Jacob Black

Jacob Black
Twilight series character
First appearance	Twilight
Last appearance	Breaking Dawn
Created by	Stephenie Meyer
Portrayed by	Taylor Lautner
In-universe information
Nickname	Jake, Mutt, Dog, Mongrel, Pup
Species	Human/Shape-shifter (or "werewolf")
Gender	Male
Title	True Alpha
Occupation	Student
Family	Billy Black (father), Sarah Black (mother-deceased), Rachel and Rebecca (older twin sisters)

Jacob Black is a fictional character in the books Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer. He is described as a Native American of the Quileute (pronounced Quil-yoot) tribe near Forks, Washington. During New Moon, he undergoes a transformation that enables him to phase into a wolf. In Breaking Dawn, it is said that because he and his pack members are not bound by the moon, they are not true werewolves but shape-shifters who happen to turn into wolves.

Concept and creation

According to Stephenie Meyer, Jacob was originally just meant to be a device through which Bella could learn Edward's secret in Twilight. However, Meyer, her agent, and her editor all liked Jacob so much that they decided to give him a larger role in the following book, New Moon.

"Jacob was my first experience with a character taking over—a minor character developing such roundness and life that I couldn't keep him locked inside a tiny role....From the very beginning, even when Jacob only appeared in chapter six of Twilight, he was so alive. I liked him. More than I should for such a small part."

Meyer wrote on her official site that after Jacob Black starting emerging as a prominent character in New Moon, she went back to Twilight, which she was editing at the time, to "weave Jacob and Billy throughout Twilight more centrally."

Role in the books

Twilight

Jacob has a small role in this book. He is one of Bella Swan's oldest friends that she knew from visiting her father, Charlie Swan, in the summer. When Bella flirts with him to get information on Edward Cullen and his family, he introduces her to the idea that Edward is a vampire by telling her Quileute legends.

New Moon

After months of depression over Edward's leave, Bella discovers she can hear his voice when in dangerous situations. Originally, she seeks out Jacob to help fix two motorcycles, but soon she finds friendship with him and slowly begins to come out of her depression. Jacob is one of an ancient line of werewolves, a member of the Quileute tribe that has forever been the mortal enemy of vampires. At first Jacob doesn't believe the legends, and is frightened and disturbed by the influence a young man on the reservation, Sam Uley, has on some of the Quileute youth. But when Jacob himself makes the change in response to a new vampire threat, he learns that the Quileute legends about werewolves and vampires are indeed true. He becomes busy patrolling the forest with his pack, searching for the vampires in the area who are killing local hikers. When Bella is caught by the vampire Laurent alone in a clearing, she is saved by Jacob and the pack, who manage to destroy Laurent.

When Bella impulsively jumps off a cliff and almost drowns, Jacob pulls her out and saves her. After Edward mistakenly believes Bella to have died, she and his sister, Alice, rush to Italy stop Edward from killing himself, leaving Jacob hurt and angry. Jacob is disgusted by Edward's return and by Bella's willingness take him back after he left her; he is also outraged and upset when he learns of Bella's plan to become a vampire. Jacob 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 will be broken and the werewolves will start a war.

Eclipse

Jacob attempts to distance himself from Bella by not returning her phone calls and refusing to see her, enraged by the fact that Bella plans to become a vampire after graduation. At the same time, Edward forces Bella to keep away from the tribe, doing as much as disabling her car engine to prevent a visit. Later, Jacob visits Bella and Edward's school to discuss the vampire Victoria's return, and he tells Bella that he misses her and that he believes they can still be friends, much to Edward's annoyance. With Edward's approval, Bella begins to visit Jacob on a regular basis. On one of these visits, Jacob tells Bella that he loves her and that he wants her to choose him over Edward. He forcefully kisses her, much to her displeasure, and she reacts by punching him in the jaw. Jacob is unharmed but the impact of the punch breaks Bella's hand, and she is furious with him. Jacob brings Bella home and is congratulated by Bella's father, but threatened by Edward. Jacob's pack of werewolves and the Cullen family join forces to defeat Victoria and the army of vampires she has created. Before the battle, Jacob overhears Edward and Bella discussing their engagement, angering him greatly. After some talk, Jacob threatens suicide and Bella, in an attempt to stop him, kisses him. Afterwards, Bella comes to the realization that she loves him as well.

The epilogue is written from Jacob's point of view; angry at Bella's decision to become a vampire, he runs away in his wolf form.

Breaking Dawn

Jacob returns after a long absence to appear at Bella and Edward's wedding as a surprise for Bella; though still visibly pained by her decisions, he tells Bella that he just wants her to be happy. He is outraged when Bella inadvertently informs him that she and Edward plan to have sex before she becomes a vampire. When Bella and Edward return from their honeymoon, Jacob finds that she is pregnant with her and Edward's half-vampire, half-human child and has become desperately weak. When he informs the rest of the pack of Bella's pregnancy, Sam plans attack the Cullens and kill Bella and the baby because he believes the child presents a threat. Jacob, who has come to respect Carlisle and knows that the Cullens are innocent, disobeys Sam's command and splits from him and the others, fulfilling his birthright as an Alpha wolf. He is joined in his new pack by Leah and Seth Clearwater, and they aid the Cullens in protecting Bella.

After the birth of Renesmee, Bella and Edward's daughter, Jacob imprints on her. He thus becomes extremely protective of Renesmee, whom he nicknames Nessie. As she grows, the two of them become very close, and Jacob acts as an older-brother figure to her and gives her the Quileute version of a promise ring. Jacob becomes a part of the Cullen family and the enmity between him, Edward, and the other Cullens is dispelled; he and Edward come to view each other as brothers instead of rivals. Sam's pack also makes peace with the Cullens, as they would never harm the object of another wolf's imprinting.

Characterization

Physical appearance

Jacob has dark russet skin, black hair and dark eyes. In Twilight, he is described as a lanky fifteen-year-old with a long black ponytail who is barely taller than Bella; however, by the end of Twilight and the beginning of New Moon he has grown to be over six feet tall. By Eclipse, Jacob has grown to be 6'7", with a toned and muscular build. He is also physically around the age of twenty-five or twenty-seven. In New Moon, after discovering that he is a werewolf and joining the Quileute pack, he crops his long hair short. He later grows it out in Eclipse because he thinks Bella prefers it that way. He is said to be quite handsome, often being described by Bella as beautiful. He tends to wear only cut-off style jeans and shorts, since clothes are often ruined during transformation. As a wolf, Jacob's fur is a russet color. In Breaking Dawn, he cuts his hair short again and it seems that he has grown even taller.

Personality and abilities

Due to his werewolf status, Jacob is also to phase at will into a giant wolf creature. His body temperature is warmer than a human; it reaches about 109 degrees Fahrenheit, which allows him to withstand very cold weather. His body also heals quickly, he can communicate with the werewolf pack telepathically when in wolf form, and he is physically enhanced to be stronger and faster. Werewolves do not age if they regularly turn into their wolf form. Once they begin phasing, a werewolf may imprint on their soul-mate, acting as a close family member until the imprintee is old enough to be their lover. While the imprintee does have a choice, their decision is expected due to the amount of devotion the imprinter shows. Jacob imprints on Bella and Edward's daughter Renesmee, and acts as an older brother but also gives her a promise ring.

Movie Portrayal

On March 10, 2008, it was confirmed that Taylor Lautner will be playing the part of Jacob Black in the upcoming film adaptation of Twilight.

External links

• Official Website of Stephenie Meyer