Time to Set Bella Down: A Feminist Critique of Twilight

While feminism is not necessarily an uncomplicated subject, according to literary critic Robert Dale Parker, “at its most fundamental level, feminism is a simple concept; it is about taking women seriously and respectfully” (148). Despite this easily understandable idea, the portrayal of women in literature and media continues to be highly problematic, and Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight is no exception. The female protagonist, Bella, is a self-deprecating girl written with a slew of stereotypical attributes. She suffers from low self-esteem, cooks and cleans for her father, is physically small and weak, is consistently portrayed as the “damsel in distress,” is obsessed with Edward and loses all interest in any other activity once they meet, (thus fulfilling the unfortunate stereotype that women need a man to “complete” them and experience true happiness) and in general fails to exhibit any personality traits that could mark her as a strong female character. Also, despite being in love with a man who literally wants to kill her, Bella refuses to worry about her own welfare, and on multiple occasions expresses the desire to sacrifice her own well-being and happiness for the good of those she loves. This unfortunate perpetuation of stereotypes is important to acknowledge because of the novel’s intended demographic. Although the books have become extremely popular and are now read…