OMG she totally stole that apple from Adam and Eve!!!
The thing about stories is, if you boil them right down to the basics there are only so many. These days you would be very hard pressed to find a basic idea that has never been touched, so is everyone who wasn't the first a thief? I believe it is not the basic idea that makes a story original, it's everything you pile on top of that. How it unfolds, character's personalities, writing styles. These are what make a story your own. Obviously there is a line you can cross between similar story and stolen story though. I'm just not always convinced that in Twilight's case it's the clear cut stealing people make it out to be. Especially since the things used as evidence often seem less like vital and previously unique plots and more like quite basic plot or character issues.
Here is an example of how easy it can be to paint an idea as exactly the same if you strip away the fleshing out. What popular story does the following describe?
The main character's name is in the title. Main character is a sometimes reluctant hero, thrown into the role of champion by fate not choice. Their role as hero can make them feel isolated. Though sometimes resenting their fate the main chara can't help but be a hero. The main characters are a trio of friends who met through their school. One of the trio has red hair. One is known for her intellect. Best male friend is comic relief, who can sometimes be unreasonable or selfish but cares about his friends and always eventually comes through. Has a poorer family than the other two who he is sometimes ashamed of. Main female friend's family is featured less than that of the other two. At some point in the series has a crush on the main male friend. At some point in the series they begin dating.
Did you think I meant Harry Potter? Or Buffy the vampire slayer? Because that description is accurate to both of them. Did J. K Rowling ever copy Joss Whedon? Did Joss Whedon ever copy J. K. Rowling? Of course not. When those two stories are fleshed out they become very different. With characters following different paths, a widely different writing style and tone and two very unique tales. As soon as you stop looking at just the basics BTVS and Harry Potter are extremely different, but it's easy to manipulate the facts to make it seem like they are pretty much the same if you want to.
I think in some cases the same thing happens To Meyer. Just because it's possible to make things sound the same doesn't mean they are the same. They can have similar basic characters or events, but that doesn't necessarily make one a copy of the other. So maybe next time you are tempted to accuse Meyer of ripping of a story you like better it might help to think 'do I actually think this is a stolen idea, or does it just serve my dislike of Stephenie Meyer to act like it is?' because the best way to ensure our opinions are worth listening to, whether they're pro or anti, is to make sure they are obviously based on logic not bias. I am completely anti myself, but the fact that I personally dislike the way she interpreted a story does not take away her right to do so without being called a thief.
Like I said, I'm not familiar enough with all the book I've heard her accused of ripping off to say for sure. This is just based on the ones I know.
Er, that was pretty pro for me. Let me get my anti-ness off my chest....er....grrr....sparkles.....overuse of the word 'glower...grrrrr. That's better, back to my old anti self, lol.
