Eternal Romance

The MTV Video Music Awards aired this week and did I not get the memo that we’re back to having boy bands?  FFS.  Thought we grew outta that one.  Speaking of pop teenie type stuff along with the show aired an MTV exclusive clip of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2.  Introducing the clip was the director and cast of the film, with a noticeable absence from actress Kristen Stewart (right).  Hrrrmmm.  Wonder what thats all about.  Despite infidelity rumors (on Kristen’s behalf) actor Robert Pattinson (left) seemed in good spirits.  Though the couple’s non-fictional relationship may be in dire straits at the moment their fictional relationship is quite the opposite.

For those of you who do not know The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 is the concluding film of a series of movies based on romantic novels of the same title.  The series chronicles the life if a young human Bella and her romantic encounters with a vampire (Edward) and a were-wolf (Jacob).  She ultimately falls deeply in love with the vampire (Edward), and marries him, which creates some mildly entertaining dramatic plot points.  The focus of the series however is the deep love connection that blossoms between Bella and Edward, as one of the most important and appealing concepts of the saga is the idea that true love transcends time, as Edward is over 100 years old and yet falls deeply in love with the young human Bella.

What IS true love you ask?  Why, a simple matter of synergistic pairings.  Diametrically opposed inherent mindsets that spark the romantic ideal that we know as true love.  Whether it be ‘Rational and Idealist or ‘Artisan and Guardian, people all around the world find “true love” every single day.  What does a “true love” couple look like?  Let’s take a look.

“The basis of the Idealists and Rationals compatibility is that they both live primarily in the world of abstract concepts–the world of theories and possibilities, of insights and symbols.  After dating more down-to-earth, literal minded Artisans and Guardians, an Idealist’s first encounter with a Rational can be a revelation, putting the NF in touch with a new and intriguing type of person, someone eager and able (like the NF) to dream the world, to build castles in the air, and to see far distances with the mind’s eye.  Also fascinating is the Rational’s calmness and autonomy, two characteristics which give the NT a strength of character—a firm grasp of who they are—that the easily ruffled, soul-searching NF greatly admires, and would like to emulate.” — Please Understand Me II, p. 238

Isabella “Bella” Marie Swan (later Cullen), was born to Charlie Swan and Renée Dwyer on September 13, 1987, and is the main protagonist of the Twilight Saga. In Twilight, she is a 17-year-old girl who transfers schools from Phoenix, Arizona to Forks, Washington to live with her father Charlie, where she meets and falls in love with a vampireEdward Cullen.

“What Idealists wish for in their spouse is a soulmate, a spouse who knows their feelings without being told of them, and who spontaneously expresses words of endearment, words that acknowledge their mates unique identity.  Idealists want the marital relationship to be, as they put it, “deep and meaningful”.  Other types will settle for much less than this.” — Please Understand Me II, p. 146

After falling deeply in love with Edward, Bella constantly pleads with him to turn her into a vampire so they can be together forever.  Indeed Bella possesses an unrelenting energy and passion for their relationship, and fell into a deep depression during their fallout in the second novel.  During such a dark period Bella discovered that she possesses intuitive powers, and can hear Edwards thoughts when she is in danger.  Highly sensitive, extremely empathic, deeply loving, and undeniably intimate Bella Swan is a great example of an Idealist.

“The most important thing to remember about Idealists is this: one and all, they are incurable romantics.  Each type has an abiding hunger, some restless longing that needs to be satisfied each and every day.  Artisans hunger for social impact, Guardians for belonging, Rationals for achievement.  Idealists are not without these other yearnings, but they have much less hold on them than their hunger for romance.  Romance–in the sense of idealized love– is not something which NFs can take or leave; it is vital to their growth and happiness, a nourishment they cannot live without, just as its opposite, the uninspiring, commonplace relationship, is flat and stale and lifeless. — Please Understand Me II, p. 142

Quote1.png Do you think I’ll ever get better at this? That my heart might someday stop trying to jump out of my chest whenever you touch me?Quote2.png  —  Bella Swan

Edward Cullen (born Edward Anthony Masen, Jr., on June 20, 1901 in Chicago, Illinois) is a powerful telepathic vampire and a founding member of the Olympic Coven, as well as a main protagonist of the Twilight Saga.

“Once Rational’s resolve to do something they have in a sense made a contract with themselves, a contract they do not dare go back on.  Indeed, they’re worst fear is that their determination might weaken, their willpower might falter, and that they will fail in their resolve.  — Please Understand Me II, p. 186

Despite Bella’s pleas for Edward to “turn” her, his pragmatic mindset warns him against corrupting something so pure despite developing very strong feelings for her.  In the second book Edward even convinces Bella that he doesn’t love her in an attempt to protect her, as he knows that their relationship puts her in danger.  Indeed the couples’ entire relationship exists only with monumental amounts of self-control on behalf of Edward, as Bella’s scent is irresistible to him, and every second that he is with her his vampiric instincts are telling him to ‘turn’ her.  Highly skeptical of the dark world he lives in, extremely resolute in his concern for Bella, and very pragmatic about their forbidden relationship Edward Cullen makes a fine example of a Rational in love.

“Once Rationals give themselves to a mate, they feel pledged to the relationship — with or without a marriage license.  NTs often have a curious amorality concerning the generally accepted standard of mating behavior.  The rules and formalities of society have little pressure for them, but their own personal standards of conduct certainly do.  Society’s seal of approval means nothing to them, and will be put up with only to please their family or their mate.  What matters to the Rational is individual commitment, and this personal contract is worth all their loyalty.  Being closet romantics, their feelings are just as varied and strong as those of other character types, though again, and more than others, Rationals tend to hold them tightly in check.” — Please Understand Me II, p. 242

Quote1.png Before you, Bella, my life was like a moonless night.  Very dark, but there were stars points of light and reason…And then you shot across my sky like a meteor.  Suddently everything was on fire; there was brilliancy, there was beauty.  When you were gone, when the meteor had fallen over the horizon, everything went black.  Nothing had changed, but my eyes were blinded by the light.  I couldn’t see the stars anymore. And there was no more reason for anything.’Quote2.png —  Edward Cullen

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