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Popular Culture Review
One common counterargument is that Edward, from the beginning of their
tumultuous relationship, is just as obsessed with and addicted to Bella, and
perhaps a bit BPD, as well. For instance, Edward is just as consumed with Bella
and his love for her, too; he is just as much a participant to the duo’s antisocial
behavior. Edward even engages in the extreme suicidal, “can’t live without
Bella” behavior when he plans to reveal himself as a vampire to the world in
New Moon. By doing so, he knows that he will be killed by the Volturi, the
“vampire order,” so the mission, in and of itself, is suicide. So Edward, like
Bella, possesses the same excessive, addictive feelings that exceed beyond the
norm of true love and heartbreak.
However, whether Edward is BPD is highly doubtful. For example, unlike
Bella, Edward logically and reasonably determines, at least for a while, that
Bella’s life is too much to risk for their love. As a result, he breaks off the
relationship. In doing so, Edward is at least able to use common sense, and his
uncanny sense of self control, to let her go, as painful as it may be for both of
them—neither of these characteristics reflect a dysfunctional regulation of
emotion. Otherwise, he would have stayed with her regardless. Although the
pair eventually reunites, Edward is able to accept what may or may not happen
during their period of breakup, and he actually hopes that Bella will find a
human mate, as logically, this would be best for her.
As far as other BPD characteristics are concerned, Edward already has a
very established identity, although, in all fairness, he is over 100 years old, and
Bella is only 17. Notwithstanding, Edward may love and care for Bella very
much, he still maintains his circle of tight-knit family and friends. Edward,
unlike Bella, does not give up a part of his life, or existence, for Bella; whereas
she allows these people only to exist superficially and as a convenience to her.
Her life becomes anything, as long as Edward is involved in it.
Unfortunately, when Edward is extracted from that life, she shuts down.
Edward, on the other hand, leaves the scene, completely. In all fairness, the
audience does not really know what Edward does during this time—in hindsight,
we know that he feels lost and is in pain, but we also know that he continues to
exist the best that he can. All of the focus is placed on Bella and her own
shattered life.
Eventually, the pair reunites, and the series continues with Eclipse and
Breaking Dawn. The same bouts of intense, codependent emotions can’t seem to
shake the two. However, ultimately, the story of Edward and Bella is a romance
that transcends both human and supernatural worlds as well as a love that is
eternal. The question to ask, nevertheless, is what human devalues life so much
that she constantly puts herself at risk for love? Well, for sake of the plot: one
who eventually becomes a vampire. But for psychological purposes: one who
definitely possesses a degree of mental instability.
Yet another question to ask is would this relationship have worked had it
not been for a clingy, unstable human, with an identity crisis, who wanted to
become a vampire? The answer is most definitely not. Had Edward met up with