The author of the Twilight Saga, Stephanie Meyer, is a Mormon. This is transparently obvious in many instances of the book but perhaps the most evident in Edward’s struggle with himself. Edward finds himself to be an abomination. He is ashamed of what he has become and believes he has no soul, that he is forsaken basically, and further that it is his fault. He calls himself a selfish monster. And despite this and his determination that he is damned we still find him trying to do the right thing, even though he claims to believe he is damned. Some interpret this as trying to save him self from this, but I think otherwise. I think on some level he finds that simply being a vampire and having this separation from the one he loves in and of its self is his damnation and see that as being unalterable. The fact that he continues to strive to be good “person” to me is an indication that he has as much a soul as any human could ever claim to have had. Time and time again Edward shows the ability to do the right thing no matter how hard it is or the cost to himself despite the belief that in the end this will not bring him salvation or change the facts for him. Honestly, what human does this? Who does the right thing when they know doing the wrong thing will have no ill effect on them and bring them the prize they are after and doing the right thing will give them nothing. Certainly not many people, if any at all.
In Twilight Edward leaves Forks because he is tempted by Bella and doesn’t want to harm her. In the end, of course, he comes back. He left because he was trying to avoid and resist temptation, which relates because giving into temptation is generally considered a sin. To listen to Edward the fact that he ever came back further condemns him but I, as do most who have read the book, disagree. Many of the saints were those who suffered to do what they believed was right. So the fact that Edward came back to Bella and owned up to his longings and desires shows bravery, not selfishness since in the end he saves her, not destroys her. In protecting her he is tempted to take the lives of those who threatened her and yet still resists this savage instinct. He is her savoir, of a kind and she is solace. He is more sorely tempted than us all and still preservers over his animalistic instincts. He could lie to her and keep the fact he is a vampire to himself, but he does not. Honesty is a virtue. He also shows trust for Bella even when advised not to, and when he can’t see into her mind and find out her intentions. It has been a century since he has trusted someone with out this assurance; literally he has entered an entirely new life. Despite all this though he has faith in Bella, another virtue.
After this Bella learns of Edward’s past, which could be considered sketchy by some, and Edward numbers himself among those. However I think his past shows more virtuous traits. The bible preaches an eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth, as well as turn the other cheek. For a while Edward practices the first method, with killing those who would do others harm. Eventually he realizes that this is not the right path for him. It’s unfair because he is playing god which is sort of a foul on the whole ‘though shall worship no false idol’. I think, at least, that acting as god yourself falls into that category. Realizing this Edward chooses to turn the other cheek which is, of course, harder for him. I don’t see the fault in learning from your mistakes and correcting your actions in the future, and any god that was not merciless would as well, and the Mormon god is supposed to be all forgiving. I also think that Edward’s leaving Carlisle as a learning experience and Edward obviously gathered the correct lesson from it, and therefore would not be faulted for this either.
Edward’s next trial comes in the form of the vampire James who loves nothing more than a great chase, and the Cullens have provided him with one in protecting Bella. Edward insists that he was selfish throughout this and blames himself despite the fact that it’s painfully obvious Bella would have found a way to get herself into trouble on her own. Edward shows clear judgment and gives justice to Laurent who leaves his coven but chooses not to side against James who Laurent believes to be the most formidable of his kind. Edward shows charity in telling him of a place to stay with a coven of vampires that are close friends of the Cullens. Edward continues to show restraint throughout the ordeal separating himself from Bella when he knows it’s best for her. He shows prudence when he kills James. James is truly an abomination that has lost his spirit and in the book seems to be an embodiment of the ‘devil’. This is also another display of Edward’s chivalry and justice. Edward undergoes the most laborious trial of all during the chaos of these events, when Bella is bit by James.
Edward must suck the vampire venom that is burning through Bella’s veins. He must do this and then stop before he kills her. He is, of course, terrified of doing it but he shows prudence in agreeing that it must be him, for to let anyone else do it would be to give him the ability to shift the blame to them should anything happen to Bella. He shows great restraint in stopping and he also shows something he has lead the reader to believe he lost. Despite his belief in his own damnation, his lack of soul, that he is ‘essentially a selfish being’ Edward shows hope. He hopes that some how he will be able to stop, even though he knows he will never be able to stop on his own when just the smell of Bella’s blood is more potent to him than the free running blood of any other human. In this moment Edward shows what is probably held as the highest virtue by those who are religious. He hopes and “places trust in Christ’s promises, and relies not on his own strength but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit”. This act alone shows he still has hope of a heaven, or even a hell, but some sort of final resting for his spirit and it shows faith in a god, or a higher being. God preaches love and his acceptance to all who have faith in him and ask for forgiveness.
Edward’s struggle is the real climax in each of the books in the Twilight Saga and the other events portrayed as the climax by many, such as the movie Twilight portrays the flight from James and Victoria as the climax, are truly only events used to give Edward’s personality and struggle a way to express itself. This is why I say religion is probably the strongest of underlying themes in this book seeing as Edward’s struggle with himself highlights so many points of it, as well as the outright discussion of it in the latter books in the series, specifically the scene in New Moon when Carlisle explains to Bella the fact that Edward believes becoming a vampire would cause her to loose her soul.
