Female Vampires In Twilight
Here's a new discussion topic. I'm wondering what everyone thinks about gender roles among VAMPIRES in Twilight. I am not talking about gender issues with Bella when she's human. That's different. I'm talking specifically about female vampires.
Some questions to ponder:
1. Are female vampires as strong as male vampires?
SM has an FAQ about strength in which she discusses how there are many factors that affect the strength of vampires. There is age (newborns versus mature vampires), feeding habits (humans make you stronger, feeding recently makes you stronger), and also natural strength (like Emmett). Which might lead me to believe that male vampires, like humans, are usually stronger than females when it comes to pure physical strength. Of course, a body-builder female turned vamp could kick a wimpy guy's butt. You get the idea.
We do get to see a couple of kick-ass, powerful female vampires. Alice and Jane are two of my favorite characters from the books for that reason. But they both have POWERS that make them strong. Bella too, once she is vamped. But I can not think of a female vampire without a power that we get to see as strong.
I think Maria got all of her power from sheer manipulation and brain-washing. She used her intelligence and ability to control people to be strong.
2. Do you think that vampire men and women hold onto gender standards from their time?
We know that vampires rarely change. They stay sort-of frozen in time. Which makes me wonder about this. The Volturi wives are not fighters or rulers, but princesses kept in a tower. The Volturi are OLD and their values seem very old.
What about more modern couples? James and Victoria for example?
This has all been leading me to my real question, question 3.
3. Why does Maria decide to start turning female vampires in her army?
Jasper specifically says that Maria was only turning males when she turned him. She wanted soldiers. And yet we know Charlotte was turned and in the army. Why the change?
Part of me wonders if women might have been used to keep the newborns satisfied, if you will. Although that would seem to cause only more fighting.
It's just an odd thing to change your mind about, and I'm very curious about everyone else's opinion on it.
********
I've been role-playing Peter with Pinkowitch's Charlotte and Jasper. It has been SO much more fun that I would have guessed. I might see if I can find a board that needs a Peter for actual role play.
Some questions to ponder:
1. Are female vampires as strong as male vampires?
SM has an FAQ about strength in which she discusses how there are many factors that affect the strength of vampires. There is age (newborns versus mature vampires), feeding habits (humans make you stronger, feeding recently makes you stronger), and also natural strength (like Emmett). Which might lead me to believe that male vampires, like humans, are usually stronger than females when it comes to pure physical strength. Of course, a body-builder female turned vamp could kick a wimpy guy's butt. You get the idea.
We do get to see a couple of kick-ass, powerful female vampires. Alice and Jane are two of my favorite characters from the books for that reason. But they both have POWERS that make them strong. Bella too, once she is vamped. But I can not think of a female vampire without a power that we get to see as strong.
I think Maria got all of her power from sheer manipulation and brain-washing. She used her intelligence and ability to control people to be strong.
2. Do you think that vampire men and women hold onto gender standards from their time?
We know that vampires rarely change. They stay sort-of frozen in time. Which makes me wonder about this. The Volturi wives are not fighters or rulers, but princesses kept in a tower. The Volturi are OLD and their values seem very old.
What about more modern couples? James and Victoria for example?
This has all been leading me to my real question, question 3.
3. Why does Maria decide to start turning female vampires in her army?
Jasper specifically says that Maria was only turning males when she turned him. She wanted soldiers. And yet we know Charlotte was turned and in the army. Why the change?
Part of me wonders if women might have been used to keep the newborns satisfied, if you will. Although that would seem to cause only more fighting.
It's just an odd thing to change your mind about, and I'm very curious about everyone else's opinion on it.
********
I've been role-playing Peter with Pinkowitch's Charlotte and Jasper. It has been SO much more fun that I would have guessed. I might see if I can find a board that needs a Peter for actual role play.