Understanding the Success of the Twilight Saga
In the last few years there has been an insurgence of vampires into the film and literary world. These historically dark creatures have also taken on a whole new persona that can actually be good and virtuous. Stephenie Meyer introduced us to the Cullen family in her the first book of the series, Twilight. This non-biologically related group of people is bound together by their commitment to overcome the inherent evil of being a vampire. Turning from their blood-sucking ways, they resist the temptation to eat humans and only feast on wild animals. In a market saturated with romance novels, many wonder what has led this series to become such a global sensation. I would suggest that the nature of the two characters who fall in love contribute to the success of the story. In an ideal world, no love would be hindered or ruined by any opposing force, yet in reality we are attracted to conflict. We want to see a struggle for love, and the forbidden relationship Bella and Edward enter into, seems to have great appeal. The fact that these two are essentially two different species makes this an exceptionally difficult situation. The constant fear that something could go wrong and ruin what Bella and Edward have, keeps readers coming back for more. Another more superficial reason for the Twilight success is the physical appearance of its characters. While the vivid descriptions in the novels give you a good idea, the movie confirms that Bella is an average, natural-looking teenager and Edward, though handsome in many ways, looks nothing like the other Hollywood heartthrobs of most movies. Edward Cullen gives a whole new meaning to porcelain skin. For the first time in decades, two of Hollywood’s hottest stars are un-tanned, yet beautiful people. This is only one of many theories about the Twilight success, but no matter what the reason, this is definitely a title that will be remembered for decades.