Melanie Stryder refuses to to fade away. Planet Earth has been invaded by an unseen enemy and humans have become hosts for these unseen creatures. These "souls" come from a distant place and inhabit the bodies of creatures of different planets; the hosts' mind is taken over, but their bodies are still intact and they continue to live their lives apparently unchanged. These "souls" live lives of peace; never fighting, never stealing, never lying. It is unnecessary to take protective measures on Earth while the "souls" inhabit it because of their way of peace. Most of the human race has been taken into this new life style. However there are still a few survivors who are in hiding that have refused to succumb to the "souls". One girl, named Melanie was one of the remaining humans not occupied by an invader. However, while on the run with her brother Jamie, and a man she fell in love with, Jared, to find the safe haven her uncle left behind for her, she is captured. The "soul' that now occupies her her body is called Wanderer. Wanderer is warned of the dangers of living in a human body; the strong emotions and vivid memories could be over whelming. The first few days of Wanderer's existence in Melanie's body goes by without trouble, but soon enough Melanie begins to fight back. Wanderer is at times herself, but at others, Melanie grabs hold of her own conscience and tries to order her body the way she used to. The event of a human being strong enough to fight back is very rare, but Wanderer refuses to give in to Melanie. She hears Melanie's thoughts and often talks to her. Because she is able to see how Melanie feels, she begins to break away from the peaceful life of the souls and tries to find the remaining humans. Also by listening to Melanie's thoughts, Wanderer begins to fall in love with Jared and develops a sisterly love towards Jamie. The two are forcibly allied and as one they make their way to the remaining humans. At first Wanderer is locked up and treated with great caution but eventually proves herself. Both Jared and Jamie had already found their way to this safe haven and at the sight of Melanie, pain is great in them. Jamie learns to trust Wanderer and makes a bond with her, and is able to feel Melanie sometimes, while Jared does not trust Wanderer but at times when Melanie is strongest he can feel her presence and learns to endure Wanderer. While at the safe haven Wanderer comes to make new friends. A man named Ian also begins to fall in love with Wanderer. It is hard for both Melanie who has to be with Ian because of Wanderer, and is hard for Jared because he sees Melanie's body with Ian. In due coarse however, Wanderer attains a body for her own and Melanie is given back her own body. Both Melanie and Wanderer are given a life to live where one is not at the mercy of another.
1. Melanie fights through Wanderer to sometimes gain conscience of her own body. She is strongest when she thinks of Jared and her brother Jamie. Do you think this is because of the strength of her love for these two men, her unwillingness to be taken, or both? Do you think that this shows love is one of the strongest emotions of a human being?
2. Throughout the novel, it is shown that souls lack the intensity of emotions that humans feel. It is also shown that they have a very peaceful way of life. Do you think this shows that human emotions contribute to many of the crimes that occur in the real world?
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1. I think that she fights Wanderer, because of the thought of Jared and Jamie. She doesn't want to be taken, because she would be leavening her loved ones behind. I do think that this is an example of the strength of love. Without the love she feels for both characters she would be taken.
2. I think that human emotions definitely contribute to crime. Think about grievance or revenge of loved ones and how often people act on those emotions.
1. I bet that love is the reason she is strongest when she thinks of them because, as I understand it, Stephanie Meyer is incapable of writing something that is not a "Chick Flick". I think love is the strongest emotion a human can have because it is the only emotion unaffected by bias or conditions.
2. That does make a large amount of sense. Human emotions are violent at times and if these souls' emotions are brought down a level they would very likely be more peaceful. It would make a lot of sense if humans were peaceful without intense emotion. However, I think emotions are getting a bad rap. I would much rather have normal emotions and a lack of peace than have it be the other way around.
Wow, this sounds like a really great book!
1.It is hard to say what is the strongest human emootion, but I think that love, if not being the strongest, definately stands apart as something greater than any other emotion. In every emotion but love, we are thinking of ourselves. We are excited, angry, spiteful, greedy etc. all because of what is happening to US. But we love because of OTHER people, we forget ourselves and think only of the ones we love. For this reason I would say that Melanie's love for the men, coupled with her innner strength, was what helped her fight off the Wanderer. Even when she gave up on herself, she still fought for them.
2. I do think that human emotion is the basis for the crimes in our world. However, I do sort of agree with Brandon, a peaceful, yet bland and uneventful world does not sound much better than the world we live in today. I think that we could live without strong human emotion, but for many, emotion is the reason for living.
1. I think it's both. These two men are her most dearest friends and relatives, and does not want to lose them. Love is probably the strongest emotion, and her love of these two fuels her desire to resist, and to not lose them in the end.
2. Oh human emotions definitely contribute to today's crimes. The emotions of hate, greed, and vengeance all take over people's thoughts to the point where they have to unleash it in some way, usually to hurt the one that caused them pain. If human desires such as revenge or jealousy did not exist, the world would be a much better place.
1. I agree with everyone. Love is one of the strongest emotions, or one of the strongest, a human can feel, and because of her love for Jamie and Jared she fights Wanderer. Even when she knew she could not escape she still fought for those two.
2. I also agree with everyone on this. Emotions contribute to many crimes, such as those like revenge and jealousy. But I also agree that emotion is the reason for living like Brandon and Abby said. I would rather feel and live in a more dangerous place than not feel at all and live at total peace if those were the options. Emotion is what makes a human a human.
1. I think that is a combination of both love and her unwillingness to be taken. Before it was known the souls were taking over Earth, the humans didn't know how to fight back or even what was happening but with Melanie being one of the few survivors she learned how to fight back and overcome Wanderer. Melanie does have a strong love for her brother and the man she meets which is why she fights back. She wants to be there for her brother. Wanderer was weaker when she thought of those two because of her own love for them, allowing Melanie to take control.
1) I think that the portrayal of love as the most powerful emotion was definitely the intention of the author, as Stephenie Meyer is known for this view in many of her books. Generally, I believe that love is as powerful as each individual makes it.
2) I believe that if humans had few intense emotions, there would be little cause for crime. Without love, anger, jealousy, frustration, greed, ect, the reasons for many crime would be taken away, and the thought process would become clearer, leading many to find another way to solve whatever crisis they are experiencing.
1) I think that she fights wanderer because she doesn't want to lose herself and it helps her to fight wanderer when she thinks of Jared and Jamie because these men are a part of her, a strong part of her, that helps her to see herself clearly. Yes i do believe this proves love is the strongest human emotion.
2) yes i do think that human emotion is a strong contribution to crime because the emotion is what drives people to commit a crime
1. I think it does show her love for the two and how strong love can be. I believe that without love, she would not be able to gain control over her own body.
2.Emotion can be both a bad thing, and a good thing. Emotions are what drives humans to do great and also terrible things.
1.I think it is both her love for her friends and her unwillingness to be taken that lets her take control of her body.
2.I agree with Spencer, emotion drives our world, in both good ways and bad.
2. Like a lot of people above, I feel like emotions trigger people to do certain things. THey can be good or bad but when bad it can trigger them to commit crimes.
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