Here are the main character descriptions and bios.
Bella Swan
Edward Cullen
Jacob Black
Carlisle Cullen
Emmett Cullen
Alice Cullen
Jasper Hale
Rosalie Hale
Charlie Swan
*Note: Yes, I did not list all the characters, only the ones that are most important or reocur most often in the story. But I will add up more by request.
Bella was born September 13, 1987 to Renée and Charlie Swan, a young couple living in the small town of Forks, Washington. Her mother left her father, taking Bella with her. When Bella was six months old, her mother moved to Phoenix, Arizona.
Bella has always had few friends, never quite 'fitting in' until she moves to Forks, Washington where there, she is the new girl. She is also incredibly clumsy, which leads her to avoid all sports. Even as Edward and Bella get to know each other better, it is hard for Edward to be near her, because her blood "sings" to him. Although he does not drink human blood, Edward constantly lusts for it, and Bella's blood is especially tantalizing for him. The scent of her blood is so alluring that it causes him actual physical pain to be with her. He must always control his desire, and finds that his mind reading capabilities do not work on her. Eventually, the two declare their love for one another and grow closer. It is excrutiatingly painful when they are seperated in New Moon. But she finds out that he loved her after all. Edward returns, and eventually, they become engaged after fending off the lurking threats and danger Bella was in. Bella agrees to be wed on the conditions of being made love to and becoming a vampire. Edward agrees reluctantly, but they must do this after marriage. However, in the end, he gives in, thought Bella now refuses and insists on things being done the "right" way. Bella is very pale ,with brown hair that has a slight auburn tinge and is long and straight. Bella's eyes are described as large, chocolate-brown, and menacingly sweet. Stephenie Meyer describes her as "slender but soft, somehow". She has a heart-shaped face with prominent cheekbones, a thin nose, and a narrow jaw with a pointed chin. She also has lips that are "a bit too full for her jaw line", and eyebrows that are slightly darker than her hair, and eyebrows more straight than arched. Bella's nails are described as stubby because she has a nervous habit of biting them. She stands at 5'4" and weighs about 115 pounds. She has a small crescent-shaped scar on her hand where she was bitten by James. The scar is described as being pale and always a few degrees colder than the rest of her body.
Edward Anthony Mason Cullen was born on June 20th, in 1901, to Edward and Elizabeth Mason. He was dying from the Spanish influenza when doctor Carlisle Cullen saved him. He was seventeen at the time. Edward was always sensitive to people's thoughts, so when he was changed he gained the actually ability to hear them. The only exception is Bella. Like all vampires, Edward is described as impossibly handsome, to the point of being almost godlike. His skin is pale, hard as stone, and ice cold, but perfect and flawless. If he has recently fed, the dark purple circles under his eyes become lighter. In the sunlight, his skin sparkles like millions of diamonds. His eyes change color depending on his mood. They are described as a butterscotch when he is delighted and fed and gradually darken to black, like onyx, as he is angered and when he is thirsty. It takes about two weeks for his eyes to darken from their lightest color to pitch black. However, when Edward Cullen was human his eyes were green in color. His hair is described both as a strange shade of bronze and as an auburn, also like his human mother's, and is always in "casual disarray". Edward stands at six feet one and a half inches, and he has a slender (yet still quite muscular) build. Edward fell for Bella despite his apprehensions, and constantly struggles to keep her safe. Edward has a strong attraction to Bella's blood making it extremely difficult for Edward even to be in her presence. Early on in Twilight, Edward struggled to stay away from and ignore Bella in an attempt to protect her, but he eventually caved in and fell in love with her. He insists keeping a close watch on her to make sure she is safe, and even admits to watching her sleep at night (and listening to her sleep-talking while lying beside her). Eventually, Edward becomes able to resist her blood and forms a romantic relationship with her. Edward loves Bella deeply and would do anything for her, even going so far as to try to commit suicide after hearing about her 'death', refusing to live without her. This experience caused Edward to be revolted at the very thought of drinking Bella's blood. As much as he loves her, Edward refuses to change Bella into a vampire, despite her strong desire to become one, because of his strong beliefs is that vampires are the damned and soulless and he fears that Bella would be subject to the same fate. However, at the end of New Moon, Bella brings the matter to a vote with the other Cullens, and it is decided that she will be turned into a vampire after graduation by Edward, like all vampires, possesses superhuman strength, speed, durability, endurance and agility. Edward is the fastest of the Cullens, easily able to outrun any other member of his family. Some vampires have special talents such as Edward's, but not all do. He can cease breathing for as long as he needs, since breathing is not a necessity for vampires. Like other vampires in the series, Edward is not adversely affected by sunlight, but avoids it, as it causes his skin to sparkle. These vampires are incapable of sleeping, and receive nutrients only from blood. He and his family resist the temptation to drink human blood, a vampire's natural food source, choosing instead to drink the blood of animals.
Jacob Black is a sixteen year old Native American werewolf, and Bella's best friend. Jacob and Bella have known each other since childhood, and they quickly become friends after Edward leaves her in New Moon. Jacob constantly tries to pursue a relationship with Bella, though Bella is insist on their "just friends" status. In Twilight, Bella flirts with him to get information, he introduces her to the idea that Edward Cullen is a vampire. In New Moon the book starts with Edward telling Bella he can not see her anymore. Trying to recover, Bella becomes very good friends with Jacob.
Jacob is one of an ancient line of werewolves, a member of the Quileute Tribe that has been the mortal enemy of vampires. At first Jacob believes it is all legend, and is disturbed by the influence Sam Uley has on some of the youth. But when Jacob makes the change himself in response to a new vampire threat, he changes his mind. Since werewolves are highly dangerous, at first Jacob avoids Bella for her safety, though he doesn't stay away for long.
During one visit over at Bella's house, after Alice has arrived to check on Bella, Jacob tells Edward that Charlie is at a funeral, which causes him to believe he is at Bella's and decides to kill himself. Bella goes to Italy with Alice to rescue him, but Jacob is disgusted that Bella would willingly leave for Edward, after he left her.
After the Cullens and Bella return to Forks, Jacob becomes their enemy, including Bella because of her refusal to leave the vampires. He reminds Edward of their treaty, which states that the Cullens are not allowed to bite a human. This means that if one of the Cullens turns Bella into a vampire, the treaty is broken, and the werewolves will start a war. At the end of the meeting, Bella almost reconciles with Jacob, but Edward stops her. Jacob gets angry, and begins to turn into a wolf. Bella manages to calm him down before she leaves.
Jacob is enraged by the fact that she will become a vampire after graduation. Bella visits Jacob occasionally, so she does not always spend her time with Edward. Later on, when it becomes clear Bella is still a target, Jacob is willing to help defeat the army sent to kill her, thus the pack learns to defeat the army of newborms with help from Jasper.
While Bella, Edward and Jacob reside in the mountains at the eve of the battle, Jacob pretends that he will commit suicide, saying that Bella does not love him. In her desperation, Bella kisses him to force him to stay, and realizes she loves him too. At the very end, Jacob recieves a letter from Edward that tells him how much Edward appreciates everything he has done. This causes Jacob to run away in wolf form in anger, attempting to escape the pain he feels from Bella's decision to become a vampire.
Jacob is described to be 6'7" tall, with a toned, muscular build, and dark russet skin. In New Moon, after he joins the Quileute pack, he crops his black hair. He later grows it out to chin length in Eclipse because he thinks Bella prefers it that way. In Eclipse, Bella sees him at her school describes him as almost dangerous-looking. He is often described as good-looking and having an "impish grin". He tends to wear only cut-off style jeans, saying that when turning from human to a werewolf he doesn't like to have carry a lot of clothes, since they are ruined during transformation. As a wolf, Jacob is a russet-color and is very furry.
Carlisle Cullen was born to an Angilican pastor in the 1640s. His father made him lead hunts for werewolves, witches, and vampires. Although Carlisle was not quick to find monsters were there were none, which disappointed his father, Carlisle was clever enough to discover a real vampire coven in the sewers of London. Carlisle led the hunt for these vampires and in the chaos that ensued he was attacked and left bleeding in the street by a vampire. Knowing that he would not be welcomed back home and would be most likely killed, Carlisle hid himself, managing to stay silent for the entire transformation.
Carlisle was repelled by what he had become, and tried ways of killing himself, including starving, drowning, jumping off cliffs. None worked due to since he was immortal. Eventually he was so desperate for blood that attcked a herd of stray deer. He found that he could survive off animal blood instead of humans. Carlisle found new life in this fact and for over two centuries was able to perfect his ability to resist the smell of blood. As a result of meticulous studying, Carlisle became a brilliant doctor.
Carlisle was studying in Italy when he stumbled across a coven of ancient vampires called the Volturi. They were much more educated and refined vampires than those living in the sewers of London, but still drank human blood. Even though they attempted to convert Carlisle back animal blood and he tried to convince them to drink animal, both failed to convince the other. Carlisle ended up working night shifts in Chicago during the Spanish Influenza epidemic. During this epidemic, Carlisle encountered Edward's dying mother. Edward, was dying of the Influenza as well. Elizabeth begged Carlisle to do anything within his power to save her son, as she lay dying. Carlisle made the decision to turn him. Soon after, in 1921, Carlisle moved to Wisconsin where he treated Esme, after a failed suicide attempt brought on by the loss of her child. Carlisle felt compelled to save her life and turned her, consequently falling in love with her, and marrying her later on.
Carlisle then turned Rosalie Hale and Emmett. After Carlisle changed Emmett, Alice and Jasper joined his coven as well, having found Carlisle on their own. Much later, Carlisle and his family moved to Forks, Washington where they made a treaty with the Quileute Indian tribe. At the start of Twilight the Cullens live in Forks, Washington and have lived there for two years. Carlisle presently works at the hospital in Forks as their chief doctor.
Carlisle is described to look like a model, the picture of beauty. He has blond hair, is six foot two inches, and was 23 when he was turned. Carlisle has remained 23 since that day, and looks accordingly. He was described looking like a movie star, and Charlie said that many nurses could not concentrate on their work while he was around. Carlisle is slender but muscular.
Carlisle has many enhanced abilities, such as running quickly, incredible strength, and incredible compassion. Carlisle came up with his own theory as to why certain vampires have enhanced abilities: he believes the vampires' strongest attribute follow them into the nex life. What he brought into his next life was his compassion. Carlisle is also immortal, and has had centuries to perfect his medicinal talents, therefore making him an excellent doctor. Unlike most vampires, he is not at all tempted by the scent of human blood, due to the over 300 years he has spent holding back his temptations.
Emmett McCarty Cullen was changed into a vampire by Carlisle Cullen in 1935 when he was 20, (born in 1915) two years after Rosalie Hale had been changed. Emmett was up hunting in the mountains of Tennessee when he was mauled by a bear. He had nearly died from the attack when Rosalie saved him and carried him over a hundred miles back to Carlisle. Emmett describes this experience as being saved by an angel who brought him to God. Once Rosalie returned to Carlisle with Emmett, he was changed into a vampire. In Eclipse, Rosalie confesses to Bella that she saved Emmett from death because his appearance reminded her of her best friend's child, named Henry. After the painful process of changing ended, Rosalie and Carlisle explained to him that he was now a vampire. This did not upset Emmett, however, as Rosalie and Carlisle had thought it would. He put in his own words, "But if Carlisle and Rosalie, my angel, were vampires, how bad could it be?" He did, however, have trouble adjusting to the "vegetarian" rules of the Cullen family at first, and has tasted human blood on several occasions. Emmett is described as being very tall, very burly, and to the students at his high school, very intimidating. Standing at 6'5, he is the tallest of the Cullens, towering over Alice by a few feet. He has a round face with dimples and slightly curly, dark brown hair, giving him a childish look. Like the rest of the Cullens, he has pale skin and golden eyes. Bella describes him as like a big teddy bear. His closet consists of jeans, T-shirts, and jackets; the jackets are rarely used, as he does not even register that the air is cold. Because of his height, his pants drag on the floor when on the hanger. He wears flat skate shoes that are just as casual as the rest of his closet Rosalie is Emmett's wife and true love, and they've been in love ever since Rosalie saved Emmett's life. They have been married several times: Emmett will do anything to make Rosalie happy, and since she likes all of the attention, they have a wedding every few years. Emmett and Rosalie sometimes live away from the others in their family as a newlywed couple.
Mary Alice Brandon Cullen was born in 1901 in Biloxi, Mississippi. Alice's early history is very vague, as she remembers nothing of her life before she was changed into a vampire. She was kept in an asylum because she had premonitions, which carried over and intensified into her "special ability" when she was changed into a vampire. She became the favorite of a older vampire who worked at the asylum, and James, a tracker vampire, began to hunt her because the smell of her blood appealed to him. When the older vampire realized that James was after Alice, he changed her into a vampire to protect her. James then killed the other vampire, out of revenge. After doing some research, Alice discovered that her date of death on her tombstone is the same date that she was admitted into the asylum. She also uncovered that she had a sister named Cynthia, and that Cynthia's daughter, Alice's niece, is still alive in Biloxi.
Alice foresaw Jasper finding her in a vision before he even knew he was looking for her. They met face-to-face in a diner located in Philadelphia, where she told him that she had been waiting a long time for his arrival. A little bewildered but intrigued with her knowing him, Jasper "ducked his head like a good southern gentleman" and answered, "I'm sorry, ma'am." She offered him her hand, a non-verbal question of whether or not he would like to go with her. He did indeed take her hand, as the sight of it brought him hope "for the first time in almost a century". During their companionship and travels, they fell in love. By 1950, they found Carlisle with more assistance from her visions and have been part of his coven ever since.
Alice and Jasper have been together since the 1950s, but are not as flamboyant with their relationship as their "siblings", Rosalie and Emmett, although they are stated to be soul mates and have been legally married. Jasper and Alice understand each other and are very protective. Jasper will do anything to keep Alice safe. Alice will also not let him get hurt, and keeps him from going with her to Italy during New Moon for his own safety.
Alice shares many of the physical traits associated with Twilight vampires, such as inhuman beauty, pale skin, golden eyes which deepen to black depending on thirst, and deep, purple shadows under her eyes. She is described as being small, 4'10", with petite, "pixie-like" features. Her hair is described as cropped, spiky, and black. She carries herself with the grace of a dancer when walking, and it is mentioned that with her agility she could make even a ballerina jealous.
Alice has enhanced strength and speed due to her vampire status. Though petite, she is a capable fighter due to her agility and speed. Alice carried her human ability to read the future into her vampire life, and uses this to her advantage during battles (as seen in Eclipse) and throughout her day-to-day life. However, Alice's sight is limited: she can only see the outcome of a decision - not the motives behind it. Also, the future is subjective and Alice cannot see it once werewolves become involved. This is a mystery that Carlisle has theorized is due to the unpredictability of the werewolves (they change shape very quickly, etc). Alice, while talking about her talent, describes herself as being "far from infallible" overall.
Jasper Whitlock Hale was born in 1843 and grew up in Houston, Texas. In 1859 when he was almost seventeen, he lied about his age, stating he was 20, and joined the Confederate States Army to serve in the Civil War. He quickly rose through the ranks, and became the youngest Major in the Confederate Army. Jasper was turned into a vampire in 1863 by a vampire named Maria, when he was 20 years old. Maria was fighting a territorial war for claim on the big cities in the south, such as Mexico City, since larger cities allow for more feeding without being noticed by humans or the Volturi (who could be described as the Vampire High Council and act to keep the vampire world unnoticed by the human population). Jasper was turned because Maria recognized that he was high-ranking in the army, and therefore that he already had some knowledge of combat skills. She wanted a strong male vampire who could fight alongside her. When Maria found out about his peculiar ability to control the emotions of those around him, and calm an entire room of extremely volatile new-born vampires, she found him even more useful. Jasper's responsibility was to train the young vampires and then kill them when they were no longer useful to Maria, usually after about a year when their strength had begun to fade. After about a century of this, he grew wary of the lifestyle. An old vampire colleague of his, named Peter, persuaded him to escape from Maria. For a time, he wandered with Peter and his companion, Charlotte, but soon became aware that he was still depressed with so much human sacrifice. As a result, he ran away and wandered on his own, before he found Alice Cullen, who he later recognized as his true love, waiting for him in a half-empty diner in Philadelphia, where he was sheltering from the rain. She had seen through her prescience they would find the Cullens and live there together in relative peace. He has been with her ever since. He married Alice and she became Alice Whitlock, though when they are under the pretense of youth she reverts to being Alice Cullen around others. The Cullens tell humans that Jasper is Rosalie's twin brother; for this purpose, they both use Rosalie's surname of "Hale". Out of the whole coven, Jasper has the hardest time being around humans, due to his untrained upbringing as a young vampire in an army environment. He was not taught control or how to regulate his blood lust. Edward states that all human blood is equally tempting to Jasper, unlike the rest of the family, who can notice the variations in blood scent in different humans. Jasper is tired of being the "weakest link," and has taken a bet with his brother, Emmett, that in the year after Edward's girlfriend Bella Swan is turned into a vampire she will kill a great number of humans because of her temper and impatience. This is possibly because Jasper no longer wishes to be seen as the weakest. It is stated throughout the Twilight series that Alice and Jasper have a special, somewhat private relationship. Their distinctly understanding love is what separates them from the other couples in the Cullen family. The two are very committed and protective of each other, and have been married legally. Some vampires have extra abilities beyond the norm which is an amplification of an ability they had as a human eg. an intuitive mind could be able to read minds as a vampire. Jasper's extra ability is being able to manipulate the emotions of those around him because of the extraordinary charisma he had as a human. He is also an empath, meaning that he can feel all the emotions of the people who surround him. As all other vampires, he also has super strength and speed, granite hard skin, immortality, and a keen sense of smell and hearing. In Eclipse, during the training Jasper gives the Cullens and Quileutes, it is noted that Jasper was on par with Edward's skills despite Edward's mind reading ability. This is seen during their sparring which only stopped when Carlisle hinted for them to stop suggesting that it could have continued perhaps indefinitely. Jasper could be mistaken for cold because of his highly analytical and military mindset. However, his relationship with Alice displays his warmer side. The fact that he suffered depression after his years in Maria's service suggests a strong sense of conscience and grief over his perceived wrong-doings. When he was human he was described as being extremely charismatic, and therefore extremely likable. He has also been shown to be a strong and forceful leader through his rapid ascent through the ranks of the Confederate Army. The fact that he is always a soothing presence shows that he wishes others to feel well and at ease, and will do his best to make that occur. Jasper is highly intuitive but also never takes advantage of his miraculous gift, showing that he is not a malicious and chooses not to manipulate others. While the Cullens are gone in New Moon, Jasper studies philosophy at Cornell University. In the opening chapter of the yet to be published Midnight Sun, Jasper is shown as being deeply ashamed of his urge to drain the life from the humans around him. It also shows that he has what could be described as a lower thirst threshold, in that he has trouble controlling his thirst sooner after feeding than the others.
Rosalie Lillian Hale was born in Rochester, NY in 1915. She had two younger brothers, a housewife for a mother, and a father who worked at a bank. Her father's job helped keep the family wealthy during the Great Depression. She was born beautiful and thus was constantly praised, making her vain and, like her parents, wanting more out of life. One day, Rosalie's mother had her dress up to deliver her father's forgotten lunch to him at work, hoping that the son of the bank's owner would take an interest in Rosalie. It worked, and Royce King the Second sent roses to Rosalie and, after making a comment that her eyes were like violets, began sending her those, as well. Their relationship was solely wooing and based on physical attraction, as Royce was always very busy at the bank. Rosalie was going to marry Royce for purely financial reasons, much to her parents pleasure.
They became engaged, and shortly before the wedding Rosalie visited her good friend Vera, who Rosalie envied for her baby boy. When Vera's husband kissed Vera, Rosalie finally realized the lack of love in her relationship with Royce. While walking home, shaken by her thoughts about her loveless relationship, Rosalie stumbled across her drunken fiancé and his also drunken pals. Royce bragged about his fiancée's beauty, leading to Rosalie being beaten and presumably raped. Rosalie was found by Carlisle, Esme, and Edward Cullen, the scent of blood having attracted Carlisle to the dying Rosalie. He carried her to a room where he made the eighteen-year-old a vampire, worsening the pain that she was already in. Upon seeing a reflection of her new vampire beauty, Rosalie's unhappy mood improved. Rosalie soon avenged herself by killing all those who had beaten her. Having saved Royce for last, Rosalie donned a bridal gown and found her fiancé locked in a windowless room with a thick, vault-like door guarded by two men. After killing the guards, Rosalie entered the room and tortured Royce to death. She did not, however, drink his blood, and is proud that she has never tasted human blood.
While living with the Cullens in Forks, Rosalie plays the role of the twin sister of Jasper Hale. She enjoys cars, and owns a red BMW M3 convertible. However, she usually goes to school in Edward's silver Volvo to try to remain inconspicuous. Carlisle believes that a certain characteristic is intensified once you become a vampire, and Edward believes Rosalie's to be her tenacity.
Emmett is Rosalie's husband and true love. Rosalie saved him from a bear attack and carried him 100 miles to her home for Carlisle to change him, because she didn't think she could do it herself. Their relationship is very physical, with her beauty and his strength, though they are very much in love. They have been married several times, since Rosalie enjoys the ceremony and the attention that it brings her. She and Emmett sometimes live away from the rest of the Cullens as a newlywed couple.
Carlisle found and changed Rosalie with the hope that she would be someone for Edward to love, as Esme was to him, though Carlisle carefully hid this from Edward for many years. Unfortunately, Rosalie and Edward had nothing in common and have never shared anything more than sibling love.
In Eclipse, Rosalie reveals to Bella that she disliked her at first out of jealousy, because Rosalie wishes she was still human. Rosalie reveals that she truly loves Emmett, and has nothing but sibling love for Edward. She was taken aback when it appeared that Edward wasn't attracted to her, but she was never jealous before because Edward did not show an interest in any other vampire either. Her vanity comes out when she takes an immediate dislike to Bella, for stealing Edward's heart.
Rosalie is described as being astoundingly beautiful, even for a vampire. She is tall and statuesque, with an elegant figure similar to a model's. She has "golden", wavy hair that goes down to the middle of her back, and golden eyes like the rest of the Cullens. As with other vampires, she has chalky, white skin and purple bruises under her eyes. In her human life, Rosalie was described as a woman who had beauty, elegance, and class, and eyes like violets.
Charlie Swan is 41 years old, born in 1964 to Geoffrey and Helen Swan. He is Bella's father and he is over-protective in Eclipse after Edward comes back after leaving Bella. Bella says of Charlie that he is "easy to live with. In many ways, it was like having my own house. Instead of feeling lonely, I reveled in the aloness." Charlie married Bella's mother, Renée, just after they both graduated high school. She later had Bella, but divorced Charlie soon after. She couldn't stand the cold, dreary and wet life of living in Forks. Even after she moved to Phoenix, Charlie was still in love with her, but had gotten past the fact that she didn't love him. He became accustomed to living alone, except when Bella started to visit him in the summer. When Bella was seventeen, she moved to Forks to live with him. Charlie doesn't trust Edward, Bella's vampire boyfriend, and wishes Bella would choose Jacob over him. He doesn't like Edward because blames him for the deep depression that Bella went into after Edward left her in New Moon. As a result, he likes Jacob because he helped Bella and was a great friend to her during that difficult time. He does not know that Edward is a vampire, or that Jacob is a werewolf. Charlie is described as having curly brown hair, and at one time he used to be handsome.