The song for this chapter is Inevitable by Anberlin
[audio:https://twilightguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/inevitable.mp3]
Many apologies for my lack of regular posting over the past month: as witnessed in my last post, things are simply becoming too overwhelming for one person to handle! But I think I’ve finally started to get the most rabid of to-do’s under control, now that those three biology tests are over and I’ve finished my 14-page publicity questionnaire! Unfortunately for my fellow students, I had a slight upper hand when one of the questions in the test was coincidentally regarding prophase and interphase. Due to Edward and Bella, the terms had stuck out to me in the study guide, and of course I knew the answer to that one 😀 .
Anyhow, thousands of distractions aside, I’m finally getting to read the famed chapter 23! MONSTER is one of my favorite words in the dictionary. It stands next to ‘abhor’, ‘stink’, ‘loathsome’ and ‘abysmal’ in my list of favorite English terms, such that my opinion of a perfect sentence might use all of them at once, to the effect of:
“You loathsome monster!” Bella cried. “You stink like an abysmal, abhorrent dog, so cease and desist your obvious attempts at stealing me from Edward!”
However, I do not see these phrases being used in the near future. In fact, it would be hard to say such things at all whilst Bella is so strongly pressed against Jacob’s shoulder, and even harder to hear with his snoring.
Brushing past the potentially-scandalous opening paragraphs, Jacob seems to have enjoyed that Bella at least thinks of him somewhat in her dreams, however drowned out by Edward they may be. As to someone talking in their sleep as much as Bella, the only time I’ve been told of myself talking in my sleep was when I had my wisdom teeth removed and was under heavy anesthesia. Obviously, as the doctor later revealed, I talked a whole lot: everything from my bank statement to girls to movies to who-knows-what. It is for this reason the doctor assured me he was under contract to never reveal anything I said whilst unconscious. However, to my horror, I later realized that the nurse had signed no such agreement.
It is a scary thing, talking in one’s sleep: but sometimes it’s an (admittedly unreliable) way to get into someone’s real thoughts. Bella has obviously been thinking about Jacob a lot recently.
Even for me, leaning towards Team Edward, it hurts to see Jacob listening in on Bella and Edward’s conversation. How does that feel for him? I don’t know why, but I was under the impression he knew about the engagement; but now knowing that he didn’t, I can just imagine how devastated he is. Given the unconventional amount of time that Jacob spends with Edward’s girlfriend, he actually does have a relationship with her (as much as I have disagreed). It’s close enough to finding out that his girlfriend has decided to marry someone else, and everything he has done for the past months to convince her has been in vain.
There is a part of me who really wants to be happy, since Jacob is finally getting what he deserves, and perhaps he will realize that his behavior around another guy’s girlfriend isn’t right. If I was solidly Team Edward, I might feel that way. But I can’t. For some reason, I feel no victory in seeing Jacob leave. This is a pain that no one should have to go through. Jacob probably means well, in his own way. I know that if I discovered the same thing he did, I would react in the same way.
I am a bit proud of Bella, because she is finally coming to realize what she is doing to both Edward and Jacob:
“I couldn’t have them both, because Jacob could not be just my friend. It was time to give up wishing for that. How ridiculously greedy could any one person be?”
And later, to Jacob:
“It was wrong to stay with you when we wanted such different things. It’s not going to get better. I’ll just keep hurting you.”
It’s a sign that she might be growing up. It give me much more confidence in her being mature enough to get married, now that she is finally realizing her faults.
But oh, for page 524. Bella basically takes gasoline, piles of newspaper, and a lighted match, and casts all three at the same time upon my hopes. Why, when she is so close to ending it; when she is so close to finally letting Jacob go, and finally giving him a chance for happiness, does she turn around and cause him to come back? It is like a suicidal guy saying if a girl does not love him, he will kill himself. Or, for better example, a guy saying if a billionaire does not pay him money, he will kill himself. It is manipulative, no matter how hurt or downtrodden Jacob might be. And Bella falls right into it.
“Why wasn’t I stopping this? […] why couldn’t I find in myself even the desire to want to stop?”
However, there still is some sense in Bella’s head, however buried underneath these strange feelings it may be. She knows what is happening. She realizes she loves Jacob: but she knows it is not enough.
“Jacob was right […] He was more than just my friend. […] I loved him, much more than I should, and yet, still nowhere near enough. […] it was only enough to hurt us both more.”
I read an interesting theory once, from a professor in psychology who was writing about humans and love. In this theory, which probably goes out of the bounds of actual psychology, he proposed that there is no ‘one person’ that each of us is intended to be with forever. Rather, his theory said that there are about eight ‘right persons’ for each of us, but that since these eight are spread so much around the planet we will only have the chance of meeting one: a soulmate, of sorts. This study proposed that from a standpoint of compatibility mixed with probability, if someone was to find one of their soulmates, there would only be a very minute chance they would ever meet with any of the other ‘eight’, and thus wouldn’t feel as strong a connection with anyone else in their lifetime; even though the others do exist somewhere.
This makes me think of Bella, Edward and Jacob. What if, according to this theory, the probability actually did catch a glitch, and somehow there are two ‘right people’ for Bella in the same area? What if, both Edward and Jacob are equally right for her, and only Edward’s luck at finding her first gives him the better chance? Bella admits it herself: she loves Jacob too much for it to be good.
But why is it too much? The reason it is too much is because Edward was there first. If she had met Jacob first, wouldn’t you think she would be loyal to him, and Edward would be the one trying to steal her away? [Added: It was brought to my attention that Bella had met Jacob before, as mentioned in Twilight that she had known him for years. But, at that time it seems to be more of a passing friendship, and nothing very deep like Edward was. ]
I will say that, in spite of my points earlier, and my aversion to Jacob’s manipulation, that this could perhaps be my favorite chapter so far in this entire book. It’s a turning point, of sorts. I’m coming to realize just how deep Jacob runs in Bella’s heart: this piece that perhaps she could remove; but by removing it, might only open the wound again.
Question for the comments: If Bella had fallen in love with Jacob first, do you think it would change things? If Jacob had found Bella before Edward, do you think she would love him instead?
ADDED QUESTION: What if Edward hadn’t appeared at all, do you think Bella would be happy with Jacob?
——NOTES——
– I have something epic coming up on Youtube. Yes, epic. Bigger than Rob and Taylor epic.
– MTV has an exclusive look at the new title art for New Moon!
191 Responses
First off, I hated this chapter when I read it the first time. I was like, so Bella loves Edward and Bella loves Jacob but because she loves Edward a little more she’ll choose him?? I was so angry that Bella loved Jacob any more than as a friend because the entire series she’d been so enthralled by Edward. It was so abstruse!
I’ve been reading all the books one right after the other (first time around I waited for the weekends to read each so I could give my undivided attention so I read each book two or three times in a row waiting for the weekend) – I’m on Eclipse now but I haven’t gotten to “Monster” yet. This time around, I’m paying closer attention to the relationship between Bella and Jacob.
Although throughout Twilight and New Moon Bella insists to herself that she only sees Jacob as a friend, it is apparent that subconciously, she feels something more for him. That being said, I don’t think any of that would have happened without Edward. Look back to Twilight and Jacob is only a person from Bella’s past that she gets reacquainted with at the beach. He is an all too convenient way for Bella to get the backstory on the Cullens. At this point, Bella acknowledges that Jacob seems like someone she could be friends with. There is nothing else there on her side. Even when he brings Billy over to Bella’s house or when he crashes the prom, Jacob is seen as a young kid who is nice (and maybe has a little crush on Bella) but Bella doesn’t see him romantically in any way.
Then on to New Moon. We see in the first chapters while Edward is there that Bella is totally wrapped up in him. Months later, in Edward’s absence and at Charlie’s encouragement, Bella goes to see Jacob, a nice kid that she remembers she could be friends with. I don’t see Bella pursuing that friendship while Edward is there. See time from prom to Bella’s birthday – probably five months – and no mention or thought of Jacob. Only Edward’s absence makes the growing friendship possible. And the love started out with the friendship.
Ultimately, I think that Edward leaving made the friendship possible and it was starting to grow into something more by the time Alice returned. But up until this point, Bella doesn’t believe that there ever will be an Edward again. On StephenieMeyer.com SM explains that Jacob tries to make himself imprint on Bella. And in the description of imprinting as it is applied to Quil and Claire, it’s hard to resist that level of devotion. Jacob is devoted to Bella (as he is in love with her) and he’s her protector, her friend, etc. as Quil is to Claire and Bella is reacting to that.
This is getting really long, Sorry!! But I really hope SM does all the books from Edward’s perspective, not just Midnight Sun. I’d like to know what he’s thinking in Eclipse. I understand that part of him wants Bella to choose Jacob and life rather than him and a soulless existence for all eternity but he is TOO okay with Bella hanging out with Jacob. Fight harder, Edward!!
That is a tough question. You see, Bella became friends with Jacob before she fell in love with him. In comparison, she became infatuated (Which turned into a deep love) with Edward at first sight. If she were to have fallen in love with Jacob first, that would have taken time, time that Edward would have had to realize his love and that force that drew them together.
See Bella’s love with Edward is this great mystical, supernatural thing. It is instantaneous, strong, and unexpected, which makes it rather hard to prepare against or fight off.
But with Jacob, it is just a human romance. Most of it takes place (at least on Jacob’s part) while he is still ‘wholly’ human. Yes it does solidify after his change, but only because it eliminated the secrets between them. A normal romance, despite what the romance novels declare, can be fended off if necessary. The building blocks of mutual attraction, time spent together, and a decision to pursue the relationship, can all be disrupted by careless action, or a conscious choice.
Another point to bring up, is the fact that the credit of Jacob and Bella’s relationship has been given several times to Edwards choice to leave. Without her seeking Jake out, and her need for his comfort, would Bella have turned to Jacob, if she had never had Edward in the first place?
That is what truly brought them together.
Sorry to ramble on like this, but to answer the question (With my reasoning listed above) I believe that Jacob would still have no chance with Bella. The time it would have taken to develop that relationship would have been used by Edward to realize his inability to leave Bella alone, and then for Edward to pursue, and ultimately win, Bella.
Well. I think it wouldn’t matter. If I imagine this situation: I’m Bella (yay!), Jacob is my boyfriend and I meet Edward… Nothing could keep me away from Edward. The relationship with him would form a little slower and I would hurt Jacob much more than Bella did in Eclipse, but I would end up with Edward.
I’m giggling like an idiot right now, so… Let’s leave it at this 😀
(and sorry for my English)
i truly think so. i think she would love jacob as she should (if they met first) and edward would realize, though, that she didn’t love him, and would stop trying. it’s just the obnoxious type of person he is (i AM team edward though, it’s just his extreme understanding bugs me at times :P)
could it have changed things if bella had fallen in love with jacob first? ultimately, in my opinion, no. the utter force and finality of the relationship of edward and bella is such that when bella would have met edward, it would have ultimately negated her relationship with jacob, however powerful her relationship with jacob might be. it probably would have happened similarly as it did in ‘eclipse’ except she would already know she’s in love with jacob, and would more than likely make it even more painful for all three.
I think that I have to agree with the theory that Bella wouldn’t end up with Jacob. Even if she met him first, the development of their relationship was so intertwined with her relationship with Edward that removing him from the picture would tell a very different story.
With no lost love to make her go all zombie and seek refuge in La Push, Bella would have continued her path at Forks High and lived a somewhat normal life.
My theory is that she would end up with someone more like Edward either way, someone who doesn’t go after her and push for her affections. Jacob is very much like all the other boys that she has rejected along the way. Something about Edward made her want to pursue and, in turn, want to be pursued. I have a feeling that Jacob’s eagerness would have put him with the likes of Mike, Eric and Tyler.
As far as the chapter though, I liked what it revealed but I was very angry reading it! I have to agree with a lot of the pain could have been avoided if Edward would just fight for her already! But then there’s his POV – a part of him wants Jacob to be right because Bella would be safer with him, not have to “die”, and be able to live out the rest of her dull human life. Makes sense, but still makes me angry because we know that she has already made her choice, how much she loves Edward, how much this thing with Jacob is killing her, and how much she wants for Edward to just ask her to choose him…but unfortunately we can “hear” her thoughts, while self-doubting overly-chivalrous Edward is in the dark.
My answer – it depends!! lol
IF Edward were never in Forks – Bella would have tried to ignore Jacob just like she tried to ignore Mike and Eric. If she lived thru her accident, she would have gone to college and tried to do everything the way she thought her mother expected it to be done. She wouldn’t have gotten involved romantically with anyone.
IF Edward left and never returned (at least that she was aware of) she would be with Jake. He helped heal her heart and she would have decided to be with him, even if her heart was divided between the two. Her little vision during the kiss ‘Would Have Been’ her world.
BUT, in a world where Edward was near her, Jacob never had a chance. The first time she and Edward touched in Biology, it was electric, almost as if their souls recognized each other – true soul mates (werewolves call it imprinting). She loved Jacob, but not in the same way she loved Edward – like she said, not enough.
Anyway, that’s my theory, and I’m sticking to it. 😉
Glad you took a break!! You do have a lot on your plate. Thanks for taking time to post again – loved it, as usual!
I don’t believe that Bella would have ended up with Jacob if he “found” her first.
It’s true that Jacob did meet Bella first. Even at the beginning of Twilight, it’s obvious that Jacob likes Bella. But she is already focused on Edward just out of curiosity (this is before Edward and Bella’s relationship really develops).
Also, Jake and Bella’s relationship development in New Moon is really centered around the fact that he helps her heal with Edward gone. So, removing Edward from the picture removes the reason Bella and Jake became so close to begin with.
Perhaps if Edward never came back, Bella would have ended up with Jake. But as Edward even says in New Moon, there was never any question as to whether he would come back, just when. He was getting close to breaking down when he hears of Bella’s “death.”
I think without Edward in the picture, Bella and Jake would just have a casual friendship. Remember, Bella was never really interested in “dating” until she met Edward.
It’s the triangle theory that you’ve used before Kaleb – remove one point and the triangle crumbles.
This chapter made me angry as well. I couldn’t believe what Bella was doing to herself, Edward and Jacob. But it also revealed a lot about all three characters as well. It was definitely an important chapter.
If Bella had fallen in love with Jacob first, she wouldn’t be quite the same Bella that we know. Love changes a person, to an extent. But part of me still believes that she would have chosen Edward anyway. Though they don’t have quite as much in common as Jacob and Bella (you know, the whole needing to breathe and beating heart thing), I believe that Edward and Bella connect on a deeper level. And that’s just something that you need. Bella being the way she is could never truly be happy with a normal life. At least, that’s what I gather.
I do not think that knowing Jacob first would mean Bella would be with him.
First the main reason they got so close was that Bella was so destroyed by Edward leaving her!
Second, most people do not stay with the first person they ever date. Even if she and Jacob were an item, Edward is something else! I think he would sweep her off her feet and they would not be able to stay away from each other even if she already had a boyfriend.
Wow, I cannot BELIEVE how much you guys write!!!!! Goodness. Well, Kaleb, that was a fantastic post. I’m so glad you loved this chapter. It’s my favorite after Fire and Ice. Good news; I finally got my husband to start reading the series and he’s already on Eclipse! Joy!!!!
Actually just keep on reading, your questions will be answered.
You took in this chapter waaaay better than I did but I think that has something to do with you not being too obsessed with Twilight and being a guy (no offense 😀 ) I already had rock music blasting off my speakers and my mom still managed to hear me screaming in my pillow when Bella returned the kiss…
In my opinion, No… Bella already met with Jacob, they grew up together (kind of) if Bella was really meant for Jacob then she would’ve immediately felt a strong bond and attraction to Jacob just like what she felt when she met Edward back in Twilight. I have a theory as to why Jacob fell in love with Bella and vice versa but I really can’t talk about it until you’ve at least finished Jacob’s book in Breaking Dawn… 😀 …. I like the psychology theory about having eight soulmates out there, it makes sense (as far as common sense applies 😀 )
Anyway, Have fun reading the following chapters! It’s going to be a roller coaster of emotions and loads of action that you’ve never seen before (in the Twilight world anyway 😀 ) ^^
that’s an interesting theory… 8 soulmates, huh.
Well if that’s true Bella would have 9 because Edward should have died back in 1918. So really, he threw off the balance. Which is why Bella met two instead of one. 🙂
I think that Edward and Bella are the vampire version of Imprinting, so even if Bella had know Jake better before meeting Edward, it was sort of inevitable either way.
Plus- if Edward and Bella didn’t fall in love, something in Breaking Dawn that involves Jacob never would have happened… hmm… that might actually be a good thing, never really liked that part anyway.
there *is* a fairly good reason Jacob fell for Bella but it’s part of Breaking Dawn so I won’t give it away. 😉
I think that the only way it would have worked out between Jacob and Bella would be if Edward had never existed. I think even without Edward, Jacob would never have gotten his real chance because Jake and Bella don’t fall in love until New Moon. So she might have ended up with Mike or Tyler or Eric anyway… To me, it’s sort of a moot point (heeheehee). It’s too hard for me to imagine or speculate what might have been. Things are just too complicated between these three, and it all seems so set in stone, like a history instead of a story. It’s already done and no one can change the past, so to speak.
Also I really believe that there is no such thing as soulmates or even 8 soulmates. I believe that if you fall in love with someone and have a desire to make it work then it will. Obviously, you have to be compatible, but I believe that there are more than 8 options spread throughout the globe. There might be 8 options in your town alone (depending on how big your town is, lol). I think it’s silly for people to limit themselves that way.
I’m sorry kaleb, but this it one of those very rare times where i have to disagree with you.
This is my belief: In Twilight, Bella say’s that she was the type of girl who wasn’t looking for love. She FELT she had her life together. She was going to move to Forks and that was that. When she met Edward, he opened up a part of her she never considered opening to someone; her heart. And not only that but she opened Edward’s heart as well. Now that’s DEEP. That is their strong connection; realizing that each of them never wanted to open their hearts up for love until they met each other <3.
Now in New Moon, when Edward left, Bella’s heart remained OPEN. It was open because of the HOPE that Edward would someday return and she will be happy again. Something she wanted more than life itself. Jacob was there to fill a “bit” of the void in her heart where Edward’s love once filled. That’s when she knew she needed him. Because, despite her beliefs, there was someone out there who could make her happy, and she really NEEDED that.
It didn’t matter that Jacob couldn’t give her the Love she once had with Edward, It was ENOUGH to give meaning to her life again.
that is why i believe she would have never fallen in love with Jacob if it wasn’t for Edward.
Despite how much I like Jacob (despite his manipulation, which I dont fully attribute to age or inexperience, though that is part of it) I dont think that if she had been in love with him first it would have made a difference. Edward in the grand sceme of things in this messed up fluke that is Bella’s life, is….well I have a theory for that that pertains to this “world” of SM’s.
With the whole imprinting thing and the Edward/Bella/Jacob thing, and what happens later on in the series, it made me think that maybe there is (for this mythical universe that is Bella’s reality) two “soulmates” for each of them, the mythical creatures and their partners that is; a BIG one and a “normal” one. One that defies all laws of rational and one that just IS in the mundane sense. Had there not been any mythical creatures and craziness and Jacob had been just some quileute boy that was a son of a friend of Bella’s dad, they would have been soulmate, are in the natural world of things.
But its not a natural world and the mythical creatures do exist, in this world, Edward is the “BIG” one, the one that defies all rational and is, this being so in a world that they meet its impossible for her to not be with Edward, just like in this world its impossible for the quileutes to not be with the ones they imprint on. that said, Jake has his “BIG” one too, and she’s coming…he just has to step aside and let erm…nature take its course.
So, no, even if Bella had been in love with Jake first, in this mythical world she still would have been with Edward because he is the “BIG” one, while Jake was just the one, just like meeting Bella first (because thats the only way it could have been) for Jake, had no effect once he met his one…you can apply this (BIG one, mundane one theory) to any of the twilight couples and it fits, alice and jasper, carlisle and esme, and it fits, they were born in different times, they wouldnt have met had it not been for the fluke of immortality, and yet they all found extraordinary loves…same for Leah/Sam/Emily there had been a mundane ONE and a BIG ONE.
I guess that explains it, 😀 melissaturkey
I’m very much Team Edward, so I would say in that purose only that bella would still love Edward instead of Jacob more.
But ‘what if’ can nevr really be answered because that what if in past tense would never happen, coz if jacob and bella got together before bella met Edward then she would be in love with Jacob to much to think a second thought like that about Edward wouldn’t she? But then there’s the fact that Bella is Edward’s obvious soalmate, though she wouldn’t know it of she was Jacob. Therefore I conclude, I have no idea 😉 lol 😀
I don’t think Bella would chose jacob regardless of when he came in the picture. First of all Bella was in a vulnerable position when she started forming a friendship with jacob. In other words he was her rebound. And when she did meet jacob in twilight, sparks didn’t fly between them. But with edward it was kinda of love at first sight for her. she became so intrigued by this guy that her every thought revolved around him. Even if edward came along after bella and jacob were a couple, edward wouldn’t play dirty like jacob did. but eventually Bella would feel the attraction for edward and she would leave jacob.
hang on, I do have an answer actually. But Kaleb, you can’t read it coz you haven’t read Breaking Dawn…
Jake was never meant to be with bella was he, he was atrracted to bella coz of Renesme (how do you spell it?) so therefore, Bella would still love edward coz of that! 🙂 Yeah, thats a good enough answer for me now 😉
Um, so i was lazy and didnt read any of the above comments… So sorry if I’m repeating anything…
But I’ve done my fair share of obsessive Twilight research, and I think I once heard SM say that Edward was more of a “BANG!: true love!” thing, while Jacob was more of a “I’m slowing falling in love” experience…
So, with that said, I think the timing would be extremely important, when considering your question. If Bella hadn’t been with Jacob for very long, of course he would be replaced with Edward. But, say, if Edward came along years and years after Bella had fallen for Jacob, then that probably would have posed a problem…
Lol, thats my theory… I know it probably doesn’t make a lot of sense, but thats my mind for ya! =D
Great post, btw. I love how at least ONE guy actually takes the time to read and love Twilight…
Oh, i just read comment 71.
Yeah, you are sooo right!
My answer was just from an Eclipse stand-point.
But you, Talkerwolf, are so unbelievably correct, I don’t think anybody can argue the question anymore.
(Not that I know that anyone is arguing. like i said, i havent read any of the other comments, well, except 71.)
It’s interesting to read all the different perspectives on this, and anger at all three of them. Keep in mind, that none of them have that much life experience, outside of Edward, and the majority of his life experience has not been as a human. Edward sees himself as a monster, not worthy of Bella. Bella believed Edward could leave her because she sees herself as a klutzy misfit, and Jacob thinks the girl that he loves is throwing away her life. They are all reacting emotionally, not rationally. Bella’s love for Jacob was partly based on gratitude, because he helped her recover to the point where she’s functional. Bella would never have gotten involved with Jacob, as more than a friend, if Edward hadn’t left. Once Edward returned, Bella was in a quandary. Edward is her fate, but she feels guilty about how she left things with Jacob. Unfortunately, she doesn’t know how to resolve it. Bella wants to do the right thing, but she doesn’t know what it is. Nothing in her life has prepared her for this. How could it?
I cant help but feel that love its a very complicated thing, and it gets worse when the two of them are just perfect for her in their own way. And they’re completely extreme opposites. Cold and heat, live and death.
This is one of my favourites chapter as well.. It is so charged with emotions and I felt overwhelmed reading it.
i dont think so. i think she would still have chosen Edward because she was more intrigued by him. she was constantly looking at him and trying to figure out who he was.therfore she would fall in love with him first. once she knew the puzzle of edward she would actually be able to SEE jacob. plus Edward showed more emotion for her. jacob didnt tell her his feelings until later. she could always spend her time with edward, being at school. she also fell in love with alice and that would cause her to spend even more time with the Cullens . even if she spent time with jacob she would be concerened about billy. bella didnt know but in the beggining jacob was attracted to her for her looks. edward was attracted first by her smell but later about her life and how she reacted. Edward was looking for bella’s soul and falling in love with her. she sees edward always looking out for her and protecting her. where as jacob just does what his pack needs him to. also edward was ready to give her up and if she wanted jacob she could have him. he was going to let her decide. jacob wasnt going to. he wanted her to pick him and to leave edward. anyway jacob and bella wasnt meant to be. he didnt imprint on her therfore saying jacob wasnt meant to love her but was meant to carry on line with someone eles, Nessie.
(I didn’t read any of the above comments so I wouldn’t be influenced so forgive me if it sounds exactly the same as everyone else.)
That is a VERY interesting question. Because Stephenie had said before that Jacob was Bella’s soul mate, but Edward was the soul mate “trumper” I had never really entertained that thought… but y’know what.. that is a really valid thought. If Stephenie had never mentioned the above things about Edward’s and Jacob’s relationships with Bella, I would definitely think yes, she would be loyal to Jacob.. but that would essentially be an alternate universe, not even a different side of canon. (Do you get my weird distinction? :p) While there can be soul mates in the world, there are also soul mate “trumpers” in theirs (Edward & Bella. Jacob & Reneesme) and even if she would be with Jacob, I know she’d eventually leave him for Edward.
She’d have to be part werewolf or something cause she’d probably imprint on Edward. hahaha
I don’t believe so. Don’t get me wrong I love Jacob (team switzerland!), but I think that Edward and Bella have a much deeper conection that Bella and Jacob do. I belive the term ‘oposites atract’ fit Bella and Jacob nicely, but with Edward and Bella its more ‘made for each other’ (when you dig deep into the books that is, while reading Twilight for the first time I kept catching myself thinking ‘what possible chemestry do they possibly have?’) But yeah…Do you think that Bella would be with Jacob is Edward had died in 1918 like he was supposed to?
no. if Jacob met Bella first…ya kno..first love and everything like that…but when she’d meet edward…she wouldnt be able to stay away..she WOULD dump Jacob for Edward..its as simple as that….an di think its great that your leaning towards team edward!
I don’t think falling for Jacob first would’ve changed the outcome of things. Bella and Edward seem to have an undeniable attraction and a connection that cannot be broken. If she were with Jacob when she met Edward, she would’ve ended up dumping Jake for him eventually. Also, Bella never would have developed feelings for Jacob in the first place if Edward hadn’t left in NM because she would’ve been spending all of her time w/ the Cullens, and Jake would’ve remained just a friend rather than her best friend.
I don’t think she would of. I have a wierd theory about it, so here it is:
Looking back, I have always had a vision that the ‘gods’ created Bella FOR Edward, but then they accidentally sent her through the regular human system and she also got assigned a human soulmate, Jacob. But I think that if you would look at a picture version of Bella and Jacob’s hearts put together, you would see that they fit in places, but in others they are all bumpy and off. Yet they fit in enough places to still be soulmates, however, There hearts could be separated easily. If we were to look at an image representation of Bella and Edwards hearts put together, they would be like two puzzle pieces – perfect in every way. AND I also see them as magnets. So it is possible to wrench the pieces away from each other, but eventually the power of magnetism will pull them back.
Simple answer to the question: No.
For your question, Jacob says it right in one of the next couple of chapters. I think you will know what I am talking about the next time they talk.
oh…and a continuation to that theory is that the ‘gods’ then created a person perfect for Jacob, but since Bella was already his assigned soulmate, it had to be someone RELATED to Bella; case in point: Renesmee.
Personally, I think Bella and Jacob would have shared a greater bond, but Edward’s bond would be stronger. Unfortunately, that makes it even more difficult for Bella (as if she needs that).
Kaleb, I adore the theory. It’s probably my favorite theory on love yet. Thanks for sharing!
I have never commented on here before, but I have read all of your posts, and this is a chapter that really fires me up. In response to your question, No, Bella would have loved Edward even if she was with Jacob. Why? Because theirs was love at first site, Bella fell in love with Edward in the first few chapters, meaning she fell for him in a matter of weeks. It took Bella months to fall for Jacob. And if Edward wouldn’t have been there, then Jacob and Bella would have never really gotten close to each other. It was Bella’s curiosity to find out about Edward that led her to flirt with Jacob, which I believe to be the trigger for Jacobs crush on Bella, and then when Edward left in New Moon was when Bella got closer to Jacob and the whole thing just got out of control. Never, for not even one second, did I feel bad for Jacob in this chapter, I am too much Team Edward for that, but I did hate Bella for hurting Edward, she should have just let Jacob alone for a while and then after the war was over, go and talk to him. Not start yelling for him to come back, make Edward look for him and then kissing him, knowing very well Edward would find out. That is just my opinion, but whatever. Sorry for the long post.
Well, let me just make it clear at this point that I am team Jake. I guess I’ve always had a thing for the underdog (no pun intended).
Anyways, In my heart, I truly believe that if Bella had fallen in love with Jacob first, she wouldn’t end up with Edward. For starters, Bella had never been in love before Edward, or Jake for that matter. Never before did she know what true love felt like, and I think that Jake would have made a special place inside Bella’s heart in that case, the way anyones first love will. The way Edward no doubt did for Bella. Besides, it isn’t in Bella’s nature to betray something like a first love for someone else, and in turn hurting the other person in the picture. Another reason why her choice between Jacob and Edward is harder: She doesn’t want to betray Edward, and even though by choosing him she would be hurting Jake, it’s the lesser of two evils.
The answer to your second question is a bit harder to determine; It kind of makes me compare Jake to Mike in that sense. Mike clearly found Bella before Edward, but that had no effect. Now, let’s say in this scenario Jake and Bella had become good friends by the time Edward came into the picture. I think that he might have made Bella’s ‘craving’ for Edward less. Another reason why Bella fell for Edward in the first place is because she really had no one else she could connect with in Forks. She had no real friends, her Dad was around, but he was independent, like her. When Edward came he immediately became her center focus. I think if Jake had come first and been able to befriend her, she wouldn’t have gone into her relationship with Edward so completely and whole-heartedly. Jake would always be there as a true friend to talk to. I think then that if the time came, it would have been even harder to choose between them than now.
Oh, and a comment on Jake. Yes, he is immature (16!), yes, he is stubborn and sarcastic and scornful all those other things. But quite frankly, he’s human. The reason I never liked Edward was because he was too perfect. There would be no faults onto which to base some equal footing necessary to maintain a relationship. Of course, Edward can have a bit of a temper and be over protective, but those aren’t the type of qualities that you can soon become fond of, qualities that will become as much a part of that person as it would a relationship. Edwards bad qualities are just qualities that are so annoying that they end up breaking the relationship.
Now, keep in mind that what I said in the last chapter portain to only Eclipse and the books preceding it. Breaking Dawn is a different story entirely, and made me think differently about Edward.
Wow this is a very insightful post.
That is a very cool theory and I think that it could apply to Bella, Jacob, and Edward. And as for your question, I don’t think that she would have been able to love Jacob because she was always in Phoenix and she barly knew Jacob and when she did come to Forks Edward was basically the first person that she saw, besides Charlie. I’m sure that because of Bella’s scent and the fact that she sits right next to him, that there would be no possible way for her not to become involved with Edward. Edward would have fallen in love with her and if Edward knew about Bella and Jacob, then he would never try to be any more than freinds. I can’t help but wonder that in that situation, I think Bella would fall in love with him, but would never leave Jacob.
Kaleb, you bring a lot of intersting veiws to the story and this is why I like reading your posts.
No not at all.Even if Jacob saw her first Bella would meet Edward and fall in love and not the friends love the “love of my existence” kind of love. So unfortunately for Jake that wouldn’t change anything.
comment 77, the soulmate “trumpers” that was what I was trying to get at in mine, emily is that for same and leah, edward is that for bella and jake, renessme(sp) is that for jake and bella…even though renessme was the reason bella and jake were so drawn together when she was pregnant I dont think thats why they liked eachother in the first place…in a different world they would have been together, as it was they felt connected by some hidden (or not yet existing connection) bella always felt they should be a part of one another like family, and maybe on some level jake felt that too, but if there wasnt a such thing as renesme, because there was no such thing as edward, then they would have been together because they were connected on a soulmate level, not a weird, “i love your daughter”, “ok come on in, son” kind of way.
lol I dont think Im making any sense anymore….I refrained from using Nessie as an example in my earlier comment to keep to answer the question in a eclipse point of view but as everyone else is going to hell…lol just trying to be funny ther 😀 melissaturkey
Ok I think Stephenie herself gave us the answer to this question. It seems that most of the readers have forgotten about another love triangle (Sam-Emily-Leah).
Bella is in Sam’s position, Edward is in Emily’s position, and Jacob is in Leah’s position. Sam was Leah’s HS sweetheart, according to people close to them they were really in love and I believe they were going to get married. But when Leah’s cousin Emily came to visit all that love that Sam had for Leah didn’t matter any more; and so he imprinted on Emily. Sam still regrets doing that to Leah, but he can’t do much about it.
I think it would be the same for Bella. She is Edward’s soulmate they do belong together (by the way I am 100% Team Switzerland). Even if she was completely in love with Jacob the minute she sees Edward her feelings for Jacob would never be strong enough to keep her from him. Bella would still love Jacob but her feelings for Edward would be stronger.
This is the first time I disagree with you my friend. I dont think Jacob is right for Bella. I dont think the bond between them is as strong as Bella and Edward’s. What Bella feels for Edward is greater than anything in the world, even though she admits she also likes Jacob. Of course they developed a special bond when Edward left her in New Moon, but that only happened because she had a deep wound in her heart. I’m probably not making any sense but what i mean is that Jacob cannot be Bella’s soulmate, he’s too immature. And you can tell that Edward cares more about her because he’s willing to let her go if that makes her happy, unlike Jacob, which only makes her feel bad about herself and is technically taking advantage of her. Jacob is not prepared to love and take care of Bella as Edward is, thus making Edward the best candidate for Bella.
One of the few points I disagree with you. Edward and Bella are more meant to be than Bella and Jacob. Maybe if she had been with Jacob first, and then met Edward, she might feel a need to not hurt Jacob so much, so she might not go to Edward. But either way, she’s more meant to be with Edward than Jacob.
It’s my second favorite chapter, right after the one where Bella punches Jacob (I laughed out loud). Regaurding your profesors theory: I have given a lot of thought to ‘soul mates’ in the past and i came up with a similar idea. I dont believe that there is only one ‘perfect match’ for people in the world. I believe there is a ‘perfect type’. You just dont come across that type every day, to say the least. Not type like catagory, but the type of person who has all the qualities that match with yours: a rare find.
I almost started crying while reading this chapter because you can really feel Bella’s pain. I was extremely impressed at how easy it was put myself in her position. It was obviously very well written. As was your post! This is my favorite of your posts so far. Great job Kaleb =]
To be honest, i dont think Jacob and Bella could ever have been together while Edward was there. It’s obvious they wre meant for eachother. Im sure people would say that Jacob and Bella were meant for eachother too, but does it not seem like there is a bigger force pulling Edward and Bella together? I think they would always end up with eachother no matter who she had first.
p.s. i fail at spelling so please excuse any errors, i dont feel like doing a spell check ^_^
After reading this chapter and finishing Eclispe I have discussed the Bella/Jacob relationship with many a friend and I have come up with my own conclusion, my own theory. I strongly believe that, if Bella lived in a world without vampires, she would be with Jacob. There is no question in my mind that the two of them would have fallen in love, got married, and had a long and happy life together. But the fact is, the Cullens do exist and Edward and Bella’s love goes beyond anything human. It’s a bond beyond comprehension, a bond that not even her human love for Jacob can break.
But once you finish Eclipse and move onto Breaking Dawn, I think you’ll realize how important it is that Bella made this decision. After reading Breaking Dawn I think you’ll come to see how everything that happens in this saga has a touch of destiny to it. Everything happens for a reason, and everything happens just as it should.
In answer to your questions, I think it is a resounding “No”. You see, Jacob isn’t perfect for Bella. There are many things wrong with their relationship. One: he’s younger. Two: the imprinting. Three: Edward.
Edward is Bella’s other half, in a very literal sense. Jacob was just thrown into their lives as extra drama. From the beginning, they knew they were meant to be. Nothing could change that, not even Jacob Black.
Bella wouldn’t have felt right with Jacob before. And, I mean, come on! As if Edward COULDN’T steal her from Jacob, if it was reversed. All Team Edward fans know that Bella would have fallen just as hard.
So, in conclusion to my ranting statement, Bella belongs – and always has – with Edward. End of story.
By the way, I know it’s a little early and your two chapters away, but if you could use the song “One Moment More” by Mindy Smith for Chapter 26 ‘Ethics’ that would by great. It’s perfect for the heart-wrenching conversation Jacob and Bella have and Jacob’s hope and love for her. Mindy Smith is more of a Folk/Country singer in case you didn’t know, and has the most beautiful, soulful, and honest voice. Just a suggestion. Look the lyrics up and see what you think!
“It’s close enough to finding out that his girlfriend has decided to marry someone else, and everything he has done for the past months to convince her has been in vain.”
I feel like you don’t quite understand Jacob’s situation, although at least you sympathize with him somewhat unlike some people. It isn’t just that Jacob doesn’t get Bella for himself. It isn’t just that someone else gets her. It’s that Jacob realizes that Bella will probably be turned into a vampire and to him that is a fate WORSE THAN DEATH. It’s not just his own selfish desires that are hurting him – it’s his love for Bella and his conviction that she’s made a choice that is pretty much the worst possible thing he can imagine for her.
Yuck. Yuck yuck yuck.
In the whole twilight series, this is my LEAST FAVORITE chapter.
Why?
Bias aside, I have a whole different definition of “soulmate”. MY definition is that it’s a pair of souls that will continue to find each other throughout time. I’m a believer of that reincarnation stuff.
When I think of Bella and Edward, I don’t know why, but I’ve always thought of Beauty and the Beast. The original. Perhaps it’s Bella’s name, or perhaps it’s the whole “beast” and “vampire”. The point is, I really think the Bella’s other half is Edward. And vice versa. Of course, there is many different loves – different kinds, different levels, etc. But I think that there is only ONE love that is “soulmate” level.
Jacob has his own soulmate. Not Bella, but she’s — she will come. I can’t reveal too much, but I think all will be explained in Breaking Dawn.
I have to say I love your posts Kaleb. I don’t know if Bella would have ended up with Jacob. It is very probable. They would have very close relationship no doubt. But Jacob will eventually find the one that is right for him. 🙂