I know I harp on this all the time, but Bella's miraculous self control, I've got more to say about it.
The idea is a) she was born for it so it comes naturally (but why would denying herself come naturally when it's against vampiric instinct??) and b) she 'braced herself' or mentally prepared and decided ahead of time she was going to be a vegetarian and that focus carried her through.
Which, like . . okay . . . to a degree. She did have more forewarning and knowledge than the others. But BEAU is also very controlled and didn't have nearly as much time to "mentally prepare."
And the thing that bothers me here is the idea that she is just SO committed to the vegetarian thing, she's already decided pre-vampirism to do it, because, well, she doesn't seem to be in the actual text? She asks both Edward and Carlisle why they bother trying to not eat people.
"In the beginning, though," I pressed while [Carlisle] taped another long piece of gauze securely in place, sealing it to my skin. "Why did you even think to try a different way than the obvious one?"
His lips turned up in a private smile. "Hasn't Edward told you this story?"
"Yes. But I'm trying to understand what you were thinking…"
His face was suddenly serious again, and I wondered if his thoughts had gone to the same place that mine had. Wondering what I would be thinking when—I refused to think if—it was me.
You'd think the girl who was so innately good and pre-committed to vegetarian vampirism would understand what he was thinking? Instead she's like, "okay but like why not just eat people? Seems easier." She's very understanding of Edward's desire for her blood, for Jasper's slip up. She's like "yeah I get it, no hard feelings."
There is an inherent tension, IMO, between the "good with weird/born to be a vampire" stuff and the super self control stuff. She should be able to shrug off vampire horror because it seems normal to her OR she should be good at controlling her thirst, not both? The three most controlled Cullens--Carlisle, Rosalie and Edward-- are also the three that kind of hate being a vampire. Rosalie and Edward are vocal about it; Carlisle has coped by literally creating a new way of being a vampire and becoming a doctor to help humans rather than eat them. It makes sense THEY are controlled because they are on some level rejecting their vampirism. But Bella loves it, embraces, revels in it. But is somehow also good at denying it?
TBH I've always assumed part of Jasper's struggles with self-control is that his heart is not in it. He does it because he hates feeling the emotions of his victims, he does it because he knows Alice needs what the Cullens can give her, but I don't think he really thinks killing humans is bad for a vampire to do. It's natural. It's a shark being a shark, a lion being a lion. And pre-vampire Bella seems to have a similar view. Like she's glad these specific vampires don't want to eat her but she gets why vampires generally would. But then she becomes a vampire herself and is the best at not eating people right away?
IDK I think she should have to pick either adjusting super easily to vampirism OR being in control, not both.
