Twilight’s theme of sexual restraint

Twilight’s overly romantic nature gets much criticism and ridicule. I admit that the series can be a little far-fetched at times.

There is one theme which does deserve some praise though, which is that of sexual restraint. In the first film, we are under the impression that Edward resists intimate relations for fear of harming Bella. It is explained in the novels however that he is waiting to consummate his love after marriage.

Waiting to consumate your love after marriage is a concept which is virtually non-existent in these times, so it is refreshing that Meyer promoted this idea in her books. I salute her for this. She is instead criticised for promoting her Mormon values. If other writers can glorify and promote their views on promiscuity and sexual exploration, why cannot other writers promote their views on chastity before marriage?

I have never met the teenage girls who adore the books so I do not know whether this concept has had an affect on them. However, the introduction of this idea can only be a good thing, at a time when some are sadly trying to get rid of their virginity to the first person who comes along. For those who are not religiously inclined or do not believe in celibacy before marriage, this theme can also be interpreted as promoting sexual relations with the one whom you are in a committed and loving relationship.

I must add that Edward Cullen’s chivalrous nature is very pleasing too, and might instruct others on the heroic male archetype in today’s ambiguous gender dynamics. Men take note.

The brave girl’s reflections (part 2)

The brave girl sat down on a bed of golden leaves and reflected on her journey up the mountain:

1) She had yearned to climb the mountain her whole life but the village-folk had deterred her

Sometimes people are well meaning and not so well meaning when they advise you against pursuing a burning ambition, calling or higher purpose. Do not be swayed by naysayers as they do not understand your insight or higher sense of purpose; some wish to live the simple, easy and honest existence, and others have a higher calling.  People are cut from a different cloth.

2) The summit was much higher than she had ever imagined

Sometimes we undertake a substantial task, project or feat and we never imagined how arduous it might be, as there was no way of knowing before we had set out on that particular journey. This does not justify giving up on that particular goal; we must encourage ourselves to reach that goal when glorious things await us.

3) She had experienced physical pain and hardship when climbing up the mountain

The mundane life is easy and free of genuine hardship. But those who embark on a substantial task or feat must often undertake self-sacrifice during that process. If you wish to achieve the incredible know that it is not easy.

4) She looked forward to take her new-found knowledge back to her village-folk

Many people prefer to stay in their own circle, whether that be friendship group, city or country. Although the village-folk had asked her to stay back, she had ventured out of her circle and as a result had acquired a new-found knowledge which would them benefit them greatly. In order to grow as people and achieve wisdom, we need to immerse ourselves in new and strange settings from time to time. The ‘sublime knowledge’ is a metaphor for the wisdom and experiental learning she had gained climbing up the mountain.

The story of the Brave Girl (Part 1)

I wrote this simple symbolic story for my dear friend who is undergoing the final painful stages of her dissertation. I was inspired by the book I am reading: Karen Armstrong’s ‘A short history of myth’. This is a very interesting book which reminds us that myth and story move us to do wonderful things, because they transcend us from the here and now, and allow us to imagine what might be.

 

There was once a brave girl who lived in a village at the foot of the Majestic Mountain. She was happy with her life and her daily routine. But she ardently yearned to explore beyond her village. In particular, she thought of the Majestic Mountain, and every day looked upon the Mountain with an aching in her soul. The brave girl never had the resolve to scale its heights, because her village folk had said, with good intentions in mind, that it was too precarious.

 

The girl was out one day picking her crops and she overheard a conversation between two elderly women ‘Yes my friend, the summit is too beautiful I hear. But what is even more spectacular is the fountain at the summit of the mountain, when, if drunk gives the drinker a sweet sublime knowledge. Some turn back before the summit, but a brave few have tasted the elixir’.

 

The brave girl felt an awesome stirring in a soul and ran back home to her father, and told him that she could not longer turn back from her calling. The father accepted his daughter’s wishes, and with a kiss on his cheek the daughter packed her meagre possessions in a faded cloth and made her way.

 

As she walked towards the mountains and scaled the first steps – she felt sheer merriment. The birds were wonderful to listen to – she had never noticed how joyful they were. The crickets chirruped and the squirrels nibbled and clawed the acorns. She was warmed by the honey toned sunlight through the branches, and felt a groundswell of well being in her belly that she had finally embarked on this long-awaited journey.

 

As she scaled the heights she became more and more tired. Her throat became parched and her knees ached. She rested from time to time and this rejuvenated her. She managed this routine for a few days. By the fourth day, she started to feel a growing heaviness in her limbs. She looked up and reminded herself there was perhaps only half a day’s climb left ‘Not long to go’ she muttered to herself. But as she got to the final step she gasped, and clutched her mouth – That wasn’t the last step, because the real  summit soared above her!

 

She fell on her knees and sobbed bitterly with her face in her hands. She chided herself for having undergone the immense journey and wept at her perceived folly. She started turning back back but suddenly remembered the words of the woman regarding how beautiful the summit was, and how sweet the water of knowledge. She slowly stood up, one feeble step at a time, and wiped her tears away….she continued.

 

The next few days her body started aching all over. Her clothes were torn and face scratched from tree branches and thick undergrowth. She cried to herself in pain, but yet she could no longer forget the woman’s words which she etched into her mind. And she reminded herself that she had yearned for this journey her whole life, and simply could not turn back. She imagined the sweetness of the water and the sublimeness of the knowledge. As it got colder and more intrepid her resolve became stronger and a fierceness set ablaze in her eyes.

 

The undergrowth became thicker and soon she could no longer see anything as grey clouds descended about the mountain. Her face became dry and emaciated. Her eyes became sunken and hair withered. Her legs and feet became lead. She fell, and with a feeble glimpse looked to see that she had reached her destination finally.

 

The brave girl stumbled onto the summit – How beautiful it was, more than she had ever imagined!  She limped to the fountain and savoured the cool, sweetness of the water. She felt enlightened as the sublime knowledge descended upon her. Her body started filling out into its former youthful glory. Her eyes sparkled, her parched mouth became moist, her hair thickened and her limbs stood firm. The painful struggle had all been worth it. She cried tears of joy and laughed in merriment. She could not wait to take her new found knowledge to her family and village-folk, who would savour and benefit from the knowledge for centuries to come.