...was that power for the Cullens is seen not as something they could have as human beings.

Edward, by the way, was dying of the Spanish flu when Carwhatsit took pity on him and turned him, right? <checks with you on IM> This is still a very different story from "abused, lost a baby, dying", "stuck in a madhouse, stalked" and "betrayed by fiance, raped". These women had to literally be inhuman to be able to take the lead. If Edward had lived, he might have had that ability no matter what social milieu he was restricted to use it in.

I'm just saying.

<won't argue any further, since it is not really much fun>