Throughout the course of Eclipse, the third installment of the Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer, Bella Swan is faced with numerous life-changing choices. This particular novel in the series catches the eye of critics and reviewers internationally for its "thrills, chills, and [lots] of romance" (Rouyer) and they find that it explores more mature themes in comparison with the previous novels. In general, Eclipse is a novel that delves more into the dramatic love triangle between Bella, Edward Cullen, and Jacob Black, and who she chooses. Along with this comes the decision to marry Edward or not which is immediately related to her obsession with being changed into a vampire (much to the disapproval of Edward, and much to the approval of the Volturi) like her beloved Cullen's; this obsession begins in the first novel of the saga not long after she discovers that Edward is in fact a vampire. The readers are in a constant state of wondering with regards to Bella as she is constantly torn between decisions that not only change the plot of the novel, but also her own character.
Bella's choice to be turned into a vampire or to remain human is a reoccurring dilemma that the "human" (Eclipse, 75) protagonist faces throughout the novel, as well as the entire saga. This particular theme in the novel has been a never ending tug of war between Bella and Edward who wants nothing more than for her to hold on to her mortal lifestyle, though she would much rather spend an eternity with him. Bella is drawn to the supremacy that comes with becoming a vampire. The physical advantages are equally as appealing such as pristine beauty, an eternity of youth, and being "a little more durable" (Eclipse, 274). As graduation day draws nearer, she begins to consider what she will lose when she is no long human, such as her "human [experiences]" (Eclipse, 345); she is "afraid [she will] be so preoccupied with the mayhem that [she] won't be [herself] anymore" (Eclipse, 442).
