Ana vs. Bella: I mean really?

Stephenie Meyer has said that Bella is "every girl." The idea was that any girl reading Twilight could see part of herself in Bella. The problem with that theory is that Bella is written with little personality and little interest. She has few hobbies and those she does have are non-descript, quiet, and take little imagination. She was written so average that she became unexceptional. Ana was written with a few of the same background details (two single-parent households, not a lot of money, quiet and loves to read) but beyond that, she has much more depth. She knows what she wants and doesn't want, she has clear ideas of what she wants in a future career. Bella didn't seem to have much interest in college or careers even before Edward. I'm guessing that if she hadn't met and married Edward she likely would have just settled for Jacob since her self-esteem was so low. Ana was only Bella-like through the beginning interview with Christian in the first book. After that, she was more assertive and I believe a case could be made that she was the one who did more pursuing than Christian. Ana went along on the photo-shoot with Kate for the paper. Why? She wasn't on the paper, she had no reason to be there other than to see Christian again. She drunk dialed him from the bar. Yes he over-reacted and showed up to rescue her, but he wouldn't have had she not called. Bella never would have had the balls to call Edward. Edward did the pursuing in Twilight. Those two getting together was all on him. Ana was an active participant. Bella also denies Edward many opportunities to express himself. Ana allows it. If Edward had the hobbies of flying and sailing, Bella would bitch and moan and whine the entire time and refuse to participate because it cost too much money. Ana had those twinges too, but she also saw how happy Christian was when he participated in those hobbies and was willing to try them and learn that she enjoyed them too. Edward's feelings were legitimately hurt because Bella refused him the joy of buying her gifts to celebrate milestones. She was so determined not to be a gold-digger, that she actually hurt his feelings. Ana moved past it and saw the gifts for what they were--not just displays of wealth, but displays of love and affection. The earrings and watch and bracelet had real meaning--deep, loving sentiment from Christian to Ana and they just happened to be expensive. Bella would have just pitched a hissy fit. She accepted, grudgingly, gifts of jewelry that had been in Edward's family, but that was it. And she was a rude little bitch about it. The dance. Ana was apprehensive and unsure about going to the charity ball, but she went and had a great time. Bella acted like a cranky toddler during Prom. It never occurred to her that Edward might actually want to enjoy himself with his girlfriend. He wanted to take her to fancy dinners and go out on the town...to travel and show her places he loved. But no, can't do that because it would cost money. Really? Part of Edward's identity was being rich. He's not supposed to be himself anymore just because Bella isn't used to money? Again she was so worried about being a gold-digger that she turned into a kill joy. Part of being in a loving relationship is allowing your partner to express themselves. Bella never understood that. Ana understood that and let that blossom and bring them closer. I find the biggest writing difference in the two characters as this: Ana is believable as a person, Bella is not. Bella is written as a washed out version of a human. I have a few theories as to how and why that happened. In the final book Bella became a vampire and in that vampire world, you become magnified and so much...more. In order for her vampire self to be so dynamic, her human self needed to be written so dull so the difference would be intensified. The other reason of course was to make her so appealing to a broader audience. Ana was made so specific and defined that every girl won't be able to become Ana in their mind. Kate and Mia (to some extent) were also specifically defined therefore, like "Sex and the City" a girl can almost identify with a specific character. Bella was written differently, in that she is so bland that a reader can kind of turn her into whomever they want. Ana, I think, was stronger and more determined than Bella. Ana was written kind of mousy for the first few chapters, but I don't think that version of her stuck. She puts her foot down and makes herself known quite quickly and she holds her ground throughout. Yes she is occasionally intimidated and yes she is inexperienced, but that's ok and that's believable. Bella is just a hot mess. That's the only way I can describe her. I understand that the characters are 3 years apart in age and post-college vs. high school graduate really is a big gap in maturity and experience, but even at the end of Twilight I find Bella only moderately matured and that's really due to her transformation not due to any great wisdom. Ana is written more as a woman that wants and can have it all. She can have the job she loves at the same time she can have the family she loves. Bella doesn't seem capable of doing anything more than being a wife. I'm just a wife and I'm fine with that, but if you really come down to it, the submissive in these stories is Bella and it isn't Edward who makes her submissive, she does it to herself. He offers her any college experience she could want and she turns it down. Nope, just want to lay in bed and bang my husband for eternity. Ana and Christian may be more creative in their love-making, but Bella is the true sex-obsessed character. Ana was written with a clear identity. She could move into Christian's world and still be who she was because she didn't let it over take her true self. She could wear nice new clothes, get her hair and nails done but still be Ana and not become unrecognizable. Bella refused to even try anything other than becoming a vampire. That she would do, but she seemed incapable of a new wardrobe without completely losing who she was--that's poor character development. Ana is willing to try, anything Bella does, she does grudgingly and with a lot of complaining. I can see how Bella being written as stubborn shows that she keeps to who she is, but the problem is that it just doesn't come off that way when you read it. Ana enjoys seeing that her wearing these new clothes makes her feel sexy and makes her feel closer to Christian, it's not seen as him forcing his will on her. Frankly Bella just never learns that a relationship is a two-way street. Give it a try, you might like it.