It doesn't take a rocket scientist to decode the compelling success of Stephanie Meyer's vampire series, Twilight. If 17 million printed copies and a movie adaptation are any indication of its influence in young adult literature, then Twilight is redefining this genre through giving it an edge like no other.

Twilight may well owe its success to the intriguing and gothic romance between a normal teenager, Bella Swan, and an intoxicatingly charismatic vampire, Edward Cullen. Just like Romeo and Juliet, the tie binding Cullen and Swan are even more strengthened by the obstacles they had to face due to the opposing existence they tread---Swan as a mortal, and Cullen as a vampire, one of the scary creatures of the night known to have roamed the world of the living for centuries.

Vampires and other scary creatures of the night have been a famous character since the early 1800s. These dark creatures possess an eerie combination of beauty and lethal danger. Both repulsive and attractive, vampires are a borderline between monstrosity and humanity. Capitalizing on these scary creatures' grim and fascinating characteristics, Stephanie Meyer has created a world like no other---A world where love between a mere mortal and an enticingly dangerous scary creature of the night is within the bounds of possibility and reality.

Instead of the stereotypical vampires replicated over and over throughout the years, the book has introduced us to a fairly different set of vampires. Rather than being portrayed as pure evil, we are welcomed into the world of conscience-ridden vampires that could choose to feast on human blood or jeopardize their existence by denying their nature.

Edward Cullen

Edward Cullen (Edward Anthony Cullen) was born in June 20, 1901. He was saved by Dr. Carlisle Cullen to grant Elizabeth's (Edward's mother) dying wish. However, the only way to do so is to transform him into a vampire-a scary creature of the night that doesn't eat, sleep, breathe or age. Frozen in his 17-year old body, Edward has survived the century by feasting on animal blood.

He instantly fell in love with Bella as soon as she arrives in Forks. Fighting the urge to kill her because of his nature and wanting to love her, he faces a bout with himself almost throughout the story.

Jacob Black

He is werewolf who is later revealed to be a shape-shifter as he doesn't transform on a full moon. Being Bella's best friend, he's determined to protect and stand by her no matter what.




Carlisle Cullen

Having brought compassion from his human life, Carlisle Cullen spent most of his early years as a vampire in perfecting his resistance to human bloodlust and becoming a doctor. In the book, we are told of Carlisle's love affair with Esme and how he transformed her into a vampire to save her life. He also transformed Rosalie Hale and Emmett into vampires.

Esme Cullen

She is the wife of Carlisle and adoptive mother to Edward, Rosalie, Alice and Emmett. She has no special power, but has a strong ability to love passionately. She committed suicide because she couldn't bear the pain of her son's death. It was in this condition when she was transformed into a vampire by Carlisle.

Rosalie Hale

Beautiful and alluring, Rosalie Hale is one of these scary creatures of the night adopted by Carlisle and Esme. In the book, we see her as a repulsive character for always undermining Bella. But in the latter chapters, we find that the reason behind such callous behavior is her insecurity towards Bella Swan's mortality. Wanting to be mortal herself, Rosalie tries to convince Bella to stay as she is and not transform as a vampire.

Emmett Cullen

His curls and innocent appearance reminded Rosalie of her dead son. Because of this, she decided to take Emmett back to her father to transform him into a vampire. Emmett is married to Rosalie Hale.

Alice Cullen

This petite vampire with a graceful gait has a special ability to see the outcome of a decision once it is made. She also uses this ability to help Bella to surpass the dangers that await her.
When she was still a mere mortal, she was sent into an asylum for having premonitions. She later learned that she was transformed into a vampire to protect her from another vampire that haunts her.

Jasper Hale

He was transformed into a scary creature of the night when he was 20 and soon developed the ability to manipulate the emotions of people around him. Due to his past, where he was able to feed on humans whenever he chose, Jasper lacks strong self-control to feast on human blood. In addition, his body is covered with crescent-shaped scars, after the many years of fighting and training newborn vampires.