Edward and Bella's arguments about marriage in Eclipse explore how the meaning of marriage has changed over time. While traditional, 100+-year-old Edward views marriage as a sanctified part of declaring your love to one another, Bella believes that marriage is a burden, because she has witnessed the failure of her parents' marriage. She also believes that, in today's world, getting married young is a sign of immaturity or unwanted pregnancy, not love. Marriage also shows itself to be connected to many human traditions, such as the marriage proposal, the gift of a ring, the wedding dress, and the actual wedding ceremony and festivities.
Questions About Marriage
- What does marriage mean to Bella? What does it mean to Edward?
- In our society, does marriage means less today than it meant in the past?
- What's Bella's main hesitation in getting married?
- Do you think that Bella is too young to get married?