Chapter Summary:
In this chapter, we are introduced to the character of Isabella Swan. On the outside, she appears to be self-sacrificial, moving in with her father in order to appease her mother's unspoken wishes. While doing so, she constantly reminds herself how she will— and has— hated it in the cold, damp town of Forks. Just as her mother has before her. However, this time, there is a new intrigue. A closely-knit family of five students that are physically exceptional in their appearances. Four of the "teenagers" date among their adopted family and while morally fine, is seen in a skeptical light among their peers. Bella is particularly drawn to the only single Cullen, especially as she becomes his new lab partner in her Biology II class. However, his behavior towards her is astounding— hostile with no rational explanation. His reaction bothers her and is exemplified in another encounter soon thereafter. After he first day of school, Bella begrudgingly falls into the pace of a monotonous day, reflecting how such a person could show such a violent personality.
A Few Notes on the Language:
Before our narrator— Bella— sets a single toe in Forks, we already see the town in a negative light. She uses words such as "exiled," "esape," and "detest." Such word choice gives the reader a preconceived notion of what Forks will be like, making us— the reader— hate it as well. Bella, of course, has every reason to show contempt for the town since this is certainly not her first visit. But, as she describes its negative aspects, the reader wonders whether or not if the reason behind such scorn is really the weather, the town/small-town feel, or the perhaps tense relationship of her parents.
The style that Stephenie Meyer has chosen to present the narrative is very informal with copious amounts of dashes. Also, although the text is written in first person, there is a sense of detachment from the main character. Perhaps the reason for this is the character's own current detachment that she feels around her dad.
There is also an excessive use of unnecessary adjectives. One example is when she describes the light filtering down "greenly." Logically, this doesn't make sense. You can't tell some one to "greenly pick that up!" "Greenly" doesn't describe a condition; it's simply an adjective.
Bella's self-absorption:
From the beginning, Bella doesn't seem to be a very a grateful person. Especially towards Charlie, her father. (Note: It was rather unclear at first who Charlie was supposed to be). This may be my Southern-style respect kicking in, but the fact that Bella doesn't refer Charlie by a moniker meaning "dad" or "father" and instead refers to him by his first name is already a sign of disrespect. Perhaps this would make more sense if she referred to her mother in the same way, but she does call her mother "Mom" as opposed to her first name.
The disrespect also continues when Charlie tells Bella that he's bought her a car already. Bella's mere response is "Wow. Free." A rather ungrateful, almost sarcastic tone. However, for Stephenie Meyer's credit, character tones can often be misinterpreted through text.
"No need to add that my being happy in Forks is an impossibility. He didn't need to suffer along with me."
Here, Bella seems as a rather pompous martyr that, no matter what happens, has already decided she's going to be miserable.
The dark mood continues whenever Bella is in her room and "stares dejectedly" and "lets a few tears escape." Why is she crying? Why does she want to cry later? We see that she's miserable but we don't understand why, which increases the rift from character to reader even more. The point of writing in first person is to get the reader involved but the reader can't be involved if we don't understand.
To be continued...
In this chapter, we are introduced to the character of Isabella Swan. On the outside, she appears to be self-sacrificial, moving in with her father in order to appease her mother's unspoken wishes. While doing so, she constantly reminds herself how she will— and has— hated it in the cold, damp town of Forks. Just as her mother has before her. However, this time, there is a new intrigue. A closely-knit family of five students that are physically exceptional in their appearances. Four of the "teenagers" date among their adopted family and while morally fine, is seen in a skeptical light among their peers. Bella is particularly drawn to the only single Cullen, especially as she becomes his new lab partner in her Biology II class. However, his behavior towards her is astounding— hostile with no rational explanation. His reaction bothers her and is exemplified in another encounter soon thereafter. After he first day of school, Bella begrudgingly falls into the pace of a monotonous day, reflecting how such a person could show such a violent personality.
A Few Notes on the Language:
Before our narrator— Bella— sets a single toe in Forks, we already see the town in a negative light. She uses words such as "exiled," "esape," and "detest." Such word choice gives the reader a preconceived notion of what Forks will be like, making us— the reader— hate it as well. Bella, of course, has every reason to show contempt for the town since this is certainly not her first visit. But, as she describes its negative aspects, the reader wonders whether or not if the reason behind such scorn is really the weather, the town/small-town feel, or the perhaps tense relationship of her parents.
The style that Stephenie Meyer has chosen to present the narrative is very informal with copious amounts of dashes. Also, although the text is written in first person, there is a sense of detachment from the main character. Perhaps the reason for this is the character's own current detachment that she feels around her dad.
There is also an excessive use of unnecessary adjectives. One example is when she describes the light filtering down "greenly." Logically, this doesn't make sense. You can't tell some one to "greenly pick that up!" "Greenly" doesn't describe a condition; it's simply an adjective.
Bella's self-absorption:
From the beginning, Bella doesn't seem to be a very a grateful person. Especially towards Charlie, her father. (Note: It was rather unclear at first who Charlie was supposed to be). This may be my Southern-style respect kicking in, but the fact that Bella doesn't refer Charlie by a moniker meaning "dad" or "father" and instead refers to him by his first name is already a sign of disrespect. Perhaps this would make more sense if she referred to her mother in the same way, but she does call her mother "Mom" as opposed to her first name.
The disrespect also continues when Charlie tells Bella that he's bought her a car already. Bella's mere response is "Wow. Free." A rather ungrateful, almost sarcastic tone. However, for Stephenie Meyer's credit, character tones can often be misinterpreted through text.
"No need to add that my being happy in Forks is an impossibility. He didn't need to suffer along with me."
Here, Bella seems as a rather pompous martyr that, no matter what happens, has already decided she's going to be miserable.
The dark mood continues whenever Bella is in her room and "stares dejectedly" and "lets a few tears escape." Why is she crying? Why does she want to cry later? We see that she's miserable but we don't understand why, which increases the rift from character to reader even more. The point of writing in first person is to get the reader involved but the reader can't be involved if we don't understand.
To be continued...
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