The song for this chapter is Remember by Big Dismal
[audio:https://twilightguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/remember.mp3]
Today is the start of that glorious time known as Summer Break, in which my free time increases rapidly only to be immediately filled again even more rapidly. As pointed out regularly in my complaint-mail, at the current rate of reading I might finish Breaking Dawn in a matter of 9 months. NINE?! That was the old Kaleb. THIS IS THE NEW KALEB WRITING. New, as in, suddenly realizing it is time to get down to business and start reading more, faster, and more often. Shorter posts? Perhaps. But more often? Heck yes. No ridiculous 9 months for me.
The whole hiding-food thing that Jacob and Billy have to do when Paul is around is no strange thing to me. I grew up in a house with five children (four were hungry boys) and two parents, and anytime my mom wanted things of the tasty nature (AKA chocolate) she would be forced to hide it or else one of us would have our paws in it. I, being the perfect child, never used any of my detective skills to sleuth out these hiding places and said treats.
This werewolf thing with eating all the time still has me wondering about who pays the grocery bills. After all, I don’t really observe the werewolves working. They always seem to be loafing around the house and eating chips or watching television, and punching each other in the nose. They’re really much like a bunch of dogs with no owner. With the amount of food they’re eating, somebody’s got to be ponying up the cash, because they certainly aren’t surviving on berries and honeycombs.
Jacob’s concerns aren’t really with that ridiculousness though. He’s got a plan. Even if the wolf pack won’t do anything about Bella and the Cullens, once again Jacob is going to get himself into a fight. Why does this not surprise me? Still, I find it so amusing that Jacob’s vision can be so distorted simply by his hatred for the Cullens. To him, the whole place reeks of a strange ‘vampire smell’ and their house has ‘no life around the big white crypt’.
But then on page 171, things begin to get quite interesting. In fact, I was taken very much by surprise. Because, for some reason, in reading the Twilight Saga, I have not consciously realized that it has singularly been from Bella’s viewpoint. I take that back: I have realized it is from her viewpoint, but because most books are not written as Stephenie has done (as in, in the last book, changing viewpoints to an entirely different character) I haven’t really tried to delve into the heads of everyone else. Due to this, I have never seen Bella through Jacob’s eyes, or anyone else’s eyes for that matter.
This is very important. I am a guy, and this book has been through a girl’s perspective the entire time (which admittedly gets painful at times, especially when Edward has mysteriously misplaced his clothing). I have never gotten any description of Bella from any other guy’s mind: everything I have heard has come from her own, which is blatantly dull. But when Jacob describes Bella so vividly, with her eyes and her face, and his heart beating reapidly like ‘a strange broken meter’ I suddenly came to realize, in one great moment, exactly why Jacob has never given up on her.
It’s a big revelation for me, who has abhorred Jacob for a very long time (regular readers can attest to this). I have the tendency to villify Jacob because I’ve never had the chance to get into his head, and for some reason I drew comparisons between him and other guys I have met who are shallow individuals and manipulate their girlfriends using the same twisted techniques it appeared Jacob used. But getting into Jacob’s head, I realize that what he has done for so long might not be through an utter disregard of Bella and Edward, but through an enormous and exhausting desperation to ‘save her’ from the vampire and his seductive wiles.
I see this is a very vulnerable time for both Jacob and Edward. But that could be what they need. It is true they both love Bella, and there is no getting around it: they will be forced to live with this somehow, even though she is Edward’s, and Jacob should rightfully make way because of that fact. Jacob will always be this presence in their lives, because Bella isn’t strong enough to let him go. But the fact that Edward actually lets Jacob see his weakness, and his fear, and his helplessness, really means something. Edward isn’t up for a fight. He just wants Bella alive: and he seems willing to go back and let Jacob have her, if only for her to stay that way.
“You should have left Bella with me.” Jacob said.
“Yes.” It was a bit late for that though.
It is hard for me to come up with anything humorous as I near the ending of this chapter, because things have sunk into such a seriousness that it doesn’t even seem right. Edward truly is willing to do anything. How far into depression and fear must one sink in order to offer his new wife to his archenemy? Does anyone even understand how deeply Edward loves Bella, and how utterly insane he must be over keeping her alive? If everything went exactly as he is offering, he would claw his eyes out every single time Bella stayed overnight with Jacob. It would be an indescribable pain just imagining her with someone else, simply because he cannot give her children that aren’t a threat to her life. Edward is desperate. The last time he was, he nearly killed himself in Volterra. It hurts to see him this way.
QUESTION FOR THE COMMENTS: Do you think it is alright for Edward to offer to ‘share’ Bella with Jacob, even if it is to save her life?
——NOTES——
– That picture really is a 7-year-old me 😀
– Kim Harrison, co-contributer to Stephenie Meyer on Prom Nights From Hell, wrote a wonderful blurb for my writing, which you can read here.
156 Responses
Omg am i first?!?
I think that Edward was not sane when he made that offer, and if he had actually thought about it, then he would have realized that it wasn't kids Bella wanted, but this kid.
Second!
Awk, cute Kaleb! xD
I remember reading this and it having a completely different feeling to any of the other chapters. Tension is thick in the air and you can really feel it..
Kitty
xzx
i think that he is right in doing what he did, only because he truley loves bella, but still, it is kinda creepy…..
he was just thinking about her saftey but…..that is still a bit GROSS!
And what is with people wanting to be the first comments? o.o
Now that i've gotten over the fact that i'm first…
I guess i'm a little biased to answer your question about Edward sharing Jacob because I am on Team Jacob and I love to see them together! But teams aside I really think any man should be able to “share” there women with someone else. We're not property ya know! If a man is too self-conscious and doesn't trust his wife enough to allow her to spend time with someone else than he needs to step back, look at himself in the mirror and think or how he would feel if his wife didn't let him out anywhere. If he was a good man he would realize that he was being too selfish.
And it's not like Edward can't just spy on them anyway! lol
Nah, I don't think so, bsb633. After reading some of midnight sun, it doesn't seem like Edward has it all together the way he seems to in Bella's head. He's intelligent, yes, but he can't read Bella's mind. If I was in his shoes, I would've thought the same thing and I don't think anyone, not even Edward, would have been able to figure out what it was that Bella really wanted….
I agree with bsb633 if Edward would have realized that she wanted the child in her then he wouldn’t have offered anything to Jacob! & It doesn’t really matter what Edward offered Jacob 'cuz Bella would never go for it!
or not 🙁
I don't know i'm just overly competitive!
This chapter nearly broke me. I was reading it and I literally had to put it down and run to my friend, nearly in tears, because I was convinced that this was all going to end horribly, that Bella would die and Edward would die and the baby would be a monster and I couldn't DEAL. It was far and away the most physically painful chapter in the entire series.
Edward's pain is immense. It always has been. Like everything else, he experiences things in extremes – his love for her is not human love, it is literally a part of him. Thus, his absolute pain at losing her is also not human. And Edward has never been shy at offering up his pain so that she would be better off. Think of New Moon – that time apart from her was devastating to him. Remember he said he basically just curled into a ball and let the pain have him.
Edward offered up a choice. It's not like he would give her over to Jacob against her will, but obviously he has to ask Jacob before he can ask Bella. And as noted, it is his utter and total desperation talking. The world cannot exist without her – it's a matter of survival, and devotion.
I'm actually surprised you didn't mention anything about Edward's state right now. I realize that it's in Jacob's point of view but the way Edward is described in this chapter is heart breaking. Even by Jacob's standards. This is one of the few chapters I wish Stephenie would write from his point of view. We all know he was wreck when he left Bella in New Moon, but I highly doubt that that compares to how he must feel now. The sorrow he's going through. The guilt he feels for hurting Bella. So much guilt that he even asks Jacob to share.
Which leads me to your question. No, it's not really alright. But it's not like I can blame him for doing it, or wanting it. Desperation- that is what is causing him to ask Jacob to do this. Not the best or smartest choice, but when you have no other available options you take what you got and I don't think I can hold that against him. And no, it's not because I'm biased and like Edward more. If the roles were reversed I'd say the same thing.
Apologies for the lengthy comment. I'm glad to hear you'll be posting more often C=
I was sick to my stomach when I read this chapter, because it’s painful to watch two equally opposite ends of the spectrum, in terms of loving Bella, because they’re desperate and they’re both heartbroken over the entire situation. Edward’s love is wholly self-sacrificing, while Jacob’s love is slightly selfish. I’m one of the few people who absolutely loves Edward, but doesn’t understand how anyone could hate Jacob Black.
As far as your question goes: Edward is desperate, and as unselfish as his love for Bell is, he’s willing to sacrifice his own happiness. I understand why he made the proposal to Jake. He wishes he could change what is happening, what has happened and what will happen, but what he should have, would have, and could have done, is pointless now. It was always pointless. Bella made the decision that she made with no regrets, she would never take back choosing Edward, so ultimately it’s not Edwards decision if Jake gets to make puppies with Bella, it’s hers. From a girl’s perspective, of course I see it as being a bit arrogant for him to assume he has the right to make the offer in the first place, and idiotic to think Bella would agree to it, but Edward is desperate, and he knows that he’s running out of time to save her. Jake is the only one it seems with any understanding, when it comes to the way Bella thinks. Even as much as he wishes that what Edward proposed was possible, he knows Bella, and he knows her heart, and deep down inside he knows it belongs to Edward, and that it always will.
So all-in-all, because we all know that the true nature of Edward’s character is motivated by the most selfless intentions, it’s easy to understand why he would drop to such a drastic level. It’s Edward, and Edward loves Bella more than his own life, soul, or happiness, it’s just the way he is.
I remember crying when I read this part. I'm not entirely sure why…but I just remember bawling at what Edward was saying. I don't think it's right though. I mean, yes, that's the ultimate sacrifice to make for the person you love, but still. I think even if Edward says he's willing to do this, really he'd be killing himself every time Bella left. I also considered at this point what would have happened if Bella DID do this…and it made me hate her for a bit. I imagined if she really had done it and how much she would (once again) be hurting both of them. Admit it, Jacob would be hurt too. Bella would still be Edward's, even if she submitted to becoming a complete and total heartless traitor. But she didn't. And also, I don't think Bella wanted just any child, she wanted her and Edward's child. And Jacob could never do that for her.
No it's not alright at all! Who is he to make that decision? Simply imagine Bella's reaction if someone told her of this conversation. I think it would go something like this… “What??? *tears off Edwards head, places on Jacobs neck* Are you guys happy now?” He's acting like she's his to give to Jacob and it's appalling. Were he not completely insane with concern at the moment I would have to start hating Edward. But because he's such a mess I can let it slide.
btw…. you were an adorable child!
Aw Kaleb u were cute!
I truley hated this when I read it. But after thinking about it I thought the same way that bsb633 did. He wasnt really thinking he just wanted stop whatever was hurting Bella. And if he knew that it was only this kid that Bella wanted then I really dont think Edward would have done that.
*truely
heck no! Bella is Edward's true love, and always will be! plus Jacob is… … something else. I really honestly don't like him. He annoys the crap out of me. So all Jacob lovers… who loved the moment when Edward wanted to “share” Bella.. get over it! The book starts with Edward and ends with Edward. Might as well face the fact that maybe Jacob is out of Bella's league! Haha… yah… I know. I'm good at speeches(:
Kaleb! You are the cutest little kid EVER! *loves* Anyways, what was the question? Oh right, ok. Well, Edward isn't really thinking straight. I usually don't cry in books, even in New Moon, I was pretty much ok. But hearing Jacob (JACOB) pitying Edward- it made me really upset. I mean, obviously he's PRETTY depressed. What was the word? “Burning man.” Oh god. I was so upset by that. So yeah. Edward is being stupid, but I wouldn't hold it against him. Yeah. Fin.
Share? Doesn't Bella get a word? Regardless of what the boys plan, Bella wouldn't hear of it I am sure. I understand Edward is in so much pain, and is obviously not thinking clearly. This is just a part in the book that shows just how insane Edward is with pain, nothing more.
Wow. Great post. It kinda made me cry a little.
one of my favorite lines ever from any book…
…i was the second place werewolf about to ask the vampire's wife to shack up and procreate
funniest thing i have EVER heard…i luv stephenie 🙂
I went in the “Nightmare Mansion” when I went to Virginia Beach, so it was nice to see it up here again. Still creeps me out to look at it though…
It was probably this chapter that made me become Team Switzerland, to be honest. I didn't like Jacob that much before this, and then looking back and reading the other three books again, I realize how great of a character he is.
I feel SOOOO bad for Edward and Jacob during this chapter. The hopelessness and despair just claw through me and I feel like I wnat to just randomly appear in the story and give them huge hugs.
I really cannot wait for the next few chapters!
~JL
I think it's alright for Edward to offer to “share” Bella. He loves her so much he would do anything to take her pain away and he thinks that's the only answer. He's willing to have the pain instead. I think he should know better, and know that Bella would never go for it, but when you're desperate you exhaust all other options first!
PS. I hope your posts don't get shorter!
Oh my God, FINALLY, Kaleb!!! Finally, you're really getting Jacob's point!!! And you will understand him more and more and more each new chapter, I promise. Seriously, I'm so freaking happy that I wanna kiss you!!! lol Like really kiss you!!!
Anyway, about Edward's petition… No, he wasn't right. He shouldn't have asked that from him. First, because it's disrespectful to Bella. Second, because it's painful to Jacob. Third, because he's asking Jacob to do the dirty job for him, which would be telling Bella about that. Fourth, because he's putting Jacob into a very difficult possition, playing with his love for Bella to make him ask her for something incredibly wrong.
I understand why Edward asked Jacob to do that, I really do. But I feel that Edward is always trying to make decissions for Bella. Having or not having the baby is her choice too, not only his. I understand he wants her to be safe, but hell, why can't she choose to die for her baby if she wants too?
Why did Edward leave Bella in New Moon? That was another decission he made for her. What if she wanted to be in danger with him rather than safe without him? Isn't that her choice too?
Why did Edward take her to see her mother in Eclipse just because he didn't want her to be in Forks when Victoria was going to chase her again without telling her the real reason? Maybe she would have wanted to be in Forks, with the people who were protecting her, rather than far away and totally safe.
Why did Edward break her car in Eclipse when she wanted to visit Jacob? Does he get to choose her friends too?
This constant “making decissions for her” was one of the reasons why Edward didn't grow on me.
Greetings from Spain!
NO FREAKIN WAY JOSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!thisismakingmestarttowishthatexclamationpointswerethesamesizeasW's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yikes. It was painful to read that. He really will do anything to make her happy, but it's so not okay to offer Jacob up for stud services. Bella totally wouldn't go for that (or any sane girl, especially one who has Edward).
I think it is both ok and not ok for Edward to make this offer. It is not ok because A) It's going to hurt Jacob ALOT and B) It is just sightly wrong.
But it is kind of ok because it's not like he's saying, “Jacob, my wife is dying from the child she's carrying, so we're going to kill the kid and give
Bella to you.” He is just asking Jacob to please, PLEASE make this offer to Bella and try to make her see sense. As you probably know, Kaleb,
Edward is not entirely sane (or sane at all) in this chapter. By this point, he is so utterly insane from a mixture of pain, worry, anxiety, and depression
(which is NOT a good combination) that he is willing to do absolutely anything to save Bella, even if it means he will have to suffer. In his point of
view right now, Edward is probably thinking something like “Jacob offers this to Bella, she says yes, she leaves me but she lives, that is good enough
for me, it's the only option left.” And as you will read in a later chapter, he doesnt even really believe this will work. He just has to try.
YAY!! More chapter reviews!! But why do you get out so early?? I don't get out of school until June 24th!!!!! : ( lucky you.
Edward's offer to Jake should show how much he loves Bella. He is willing to kill his CHILD for her. Jake should realize this. It IS painful for Edward to see Bella like this. But did Jake really have a choice when Edward almost begged him? I love both Edward and Jacob and seeing both of them in pain, is nerve-raking. But Bella married Edward and she should stay loyal and faithful to him, forever. No matter what the sacrifies are. And I believe she should keep her baby and I am happy she's been putting her foot down on this matter. I heart Bella! She's awsome!
By the way, cute picture of you.
this was the hardest chapter for me by far. when i first read it, i was so angry with Edward. i was livid. I couldn't believe what he was saying. but after i took a step back and thought about it, it made sense to me. Edward can't let Bella die. He's not thinking about the baby, himself, or Jacob. All he can focus on is keeping Bella alive and the rest he can figure out later. I actually compare this to when Bella goes to save Edward in New Moon. She leaves behind her grieving father, a heart broken Jacob, and pushes her own emotions aside, just to save Edward. She doesn't care if it will hurt her later or ruin her chances with Jacob for any kind of happiness at all. It doesn't matter that Edward (she presumes) doesn't love her. all that matters is that he is alive. They both desperately need each other to at minimum exist and would do anything to ensure that. So, was it right? no. it isn't. it's painful and wrong and horrible. But it was the only way the Edward could see out and so he took it. This chapter made me respect Jacob big time.
Along with a few other people, I'm surprised you didn't key in more on Edwards pain. I for one, thoroughly enjoyed this chapter, because it was the first time we got to see Edward from a perspective other than Bella's (so… I guess I'm with you on this one, for your reasoning was the same, just with Jacob). It was nice to see Edward in pain (okay, that sounds badd…), instead of all beautiful and perfect and sparkly and amazing (gag!). I kind of reveled in his pain here, but I choked at the awkwardness of Edwards proposal… It just didn't seem right. I mean, I always knew Edward was a little off (have you seen yet that I'm team Jake?) but this was just… wrong. I felt dirty reading this from Jake's perspective, just because it was such a violation of Bella's rights! I mean, *she* would have never agreed to it, anyways! Being tossed around like a doll between guys… it's the most revolting thing that I witnessed Edward do the entire series. I was literally entirely put off by it. But, the bottom line, I enjoyed seeing the more human part of Edward, but I thought the ending was just wrong. I think Stephenie Meyer had a bit too much leeway with her creative license here.
Ok, so I'm rambling but I don't want to edit. Hah. Enjoy!
Edward to offer Bella–not okay, just desperation. It's not something he's really thought about, and it's not even something he can really see the results of, because there are too many things he doesn't understand: Bella's attachment to Jacob, how Jacob understands Bella, what is actually growing inside of her and its result, his own love for Bella that is only all-consuming and not entirely reasonable, and also Bella's love for him. All of these things that Edward cannot understand mix together and make for a very crazy, jumbled mess, despite that roomy head of his. Admitting that he should have left Bella with Jacob and put his love aside to keep her alive is revealing that it really doesn't matter what happens to him, just because he loves her that much.
I honestly had to put the book down after reading that offer!! I was stunned that Stephenie had gone there!! I totally understand why, it just caught me off guard!! The pregnancy I expected, Edward's offer…not so much!
So, after catching my breath and calming myself down (all while trying to remain quiet so I wouldn't wake my husband – I read the book in 8 hours after the midnight release party), I picked it back up and kept reading.
Burning Man Edward was extremely painful to read about! But, I started to like Jake again in these chapters. He can see how much Edward really loves Bella, and he is finally starting to understand their relationship, even if he doesn't like it.
This is why the book is so much more mature than the other three. It raises some really interesting questions – What would you do if your unborn child was killing your wife? Would you give her up or offer her to someone else?
It wasn't right in any way to make the offer. If Edward had ever understood Bella completely, he would have known that she would be willing to die for someone she loved! Yes, he was distraught…I'll allow that, but it still doesn't make it right!
Awww, looks just like you… 🙂
I don't think Edward should have asked that, but then again it is in his character to protect Bella at any costs. A question though. If I really love Jacob Black, yet want Edward and Bella to stay together can I still be on Team Jacob?
I really don't want to be Team Edward because I don't completely like Edward. Werewolves are the ones I absolutely love!
But I don't want Bella to end up with one. Someone please answer?
I love your photos in this post! You were the cutest little kid ever.
Also, this is totally off-topic, but I love the photo of the Cullens' house. One of my friends was moving, and she showed me all these pictures of the house they were moving to. I thought it looked a lot like the Cullen mansion did in my mind…but I didn't tell her that because she'd think I was a dork.
To answer your question: this whole chapter was just surreal to read. I definitely don't think it's all right for Edward and Jacob to “share” Bella. As much as I like Jake, Bella chose Edward. And even though it would be to save Bella's life, the last thing anybody needs is to complicate the Bella/Edward/Jacob triangle any further. Honestly, I thought Edward's offer was ridiculous. I'm glad Bella didn't take him up on it.
I personally don't think it's right for Edward to “share” Bella, or feel that he needs to for that matter. He loves Bella and Bella claims she loves him. If she truly loves Edward, then the fact that he can't provide her with a child of their own shouldn't matter to Bella. The thought should have (and probably did) cross her mind before she married him, and she obviously accepted it then.
Nope–not all right. However, considering he was not exactly with it and how much he loves her, I forgive him. He's desperate and can think of no alternative to keep her alive. I'd probably think the same thing, you know? Of course, I'd hate myself for it all the same. Either way, living with myself after whatever happened just wouldn't work out. Edward needs to respect Bella's choices, even if they might be the death of her. (He'd die for her, right? It's her choice to risk her life for her kid.)
You're right. It is excruciating to see him–or anyone for that matter–in this much pain. I think Stephenie did a magnificent job showing his pain and making the readers feel it, as well.
I think that they already share her in a way but I dont think that Edward would have been thinking straight because he can read minds and see the two of them together like that would kill him a thousend times over and I dont think Bella now knowing what sex is like with Edward would want to do it with Jake it would be like wanting Chocolate and getting carob the flavour is missing 😉
Anser to the question: No. I understand Edward is desperate, but I'd be really angry if I were in Bella's position. It was completely uncalled for.
I forgot how powerful parts of the book were. Aw man, now I want to read it! 🙂
awww it hurts me to see him like that too 🙁
and as for sharing. under no circumstances is that appropriate. that is insane desperate edward cullen talking… we shouldn't pay him much attention, he knows not of what he speaks lol besides Bella wouldn't do that!!! what kind of relationship would that be?! 0_o
hahahahahahahaha xD sooooooo funny lol yea who knows maybe Jacob is.. good too. lol very hot i would imagine… awkward 0_0
Does it matter if it is alright? Edward loves Bella so much that he just wants her to live and if she wants a kid, by darn right, she'll get one!!! Edward will give her anything as long as she lives.
I think Edward offering to “share” just shows how much he loves her and wants her to be safe and happy. Although he should know that she would never do anything like that, it shows how selfless he is to put himself though pain so she can live. though, If it was me and he offered me up, I wouldn't be very happy…….lol
You need to finish this before Summer School in Forks Kaleb!!!
In answer to your question, I think it shows just how desperate Edward is to keep Bella alive without having to turn her in to a vampire and just how much he hates himself for doing what he did to Bella, which he sees as (for lack of a better word) wrong.
I don't know if it was necessarily right for Edward to make his offer, but at this time he is INSANE he is not thinking clearly. He probably hates himself now more than ever for putting Bella's life in jeopardy AGAIN because of what he is. (especialy since he didn't want to make love to Bella before she was turned but he gave in & gave her what she wanted.) I was kind of weirded out & thought it was wrong of Edward at first, but after thinking about it & what he must be going through I can totally understand why he did it. It definitely shows how much Edward loves Bella and would do ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING for her.
One of the things about this world is the complete lack of COMMUNICATION!!! It's drives me nutz! if everyone would sit down and talk about their feelings rationally… life would be terribly boring for the few of us capable of doing this… anyway, no I think Edward is being disgustingly inconsiderate of Bella at this point. I must admit Edward really annoyed me during the Jacob POV. That may be because of who's POV it was. But I wanted to wallop him a couple of times.