On Eclipse and Choosing Chastity
Posted by Lisa Hendey in Just me on Wednesday, July 07, 2010 12:00 PM
I almost hesitate to open the can of worms that might be unleashed here if I mention the fact that I went yesterday to view the film Eclipse, the third installment in the Twilight series. But the truth is, the film left me pondering something that I can’t help but discuss with my friends here at Faith & Family Live.
Let me start by saying that I’m not recommending you go see this movie, or that you permit your teens to view it. I will leave that decision up to each of you. If you want the Bishops’ take on the film, you can read the full review here on the USCCB website. I’m not a big Twilight fan - I haven’t read the books and didn’t see the second film. But over the last week, I’ve repeatedly heard that this film addresses the topic of chastity and pre-marital relationships. In fact, the USCCB specifically mentions this theme in their review with the comments:
“And, while Melissa Rosenberg’s script ramps up the mostly bloodless battling among its supernatural characters, it also shifts the basis of its main couple’s chaste interaction from a matter of constraint to one of choice…Though Bella is anxious to consummate her love for Edward, their brief, fully clothed bedroom encounter terminates in his refusal to do more than kiss and caress her. But while his restraint was previously motivated by the fear that passion might drive him to put his fangs into Bella, Edward now takes a stand on principle, resolving to uphold Bella’s virtue until the two are married. When Edward acknowledges that such values-driven behavior isn’t “modern,” Bella perhaps says more than she knows when she responds, “Not modern; it’s ancient!”
The film does definitely address the topic head on a few times, with it being made clear that Edward (the vampire character for those unfamiliar with Twilight) intentionally chooses to keep his relationship with Bella chaste out of concern for her soul. I’ll leave discussions about vampires to the side here, but I actually did appreciate the fact that this theme was part of a movie that will be viewed by so many of our teens. Unfortunately, another conversation in the film between Bella and her father finds Dad urging her to “be careful” and “use protection”, and later breathing a sigh of relief when Bella refers to her boyfriend as being “Old School” (in other words, someone who doesn’t believe in pre-marital sexual relations).
I’m not certain how much the average high schooler who sees this film will actually ponder this part of the film rather than being caught up in fight scenes and pretty faces. But I will say that if you have teens who see the film, this part of the movie might be a great jumping off point for a discussion on Theology of the Body and the beauty of our Church’s teachings on marriage.
If you saw the film or have read the books, I’d be interested in knowing in a more in depth way how you feel about this particular theme in the series. Again, I’m not recommending the movie or books (which I haven’t read), but I do find it interesting that a major motion picture can provide fodder for a conversation like this one.
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