Critical Analysis: The Twilight Saga (2008 film)

The movie Twilight is based on the novel written by Stephenie Meyer. The first book in the
series was published in October 2005, and no one could have predicted the success it would
become. Stephanie Meyer has stated that the inspiration for her writing came from a vivid
dream she had about a vampire and a human girl having a conversation in a meadow. The
dream was so powerful that Meyer woke up and started writing down everything she could
remember. As a result, she gave birth to four books, five movies, and a worldwide
phenomenon. Twilight is a thrilling movie that captures the essence of the popular vampire
novels and keeps audiences engaged until the very end.

 Explication of Meaning

The Twilight movie is a 2008 film based on the book of the same name by author
Stephenie Meyer. It tells the story of a seventeen-year-old girl named Bella Swan who falls in
love with a vampire named Edward Cullen. She moved from Phoenix to Forks, a small town in
Washington, to live with her father. At school, she meets Edward Cullen, a mysterious and
handsome boy who turns out to be a vampire. Despite the dangers, they fall in love, but their
passion attracts the attention of other vampires who wish to drink Bella’s blood.

Furthermore, she becomes friends with a boy named Jacob Black, who is part of the
Quileute tribe. He warns her about the Cullens and their reputation for being vampires. Bella is
intrigued by Edward from the start because he is initially aloof and cold toward her. However,
as they became closer and their romance blossomed, she learned more about his past and the
burden he carries in trying to protect her. The plot thickens when another group of vampires
arrives in Forks, led by James, who becomes obsessed with killing Bella. Edward and his
family work together to protect her, but the situation becomes dire as James tracks her down.

The final battle scene sees Bella nearly killed, but Edward rescues her and kills James in
the process. The movie ends with Edward and Bella sharing a kiss and promising to be
together forever, despite the challenges of their different worlds. Overall, the Twilight story has
become a cultural phenomenon, inspiring countless parodies, fan fiction, and merchandise.

● Analysis of Structure

Stephenie Meyer has a unique way of writing that can truly capture the reader's attention
and leave them wanting more. It is said that her books have a unique mix of horror, romance,
and science fiction that is one-of-a-kind.

In the exposition, it began by introducing the main character, Bella, who is a seventeen-
year-old girl who moved to Forks (which is the setting of the story) to be with her father. At
school, where Bella meets her love interest, Edward Cullen. He was portrayed as an attractive
and mysterious vampire. In addition, several characters such as Alice Cullen, Jasper Hale, Dr.
Carlisle Cullen, Esme Cullen, and so on were also introduced.
 The conflict began when Bella catches the interest of a member of the evil vampire coven.
The rising action is when James (antagonist) finds it difficult to track Bella down for her
irresistible blood. With the assistance of Edward of his family, Bella runs to escape James'
threat. However, in the climax of the movie, James caught Bella and begins to beat her up. He
was really intent to kill her. Furthermore, the falling action is the Cullens was nearly perished
because James had already bitten Bella and was ready to become a Vampire. Lastly, the
resolution is when James is killed by Emmet and Jasper, and Edward had to sucked the
venom from Bella before she changes into a vampire. After the attack, Bella wakes up in the
hospital. In the end of the story, she was eventually healed and attended a prom with Edward.

● Analysis of Characters

1. Isabella “Bella” Swan

● a shy, awkward high school student who moves from Phoenix to her father's small, rainy
town of Forks, Washington.
● She dislikes being in the spotlight and is clumsy, so she never wants to play sports or
dance. She is an intellectual who enjoys literature, music, and academics.
● In contrast with other characters who are often portrayed as perfect, Bella is realistic
and relatable. She has flaws, makes mistakes, and experiences human emotions like
anger, jealousy, and sadness.

2. Edward Cullen

● a 17-year-old boy who was transformed into a vampire more than a century before the
movie’s beginning.
● He is portrayed as a charming, attractive, and mysterious vampire who is deeply in love
with the protagonist of the series, Bella Swan.
● His family is described as vegetarian, meaning they only drink the blood of animals.
● He has the ability to read minds, but strangely, he cannot read Bella’s.

3. Jacob Black

● a fifteen-year-old boy and a member of the Quileute tribe, and is initially introduced as a
close friend of Bella Swan.
● He is portrayed as a fun-loving and warm-hearted person, but he is heartbroken when
Bella chooses Edward Cullen over him.
● Jacob is acquainted with the traditional tribal tales of "the cold ones," vampires who live
peacefully with people.

4. Dr. Carlisle Cullen

● He is the patriarch of the Cullen family and acts as a father figure to Edward, Alice,
Jasper, Rosalie, Emmett, and Edward.
● As a doctor, he has dedicated his life to helping others. Beyond just humans, he also
treats other vampires and werewolves.
● He is a vampire with superhuman abilities; he has a strong sense of morality and self-
control, which makes him a very unique character.

5. Esme Cullen

● Mother of Edward, wife of Dr. Carlisle Cullen, and matriarch of the Cullen family
● Esme's backstory reveals that she was once a human woman who married a wealthy
man named Charles. However, Charles was physically abusive towards Esme, and she
eventually fled from him and attempted to end her own life by jumping off a cliff. This is
when she was discovered and turned into a vampire by Carlisle Cullen.

6. Alice Cullen

● She is depicted as a petite and beautiful young woman with short black hair and golden
eyes when she is a vampire.
● She is primarily known for her unusual ability to see the future.
● She is in a relationship with Jasper Hale, a fellow vampire.

7. Jasper Hale

● His supernatural ability is the power to sense and control people's emotions.
● He was turned into a vampire by his adopted sister, Rosalie, and experienced a difficult
and violent past. However, he eventually found peace and love because of Alice.

8. Rosalie Hale

● She is portrayed as the most beautiful one in the Cullen family with her incredible
beauty, blonde hair, and flawless skin.
● She vehemently opposes Edward and Bella's relationship due to the threat it brings to
the rest of the Cullen family.

9. Emmett Cullen

● He is described as being tall, muscular, and having curly brown hair.

10. James

● He is portrayed as the primary antagonist, a member of the evil vampire coven.

11. Victoria

● a vampire who is also James's partner and a part of his coven.

The inspiration behind the Twilight book series has been attributed to both personal
experiences in Stephenie Meyer's life and her love for the classic novel "Pride and Prejudice."
Meyer admits to having a vivid dream that served as the basis for the novel's plot, and her
own feelings of isolation and longing as a teenager likely contributed to the book's themes of
forbidden love and the desire for acceptance. Additionally, Meyer has stated that she was
drawn to Jane Austen's iconic novel and wanted to write a modern-day reinterpretation of the
classic story.

● Analysis of Style

The Twilight movie is a phenomenon that has taken the world by storm. One of the reasons
for its success is the author's writing style. Stephenie Meyer, the author of the Twilight movie,
uses a unique writing style. She employs a simple yet emotionally charged language that
captures the attention of her readers. Meyer's writing is highly descriptive, which helps readers
picture each scene vividly. She uses long descriptive passages to paint pictures in the reader's
mind. Her writing is a beautiful combination of elegance and simplicity that makes the story
relatable to both teens and adults. She also uses a first-person point of view, which allows the
reader to experience everything that the main character, Bella, is experiencing. This adds a
personal touch to the story, which makes the reader feel connected to the characters. In
addition, the author uses different symbols, such as "volvo," which symbolizes Edward himself.
Like a Volvo that intends to protect passengers from harm in the event of a traffic accident, he
throws himself into physically protecting Bella. Another one is the "wolf." The shape-shifting
wolf is a symbol for several things in the movie. Firstly, it represents the Quileute people's
heritage and is a powerful connection to their ancestors. Secondly, it symbolizes the physical
and emotional transformation of the characters in the movie. Werewolves are powerful
symbols of strength and courage, and Jacob's transformation into a wolf embodies these
qualities.

Moreover, the overall mood of the movie is to intrigue the audience and make them feel the
intense emotions of the characters. As Bella and Edward's relationship deepens, the audience
is left hanging on every word and every touch as the two characters struggle to navigate their
love amidst the dangers that come with being vampires. Another unique aspect of Meyer's
writing is that she follows a non-linear structure, which keeps the reader interested throughout
the story. She uses flashbacks and dream sequences to reveal important information about the
characters, which adds depth and complexity to the story. These elements are woven
seamlessly into the story, creating a tapestry of characters and events that keep the reader
engrossed in the story. Lastly, the movie explores several major themes that center on love,
identity, and self-sacrifice. These themes help viewers develop an understanding of the
challenges associated with forbidden love and the constant struggle to choose to be
themselves without the voice of others.