Twilight Character Discussion
Welcome to the Character Crypt. What is the character Crypt, you ask? It’s a magical place where the writers at MVF have the opportunity to discuss and review different characters from some of the amazing vampire and vamp related books that are currently gracing our bookshelf. In honor of all of the Twi-hards on our forums, we decided to take a different approach for our very first Character Crypt. We have split up the characters in the Twilight Saga into four different groups: The Humans, The Wolfpack, The Volturi & of course, the Cullen Family. Each one of us has tackled a different character group and we look forward to hearing what you have to say about the same characters. Read on to see what the girls at MVF have to say!
SusanAshlea: The Volturi
I had originally wanted to use this article to draw a parallel between the Volturi and the modern day mafia organizations. What I found when I was reading up on both was strikingly similar: they both have a very detailed chain of command, they both silence (or at least attempt to silence) anyone or anything that rats on them or tries to get in their way, they both live by a code of silence and secrecy…the parallels are eerily similar.
But that is really where the similarities end. If I wanted to dig deeper into various criminal acts carried out by both groups, I could write a dissertation, but I’d also need more than a few days to do so. Obviously, the Volturi see themselves as above the law, as do the mafia. But where the mafia only think they are untouchable by the general public, the Volturi actually are untouchable.
At least until a little girl named Bella came along.
The Volturi leaders, Aro, Marcus, and Caius have been in existence for three millennia. The Twilight Wiki lists Aro’s date of birth to be around 1300 B.C., and Caius’ birth to be around 1000 B.C. and there is no information in regards to Marcus’ birth. Whether these dates refer to their human birth or their transformation into vampires is unknown. The Twilight Lexicon simply refers to Chapter 19 of New Moon in which Alice gives Bella the rundown on the ancient ruling coven of vampires, and gives no additional information. Assuming the dates refer to their transformations, that would put Aro as human during the Bronze Age, and Caius would have been human roughly during the time of King David’s reign in Israel. The ancient leaders predate even Aristotle, Socrates, and Plato. With all of that acquired knowledge and wisdom, imagine what we could learn from them.
If we look at the history of the Volturi, we also know very little. We know that the Romanians once held dominion over the vampire world, and we know that the Volturi succeeded in taking that control away from them. Whether it was for sheer power or fear is unknown, although we do know that Stefan and Vladimir saw no reason as to why such secrecy of the vampire race was needed. Perhaps the Volturi believe that in order to protect their way of life, and their own race, that some kind system of checks and balances was needed, which the Volturi successfully provided.
If you look at the Volturi’s way of doing things through the eyes of a nomad vampire, it looks fairly simple: live how you want, eat who you want, do whatever you want, but don’t betray the secret. Easy enough for an “adult” vampire (adult being defined as someone who has learned to control his or herself after their initial newborn phase). But when you look at their clandestine organization through the eyes of a coven that have succeeded in not only denying their true nature, but keeping the secret while they live amongst humans and you have a completely different set of ideals.
Aro craves power, and considers himself amongst the most powerful vampires in the world. In reality, he’s simply a historian. My friend’s mother is a historian as well, and she is neither powerful, nor does she posses superhuman strength. She is an ordinary woman with a gift and passion for history. At his core, that is all Aro is as well. Either he was aware of this in the very beginning, or has become aware of his sheer ordinariness over the centuries; because he has chosen to surround himself with not only the very best, but the most gifted and powerful vampires in the world. Demetri is said to be the best tracker in the history of the vampires. Felix has no special ability that we know of, but he has a brute strength that rivals even Emmett’s. Jane and Alec inflict their own brand of pain on anyone who crosses their paths, and Renata is Aro’s personal shield, standing with him at all times. How did he influence others to join him in his quest for dominance? How did he become so loathed that he had to surround himself with the vampire equivalent of the Secret Service? Aro is indeed powerful, but only because of those at his disposal. By the end of Breaking Dawn, he has dropped his patronizing act and resorted to all out threats against the Cullen Family. He realizes that the Volturi’s time could quite possibly end at the behest of the Cullen family. Bella’s power renders Aro and his band of merry men obsolete, giving us the impression that the only reason they are still in power is because Carlisle and the rest of the Cullen Family let them remain in power.
Caius, on the other hand is frighteningly evil, yet still listens to his “brother” Aro. Marcus has lost his will to live; he only stays with the Volturi because of Chelsea’s ability to manipulate relationships. Even less is known about the other members of the Volturi Guard.
What intrigues me the most about the Volturi is the “what if’s” about their characters. We are given only a taste. There is so much story telling potential in these rich characters, but they are painted as one-dimensional. Since we see everything through Bella’s eyes in the series, we see only one side of the story. Who knows what brought them to be the way they are now.
I did a recent survey in the forums to ask other readers’ opinion of this group of characters in the Saga. Personally, I am quite fascinated by them and I would love to get my grimy hands on a book or series that was all about them. Until that day, I’m relegated to making it all up myself in the form of fan fiction.
When asked their favorite character in the Volturi, most people said Aro; when asked who their least favorite was, the answers were much more diverse.
“Court4short” cited Aro as her least favorite because of his less than stellar leadership skills. “He hides behind the powers of those in his guard, giving the allusion that he’s far more dangerous than he truly is,” she says. I am inclined to agree.
Caius and Jane were obvious choices for least favorite, but “Jules’” answer of Chelsea was interesting to me. However, she makes a very valid point: “She made a choice to use her talent for evil, and while I understand it’s in her nature to be a predator, she makes it possible for Aro/Caius/Marcus to monopolize the ruling power of the vampire world. Her bond with them was not forced on her; she made a conscious decision to join their ranks.”
One of the questions I asked was if readers thought fear or power was the reason behind their dictatorial behavior. A majority of readers cited Aro, Caius, Alec, & Jane being focused on power, and Marcus, Demetri and Felix staying with them out of fear. We are told in the Saga that the Volturi cannot force a vampire to join their ranks, nor can they prohibit them from leaving should they so chose. Eleazar successfully left his place in the Volturi Guard and has been living a relatively peaceful life in the Denali wilderness of Alaska. To a degree, I think that fear is a factor, but Eleazar makes it obvious that the Volturi will live up to their word if one of their own chooses to leave. However, by the end of Breaking Dawn we see that they have most likely reached their breaking point, and the rules of the game might never be the same.
At this point in time, we are free to speculate, since we have no promise of any more books from Ms. Meyer. The Volturi are rich characters that have been given enough back story to work with, but were written as one-dimensional villains. In the forums, I asked if people thought the Volturi characters would have been more sympathetic while they were still human; most people answered “yes.” I think that, if we had the opportunity to delve in to their histories a bit more, we would see that there are reasons behind their actions-or at least there were in the beginning. To quote reader Court, “We all know that their time as vampires has been full of Aro’s “leadership” and that will obviously take its toll. But, regardless, if they were humans or regular vampires…under Aro’s rule, I can’t see much sympathy in their characters. It’s all politics – everything turns nasty.”
Very true, Court, very true. In the end, regardless of the intentions, the Volturi have certainly turned nasty. Whether a reader can see any redeeming characteristics or justification for their actions, in the eyes of Bella Swan Cullen, the Volturi can be summed up in one word: evil.
Saluki: The Cullen Family
Initially, I thought a character discussion of the Cullens would be easy. I mean, I’ve read the books several times, watched the movie, read tons of fan fic, and even wrote some myself, so I think I have a pretty good handle on each of the character’s personalities. And, that is the problem. What can I say that you, my dear readers, haven’t heard before? Faced with this dilemma, I wracked my brain trying to think of some new, interesting way to discuss our favorite family. Then it hit me, what if Carlisle sends everyone to family therapy?
Imagine: Edward’s constant state of angst finally makes Jasper snap. As a result, he emits feelings of self-loathing and depression to the rest of the family non-stop. To cope, Alice turns to buying products advertised on infomercials. Emmett thrives on humor, but nothing he says or does elicits a response from his family, so he actually cuts off his own leg, hops back to the house, and gathers the family around to wait for it to slither back and reattach itself. Rose, well, agrees that everyone is crazy, but thinks counseling is a joke because she is the picture of perfection. However, she develops the habit of speaking about herself in the third person. Since she can’t drink, Emse frantically cleans, arranges, and redecorates the house in an effort to escape the madness surrounding her. Carlisle finally reaches his breaking point and demands family therapy. Just think of the smorgasbord of psychological disorders that awaits the psychologist who lands this dysfunctional vampire family.
Carlisle: Dr. Smith, thank you for agreeing to see us on such short notice. My family is in crisis; I don’t think we can go on this way much longer. My son, Edward, has been depressed for quite some time. However, it has recently started to negatively affect the rest of the family. I think we will all benefit from family counseling.
Dr. Smith: I agree, Mr. Cullen. Depression is a serious disease and it very often affects the entire family. To start our session, I would like to learn a bit more about your family. My file says that you are a Doctor?
Carlisle: Yes, I’m an Emergency Room doctor. My wife Esme is an interior decorator. My children Emmett, Rose, Jasper, Alice, and Edward are in high school.
Dr. Smith: It’s a pleasure to meet you all. If I may ask, how long have you been practicing medicine?
Carlisle: Over three hundred years.
Dr. Smith: Um, 300 years you say. That is impressive.
Carlisle: Well, after I was turned, I decided I wanted to do something to give back to the human race, to rise above my true nature.
Dr. Smith: And your true nature would be?
Carlisle: My family and I are vampires, Dr. Smith.
Dr. Smith, as a practiced psychologist, shows no emotion on his face. He looks down at his notepad and jots down one phrase, delusional disorder. Yes, he thinks, this family will most certainly benefit from therapy. Perhaps I will also start them on Risperdol or Zyprexa. Not missing a beat, Dr. Smith continues,
So, you mentioned your son Edward is depressed?
Carlisle: Yes, Edward has always had a morose nature, but it has gotten worse over the last fifty years or so. He well…he wants to drink the blood a young lady he goes to school with. She is his singer, so it is natural for him to have these feelings. However, he refuses to listen to me and insists that he is a monster. If he had a mate, this would all be so much easier.
Alice: She is his mate, Carlisle. Why won’t anyone listen to me?
Dr. Smith: And Edward, what do you have to say?
Edward: Carlisle is right. I am a monster and deserve to be alone. However, I disagree that I am depressed. I have multiple medical degrees, so I know what I’m talking about. I in no way display any of the traditional symptoms of the disorder. I might be pessimistic, but I am not depressed. And Alice, your vision is wrong.
Alice: I’m never wrong, isn’t that right Jazz?
Jasper: Of course, dear. (turns towards Edward) I know what I’m feeling, Edward. You are most certainly depressed…and in denial.
Dr. Smith: Jasper, what do you mean by that?
Jasper: I’m an empath, Doc. When I’m around Edward, I feel intense sadness. It’s so bad that I can’t focus on anything, not my Civil War books, not even my lovely wife. It’s so bad, she’s turned to buying things off infomercials. The Alice I know would never stoop to purchasing anything without a designer label. She needs help, Dr. Smith. I don’t want to have to eat the UPS man, but I will if that is what it comes to.
Carlisle: Doctor, I’m afraid Alice has become a shopping addict. She’s always loved shopping, but it has grown from a hobby to a compulsion.
Jazz: Exactly. She bought us matching Snuggies. We don’t get cold!
Esme: But, she did buy me a sanitizing system that has proven very useful. And, I cut up the Snuggies and made cleaning rags out of them.
Alice: YOU CUT UP THE SNUGGIES!
Edward: Shut up, Alice. No one was going to use your damn Snuggies anyway. And, Esme, I still don’t know why you feel this need to constantly clean. It’s not like we spread germs. Your cleaning has become obsessive-compulsive you know. And yes, Dr. Smith, that is my medical opinion.
Emse: Absolutely not! There is nothing wrong with wanting a spotless house.
Emmett: If I have to replace the linoleum one more time because you’ve scrubbed it off, I swear I’m going to….
Jasper: What, cut off your leg again?
Dr. Smith: You cut off your leg?
Emmett: Yeah, well it reattached itself. It was funny too, not that these mopes noticed.
Rose: Rose did not like it when Emmett cut his leg off.
Emmett: Babe, stop talking in third person. You’re freaking me out.
Edward: Just when I thought Rose’s ego couldn’t get any bigger, she starts talking in third person.
Rose: I do not have a big ego. It’s not my fault I’m flawless. Just look at me, men want to sleep with me, women want to be me. Rose can’t help it that you’re all jealous.
Dr. Smith’s hand flies across the page; his mind full of thoughts about the article he will submit to the American Psychological Association. He could not believe the jackpot of crazy he had found in one family: delusional disorders, narcissistic personality disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and an empath…he was going to be rich and famous.
Jasper: Alice, surely you saw this was going to be a disaster.
Alice: Of course I did, but isn’t it fun?
Emmett: Fun? Fun is wrestling a grizzly bear. This is so not fun.
Alice: Don’t be such a spoilsport, Em. Besides, I see things getting better around the Cullen household very soon.
Emmett: Please tell me Edward eats the girl and gets it over with…
Esme: Emmett, Edward is not going to eat the girl.
Edward: I most certainly will not be eating her. I will just drop out of school, maybe go to visit the Denali’s for a while. Problem avoided.
Dr. Smith: Edward, running away from your problem will not make it go away. This girl—
Edward: Bella, her name is Bella! Why must you insist on calling her that girl?
Emmett: It’s just easier not to name your food.
Dr. Smith: Err, back to the point. Why don’t you try talking to Bella?
Edward: Because when I’m around her I want to kill her you imbecile! Besides, I can’t read her mind. What if she hates me or thinks I’m vile? I’ll just spare myself the embarrassment and leave her alone.
Alice: But Edward, I told you that we were going to be the best of friends. We can’t be friends unless you talk to Bella. Please, talk to her for me?
At this point, the whole family begins chiming in, beseeching Edward to talk to Bella for the sake of the family. All, except for Rosalie, who just wants him to go away.
Dr. Smith: All right, I think that is enough for today. I think it’s fair to say that you all would benefit a great deal from both individual and family therapy. I would like to see you all again next week. We can discuss a course of treatment for each of you then.
Alice: We won’t be coming back. I can see that everything will be settled by next week.
Carlisle: Thank you, Alice. In that case, I’m sorry we wasted your time, Dr. Smith.
Dr. Smith: But wait, there is no way to resolve the serious issues your family faces in the span of a week. I really must insist that you come back.
Esme: Thank you for your concern, Dr. Smith. However, if Alice says things will be resolved they will be.
Edward: Calm down Doc, you don’t actually think we would let you write us up for a journal article anyway. We sort of like keeping the whole vampire thing a secret.
Alice: Besides, I don’t see you being available next week.
Dr. Smith: What? Wait! Please, just let me me help you!
As the Cullen family files out the door, Dr. Smith bursts into tears. Treating the Cullens would have paid my bills for the next decade, he cries. And the fame…the glory… Dr. Smith cries until his notes become a muddled mess on his lap. That evening, seeking to drown his sorrows in cheap scotch, Dr. Smith goes to a bar a few blocks from his office. While there, he meets a beautiful redhead by the name of Victoria.
THE END
I know this was certainly not a typical character review, but I hope you enjoyed it just the same. I realize mental illness is a serious topic. However, we’re talking vampires here, folks. In my book crazy vampires = funny. This is a blog, so if you disagree, please let your fingers do the talking.
SarahBella: The Humans
Far and away, the least special people in Forks, Washington. Or La Push even. Heck, let’s just venture to say the entire state of Washington. But, if they’re so incredibly unspecial (the entire state people) why do we love (Chief Swan) and hate (Lauren Mallory) them so much?
These loveable/hateable characters were written with the same TLC that SM gives all her characters; they are well developed and relatable. We feel like these are people who we know, knew, work with, went to high school with and drop our kids off next to at preschool. Here’s a quickie breakdown of the characters.
Chief Charlie Swan – He is good looking, strangely witty, quiet yet loving. He’s smart, (he’s the chief of police, for cripes sake, he can’t be an idiot), he’s protective (in a mostly good way ;)). As the reader, we can all see the pride Charlie has for his daughter. He wants what’s best for her and loves her. We all loved him in the book and when the movie came out, we fell in love with Billy Burke too. Come on, who doesn’t want Charlie as their daddy?
Verdict- Loveable
Mike Newton – Mike is your typical high school guy; we all went to school with a Mike Newton. He’s funny, sweet, slightly cocky and has an unrequited crush, which he gets over remarkably fast, before unrequiting again (I know it’s not a word, but you’ll get used to my not-words soon enough). We all want our daughters to fall for a guy like Mike Newton. He’s safe, comes from ‘good people’ and human, which, sometimes, is important. To some people. Not me.
Verdict – Hugable
Jessica Stanley – Jessica is a two way street. Her character in the book is two-faced, uppity and snobbish. She’s a back-stabber, the kind of girl we all hope our kids never cross paths with. She uses Bella for her popularity and isn’t particularly nice. Jessica in the movie, however, is an entirely different character. She’ s naive and sweet, and maybe a little, shall we say, lacking in common sense. She is your typical teenage girl. I know, right?! (FYI, I’m slightly Team Movie Jessica)
Verdict – Debateable
Eric Yorkie – Book Eric is a sweet, quiet, friendly kid who’s easy to get along with. I picture him as a D & D kind of guy. In the movie, he’s a little more ‘with it’, trendy clothes and hair, working on the school paper, he also becomes a conglomerate of Eric Yorkie and Ben Cheney, which in and of itself makes for interesting discussion. The movie finds him the source of Angela’s angsty teenage desires, but he’s less of a taboo for her than Ben was.
Verdict – Forgetable
Tyler Crowley – Tyler is your typical high school jock. He’s brash and cocky, bordering on arrogant, and you don’t really want to like him, but for some reason you do. He’s truly repentant when he almost kills Bella with his van and movie Eric does go with Angela to the prom. He taunts Bella when her truck backfires, but then he kisses her on the cheek in the cafeteria. Five words people. “You’re hot and you’re cold.” Yeah, those are the many faces of Tyler.
Verdict – Expendable
Lauren Mallory – We all knew a girl like this in high school, didn’t we? And strangely, the urge to pull out their hair never goes away. She’s snobby, stuck up, conceited (yeah, I know most of those mean the same thing, but it makes me feel better to say them all). She’s a pretty girl, unfortunately, she knows it. She’s also full of herself, vain and just generally not very nice. I liked the part when she mysteriously cut off all her hair. I liked it even better when SM told us why…
Verdict – Hateable
Angela Weber – Angela is the sweetest, kindest girl any of us could ever hope to befriend. She’s reliable, trustworthy, loyal and just plain nice. She’s naive and innocent in the very best ways, but she’s also tough as nails (she asks Ben out, hello!). Her character in the movie plays out the same way. She has a small but pivotal role as Bella’s support system. Angela is one of my favorite characters and I wish her on every school in America.
Verdict – Respectable
Ben Cheney – All around sweet guy. He’s a bit part in the Saga, really only there to be Angela’s love interest. I can see him playing D & D with Eric in a seedy comic book shop. He’s smart (he has to be, because Angela wouldn’t date a dummy), he’s brave (he dates a girl six inches taller than he is!), he obviously has good taste in girlfriends and that’s about all there is to say about Ben Cheney.
Verdict – Adorable
So there you have it, my take on the Twilight humans in 100 words or less each. Now email Saluki and thank her for the word expendable, because without her help, Tyler was going to be ‘Live Withoutable’.
Meesh: The Wolf Pack
Wolf Pack Mentality
In trying to find an angle for writing a character review on the wolf pack, I realized that though each of the wolves in human form are very unique and separate individuals, I find their behaviors as a pack to be far more intriguing. As independent humans, they were pretty easy for most of us other humans to figure out, but it’s difficult to step back and figure out why they acted the way they did when they were wolves.
Pack members are loyal to the group above all else. It is as a pack that they find strength in tough times. The social network allows each member to fulfill a role and add to the stability of the whole. Wolf packs have a hierarchy that determines the behaviors of every member. The alpha male and female lead the pack, with the strongest of the pair being the ultimate leader. The alpha pair is typically the mating pair, so the pack is made up of the strongest genetics possible in tough times. Survival instinct abounds and the strength of the pack is the most important factor for wolves. Weakness can’t be allowed to flourish. The beta wolf is second in command, taking over when the alpha is absent. When the alpha ages to the point of endangering the pack, the beta will often present a challenge for the alpha position. The omega wolf is the weakest, at the bottom of the hierarchy, and has the least power and influence. The omega also gets the least attention, is often the target for blowing off steam, and acts as a release valve, breaking tension among the pack when things get heated.
Let’s think about this hierarchy in terms of the Quilete wolf pack. Sam is the alpha – he leads the entire pack and they listen to him. Before their first transition, the boys destined to be part of the pack saw Sam as domineering and controlling to the friends who had gone through their change. The loyalty to Sam and the pack ensured that no one outside the group knew what was happening. Keeping that secret was so important to the survival of the pack. Sam was seen as a bully and a manipulator, which I think is an accurate description of an alpha wolf. They are charged with leading a group of totally subservient pack members, and keeping the pack strong is the number one priority and if it requires the alpha to terrorize the lesser members to do that, then that is what the alpha does. As humans, especially those of us who grew up in an individualistic society, we might not really understand why anyone would sacrifice their independence only to be subjected to such browbeating. But with the wolves, the sum really is greater than the parts, and the mission of the Quilete pack was more important than any of the separate members’ well being.
Jacob Black was alpha by birth, but there can’t be two alphas and for one to take over from the other, the first alpha has to be defeated. At least in animal packs, this is the case, but Jake and Sam weren’t really animals. They were shapeshifters and still had the human side to try to keep some sense of reason. Jake was the beta, and wasn’t willing to take over the pack, to step up and take his rightful place because of the repercussions. He respected Sam. He was, however, strong enough to resist the force of the alpha’s command when what was being asked of him went strongly against his desires, because he was truly an alpha and not a follower. He found ways to go against Sam’s command to keep their secret from Bella. He was as strong as Sam and that isn’t typical in a real wolf pack. When Sam wanted to go against the Cullens in Breaking Dawn, Jake simply broke away from the pack mentality which is unheard of for any pack member other than the omega wolf – the one who is basically the pack’s whipping post. It’s proof that Jake was born to be an alpha, that he has the strength and presence of a true pack leader.
I can’t wait to read your reactions to our character discussions! Who do you think was the omega of the wolf pack? Do you see Jacob and Sam differently? Go to the Character Discussions at the Lair to let us know what you think.
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