Jacob was friend-zoned by Bella is neither here nor there in the overall story. Edward; the classic misunderstood 'bad boy' with an endearing, mysterious streak; and Jacob, kind and gentle, and very much an open book. It is obvious on the surface who would be Bella's best choice of a contented life. However, this would not have then made an extra two books...
Point Two – Breaking the 'Bad Boy' Mould.
To contradict the previous point about Edward however, he knew when he was leaving her that she would turn to Jacob, therefore when Edward told her to be safe and to be happy; he was doing so with a predetermined future planned out for her. Therefore, this shows sincerity and a genuine care for her welfare even though he was causing her the worst pain when he left. This also shows that Edward isn't in fact the classic bad boy; he was willing to sacrifice his own happiness with her for her individual happiness and a chance to have a fulfilling human life. This is implied to be a fulfilling human life with Jacob, giving her things that Edward is sure that he cannot give her – a family and a peaceful life not being hunted by aggrieved vampires.
Point Three – Selfish or Not Selfish?
Bella, on the other hand, was thought to have been selfish to drag Jacob along and to raise his hopes only to shatter them completely when she finally chooses Edward. The word selfish is used here in terms of knowing Jacob's feelings for her, and using these to occupy herself in Edward's absence. Was she really that bad? I don't think so. In Bella's eyes, Jacob was always going to be just a friend. I think the haphazard emotions she was feeling after the Cullen's departure would have equally happened regardless of if she'd have spent more time with Jessica Stanley or Mike Newton.
It just happened to be Jacob she felt more comfortable with. His skill with mechanics and fixing up old motorcycles became their joint danger-filled project, only for Bella to use in a selfish (?) way to regain her connection to Edward. But reading the book, as a reader you are invited to Bella's secret world of insecurity and heartache, and you know that this is real, raw emotion and her actions are not motivated by selfishness at all. It is stunningly obvious how highly Bella regards Jacob, but unfortunately it is just not in the same category as Jacob's feelings for her.
I wanted to write about unrequited and lost love. I believe these to be two of the most painful, but also most burningly strong types of love there are.
Secondly, due to the 'Marmite effect', everyone has an opinion on these characters and the way Meyer portrayed them to the reader, and I just wanted to give you my opinion on them.
Have a great Valentine’s Day!