Edward Cullen

Introduction From a certain perspective, it can be stated that various characters within the Twilight series represent the social groups that exist within the high schools that teenage girls go to. This is one of the reasons why the Twilight series has become so popular given the manner in which the target readers (i.e. teenage girls) see so much of their own lives in the characters they read about.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Edward Cullen specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More What is interesting though is how the vampires seemingly characterize the way people behave in society wherein they use fake outer personalities to blend in. The character of Edward Cullen in particular can be considered as a representation of the obsession of society with presenting a faà §ade of who they are in order to properly blend in with their social groups. Understanding the Representations of Characters in the Novel The main chara cters in Twilight are meant to represent high school stereotypes as seen in the way they look and act. Writers such as Fleur Diamond delve too deeply and add more dimensions than needed to what are basically one dimensional characters that are easily understood. In her work, Diamond states that Bella Swan quests for a sexuality that is not fully available to her within the dominant codes of both gender and heterosexuality in her culture. Meyer’s heroine is seeking a frank ownership of desire and sexual agency that is conventionally reserved for men and which, when present in women, is regarded with suspicion (Diamond 2). Such an interpretation, while interesting, adds more depth and dimension to a character that is simply unwarranted. The character of Bella and the perspective of â€Å"claiming a carnality and sexual subjectivity for its heroine† are simply at odds with one another when you look at the way in which the main characters are meant to represent high school â€Å"cliques† (Diamond 8). They embody stereotypical teenage definitions for various group categories that are the norm in most high schools in the U.S. (Diamond 1-8). Fleur Diamond is mistaken in interpreting Twilight as a form of â€Å"transgressive female desire† characterized by Bella Swan. The Twilight series is merely a means of representing the common â€Å"cliques† in a high school in a way that utilizes fantasy as a setting to show a girl’s growth into womanhood.Advertising Looking for essay on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This is one of the primary reasons why the series is so popular with teenage girls since they are able to relate to what the characters experience since they are going through it themselves. What Does Edward Cullen Represent? If the characters in the Twilight series represent various stereotypes that exist within a high school setting, then the c haracter of Edward Cullen can thus be considered as a representation of â€Å"the popular guy† stereotype. This individual is normally well off financially (Edward is quite rich), has good looks (same characteristic seen in Edward), has a charming yet mysterious personality (same characteristic shown within the books), yet has a loving and endearing quality (exactly the same set of personality traits exhibited by Edward Cullen). When examining the personality traits that an idealized guy would have that would appeal to a teenage girl (or any girl for that matter), it can be seen that Edward represents many of these apparent traits thus making him the much sought after â€Å"ideal guy† that teenage girls want in a boyfriend. Other similar representations that are not immediately apparent at the onset of the novel are the ways Edward also represents the concept of the â€Å"ideal man† in present day society. In particular, he is a highly educated, physically attra ctive, white male that has access to large amounts of personal wealth (Mutch 75-90). From a certain perspective, it can even be interpreted that Edward reinforces the present day stereotypes within society by his very nature. For example, in the book â€Å"New Moon† there is the possibility that Bella would choose Jacob over Edward, however, in the end she still chooses to go for Edward. This can be interpreted as a representation of women in society choosing mates who, through societal preconceptions, are considered to be the most perfect to go for (in this case white males) (Mutch 75-90).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Edward Cullen specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It should also be noted that the representation of main characters of â€Å"colored† descent (Native Americans in this case) show a certain level of racism. This is due to the manner in which they lived (i.e. in shacks in the wilderne ss), low economic means, the manner in which they dressed (lacking in style and class) and being generally â€Å"wild† and aggressive in terms of behavioral traits. This contrasts sharply with the relatively classy, suave and â€Å"cool† manner in which Edward Cullen and the other main vampire characters behave (Silver 121-130). This shows how character representations within the Twilight series follow the same boundaries, predilections and racist views that are common in the present day society. The concept of â€Å"identity† that is utilized within Twilight is neither complex nor hard to understand, it is merely a reflection of present day society told in a fantasy like setting (Wilson 126-130). Though it is stated in the novel that the vampires are far from human in their traits and characteristics, this is far from the truth given that the very nature of their characters are representations of how people are viewed and characterized within most social enviro nments. Context of the Character of Edward in Present day Society When going over the character of Edward Cullen, it can be noted that there is a certain duality to his representation. Initially, he represents the idealized version of a man that most women would like to have in their lives. On the other hand, he also has a much darker side to his personality that is represented by him being a vampire. Such a duality can actually be considered a representation of how people act within the society at the present wherein there is the â€Å"projected image† which is meant to appeal to social groups that one interacts with on a daily basis, while there is the â€Å"hidden image† which is who a person really is. This image is hidden from the view of society due to possible ramifications of revealing such a side to others. The following is one of the more interesting statements from the work of Herbert (2004) that echo such a viewpoint when he stated that:Advertising Looking for essay on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Thus the evil one is recognized by his refusal to self-reflect, or confront anything which he does not wish to confront about himself. Since the persona Dracula wants to present to the world is a facade and a lie, it does not reflect in the mirror of Truth. The vampire abhors the mirror, for the lack of reflection confronts him with the fact that his self-image has no reality (Herbert 63). Such a statement is actually quite close to how Edward Cullen and in fact, most males in society act wherein they at times refuse to confront who they are and instead focus on the creation of a faà §ade through the use of a surface image to fool the general public. What must be understood is that the concept of a persona can also refer to the way in which a person portrays themselves in public. As a matter of fact, it is considered a method in which a person presents an â€Å"image† to people that they are attempting to communicate and associate with on a daily basis (Herbert 62-70). This particular â€Å"image† refers to a person’s â€Å"character† that they are attempting to project. People treat them in a particular manner based on their inherent projected image. This is not limited to their physical appearance, rather, it extends also to the manner in which a person acts, speaks and generally portrays themselves in public. In the case of the Twilight novels, this takes the form of the vampires creating a particular image for themselves, namely, as individuals that may look beautiful, ethereal, otherworldly and mysterious but in the end still human at the core. It is this portrayal on the basis of a projected image that is a cause for concern. The way we react to people based on a projected image means that we are in effect reacting to something that, for all intents and purposes, is a false representation of who that person is in reality. For example, a person may argue for the righteousness of a cause on the basis of their knowledge of the e vent. Yet this attempt at persuasion may in itself be self-serving for the person that is attempting to persuade other individuals. In the case of a projected image, what must be understood is that it is â€Å"artifice†, meaning that is created, manufactured, made, constructed etc. It can be considered a type of surface image which may in fact have an entirely fictitious relationship to what is actually true. For instance, a teacher could show up in class one day wearing cowboy boots, a ten gallon hat and long sleeved t-shirt with a large image of a cactus on the front while the next day he can wear an average suit and tie. The reason this is mentioned is due to the fact that despite the different outfits, the person and the ideas that are being presented have not changed at all. However, what is changed is the perception of the audience regarding the idea being presented. The same can be said for image projection in the present day society wherein the method in which a perso n is â€Å"packaged† drastically changes the perception of the audience towards accepting the person or the validity of their statements. Thus, in the case of Edward Cullen, he represents how the idealized image that appeals to girls may in fact be hiding a personality that is completely different. Works Cited Diamond, Fleur. â€Å"Beauty and the Beautiful Beast.† Australian Feminist Studies 26.67 (2011): 41. MasterFILE Premier. Web. Herbert, Steven C. â€Å"Dracula As Metaphor For Human Evil.† Journal Of Religion Psychical Research 27.2 (2004): 62-71. Academic Search Premier. Web. Mutch, Deborah. â€Å"Coming Out Of The Coffin: The Vampire And Transnationalism In The Twilight and Sookie Stackhouse Series.† Critical Survey 23.2 (2011): 75–†90. Academic Search Premier. Web. Silver, Anna. â€Å"Twilight is not good for maidens: Gender, Sexuality, and the Family In Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight Series.† Studies In The Novel 42.1/2 (2 010): 121-138. Literary Reference Center. Web. This essay on Edward Cullen was written and submitted by user L1ndsey to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Summary and Analysis of introduction to the Scarlet letter essays

Summary and Analysis of introduction to the Scarlet letter essays Semi-fictional, this chapter explains how the romance of The Scarlet Letter came to presented as a story to the audience. Having always wanted to be a "literary man," the writer talks about his three-year stint as a Surveyor in the Salem Custom House. Mostly filled with older gentlemen, the workplace was a very political (Whig) environment and charged with Puritan history. After brief character sketches of the personalities in the Custom House, the writer then explains how he came upon a special package among the piles of papers. It contained a red cloth with "A" embroidered in gold thread and a manuscript by Jonathan Pue (the man who once held the writer's job). Finding the story extremely interesting, the author thus retells the story of Hester Prynne from Massachusetts' Puritan history. This section helps to position the voice of the narrator since we are going to hear comments throughout the rest of the novel. It reveals insecurities that the narrator has in pursuing a writing career. When he imagines that his "great-grandsire" Puritan ancestors are looking down on him, saying, "A writer of storybooks! What kind of business in life - what mode of glorifying God, or being serviceable to mankind in his day and generation - may that be? Why the degenerate fellow might as well have been a fiddler!" he dramatizes the anxiety he feels about writing for a living. His religious forebears think that it is a ridiculous profession, not at all useful to elevating God or anything else. Because he feels he has something to prove to his great-grandsires and to history, he wants this chance to show off his literary skills. Hester Prynne's story gives him the perfect opportunity since it does deal with God and piety (although his take on the story is not one his ancestors would be likely to agree with). His ambivalent attitude towards the "patriarchs" appears again when he speaks of a permanent Inspector of the Custom House. Though the man has "n...

Increase in prices Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Increase in prices - Essay Example However inflation cannot always be termed as "bad" if seen in terms of higher money incomes. The higher prices of everything would result in higher receipts for resource suppliers and hence a growth in their income levels. Inflation usually results in the standard of living to decline because it now costs more to buy the same amount of goods and services. However there are some cases where the rising prices do not necessarily mean declining living standards. Following are some of the factors: Nominal Income: If the economy is suffering from a period of rising prices and at the same time there is a commensurate rise in the level of income, this would not lead to a decline in living standards. This is because the increase in prices is offset by the proportionate increase in income, resulting in an unchanged consumption pattern. This is assuming everything else is constant. Real income: This is the income that is adjusted for inflation. In cases where the nominal income is rising but the rate at which it is growing is less than the inflation rate, it would not lead to a boost in the standard of living. This is because the inflation will erode the purchasing power of money and people will be spending the extra income in the purchasing of the same amount of goods and services. ... Since almost all countries are plagued by inflation, people look at their real income to determine their purchasing power rather than the nominal income. Tax structure: In an economy where there is a favourable tax structure, the spending patterns are high. This is due to the fact that even though inflation is prevalent, people still have more of the disposable income left over after their regular purchases. The spending patterns have a multiplier effect and in turn lead a general boom in the economy. The excess spending means people are demanding more goods and services signalling to the producers to produce more. Since the level of production needs to be increased, producers would demand more labour and more production would thus lead to an increase in the national income of the country. To sum it up, tax breaks given to the people will not lead to a decline in the standard of living even in the presence of rising prices. Labour: If the economy has more of the skilled labour as compared to the unskilled workforce and the labour productivity is high, this would also result in a higher standard of living. This is attributed to the fact that since the labour is skilled it would demand higher wages for each extra output it produces. Since the employers would want to retain the skilled labour, it would have to pay higher wages otherwise the labour would find jobs elsewhere. The higher wages would cause more spending and this would maintain or boost the standard of living even though the economy might be in the grips of inflation. Interest rate: The level of interest rates in an economy is an important factor in determining the spending patterns of the consumers. If the interest rate is low, then borrowing is