The Twilight phenomena began the moment Stephenie Meyer dreamed up the story of Bella and Edward, and put the dream on paper. Since then, the story has captivated readers all over the world. Pre-teens, teenagers, young mothers, grandmothers, businesswomen, somehow the story has managed to appeal to all ages and types. The story was written for young adults. What many people are wondering, however, is why the story appeals to so many adult women. What is it that draws these women to this teenage romance novel?

Twilight is, in essence, a story of forbidden and impossible love. Edward and Bella have to rise above innumerable obstacles in order to be together. This appeals to women because the main characters have to draw on their hidden strength in order to win this battle. Women do that every day. Whether they are a mother, a housewife, or a businesswoman, they are continually drawing on their inner strength to tackle and solve problems.

Women also see Twilight as an opening for them to return to their childhood. The story somehow has the ability to bring back all the memories of being a teenager. It brings back the memories of falling in love for the first time, and the memories of that first electrifying kiss. They experience again the memory of the longing they felt to spend every waking moment with the object of their love, and the pain they felt when their love wasn’t near.

The memories also go back further, to when these women were little girls, dreaming of finding their prince. The character of Edward is the epitome of perfect. He is Bella’s prince. Edward is handsome, intriguing, mysterious, and has a dangerous aspect that is extremely appealing, but he is also thoughtful, understanding, and, most important, unconditional. He loves Bella for who she is. He doesn’t care if she wears ratty pajamas and wakes up looking like a haystack. He thinks it’s endearing. If she cries or gets upset around him, he doesn’t mind. He loves her anyway. In Bella’s mind she is extremely flawed, but Edward only sees her perfection. What woman hasn’t dreamed of a man who will love her no matter what? Who honestly does not see her flaws? Edward and Bella have a love for each other that is totally unconditional. This love is what women hope for as little girls.

The most intriguing aspect of the novel, however, is Edward’s inner struggle to control his natural vampire urges. Bella’s blood is the single most tempting thing Edward has ever stumbled upon. His first thought when he smells her is that he wants her. He can think of nothing else. So, through most of the novel he is in a constant struggle of willpower over desire. This struggle is the perfect metaphor for the sexual desire of adolescents. Adult women understand and relate to this. Most of them have experienced the struggle at some point in their lives. In fact, most people have experienced this struggle. Stephenie Meyer was able to show the emotions involved with this tumultuous time in a teenager’s life, and to awaken in women a remembrance of this struggle.

Ultimately, Twilight is just another teenage novel. But it appeals to such a broad range of women simply because it is a story every one of them can relate to. It doesn’t matter whether they relate to it through the memories of their childhood, or whether it’s through following the journey of adolescence one more time. The appeal for women is there. They may not understand how or why, but it’s there, and it allows them to relive their past once again.