Civilized Vampires Vs Savage Werewolves Summary

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In the article, “Civilized Vampires Versus Savage Werewolves: Race and Ethnicity in the Twilight Series,” Natalie Wilson compares the physical appearance and qualities of the two main character groups in the Twilight series, and how they represent a much deeper issue of class and racial inequality. First, Wilson compares the physical traits of Edward Cullen and the vampires, who are extraordinarily beautiful and have pale white skin, to the traits of Jacob Black and the werewolves who have copper skin, dark features, and look animalistic. Wilson also compares their personalities, the vampires being intelligent and well behaved, and the werewolves who are irrational and hostile. The two are further compared by their wealth. Edward has a seemingly endless supply of funds, lives in a mansion, drives a nice car, and wears sophisticated clothing, where Jacob lives in a small house, drives an old car, and wears tattered clothes. Wilson uses this collected information to bring to light the undercurrent of white privilege that is displayed throughout the Twilight series. It is also important to note, that in the story, Bella Swan a white teenage girl, is caught in a love triangle between Jacob and Edward. …show more content…

White privilege is defined as “The differences in power between white people and people of color, including the advantages white people automatically take for granted and the apparent disadvantages for minorities” (McFeeters). Wilson makes the connection between Peggy McIntosh’s idea of white privilege as “an invisible weightless knapsack of special provisions, maps, passports, codebooks, visas, clothes, tools and blank checks,” to Bella’s remarkably similar backpack full of supplies, made available to her by her connection to white vampire privilege. Wilson suggests that the story encourages readers to covet unearned privileges rather than question

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