and there is this massive power imbalance here. Not a gender imbalance per se - though, actually, I could go on and on - but the simple fact that Bella does not know who she is, while Edward and Jacob do know who they are (even if all that they know about themselves is "Vampire/Werewolf who does stuff" gives E and J more agency, more power about what they want to do, and what they want to be. Bella has to make all these decisions around these men, while they make their decisions about her around themselves. I - it is a difference that seemed very clear to me, when I was reading the novels.

(I do not remember enough about the Cullens to make a valid point here. So I am just throwing this in, and you can do with it as you please: All those women are vampires, yes? Esme was made a vampire after she left her abusive husband and then almost died - vampirism was a way for her "husband" to give her agency, and of course to maintain a long term relationship with her. The girl with visions was institutionalised, and was again turned in an act of rescue. Rosalie was raped, and then turned - again, an act of rescue, of conferring upon the helpless lovely woman (via the man who then adopted her) agency.

... I cannot make this point very clearly, but I would be very careful how I assumed that these were strong women. These were rescued women, who gained power with the permission of the man who made them the people they are today.

Don't get me started on the monster baby.)