"Fifty Shades of Grey" is an erotic romance novel by British author E. L. James. The book has become a global sensation, prompting a series of sequels and a movie franchise. However, many people do not realize the book's origins as a "Twilight" fan fiction dubbed "Master of the Universe." This article aims to uncover the connection between the two, delving into the aspects that indicate "Fifty Shades of Grey" was once "Twilight" fan fiction.

The Concept of Fan Fiction

Fan Fiction is a work created by fans of a popular cultural phenomenon, such as a TV show or book, that is not endorsed by the creator or rights holders of the original work. Fan Fiction writers often borrow the characters, plot, setting, and other elements from the original work to create their stories.

The fan fiction phenomenon is primarily facilitated by online platforms where fans can publish and share their creations. For "Twilight," several websites existed, one of the most notable being FanFiction.Net.

The Origin of Fifty Shades of Grey

The exploration of "Fifty Shades of Grey" as "Twilight" fan fiction begins with its origin. E. L. James started writing the novel as a serialized work on FanFiction.Net under the pseudonym "Snowqueens Icedragon." The original title was "Master of the Universe," and it featured the characters Edward Cullen and Bella Swan from Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight" series.

After gaining a significant following on the fan fiction site, James felt the need to further develop the story. This necessitated taking down "Master of the Universe" from FanFiction.Net and reworking it into what would later be published as "Fifty Shades of Grey," with character names altered to Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele.

Characterization Comparison

Like Bella from "Twilight," Anastasia from "Fifty Shades of Grey" is portrayed as a naive and introverted young woman thrust into a relationship with a complex and intimidating man. Both characters go through a growth process throughout their respective series, largely driven by their romantic relationships.

Similarly, Edward from "Twilight" and Christian from "Fifty Shades" share common characteristics. They are both enigmatic, tortured souls with an intrinsic need to protect their loved ones, despite their domineering natures. Also, they both harbor dark secrets, which they fear will push their partners away.

Plot Similarities

Both "Twilight" and "Fifty Shades of Grey" center around the romance between their protagonists, which is filled with obstacles that they must overcome to be together. Also, the aspect of the male character being dominant, controlling, and possessive is evident in both series.

Furthermore, both series also deal with the themes of sexual awakening and exploration. In "Twilight," this exploration is more metaphorical, as Edward's resistance to turn Bella into a vampire mirrors his resistance to consummate their relationship. In "Fifty Shades," it is much more explicit, as Christian guides Anastasia through BDSM practices.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is "Fifty Shades of Grey" a "Twilight" spinoff?
Not exactly. While it started as fan fiction based on "Twilight," "Fifty Shades of Grey" has been extensively revised and developed into a standalone work.

2. Did E. L. James get permission to write "Fifty Shades of Grey" based on "Twilight"?
As it is with most fan fiction, authors don't generally need to get permission to write derivative works for personal entertainment or non-profit purposes. However, when "Fifty Shades of Grey" was commercially published, all overt links to "Twilight" had been removed.

3. Are there any other famous works that started as fan fiction?
Yes, other best-selling novels that began as fan fiction include "After" by Anna Todd (One Direction fan fiction) and "The Mortal Instruments" series by Cassandra Clare ("Harry Potter" fan fiction).

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Fifty Shades of Grey" started as "Twilight" fan fiction, but has since evolved into a separate entity, shedding its "Twilight" roots during the revision process. The similarities are apparent, however, most notably in the characterization of the protagonists and the exploration of romantic and sexual relationships. Regardless of its origins, there's no denying "Fifty Shades of Grey" has become a phenomenon in its own right.

References

Jones, K. (2013). The Fan Fiction Phenomenon: What Rebranding '50 Shades of Grey' Teaches Us About Pop Culture. Yahoo! Movies.
Miller, L. (2012). Fan fiction’s legal gray area. Salon.
Stein, J. (2012). A Brief History of Fan Fiction. Time.

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