Kate (aerisofthewhite) wrote in lion_lamb,
@ 2008-05-25 20:05:00

And yet another Breaking Dawn theory hunter...
I've been coming up with a theory over the last few months, and I think I've got it sorted out enough to post it. (Because I'd like to see what people think before the Breaking Dawn first chapter becomes common knowledge.)

Some spoilers for the book cover and for the book Breaking Dawn is supposed to be based upon (I know that's not really a spoiler, but some people don't want to know). I don't have Chapter One of Breaking Dawn yet and so this has nothing to do with that. If someone has read the first chapter and knows that this isn't going to happen, please let me know. Or if you have any evidence which disproves it. I'm willing to admit this is probably wrong.

Also... this is long. You have been warned.

Okay, so firstly, I'm going against the common belief (and in many cases, dread) that Jacob will come back and try to stop the wedding, and that (maybe) Bella will go off with him and remain human. I think the final chapter from Jacob's POV was supposed to be just that- his final chapter. He'll be mentioned again, and he may even come back and have a secondary role, but I believe the time for him being an important plot point is gone- he won't be threatening Edward and Bella any more. It'll just get a little repetitive otherwise. And Bella probably WILL become a vampire- we may not see her as one, it may only be hinted at or introduced, but it WILL happen. Or else, what have the last three books been for?

As for the theories on how this links to A Midsummer Night's Dream, I think the only way it'll link to the romance theme (with regards to Jacob) is if Jacob finds someone else and move on- stops chasing Bella (like everyone say, he only sees Bella now and so won't leave her alone. Hopefully that won't mean a deux-ex-machina imprinting on a nice Quileute girl, however). I'm more looking into the mischief created by the faeries which could link into the theme- someone messing with Bella and Edward's relationship in ways other than challenging them straight on- sabotage.

So what do I believe will be attacking the couple now? Well... I'm almost definitely sure the female vampires from Alaska will make an appearance- because we've heard so much from them and they haven't really had a function yet. I really haven't given it an extended amount of thought at all (ha!, you say)- but it was something Stephenie Meyer said once on a forum discussion on Myspace last Hallowe'en. Someone asked about Tania, one of the female Denali vampires, and whether Edward had been honest with Bella in his account of their relationship (refresher- he claimed she liked him and he honourably told her he didn't feel the same)- to which she replied, "No comment".

And being a determined Twilighter, I was totally intrigued by her reasoning behind hiding this. I mean, think about it. Have we ever heard any of the others talk about their time in Denali AT ALL? No, so we haven't really heard anything that could give Edward away. And there's an issue we haven't really dealt with yet. I've just got this feeling (strong, or not, I'm not sure) that the next book will deal with the past and maybe issues of trust. Because Bella has always completely trusted Edward in all of his words and decisions. And even when he left, it was still for noble purposes- she couldn't and didn't blame him for it. But her trust isn't really justified- in another interview, when she was asked why Rosalie claimed her human trait kept on was her beauty rather than her tenacity as Edward claimed, Stephenie merely said, "Sometimes Edward lies".

Here is similar- in Eclipse, he knows how insecure Bella is about not being enough for him, not being pretty enough and so maybe he doesn't want to push her esteem. But he also has more selfish reasons- at the time, he had been controlling and jealous, terrified of losing Bella to Jacob (who had a largely clear track record at this point) and has been pushing their relationship dangerously, especially so soon after his return. The trust between them was fragile (in his eyes, anyway), and as it was something he'd hidden for so long, he couldn't just come clean about it now that it's been brought up again. 

Besides, maybe it never seemed important anyway- she'd accepted his inhumanity, his desire for her blood, his killing countless numbers of people. This seemed merely a trifle in comparison. He's worried about losing her- and he doesn't think it should be over something that meant nothing, it should be over something important. So maybe that's why he doesn't want to explain it, why he stops Bella from asking Alice and (maybe) lies to her.

So what I'm suggesting is that Edward did have a relationship before Bella- one with Tania, that was maybe sexual, maybe not (doesn't work that way, unless he was lying about the "virtue" thing- but then maybe Edward doesn't consider it a relationship as it isn't comparable to his with Bella. He is essentially new to love)- perhaps a mutually beneficial one, to be resumed when Edward was next in Denali or maybe one that happened in Denali but it didn't last long (perhaps a reason why the Cullens left and don't stay in touch with their vampire brethren- and maybe another reason why Edward was so keen to come home, at the beginning of Twilight, to his family and tackle his demons, rather than stay. Can you say awkward?). 

It would explain why Stephenie is waiting until Breaking Dawn is released before releasing Midnight Sun- because this would ruin her fourth book with the things seen from Edward's point of view. It would also give another reason why the Denali ladies were so adamant in their refusal to provide the Cullens with aid during the Newborn attack- I mean, they were totally indifferent to their possible destruction. And maybe why Edward is so understanding of Bella's affair with Jacob- he knows that sometimes you just need someone. Most importantly, it ties with the title 'Breaking Dawn'- reflecting new starts but also light being shed on some situations, new awareness and realisations. Getting reading to face new beginnings, as Bella prepares to become a vampire.

If we look at it from the point of view of A Midsummer Night's Dream again, we could say that Edward is unsure which part he's playing. Whether he's Lysander or Demetrius. Lysander is the sure one, while Demetrius keeps changing his mind in love, chasing Helena and then Hermia. He knows himself that he loves Bella much more than he could ever love anyone else- but he might start feeling bad that he's keeping Bella away from Jacob, that he maybe led Tania on for a while when he didn't really love her. He wants to be straight in love- but he's already made mistakes and if he's hurt her by leaving (or Tania, by changing his mind) before, who's to say he wouldn't do it again? The past can catch up with Edward and it's reminding him that he's not always been so sure and that maybe, he'll do the same to Bella again- hurt and leave her "for her own good"- and she won't have a Jacob to turn to this time.

And now, Tania could be introduced and begin to attack their relationship (or maybe just Bella herself) in order to win Edward back. And if their relationship is already on the rocks, because Edward has been lying to Bella, it might not be as difficult as we all think...

Because Bella, is going against common view and choosing the boy not condoned- everyone expects her to take Jacob, though they're not sure why. He's the more human one, the one who hasn't hurt her yet, the safe option. Charlie supports Jacob's claim and even Rosalie tells her not to stay with Edward. But she chooses Edward and decides to run away in order to be with him- giving up everything she has for him and putting herself in danger. Can you imagine her dismay when it turns out that Edward had been with someone before her and might have loved her at some point, might still? Much like Hermia when Lysander drops her, after the faeries spread their mischief, and falls for Helena instead, I'd guess.

Mostly of all, I like how neatly it ties with the Breaking Dawn cover. Bella is the Pawn and she's being prayed upon by the Queen, Tania, for Edward's love. She's only a human and if Tania started to play rough, she wouldn't really have a chance. But Bella had Edward on her side, and what Tania has to learn is that, no matter what, he's going to stick by her. He's like the Knight on the chess board and he's ready to take the Queen- or throw himself in the way if needs be- in order to protect her. But- I think this is one Bella will want to fight on her own- to prove she is worthy of him. We all love Edward coming to her rescue again and again, but you know that Bella is tired of it and the damsel-in-distress thing is starting to annoy the feminist in me. Pawns are tough pieces, able to adapt and see it through, fight for survival and I think this is  side we've got to see from Bella before her change. Plus, pawns, once they reach the end of the board (and trials), are rewarded by becoming any piece they want, which could represent Bella's change and so her life with Edward. Who would choose to remain a pawn?

It's just an idea- one that I can't really make work (because I don't have a copy of Eclipse and so can't iron out all the little details)- that Edward has to stop trying to cotton-wrap Bella from what he is and from life in general. The end of Eclipse tells us that Edward is still thinking he knows what's best for Bella, still lying to her. He can't keep protecting her, she expects him to drop it when she's a vampire (ha!) and she might start resenting him unless he does let her fight her own battles. He has to trust that their love is enough to survive (which maybe he's unsure of, after Jacob) and that she'll still love him even when she doesn't need him to protect him any more. And that she can fight for their love as well as he can- that it's something she's actually willing to fight for, as well as give everything up for. It's relatively easy to let go if you're getting a better offer- it's much more difficult to take hold of something and try to hold on.

Anyway, this got a little incoherent (things just started coming to me as I wrote) and so I'm sorry if you got confused. I'd love some feedback on it, so please, tell me what you think.

I think this is the right tag for this... Please remove though, mods, if this is in any way wrong. Thanks.
~ANOPTHER EDIT!~ by queenbee on twilighters
I'm relatively new here, and there has been much speculation about the cover and it's meaning.
But this is what I think.
Chess is a pretty complex tactful game. And I think the cover is supposed to represent that meaning for the book.
The fact that the pawn can't make many moves, could mean what we already know, Bella feels that she can stay human or become a Vampire. Or she can pick Jacob or Edward. Two moves = two decisions.

Also, a pawn eventually can become a Queen and the Queen in modern chess is the most powerful player. This definately could symbolise Bella's transition to being a Vampire, but there has to be many smart moves first, which could be found in the sequence of events in the book.
Also on Wikipedia it says that “The tagline was recently revealed to be: “The final book in the #1 bestselling Twilight Saga will take your breath away.”"

I don't know how legitimate this is, but do you remember Edward saying that Vampires actually don't need to breathe, they just do it because it seems more natural and so they can pick up the scent of things. If it's true then it also implies Bella becoming a Vampire.

So if Bella does become a Vampire in the book, it really is quite predictable so I'm sure that for such a long book, SM will put in a lot of twists. She mentioned a Midsummer night's dream influence, and that story is quite chaotic so that could definately make up the bulk of the book.
People have already brought up these ideas, and I really do think it's the most logical theory.
I just hope BD lives up to all our expectations.