A response to “Bree Tanner”

SPOILER ALERT FOR “THE SHORT SECOND LIFE OF BREE TANNER” — (Don’t read below if you haven’t read Bree Tanner yet and don’t want to be spoiled!)

Just a few days ago, I interviewed Steve Walker, Stephenie’s fave professor from BYU, along with John Granger, author of “Spotlight,” (listen to our podcast here) and we talked at length about how Edward and the Cullens represent angelic, godlike beings. Bella is filled with desire to join with them — to become like them and to “see as she is seen.” Of course, to see yourself as God sees you, you first have to become like God. After all, at first she doesn’t see herself very clearly at all, as Edward points out at the start of Twilight. Eventually, Bella does (finally) see herself as she truly is, at the end of Breaking Dawn (even though she is mostly just embarrassed recognizing that she is the “superhero of the day,” and entire series).

As pointed out at HogwartsProfessor.com, Twilight is very much like the myth where Psyche pursues her godlike love, Cupid. But to Psyche/Bella to remain with him, she must become more like the godlike Edward, saving him (many times) as he saves her, so that she can earn the right to be one with him eternally, and remain with the celestial Cullen family forever. There is a religious metaphor at work here, that many can relate with, I’m sure.

Yet here, in Bree Tanner, we have a contrasting scenario. Unlike Bella, Bree finds herself frequently unable to choose her own path. She barely begins to become reborn, rising from the depths into the light, discovering love and through it the beauties of life, along with her own glowing, godlike potential. Yet she fails to choose to overcome the world — its lies, pain, fears, and limits of time. It is tragic.

I am amazed to discover an additional allegory within the text that, whereas Bella discovered a celestial, eternal family to emulate and join, Bree finds herself in a false religion as it were, built upon constraining lies instead of ennobling truths. Specifically, lots of hellish fires are threatened throughout.

After her literal and metaphorical “enlightenment,” Bree discovers that her leaders are incorrect (metaphorically, false parents? false priests?) she asks some wonderful questions such as, “What can we do when we don’t know what’s happening?” Is her father/priest, Riley, lying or mistaken? Does the Creator assent to this deception? And what should Bree do about it, either way?

Many of us find ourselves misled by those who claim to care for us. Perhaps they are good people who are nevertheless mistaken. Perhaps they are evil and wish to harm, or control us. When we find ourselves in that situation, we may find ourselves in the same quandary as Bree. “What can we do when we don’t know what’s happening?” With all those limbs being taken off, it reminds me of the passage:

“And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched.”

The verse is something Riley should have considered before he lost his hand in Eclipse, and ended up consumed by fires anyway.

Yet if we hesitate too long, due to fiery fears or dark thoughts of revenge, or by clinging to the wrong people — the congenial Diego over the godlike Fred — our time and opportunities may run out, and we may find ourselves burning, perhaps metaphorically, perhaps not, in a hell of our own making. So Bree finds herself consumed in flame largely after being overcome by her burning pains in her throat, and her lingering fears in her heart of her initial burning… Incredibly rich story.

Thank you, Stephenie.

One more point: Immediately after reading Bree Tanner, I was Team Fred because he’s so godlike: Besides being glorious, he is incredibly powerful and wise, always watching, won’t be used or mocked, protects the weak, repulses the evil with his very presence, and he is generally invisible to all but those who believe he is good. And, he is out there somewhere — even when we aren’t sure exactly where.

But I have to ask: Judging from the numbers at the final battle… And that Diego wasn’t seen by Bree on the battle field… Was the one vampire who was still hiding, and who attacked Leah and Jacob…

Diego?

If so, Diego was undoubtedly trying to save Bree from Jasper and the rest of the Yellow Eyes. He sacrificed himself to save who he loved. Was he tortured before his sacrificial death? Regardless, if it was him, then Diego wins the most godlike by virtue of showing “no greater love.”

So sad, yet such a poetically triumphant love.

Yet, if Bree had just stayed hidden, and left to find Fred, then Diego would have stayed hidden… And backtracking, he would have found her trail, reuniting with her and Fred that same day.

Well, at least there is a hint of more to come… since the Cullens have yet to be “nice” to Fred.

In any case, I can’t wait to discuss Bree with John Granger and Steve Walker in an upcoming Twilight News Site Podcast!