Who needs Twilight? Find the Edward or Jacob in your own man.

The phenomenon of Twilight is more than just a guilty pleasure. It could be a response to fill a void in the hearts of many women. As Eclipse, part 3 in the Twilight movie series approaches, women are ready to become infatuated again with the male characters of the movie. From tweens to grandmothers, it gets the heart pumping; it gives the young hope for what to look for in a man, and for the old, it reminds them of their first loves and of their youth. Aside from the obvious craziness of vampires and werewolves, Author Stephanie Meyers reintroduces the ideas of chivalry and chastity to mainstream America.

The phenomenon of Twilight is more than just a guilty pleasure. It can be perceived as a response to fill a possible void in our hearts, a void that hits a huge demographic of many different ages: women.

As Eclipse, part 3 in the Twilight series approaches, women are ready to become infatuated again with the male characters of the movie. So why does Twilight have such a wide age range of diehard fans? From tweens to grandmothers, it gets the heart pumping for a huge spectrum of ages. It gives the young hope as to what type of man to look forward to in life aside from the typical Prince Charming. As for the old, it reminds them of their first loves and of their youth.

Aside from the obvious craziness of vampires and werewolves, there are some deep issues Ms. Stephanie Meyers explores in her books which also come through into the films. Those are the ideas of chivalry and chastity.

Edward Cullen (our main hero) is the kind of man women want their men to be or become. Let us not forget he is over a hundred years old frozen in time as a vampire. You can call him old-fashioned or modern day hero. He will do anything to protect his love, he is firm in his beliefs, he is strong-minded and strong-bodied, smart, polite, thoughtful, romantic, nurturing, sensitive, beautiful and a little obsessive (he likes to watch Bella sleep).

He is chivalrous and a gentleman at the same time. Girls and women have said that men like Edward Cullen just do not exist in today’s day and age. This is where filling in the void factor comes into play. Women need to look more carefully at their men. These men are also ready to do anything for their women. They carry within themselves the innate qualities to protect, to provide, and to prove their worth. It is in their nature, in their blood. (Well, being a vampire, Edward has no blood of his own, but you get the point).

The same goes for Jacob (our other hunky hero). He might not be as “mature” as Edward, but he is still tough and full of “manliness” while wearing his heart on his sleeve or actually his arm, since he rarely wears a shirt in the movies.

Women may have set high standards after Twilight, but they have set the bar too low for themselves in reality. This brings us to the concept of chastity. Stephanie Meyer is a devout Mormon whose beliefs are portrayed very precisely in her books. In the storyline, Bella and Edward do not consummate their relationship until after marriage. This “waiting” period is celebrated and respected amongst most of the fans. In a culture where children are exposed to sexuality at a very young age, Ms. Meyers shows a beautiful light to saving yourself until marriage with Mr. Right. The author wanted to emphasize and portray the purity and innocence of the first touch, just holding hands or getting lost in an embrace buried in the partner’s warmth or scent.

These days relationships are rushed and all we see is things moving way too fast for anyone’s own good. Why take things slow or appreciate the moment? This pertains to before and after marriage. We are so quick to compare and find each others’ faults, we forget to notice the good in each other.

So what is the solution? Forget Edward or Jacob. You already got a real and better man of your own! Look closely at him. You do not need to compare him to anyone else. He is strong, loving, ready to give his life for you, smart, firm in his beliefs, obsessed with you, a great father, gives his all and goes out of his way to provide for you, and is old-fashioned in his own way. Enjoy the beauty in a touch, a feel, a kiss, a smile, in his warmth, in his scent, in the security of his arms. These are all blessings and qualities your man does have. Our vision might not be as good as that of a vampire, but sometimes you can see more without using your eyes.

Photo Credit: daisy

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