blenderbender
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Post by blenderbender on Dec 17, 2010 13:24:28 GMT -8
^I personally think that she may have just done both.
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Post by Chaotic Neutral on Dec 18, 2010 16:56:03 GMT -8
^But in that case, why is it that only Leah suffers? Why didn't Sam suffer any punishment? It takes two to tango, after all.
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Post by reniefuwa on Dec 18, 2010 17:31:49 GMT -8
^But in that case, why is it that only Leah suffers? Why didn't Sam suffer any punishment? It takes two to tango, after all. Because he found his true love, duh! Nothing ever bothers you again once you find your true love. Seriously, this series really needs a Shrek (in this case, someone who scoffs at the idea of true love).
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blenderbender
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Post by blenderbender on Dec 18, 2010 18:15:00 GMT -8
^But in that case, why is it that only Leah suffers? Why didn't Sam suffer any punishment? It takes two to tango, after all. Because it was just Leah made in particular to suffer? Or maybe Meyer is the greatest troll ever and wrote the series to torture us and acts the way trolls do, until it stops being funny?
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Post by Lady Phoenix on Dec 18, 2010 18:21:51 GMT -8
^But in that case, why is it that only Leah suffers? Why didn't Sam suffer any punishment? It takes two to tango, after all. Because he's a hot werewolf and hot werewolves don't get punished
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Post by Blue Suede Shoes on Dec 18, 2010 20:31:43 GMT -8
It's actually fairly common for a double standard to exist for male and female sexuality. A man is just "sowing his wild oats" or "boys will be boys," while a woman who behaves identically is called a slut or a whore. Often the male will be forgiven or excused, while the woman is seen as tarnished or having lost her virtue permanently - even though they both consensually engaged in the act together.
Meyer certainly didn't invent this. I find it irresponsible and sad that she perpetuates it, though. It's a very backwards attitude toward gender and sexuality.
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Post by Chaotic Neutral on Dec 18, 2010 21:43:20 GMT -8
^I know. It's actually quite common, both in literature and in our society.
A guy can sleep around with multiple women, have more than one wife, or even build his own personal harem and the world may shake it's head but otherwise not interfere. A woman, however, is looked down upon for doing the same thing.
Meyer has set back the female gender about a century. Leah suffers for having pre-marital sex with a guy who turns out to be her cousin's soul mate, yet Bella practically whores herself onto Edward and Jacob--but it's okay because she's married to Edward when they finally do it.
That's no basis for character punishment!
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Post by Blue Suede Shoes on Dec 18, 2010 21:45:36 GMT -8
That's no basis for character punishment! Oh, I agree. I just suspect that's where it came from. I don't think Meyer is consciously aware that she's using a double standard. I just think it's been so culturally ingrained that she probably didn't think it through.
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Post by Chaotic Neutral on Dec 18, 2010 22:38:42 GMT -8
^Most people are, but with Meyer, it's more blatant. That, and her complete lack of research on...well, ANYTHING.
Somehow, inadvertently, for whatever reason, Meyer created a truly strong female character--not in Bella like she had intended, but in Leah. Leah isn't strong because she's the first and only female wolf to join the all-boy's club. She's strong because she's pretty much lost so much in her life and yet is still going. She's a bitch, sure. And yes, she is causing conflict and trouble for those around her. But throughout it all, even as more crap kept happening to her, she didn't stop LIVING--unlike Bella, who lost Edward and proceeded to give up on life.
Sure, it would have been nice if she had been more constructive in her grieving and less bitter and full of anger, but given the situation she was in, it's hard to see how anyone is supposed to take all that with a smile and grace. Looking at it all: Sam leaving her for Emily, Emily betraying her to be with Sam, her dad dying, becoming a wolf, being stuck with a bunch of guys in her head able to see her thoughts and constantly judging her for every little thing, and having the knowledge that nobody wants her...it's like "well, shit".
What else, Meyer? You kill her puppy, too?
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blenderbender
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Post by blenderbender on Dec 19, 2010 10:00:25 GMT -8
^Shhhhhhh! Don't give Meyer any ideas!
Yeah, you don't have to be physically strong to be a strong character. Mental and emotional strength are just as important. Leah is a bitch, but she's strong willed and the closest thing to a female fighter this series has.
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Post by Chaotic Neutral on Dec 19, 2010 10:42:59 GMT -8
Gah! I didn't mean it! I DIDN'T MEAN IT! D:
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Post by vampirekites on Dec 19, 2010 12:17:24 GMT -8
^Most people are, but with Meyer, it's more blatant. That, and her complete lack of research on...well, ANYTHING. Somehow, inadvertently, for whatever reason, Meyer created a truly strong female character--not in Bella like she had intended, but in Leah. Leah isn't strong because she's the first and only female wolf to join the all-boy's club. She's strong because she's pretty much lost so much in her life and yet is still going. She's a bitch, sure. And yes, she is causing conflict and trouble for those around her. But throughout it all, even as more crap kept happening to her, she didn't stop LIVING--unlike Bella, who lost Edward and proceeded to give up on life. Sure, it would have been nice if she had been more constructive in her grieving and less bitter and full of anger, but given the situation she was in, it's hard to see how anyone is supposed to take all that with a smile and grace. Looking at it all: Sam leaving her for Emily, Emily betraying her to be with Sam, her dad dying, becoming a wolf, being stuck with a bunch of guys in her head able to see her thoughts and constantly judging her for every little thing, and having the knowledge that nobody wants her...it's like "well, shit". What else, Meyer? You kill her puppy, too?
SMeyer certainly lives in opposite land. The characters she wants to portray as strong, relatable and perfect are anything but, and a character who we should just dismiss as being an annoyance turns out to be the only "real" character in the book. Everything in which is detests in a person is actual what makes a character relatable, strong and developed.
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Fyra [AiLH]
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Post by Fyra [AiLH] on Dec 19, 2010 12:38:56 GMT -8
A little bit of nonsense that came into my mind after reading through this topic:
Maybe the reason the guys don't sympathise with Leah, despite being able to read her mind is for the same reason that's been put forward to why Sam dumped her.
All characters in Twilight have been sort of 'imprinted' on the same one person, with the exception of Leah who must suffer for it. Who have they 'imprinted' on? SMeyer.
Think about it, all the others are 'good characters' because they follow SMeyer's direction but Leah was 'born' and said "Screw this, I want to do my own thing!" so SMeyer decided to teach her a lesson...
... I know, it makes no sense. I told you it was nonsense. x.x
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Post by Chaotic Neutral on Dec 19, 2010 15:57:45 GMT -8
^It makes a weird sort of sense, though. Anybody remember what Meyer said before in an interview regarding BD? How Jacob and Leah seemed to be getting closer throughout BD and how even Meyer acknowledged it, but just said "nope" and used imprinting as a plot device to keep him at Bella's side?
Out of everyone, Leah seems to be the only one who doesn't "fit in" with the world. Almost like Meyer created her to make up for the lack of female wolves, then forgot about her till she gained her own role.
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blenderbender
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Post by blenderbender on Dec 19, 2010 16:34:22 GMT -8
Gah! I didn't mean it! I DIDN'T MEAN IT! D: TOO LATE FOR APOLOGIES! MURPHY HAS HEARD US AND WILL SCREW US OVER! Damn you Murphy. Yes, I also enjoy the so-called "nonsense" theory. It makes sense. Leah doesn't fit in the saga, because she's awesome.
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limelightqueen
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Post by limelightqueen on Dec 19, 2010 18:52:32 GMT -8
It's odd because according to Meyer Leah wouldn't be adverse to the idea of a husband, 2.5 kids and a picket fence. She seems to regret the fact that she can't have kids. I was wondering why Meyer seemed intent on wanting to punish Leah if she wanted the same thing everyone else in the series wanted.
And then it hit me: she's punishing Leah the only way she knows how. To Meyer it seems the ultimate tragedy is not finding true love and/or having children. She hates Leah for whatever twisted reason she has and so she punishes her by not letting her get a happily ever after without realizing that there are many, many people in the world to whom "happily ever after" does not include children. To Meyer this may seem inconceivable (he- punny!) and that's why Leah's punishment is that she doesn't get Meyer's definition of a happy ending.
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Post by Chaotic Neutral on Dec 19, 2010 22:07:54 GMT -8
But it's almost like she goes out of her way to make sure everyone BUT Leah gets this happily ever after. EVERYONE is paired with someone...except Leah. EVERYONE got a happy ending...except Leah. EVERYONE had all their problems magically work out with no real conflict or effort involved...again, except Leah.
Hell, Leah's practically the only one left at the end of the series with unresolved issues.
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Post by Anya the Purple on Dec 20, 2010 9:46:42 GMT -8
That's because Leah is everything Meyer isn't-strong, independent, realistic. And Meyer is subconsciously jealous of that, so she forces Leay to watch as everyone else gets a "happy ending" without giving her one.
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blenderbender
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Post by blenderbender on Dec 20, 2010 10:01:46 GMT -8
^Makes sense, and that's really sad on Meyer's part.
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Post by Lady of Himring on Dec 20, 2010 19:09:41 GMT -8
That's because Leah is everything Meyer isn't-strong, independent, realistic. And Meyer is subconsciously jealous of that, so she forces Leay to watch as everyone else gets a "happy ending" without giving her one. ^Agreed so much.
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Fyra [AiLH]
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Post by Fyra [AiLH] on Dec 22, 2010 18:41:24 GMT -8
I myself love it when my characters do their own thing. When they steer the story for a bit. Takes it in directions that I couldn't have imagined. I almost want to adopt Leah now... I might do actually. Channel her spirit into a forming character I've got coming up in the stories (who ironically is also something of a she-wolf. o.o)
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Post by Chaotic Neutral on Dec 22, 2010 21:17:57 GMT -8
^I've created a character based on her situation with Sam and Emily. Kind of a way to give a finger to fate and to Meyer, and to allow the poor girl to leave with the other heroes for a chance at real happiness.
If only we could adopt her...I almost wish there was CPS (character protective services) for these. Then someone could sue Meyer for Leah and do a better job taking care of her.
Because we ALL know what's gonna happen if Meyer continues with Leah.
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blenderbender
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Post by blenderbender on Dec 22, 2010 23:11:25 GMT -8
Good Lord, and Meyer did say if she writes with Twilight again, it'll be Nessie or Leah. Please, please, please corrupt Nessie SMeyer. I still like Leah.
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Fyra [AiLH]
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Post by Fyra [AiLH] on Dec 23, 2010 6:48:11 GMT -8
If she does corrupt Leah, then do what I do as far as Torchwood and Children of Earth. Deny it ever happened and keep writing about the situation before it ever happened.
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Post by Anya the Purple on Dec 23, 2010 7:16:43 GMT -8
^Like the Hunchback of Notre Dame 2. It never happened.
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blenderbender
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Post by blenderbender on Dec 23, 2010 12:05:22 GMT -8
Let's hear it for discontinuity!
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Post by Anya the Purple on Dec 23, 2010 19:21:51 GMT -8
One of these days, I'm going to finish the fanfics I've been working on for months, and then I'll write a zillion fics about Leah.
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blenderbender
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Post by blenderbender on Dec 24, 2010 14:51:16 GMT -8
I've got a few ideas for Leah myself, as does CN.
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Post by Chaotic Neutral on Dec 24, 2010 17:59:18 GMT -8
^On that note, what about Leah's relationships with Sam and Emily? I know Meyer wants us to see them as perfect and wonderful, but I can't help seeing them both as traitorous jerks for how dismissive they were of Leah's feelings when they got together.
Am I the only one?
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limelightqueen
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Post by limelightqueen on Dec 25, 2010 17:04:38 GMT -8
Read the thread CN and you'll know you aren't.
Wow, that came out WAY bitchier than I meant it. Excuse me, I haz teh jetlag.
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