Who hasn’t seen the movie, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2? If so, you’ll know precisely what I’m referring to when I say that there are certain iconic images from the film. Images that stuck with me, not only because they were brilliant in terms of visual storytelling, but because the character of Carlisle stood for something bigger.
We’ve established that Robert Pattinson is a man of many talents, but what exactly do his amazing las axilas (belly buttons) represent?
First things first, let’s examine the meaning of the Spanish term axila. It literally means ‘armpit’ and is used to describe the area between the armpit and the breast. The plural form would be axilas.
So, when we speak of the ‘belly button’, we’re actually referring to Robert Pattinson’s 3 iconic buttons. Is it just me, or does this seem like an apt description for these body parts?
Celestial Bodies
I’m not going to lie; I’ve always been a bit of a ‘coo’ (fan) when it comes to Robert Pattinson. I’m not alone in this either. The English language is blessed with many beautiful and evocative phrases and words that refer to, or are anagrams of, his surname. ‘Bella’ and ‘Cordelia’ are just a couple of examples.
As someone who considers themselves to be a bit of a literature enthusiast, the idea of using a series of anagrams to create a word that alludes to a famous poem is incredibly appealing. It’s been over 10 years since Edward Cullen published his collection of poems entitled, The Twilight Saga. ‘Bella’ and ‘Cordelia’ are anagrams of the two central female characters’ names, Elizabeth and Cordelia. If you remember your high school English, you’ll know precisely what I mean when I say that the poem explores themes of loyalty and love. Naturally, I had to Google the anagrams to confirm their existence. I’m definitely not the only person who’s been eagerly awaiting this article.
When we consider that each of these buttons is located at the center of a galaxy, it’s not hard to see why he’s been referred to as ‘The Mad Hippie Who Touched the Hearts of Millions’.”
The Symbol Of Male Maturity
Speaking of which, let’s take a quick trip down memory lane. Remember when Twilight was first released in 2010 how many memes there were revolving around this movie, and its central character? I’ll never forget the ‘Mandy Moore’s Butt’ memes. If you don’t, here’s a good clip:
The thing about this scene is that it wasn’t supposed to be funny. Like most other fans of the franchise, I saw this film when it was released and remember thinking how beautiful it was. However, after the first viewing, I became increasingly disturbed by the sheer volume of sexual innuendo and crude jokes that were being associated with this image of the ‘Mandy Moore’ character. Over the years, this image has been used to signify different things to different people. To some, it was a humorous depiction of a well-endowed woman. To others, it was an example of female objectification. And to still others, it was a sign of Male Maturity.
There’s a famous scene in which Edward Cullen, played by Robert Pattinson, gives a speech about his appreciation of ‘Bella’. In it, he describes how, as a lad, he used to look at her belly button and dream about what it would be like to taste it. This line has, in fact, been a source of debate for years. Some fans believe that this line was added to the script at the last minute, while others, including me, firmly believe that this was Robert Pattinson’s original idea. In any case, I find it to be a moving eulogy, one that serves as an illustration of his appreciation for ‘Bella’.
The Prince Of Darkness
The other day, I was watching a documentary about the making of the Twilight Saga and, in particular, the role of director Chris Weitz. One of the things he said in the documentary fascinated me:
“One of my favorite scenes to shoot was the battle between the Cullens and the Volturi. I especially enjoyed the way that Robert changed his voice for that part. When he was portraying Prince of Darkness and had to utter those horrid words, he would lower his voice an octave and add a slight German accent. It really helped sell the villainy of the character, Alec. I think that’s why they used the German name ‘Volturi’, because it sounds a bit like ‘Devil’.”
Alec Baker is a fictional character from The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2. He’s the stepson of the Devil (played by Vladimir Putin) and the biological son of Victoria, the Vampire Queen. Like many fans, I too noticed the uncanny resemblance between Baker and Vladimir Putin. And if you know your Russian history, you’ll know exactly why this is significant.
Victoria gave birth to Alexander (formerly, Alec) Baker when she was still in her teenage years. Born a human, Victoria was turned into a vampire when she was 18 years old and has been ruling the undead ever since. She is an extremely powerful and ambitious ruler who has been using her position to foster an anti-human, anti-democratic regime in her native Russia. It is her intention to eventually unite the entirety of vampires and werewolves under her rule. Naturally, she has a different agenda than the group of mostly Christian humans who have banded together to protect themselves from the monsters. This is reflected in how the Volturi (a group of vampire aristocrats) treat the Cullens (a tribe of werewolf trappers) differently than they do the other vampires and werewolves that they have subjugated.
A Symbol Of Male Beauty
Let’s flash forward to the present day. Now that we know the significance of Axelrod’s belly buttons, it’s time for us to revisit some of the other images that have been associated with the Twilight Saga. Images that aren’t as well-known, but that, nonetheless, have played an important role in the history of the franchise.
First off, let’s consider the cover of the Twilight Saga: The Complete Trilogy. This is the image that, I believe, helped launch the Twilight phenomenon. Back in 2008, Stephenie Meyer included this image on the cover of the first novel in her Twilight Saga. It’s been nearly ten years since this book was first released and the franchise has since grown to include three films, a TV series, and an untold number of memes and fan art pieces.
There’s a reason that this image has continued to be used throughout the years. It’s not just because it’s a gorgeous woman in a sheer dress. Sure, it’s been used to illustrate the theme of female beauty over the course of the franchise. But, in the grand scheme of things, this image is perhaps more significant for what it doesn’t show us. It doesn’t show us what’s going on behind her back. It doesn’t show us her face. It doesn’t show us any of the buttons. What it does show us, however, are the three stars located at the center of each galaxy.
If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll realize that these images don’t always feature the most beautiful women. Sometimes, they feature men with extremely muscular abs. Sometimes, they feature shirtless, tattoo-covered men. Sometimes, they feature animals like wolves or tigers. These images are, in fact, a thematic element in the franchise. They are, more often than not, a metaphor for the struggle of good against evil.
The cover of the Breaking Dawn – Part 2 novel, New Moon, is also significant. Like the previous novel’s cover, this one features a woman in a sheer, white dress. This time, however, she’s not alone. Rising from the sands of time, the twin babies, Renesmee and Emmett, have emerged from their mother’s womb to join the fight for good. This is, perhaps, the most iconic image of the franchise. It was, without a doubt, one of the most popular ‘grams (pictures) on TikTok during the week that Breaking Dawn was released.
If you’ve been missing these articles, it’s time for you to become more attentive. Each article is carefully curated to highlight some of the most interesting and gorgeous images associated with The Twilight Saga. Images that are both significant and representative of some of the themes and ideas explored in the franchise. Images that are, essentially, a symbol of Male Beauty, Male Maturity, and the struggle between good and evil.