Twilight: Analysis of Major Characters
"Twilight: Analysis of Major Characters" delves into the intricate relationships and complexities of key characters from the popular Twilight series, authored by Stephenie Meyer. At the center is Isabella "Bella" Swan, a relatable teenager who navigates her feelings for Edward Cullen, a vampire with a troubled past. As the narrative unfolds, Bella also develops a close friendship with Jacob Black, a shapeshifter, leading to a love triangle marked by loyalty and conflict.
Edward Cullen is portrayed as a conflicted vampire, struggling with his instincts and his desire to protect Bella, while Jacob represents youthful energy and a protective nature, albeit with his own challenges. The character dynamics extend to the Cullen family, including Carlisle and Esme, who embody nurturing aspects, and siblings like Rosalie and Alice, who showcase a range of personalities and abilities. The narrative also introduces antagonists like James and Victoria, who add tension to the story, as well as figures like the Volturi, who represent the overarching vampire authority.
Overall, the character analysis highlights themes of love, sacrifice, and identity, providing insight into a world where supernatural elements intersect with human emotions. This exploration invites readers to consider diverse perspectives on the relationships and moral dilemmas faced by the characters throughout the series.
Twilight: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Stephenie Meyer
First published: Twilight, 2005; New Moon, 2006; Eclipse, 2007; Breaking Dawn, 2008
Genre: Novel
Locale: Forks, Washington; Phoenix; Rome
Plot: Romance, popular
Time: 2001–2006
Isabella “Bella” Marie Swan, protagonist of the series. A brunette with pale skin, she is seventeen years old when she arrives in Forks, Washington, at the beginning of the series. She falls in love with Edward Cullen in Twilight, becomes engaged to him in Eclipse, and marries him in Breaking Dawn. In New Moon, she becomes close friends with Jacob Black. Her personality is at times depressive. As a teenager, she cares for her parents as if she were the adult. She is physically clumsy and incurs various injuries. She is turned into a vampire in Breaking Dawn, after nearly dying while giving birth to daughter Renesmee, and thrives in her new state.
Edward Cullen, Bella's love interest. Transformed into a vampire by Carlisle Cullen in the early part of the twentieth century, when he was seventeen years old, he is extremely attractive, with golden-brown hair, topaz eyes, and a sculpted physique. His conflicted feelings about his vampiric nature often cause problems in his relationship with Bella, as he fights his attraction to her in an effort to protect her from his lifestyle. In New Moon, he leaves Forks to keep Bella safe, but in doing so, he exposes her to further danger. He later attempts suicide when he thinks Bella is dead. Eventually, he gives in to his love for Bella, marries her, and has a child with her. He turns Bella into a vampire in Breaking Dawn after she almost dies in childbirth.
Jacob Black, Bella's friend and a member of the Quileute American Indian tribe living on the La Push Reservation. He is fifteen years old when he meets Bella in Twilight, and he quickly develops a crush on the older girl. In New Moon, he matures, and his positive personality helps offset Bella's depression after Edward leaves her. Midway through New Moon, he undergoes a change, becoming more serious, cutting his hair and bulking up, and ignoring Bella in favor of spending time with a group of young Quileute men led by Sam Uley. He eventually reveals to Bella that he and his friends are wolf shapeshifters (initially identified as were-wolves). He soon falls in love with Bella and tries to win her from Edward, to no avail. In Breaking Dawn, Jacob imprints on (or develops a supernatural bond with) Renesmee, the daughter of Bella and Edward.
Renesmee Carlie Cullen, the daughter of Bella and Edward. Born in Breaking Dawn, she is one of the few known human-vampire hybrids in existence. A beautiful child with Edward's golden-brown hair and Bella's brown eyes, Renesmee grows at an abnormally fast rate. She has the ability to share her thoughts with others through touch. Her birth sparks a conflict between the Cullen family and their friends and the Volturi, who believe she was changed into a vampire rather than born as one. Destined to be Jacob's soul mate, Renesmee becomes a link between the vampires and wolf shapeshifters.
Carlisle Cullen, the patriarch of the vampire coven based in Forks. He became a vampire in the seventeenth century after being attacked by a vampire he was pursuing on behalf of the church. Over the following centuries, he studied medicine and learned to overcome his desire for human blood. He eventually became strong enough to work as a doctor in a hospital. As the leader of the Cullen family, he helps his wife and adopted children avoid human blood and feed only on animals.
Esme Cullen, Carlisle's wife and the adoptive mother of Edward, Jasper, Emmett, Alice, and Rosalie. Born in 1895, she is a sweet woman with blondish brown hair and freckles. Carlisle made her a vampire after she attempted suicide by jumping off a cliff upon the death of her infant son. The loss of her own child leads her to be especially nurturing toward her adopted children and Bella.
Rosalie Hale, Carlisle and Esme's beautiful blond adopted daughter and Emmett's wife. She was eighteen when she was changed into a vampire in the 1930s, after having been attacked by her fiancé and a group of his friends. Carlisle hoped that she and Edward would begin a relationship, but their personalities did not mesh. A few years after her change, she found and formed a bond with Emmett, bringing him into the family. Partially as a result of her own vanity, she dislikes Bella from the beginning, not understanding Edward's attraction to a human girl. She continues to be distant, but the two grow closer as the series progresses, particularly during Bella's pregnancy.
Jasper Hale, Carlisle and Esme's adopted son and Alice's husband. He is the weakest of the Cullen family when it comes to the desire for human blood, in part because he drank human blood for so long before joining their group. He has the ability to feel and influence the emotions of those around him. This makes him vulnerable when exposed to difficult situations, and he loses control easily. Tall and blond with a runner's build, he is as physically attractive as the other members of the family but bears physical scars from his earlier life.
Emmett Cullen, Carlisle and Esme's adopted son and Rosalie's husband. A dark-haired young man with a burly build, he became a vampire in 1935, when Rosalie rescued him after a bear attack. Despite Rosalie's dislike of Bella, he takes to her quickly, and his cheerful attitude often provides mild comic relief within the family.
Alice Cullen, Carlisle and Esme's adopted daughter and Jasper's wife. She had supernatural powers even as a human, and she became a vampire after being placed in an asylum as a young woman. She has the ability to see the future of other vampires and humans, a helpful tool in keeping the family and Bella protected from foes. The first of Edward's siblings to become close to Bella, she dresses Bella up for prom and throws her a birthday party. She acts as a friend, protector, and guide for Bella throughout.
Charlie Swan, Bella's father. He has curly brown hair and an average build. He serves as the police chief in Forks and as Bella's custodial parent. Though he cares for his daughter, he often does not know what to do with her.
Renée Dwyer, Bella's mother. She was briefly married to Charlie but left him when Bella was an infant. She raised Bella in Phoenix, Arizona. Her marriage to Phil Dwyer, a traveling baseball player, precipitated Bella's move to Forks to live with her father. She is not a particularly mature parent and left most of the household concerns to her daughter, so Bella worries about her constantly.
James, the primary antagonist in Twilight and the leader of a small vampire coven. He is a tracker vampire who hunts people for the enjoyment of the hunt. He becomes interested in Bella as prey when he first meets the Cullen family and Bella while they are playing baseball during a thunderstorm. He traces Bella from Forks to Phoenix, Arizona, where he tricks her into leaving the protection of the Cullens. He subsequently tries to kill her but is stopped by Edward, Carlisle, Jasper, and Emmett.
Victoria, one of the members of James's coven. In New Moon, she plots to avenge James's death by killing Bella. After her plot fails, she reemerges as the “mother” of a battalion of new vampires who fight the Cullen family and the La Push shapeshifters in Eclipse. She is ultimately killed by Edward.
Laurent, one of the members of James's coven. He eventually leaves James and Victoria to join a family of vampires in Denali, Alaska, who do not drink human blood, but he fails to maintain that lifestyle. After once again allying himself with Victoria, Laurent is killed by a group of shapeshifters in New Moon.
Sam Uley, the leader of the young shapeshifters from La Push and the first among them to discover his power. He finds Bella when she disappears after Edward leaves in New Moon. He helps the Cullens fight against Victoria's army to protect Bella and their territory and helps Jacob come to an understanding of Bella's desire to be with Edward. His wolf form is pure black, and many people mistake that form for a huge bear.
Emily Young, Sam's fiancé. The cousin of Sam's former girlfriend Leah, Emily became Sam's mate after he imprinted on her. Her face is scarred due to injuries she sustained after Sam lost control and transformed into a wolf in front of her.
Embry Call, one of Jacob's best friends. He is introduced in New Moon and is the first of the younger boys to become a shapeshifter. His change in personality and physical form causes Jacob much concern over his well-being. His wolf form is gray with black spots.
Quil Aterea, one of Jacob's best friends. Introduced in New Moon, he is one of the last of the boys to become a shapeshifter. His wolf form is a rich brown.
Paul Lahote, a member of Sam's group of shapeshifters who often has violent outbursts and is particularly angry when Jacob reveals their true nature to Bella.
Leah Clearwater, Sam's former girlfriend and the only female member of the shapeshifter pack. Her personality is acidic, especially after Sam leaves her for her cousin Emily.
Seth Clearwater, Leah's younger brother and the youngest shapeshifter in the group. He befriends Bella and the Cullen family more strongly than any of the other shapeshifters.
Billy Black, Jacob's father and a friend of Charlie Swan who has long, dark hair and uses a wheelchair.
Riley Biers, one of the vampires who was created by Victoria to fight against the Cullen family and Bella and is killed in Eclipse.
Bree Tanner, a fifteen-year-old who is turned into a vampire by Victoria and Riley and forced to join their army. Convinced to abandon Victoria's plot, she surrenders to the Cullens but is killed by the Volturi.
The Volturi, a group of ancient vampires from Rome. Consisting of Aro, Marcus, Caius, Jane, and over twenty other members, the group acts as a controlling force among the vampires. Believing that Renesmee is a child who was illegally turned into a vampire rather than a human-vampire hybrid, they threaten to destroy the Cullens and their allies.
Jessica Stanley, the first girl to befriend Bella when she moves to Forks. Jessica is bubbly and attractive but slightly jealous of the attention Bella gets from their male classmates.
Mike Newton, Bella's classmate. He is immediately attracted to Bella when she moves to Forks. The two work together at a camping goods store for a time.
Lauren Mallory, an attractive blond high school student. Though she is part of Bella's extended social group, the two girls are never truly friends because of her jealousy over Bella's relationship with the Cullen family.
Angela Weber, Bella's friend. Generous, kind, and supportive, she stands by Bella even when Bella withdraws after Edward's departure in New Moon.