Book Talk: Jacob and the blood suckers
Spoiler Warning: This book club discussion question reveals important details about New Moon by Stephenie Meyer. Finish the book before reading on.
This week I thought we could delve into the psyche of Jacob. I personally love this character. He’s very complex. I know he doesn’t garner a lot of love from some people but I have to say I wouldn’t mind having him for a best friend.
So here is this weeks question:
Do you think Jacob’s hatred of Edward and the Cullens as vampires is justified, considering they don’t hunt or hurt people?
I think this is a tricky question. Part of Jacob’s hatred of the Cullens is ingrained in his very existence as a werewolf. His primal being is naturally predatory and vampires are his prey. His rational human side could over come that based on their diet IF it weren’t for his prior relationship with Bella after Edward left. I think if Jacob had met Edward and the Cullens separate from Bella and developed a relationship with them outside of her he wouldn’t have had a problem with them outside of his natural pre-disposition. But since that’s not the case and Jacob made his friendship with Bella first and that friendship was rooted in the fact that Edward left her in such a harsh way, I think it’s unavoidable that Jacob hates the Cullens. A good friend wouldn’t do anything less.
What do you think?
Tags: Book talk, cullen, Jacob Black, New Moon, Stephenie Meyer, TTIC, Twilight, Twilight Tuesday Inspiration Challenge, Vampires, werewolf
Book Talk Thursdays | 
Jen | May 14, 2009
By kelly, May 14, 2009 @ 9:15 am
You hit the nail on the head! I love Jacob! He was exactly what Bella needed when Edward left. I think she kinda led him on, but i totally understand why she did it.
Jacob is the best kind of friend.
Yes, I think that Jacob and Edward might have been friends if it weren’t for the way Edward left Bella. All that matters in the end, is that they both have her best intrests at heart. They both love her and I was so glad to know they eventaully they would be one big happy family! Renesmee shold turn out with the same “heart” as Bella because that is her child. Renesmee and Jacob will be happy together!…at least in my world!!!Hopefully, Stephanie Myer will write that story soon. I desperatly want to read it!
Kelly
jacquie/momofour26 Reply:
May 14th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Wouldnt that be nice if she continued the books, she could easily pull many more books out of the series!!!
jacquie/momofour26’s last blog post..A new friend and an award!
Jen Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 5:32 am
We are going to explore the idea that Bella lead him in on a future question. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on that!
I hope she continues the story. She left lots of room for more books and I hope she gets Midnight Sun finished soon.
Jen’s last blog post..the post where my head spins around and smoke comes out my ears
By Erica Johnson-Wanzer, May 14, 2009 @ 10:24 am
I am revamping Breaking Dawn right now, so I am trying to step back to New Moon, so forgive me if I talk about further stuff.
I think that Jacob’s hatred stems more from his jealousy and heartache for Bella than his werewolf nature. Take for instance when he discusses the Cullens in Twilight. He states it matter-of-factly than with any real hatred. Granted, he wasn’t a wolf at the time, but still.
I think that being the friend Jacob is, he is going to be defensive of Bella because he doesn’t want to see her get hurt again. Also, remember New Moon is from Bella’s perspective, so while you know she is hurting, he witnessed what it really did to her, even when Bella tried to be strong…he knew.
I love the Jacob character, especially as he grows in Eclipse and Breaking Dawn (especially the 3rd book of Breaking Dawn). I like his spirit. I also think that he is young and can be immature and that might also have something to do with his distaste for the Cullens.
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jacquie/momofour26 Reply:
May 14th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
I took me 2 times through new moon and 2 times through breaking dawn to like jacob…i knew how he was but Stephenie’s writing of his POV just didnt sit right with me at first, but now I appreciate him and like him a bit…shhhhh
jacquie/momofour26’s last blog post..A new friend and an award!
Jen Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 5:34 am
Me too. I did not like him the first time through but after forcing myself to read NM again I had a much greater appreciation for his character.
Jen’s last blog post..the post where my head spins around and smoke comes out my ears
By Cece, May 14, 2009 @ 12:36 pm
Since we are talking about Jacob this week I thought that this blog post was right on topic. It is a Twilight Widower blog page and the guy who writes it is giving props to Jacob. Enjoy!
http://twilightwidower.blogspot.com/2009/05/jacob-black-honourary-widower.html#links
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jacquie/momofour26 Reply:
May 14th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
I saw that! So funny!
jacquie/momofour26’s last blog post..A new friend and an award!
Jen Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 5:39 am
That is hilarious! I’m going to have to send that to my husband.
Jen’s last blog post..the post where my head spins around and smoke comes out my ears
By jacquie/momofour26, May 14, 2009 @ 1:21 pm
I agree Jen! I think the only way I can think of Jacob and Edward being civil is in Stephenie Meyer’s world, look at Underworld, bitter enemies even to their own fathers, no choice in that. Werewolves and Vamps ingrained ememies, Both creatures would have to have some kind of bond before there transformations…on that note, Edward having the years of experience being a good vamp and dealing with werewolves of the earlier generations he had a calm and intelligent outlook over the “new” werewolves. It does seem that in a different situation without Bella Sam and carslile would uphold the treaty between wolf and vamp for as long as their exsistence. With the Jacob, Bella, Edward triangle that changes Jacobs emotions and especially in the time Jacob is first changing, this to me alters Jacobs whole transformation, engrains Bella in it. SO then Bella becomes the driving force behind his hatred for Edward. This was quite an expected outcome in the books for me and I think Stephenie’s writing in these books makes sense especially in the “teen” genre and thats how my best friend used to act with all my boyfriends always finding things wrong with them while never giving up the fight of having me…great topic jen!
jacquie/momofour26’s last blog post..A new friend and an award!
Jen Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 5:41 am
Great comparisons! I think what I’ve learned from this question is that the entire mess is just Bella’s fault.
If she would have left Edward to the rest of us their would never have been any problems. 
Jen’s last blog post..the post where my head spins around and smoke comes out my ears
jacquie/momofour26 Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 8:15 am
You are sooo right!!!
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By Cece, May 15, 2009 @ 11:10 am
I think that Jacobs hatred towards Edward is justified, the rest of the Cullen’s get a bad rap just by association. This all of course stemming from when Edward left, which is where we really get to know Jacob. I believe that his hate towards Edward just shows how much he felt for and loved Bella. She thought of him as her best friend and even though he wanted more out of the relationship (and tried a couple of times) he was willing to settle for that position. I do not take the view that it was werewolf against vampire because in reality Jacob and his tribe were actually shape-shifters even though he categorized himself as a werewolf. I also do not believe that he actually hated the Cullen’s for what they were but just was honoring his loyalty to his tribe and the Peace Treaty that they had agreed on. All the anger that Jacob felt towards Edward came from Edward leaving Bella and causing her to go through all the pain that he himself witnessed and helped her get through. I love Jacob for the role he played in Bella’s life because I at one time had a best friend who did the same for me, and who settled to be second in my heart. Bella would not have made it through her tough time without Jacob by her side and I believe that he has a right for all the hostility that he directed at Edward upon his return. The best Jacob part to me(not too sure which book it was in) was when he was thinking of how empty, lonely, sad, and hurt Bella was when Edward had left and Edward was having to listen to his thoughts. I think that it may have been a low blow, but it is something that I would have wanted someone to do for me simply because I would never have had the courage to say and relive to the person who put me through it exactly how I felt when they left.
Cece’s last blog post..TTIC #30 "The Ballet Studio"