Breaking Dawn

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of sexual content and death.

“No one is staring at you, I promised myself. No one is staring at you. No one is staring at you.”

The repetition of the phrase “no one is staring at you” in the first lines of the novel emphasizes the anxiety and self-consciousness with which Bella struggles. These traits are further emphasized throughout the first part of the novel, as she battles with feeling she’s not good enough for Edward, comparing herself negatively to the other women in her life.

“I shook my head. The friendship that had sprung up between Edward and Seth was something that still boggled my mind. It was proof, though, that things didn’t have to be this way. The vampires and werewolves could get along just fine.”

Bella’s thoughts about Seth and his attendance at her wedding introduce a conflict that has been present throughout the series: the wolves versus the vampires, pointing to the novel’s thematic interest in Overcoming Prejudice and Ignorance. Bella remains adamant that the wolves and vampires can get along, noting that it’s their ignorance and stubbornness that prevents them from doing so.

“They were frozen at whatever level of development they’d achieved before being bitten. Adorable two-year-olds with dimples and lisps that could destroy half a village in one of their tantrums. If they hungered, they fed, and no words of warning could restrain them. Humans saw them, stories circulated, fear spread like fire in dry brush.”

Bella’s memory of Carlisle telling her about the immortal children foreshadows the central conflict in the book—the fight to protect Renesmee. His warning emphasizes the fear that came from these children, providing context for why there will be so much hostility and fear of Renesmee later in the text.