Taylor Launter

Jacob Black is a fictional character in the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. He is described as a Native American of the Quileute tribe in La Push, near Forks, Washington. In the second book of the series, he undergoes a transformation that allows him to morph into a wolf. For the majority of the series, Jacob competes with Edward Cullen for Bella Swan's love. In the films Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse, Jacob is played by Taylor Lautner.

Contents [hide]
1 Concept and creation
2 Role in the books
2.1 Twilight
2.2 New Moon
2.3 Eclipse
2.4 Breaking Dawn
3 Characterization
3.1 Physical appearance
3.2 Personality and abilities
4 Film portrayal
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Concept and creation
According to Stephenie Meyer, Jacob was originally meant to only be a device through which Bella could learn Edward's secret in Twilight. However, Meyer, her agent, and her editor all liked the character so much that they decided to give him a larger role in the following book, New Moon, with Meyer calling the character, "my favorite gift that New Moon gave to me."[1]

"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 has said that after Jacob started emerging as a prominent character in New Moon, she went back to Twilight, which she was editing at the time, to "weave Jacob and [his father Billy] throughout Twilight more centrally."[1]

[edit] Role in the books
[edit] Twilight
Jacob has a small role in the first book of the series. He is the son of Billy Black, an old Swan family friend. When Bella uses him to get information on Edward Cullen and his family, Jacob tells her Quileute legends and introduces her to the idea that Edward is a vampire. Bella comes to like Jacob, and he develops a crush on her.[2]

[edit] New Moon
Distraught over Edward's leaving in New Moon, Bella finds friendship with Jacob and slowly emerges from her months-long depression. Their friendship grows strong, but Jacob also develops romantic feelings for Bella that she does not reciprocate. Jacob, a member of the Quileute tribe, is descended from an ancient line of "shape-shifters" that assume wolf form. The Quileutes are vampires' mortal enemies, and Jacob undergoes his first transformation into a wolf in response to a new vampire threat. He becomes busy patrolling the forest with his pack, searching for vampires in the area. When Bella is caught by the vampire Laurent alone in a clearing, she is saved by Jacob and the wolf pack, who chase and kill Laurent.

Bella, who has been taking dangerous risks to feel closer to Edward, impulsively jumps off a cliff and almost drowns, but Jacob saves her life. After Edward mistakenly believes Bella has died, she and Edward's sister, Alice Cullen, rush to Italy to stop Edward from killing himself, leaving Jacob hurt and angry. Jacob is disgusted by Edward's return and by Bella's willingness to take him back after he left her. Jacob reminds Edward of his tribe's treaty with the Cullen family, which states that the Cullens are not allowed to bite humans.[