Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Jacob – The (Almost) Tragic Hero
Now that we’re all coming down from the Eclipse high, I think it’s time to look at one of the central characters here in more detail. He seems to be strongly polarizing the fandom into different camps, which I find somewhat unfortunate given that he never lives to his full potential. Or rather, he outlives his usefulness as a character. So, in the following I will examine Jacob and his fate within the story.
Jacob almost became the great tragic hero of the Twilight series, but was robbed from it in Breaking Dawn. Aristotle discusses his ideas about tragedy and tragic heroes in his literary theoretic book Poetics, and assigns to them several qualities that we can also easily associate with Jacob: a character of noble stature and greatness yet also flawed and imperfect, someone whose downfall is the result of choice and not malignant fate and with the misfortune not being wholly deserved. Some authors are masters of their treatment of the (tragic) hero’s demise, including Raymond E. Feist, George R. R. Martin and Steven Erikson. I’m not going to spoil your enjoyment here, but for example Feist has several of his main and supporting characters die on and off screen to great emotional effect. It would have been conceivable to have Jacob follow in their footsteps as an almost archetypal tragic hero, but it was not to be.
I found the ending of Eclipse to be absolutely fantastic in its poignancy. There’s this tang of bitter-sweetness in the way Bella delivers the news of her choice to Jacob and his acceptance of his fate and subsequent escape into the wilds. It’s reminiscent of, for example, the ending of Guy Gavriel Kay’s sublime Tigana, whereby the protagonist’s victory is incomplete and stained with a very definite tinge of sadness.
I don’t know if it was Stephenie Meyer caving in to fan feedback about Jacob’s rueful fate or it’s a sign of her relative inexperience as an author that Eclipse was not to be the end of Jacob’s story arc in the series. In my opinion, such an ending would’ve better served to highlight the tragedy that Bella goes through, of having two soul mates and loves that she needs to choose between and the effects of that choice. I wasn’t shocked by the whole zygote loving deal in Breaking Dawn due to its moral dilemmas, but rather because it felt so much like a glued on patch of ‘let’s give Jacob a happy ending of his own’.
However, there are also other tragic ways for Jacob to exit the stage that would have worked equally well at different points of the story. Take for example the fight at the end of Eclipse. I have to admit I was a little disappointed that after all the build-up, Jacob was only moderately injured in the showdown against the newborn. It would have been very devastating, and in a sense also very, very realistic (bad things happen to good people for no reason), had he succumbed to his wounds after saving Leah from the attack. I’m not saying character death is a necessary component for a successful story, but sometimes it works very well to have one of the protagonists written off in a blaze of glory, or in an inconsequential accident almost as an afterthought, to highlight some aspect of the story.
For many the main complaint about Breaking Dawn was that Bella didn’t have to give up anything in the end; she could have her cake (Edward as a husband) and eat it, too (Jacob as a friend, Charlie in the know). That’s why I can just imagine the effect of having Jacob die in Bella’s arms in the aftermath of the fight against Victoria’s newborns.
I’d like to think that my criticism of Jacob’s character arc is based on a broad appreciation of various kinds of literature, from classics to obscure fantasy and science fiction. Hence, I’m not anti-Jacob or Team Edward, rather I’m Team what-would-make-a-good-story-even-better. I guess in that sense I’m a proponent of plot-driven stories; I’m in favor of the author making choices with the characters that lead to the story being more vivid, believable, uplifting, and various other sundry qualities that make for a great read. That doesn’t mean you can’t have strong, interesting characters. It’s just that they ultimately serve the purpose of the story, not the other way around.
Perhaps my biggest criticism is focused, ironically, at the strong, character-driven nature of Twilight. It demands a lot from an author to pull off a character-oriented story so that the evolution of the characters does not come at the expense of the story. In that sense I don’t quite understand the notion of one’s ‘character taking over,’ as Meyer explains Jacob’s evolution, and thereby changing the course of an already plotted out set of events. Of course, this is perhaps also in part me as a reader trying to cast Twilight into a mold it was never meant to fit into in the first place. A story written for one’s own enjoyment as a literary exercise and then grown organically outwards is a different beast from a meticulously researched, epic story based on a different set of themes like the works by Tolkien or Kay.
Some of you might be wondering why I’m dissing the way Jacob’s story was handled, and by extension Stephenie Meyer’s authorship, when I profess to like the Twilight series. Well, in my opinion you can like something and yet think some aspects could have been handled better. While sycophantic applause can be nice, I suspect most authors are more delighted by thoughtful criticism of their work.
What did you think about the way Jacob’s story unfolded in Eclipse and Breaking Dawn? Could it have been improved? We’ve got a whole section dedicated for discussing the books and the upcoming movie adaptations, so come on and join the party!
he should have ended up with Leah, hate the renesme/jacob imprint.
same here. . . when i imagine it. . . ugh. . .when u first read BD i thought there was something between him and leah. . but oh well, at least he's happy.
I agree with both Anon 12:25 && 1:53
Jacob should have been with Leah they both suffered from unrequited love. They both loved people who were already in love with someone else.. I think they could have helped eachother heal. I think SM is a great author but I totally agree with you [Kerensky] about how you can like something but still feel some aspects could have been handled better. I not only feel that way about the books but the movies as well [but thats a whole other topic]. In Eclipse I really think SM should have made Jacob just accept that Bella was going to be with Edward and that was it. If Jacob was a real friend as long as she was happy he should have been happy. Edward did leave Bella and he was there for her in [new moon] but I think in Eclipse it was just like he was running a guilt trip on Bella. Basically like 'hey I was there for you when he wasn't..you owe me by leaving him to be with me.' But when you're in love no matter what happens right or wrong,you have to learn to forgive and make it work and if it doesn't work then let go. Jacob basically forced Bella to see him differently and thats what I hated. To me the best part about Breaking Dawn was the ending [literally I was relieved that it was over]. I hated the whole imprinting thing with Renesmee I understand that wolves 'cant control' it but it's like come on just because he couldn't have Bella he gets to have her daughter ? that was really insane and after that I didn't really want to finish the book but I did and I was disappointed..really dont think i'll enjoy the movie when it comes out but who knows..maybe I will.
sorry for such a long post but once someone asks a question like that I have to give a DETAILED answer.
I am totally agreeing with you that Jacob's story should have ended with Eclipse or at least not continue to be a central story in BD. It was a big stretch, a petch up, which did nothing to improve, on the contrary, it diminished the flow of the entire story. In my opinion BD would have been perfect as a mirror of Twilight: it started with Bella and Edward, it should have ended (the whole book) evolving around them. I never viewed Jacob as an equally important character as those two and thus I didn't see his role in BD as necessary.
Totally agree with you. My major problem with Breaking dawn was exactly what you voiced here; the fact that Meyer didn´t seem to want/have the guts to have anything but a completely happy ending for all. A bit anticlimactic to say the least. And as for Jacob…well, like you said, he didn´t have to die lol but he could´ve imprinted on someone else at the very least…
Well..Jacob deserved a happy ending. And i find it kind of annoying that people are always trying to fit Jacob in with Bella even AFTER she chose Edward. Uhh…does it occur to you people that HE BELONGS WITH RENESMEE??!!? It's like she doesn't exist or something. IT makes me sick. And what is wrong with Jake imprinting on Renesmee?? It all makes sense…i mean think about it. That's why he's so desperately attracted to Bella. oh my gosh…i don't understand the problem with that. That's the story and people need to accept it, not re-write it.
You are right about Jacob's character really missing his mark. I was all for him dying in battle for two reasons. One, it would go along with SM's action and consequence theme. Jacob went off to battle after using it to get a kiss from Bella. He got the kiss, went off to battle with his arrogance and smugness, and then if he would have gotten killed Bella would have had to deal with the situation in a way that she didnt before. Two, it seemed like once Bella chose, SM didnt know what to do with Jacob. He couldnt just bow out gracefully and instead became a character that by BD made you go….now what.
I am one of the readers who wanted Jacob and Leah together because they worked together. There were subtle hints that could have made them a great couple. The way they argued and yet had a respect for each other. The way Leah was annoyed with Bella and the whole situation and of course the obvious happy ending aspect. Leah and Jacob could have gotten a happy ending without SM having to bring in a creepy imprinting situation. It would have created a flow that made the reader see that it all worked out in the end but instead it left me with tons of questions since SM talked a lot about fate and so forth….what did that mean for Bella and Jacob? Was Jacob destined to imprint on a baby? Wouldnt that mean that the triangle was all for nothing? At least with Jacob being with Leah…another bitter character over a triangle of her own….it would have been more believable and yes, even fantasy should be believable to some extent. I didnt believe SM's writing of Jacob and his ending really just made me disgusted. SM's explanation is nothing but another reason to question her writing and experience in general.
I am Team Edward, I like Jacob. I see how important he is in Bella's life.
He suffers a great deal, just try to imagine his pain for a second.
I think his role in BD is important. Bella trusts him with Nessie's life, after all he was ready to make a run with her if things turned bad at the final "battle" with the Volturi.
So, Nessie was the key. Fate made them close because Nessie was going to be part of his future.
I agree the whole imprinting thing is a bit creepy if you don't get that his role was to protect her until she grows old enough to be with him romantically speaking.
I am glad he got his happiness at the end. Damn he sure deserved that, his pain when Bella dies was very palpable IMO. That's one thing Edward and Jacob shared, their undeniable love for her.
Point taken about Jacob story line, but one small detail from New Moon suggests that SM intended all along to keep Bella's 'world' intact, and perhaps more 'real': Quil imprinted on a 2 yr old, and got lots of ribbing from 'the boys' for it.
I wonder if Jacob serves more than as a foil for Edward. Despite the fantasy overlay, he keeps it real: he infuses humor, genuine, self-sacrificing love(he can really die), and a bit of the unexpected- a good thing if one dares to imagine beyond the frozen-in-time fairy tale 'forever.'
Meyer's emphasis upon the 'community' of humans,vampires and werewolves that Bella helps forge in the end is another kind of heaven, but with its feet on the ground, thanks to Jacob.
Question: In the study of literature, isn't there a clear distinction between 'epic' and 'fairy tale?' I wonder if the happily ever after ending isn't tempered by some loose threads that would help elevate the story to more epic proportions.
1. Though Jacob's future with Nessie is assured, the possibility of their 'forever' can still be tempered by his freedom to choose his destiny, again and again. He and his individual pack members can still choose to let go of their wolf status and revert to being fully human, if they wish. They can still chose to age, and die. That would certainly put one dent in a fairy tale forever.-And while Nessie's future appears to be forever, that particular thread is not absolutely certain. (Here, I am thinking of Aragorn's embracing of his full humanity in his choosing to die in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings Appendices).
2. Leah is still alone. How will she chose to live? She appears to come to some peace as a part of something larger than herself- Jacob's pack, and the growing vamp-wolf-human community. But now that Jacob has Nessie, Leah still remains alone, and hauntingly so.
Is it possible in the context of a (sometimes) mawkishly romantic tale where everyone ends paired up (think Charlie and Sue) for an individual to be at peace with remaining single? Is that ever more than just OK?
3. Edward and Bella: forever appears to be heavenly, but now that Bella has attained 'equal' status with Edward, and can share her feelings with him, and is perfectly balanced, stronger, and yet still her.. self, what kinds of arguments might they have? How will they be resolved? HOw will she deal with the 'forever' of eventually losing her parents? (Note: Edward holds on to tokens of his mother's presence, but her absence does not haunt him…)Immortals or not, they remain humanly imperfect, just like the ancient pantheon of Greek gods and goddesses. They are still subject to the all-too-human emotions that can help keep them 'human.' -But only if they dwell within these emotions; face them openly, sometimes painfully, but also with hope. On the other hand, there remains the possibility that they might eventually become frozen in time, as Edward once was, unchanging, unaltered…and boring. In my experience, that is not heaven. It is hell.
Just wondering…
Yeahh …The leah thing is really nice!And renesme is gonna live forever.I mean forever,forever!!Jacob's not!I am look at billy.He is 50 something now.But they couldnt cz leah said that nobody can imprint her bcz she cant make kids.I feel really bad for leah!!I dont feel bad for jacob,cz his behavior made me hate him.I really dont like the imprinting on Renesme thing.I mean comm'on.You are imprinting on your ''lover's'' babyy..???Bella should have cut his head forr that!!
One thing that made me really interested in SM's thought process and if she would make another after BD is because at the end of BD when Nahuel is still there, Edward makes the comment that if Jacob knew Nahuel's thoughts he would be pissed. Nahuel and Renesmee are the same breed so they are going to be able to connect with that rareness in common once she grows up. Plus when Bella found out about Quil and Clair she asked if that meant Clair didnt have a choice and Jacob said she did but why would she choose differently. All of that could play a huge role in Renesmee and Jacob's future. Imprints dont have to be tied to their wolf. The wolf will be anything that is needed, even just a friend no matter what if it makes them happy. While SM did give the whole happily ever after vibe, she did leave clues that maybe it wont come together so perfectly. Renesmee will grow up and she does have a choice in who she is and what she wants even if Jacob imprinted on her. She doesnt have to choose Jacob and if she is anything like her parents, she will think long and hard about what everything means, Jacob imprinting, his past with her mother, etc so I could definitely see a change of paths in the future.
As for Bella and Edward, not so much. They went through their hell to be together and survived it all including a wolf trying to get between them as much as possible. Jacob constantly pointed out flaws in their relationship but it didnt matter. They know their flaws and still love each other. If anything their love is one of those not to be messed with because it could have easily fallen apart several times but didnt. So with Edward and Bella, their relationship would transform but not into a hell, but a true eternity of love together just like the other Cullen mates. SM gave Rosalie and Jasper horrific backstories and Esme's was tragic as well but when they found their mates, they were able to cling to them and love them unconditionally. Their bonds make it all worth while even Rosalie who didnt want Bella to change but if it was such hell Rosalie wouldnt be with her family or Emmett. She would go to Volterra to have them end her. She wouldnt do that because of her love for them. Edward took the longest time but he found his mate and with Bella he will have true happiness not a cynical fate where they one day say…you know what this isnt what I thought it would be. Mates are not humans. They dont have that fickled response to love. Vampire mates are forever and even evil Victoria proved that. She raised hell just to avenge her love for James, her mate.
About possible "after stories" …
Ah. Forgot about Nahuel. Interestingly, Edward also notes that N. stares at Bella because of his acute sense of loss over his own mother- not at Nessie.
Also, SM injects a small element of 'real' science in BD, and she has Carlyle note that Jacob and Nessie both have 24 chromosomes, while humans have 23, and vampires have 25. So there's one argument for the Jacob/ Nessie connection. But wait! The same would hold true for Leah and Nahuel, right? So we have 4 characters who might mix and mingle in various configurations…Hmm. I can see the title now: " Nessie and Jacob and Leah and Nahuel…"
As for the Jacob/ Nessie 'gross' storyline, I can 'suspend my disbelief' over the age difference, and from my 'older' perspective argue that 7 years is not that long, compared to a lifetime of alone-ness. Meanwhile, in the Quil storyline, Jacob patiently explains to Bella that the connection to 'his' two-year-old is an innocent one: Quil is a guardian/ protector, NOT a predator! Same would hold true for Jacob and his love for Nessie- as a child.
I would love to read a chapter/ book(?) on how Nessie's own understanding of Jacob is eventually transformed, from protector to lover, once she is fully grown. And how might Jacob learn to 'let go' of his hard-earned title of guardian, so as to allow Nessie to be in full, honest and truly adult relationship?(Happened in Jane Eyre, didn't it?- as well as with Edward and Bella!)
But I digress…Perhaps the most telling connection SM makes between Jacob and Nessie is how often she refers to Jake as "My Jacob." Those millions of steel cables that attached him to Nessie the newborn, while she was still in Rosalie's arms, have got to mean something, right?
Still, the possibility of a new triangle is an intriguing one, and one that worked (sorta)in our Twilight saga.
Now about the theme of death/ immortality…I wonder if one of the reasons the Cullens (aka 'Cold Ones'- get it?) are so open to Bella, pretty much from the beginning, is that she injects something refreshing and new in all their lives – not just Edward's. She is fragile; needs protection; can get hurt, and die- be lost to them all,forever! Both Nessie and Jacob already have that same impact in BD, precisely because they CAN and DO grow, and change- and can die/ be killed.
****
On a lighter note, having been introduced to so many more characters in Breaking Dawn, I have imagined titles to a series of additional stories: "Bella and Edward Go to Alaska,"(Can Tanya keep away from Edward???) " … to South America…,"(Nessie's first crush?) and "Volterra Revisited" where those deliciously mixed-motive Volturi still lurk.
In addition, what might Bella learn at Dartmouth, when she eventually gets there (once Nessie is grown and either back at the reservation, or also a student with one hunk of a husband!) Again, the appeal is not so much in the fantastical characters, as it is in the very human challenges that are at the heart of any really good story.
Hmmm. I wonder if it is the irrefutable truth of death-as-a reality in our own lives that helps keep life itself fresh and precious for most of us…
When I was reading all of these comments and analytical thoughts, I thought of an interview SM did years ago when someone asked her about the deeper meanings and so forth and she looks at the person like they are crazy before saying that people just read too much into it. She didnt have this epic symbolic story planned out like some writers do. She had a dream and wanted to share it with others. There isnt some epic essential underlying meaning that should be compared to other works because she never intended for it to be more than what it is at face value. I always wonder what dead writers and poets who get their stuff analyzed would say about some of the findings. I am sure at least a few would say…seriously it isnt that deep. The thing about literature is that people can always dig and dig to the point of reaching for truths but at the end of the day it is just a fantasy romance that started because of a dream. I doubt SM even considered half of the theories and concepts people have inflicted on the saga. We could all probably come up with some insane theories and find our own personal reasons why they should make sense but let's face it, SM had no intention of it becoming some epic story.
Great post. I don't agree with everything because as you know, I like the story as written. Well, most of it anyway. However, I like it when you get all academic on us
Thanks to you both! Truth is, I like the story so much, I have been struggling to "detach" from its profound impact on me, hence the academic comments :>D !! Still, stories have power because they lift us out of our own lives long enough to help us recognize where our own joys, and challenges, and beliefs lie. Me? I want a little more Edward in my own life! Thanks for providing a valuable (and sane) place to truly discuss…
I have to agree with you Kerensky. I wish Jacob's story ended in Eclipse. Bella chose..there was no need for her to have him narrate an entire section of the 4th book. I don't know if we needed to kill him off..cause i would then feel that it would look like she settled for Edward cause Jacob was gone…but he needed to move on. When I read BD the first time, I thought Jacob and Leah were going to end up together…and i thought that would have been a great route to go…2 people that lost their loves to others…finding solace in each other. I find the imprinting on Renessmee a bit creepy..lol..and I think SM felt like she needed to give Jacob a happy ending with Bella still in his life…cause she felt obligated to the character. Don't get me wrong, I loved BD…but wished that Jacobs book…was either still in Bpov..or even in Epov since it was in fact his wife and child. At moments we seemed to lose edward in BD to make room for jacob…when he had no business being there. Well thats my 2 cents..lmao Great job with the post Kerensky!
You made few very interesting points!! But there are some thing I must disagree with you…Frist, I hate the character Jacob not because I am Team Edward, but he is a down right annoying prick!! I just don't see his appeal…sorry. So I should be happy that someone wants him to DIE…but i think by grading him the glory of death, to die as a hero, only turn Bella to a complete b***h if she continues to live happily ever after with Edward in Breaking Dawn…so it's never gonna work.
what i think is really werid is he is worried he is taking things away from bella though the whole series and know she has everthing she could want charlie edward jacob a child everthing she was prepared to lose she get to keep it even right away having fellings for edward that good but it just broght me up short that she was prepared to lose so much and not really giving anything up. i think that jake should have came to the wedding and left not to come back agian or come in contact with bella so he could move on with his life! and now it all twisted and weird and i don't know who gonna play the baby but i hope it's a green screen baby.