Esme Cullen Character Analysis

A vampire, Esme is Carlisle’s wife. She’s small and curvy, with brown hair, and she takes on a maternal role with all of her and Carlisle’s adopted family members. More than anything else, Esme wants her adopted children to be happy—so she has no problem with Edward entering into a relationship with a human like Bella, since she’s seen how happy Edward is with Bella around. She explains to Bella that she’s never been able to escape her human maternal instincts and, in a way, they led to her becoming a vampire. As a young woman, Esme attempted to kill herself by jumping off a cliff soon after her days-old baby died. Carlisle found her at the bottom, nearly dead, and saved her by changing her into a vampire.

Esme Cullen Quotes in Twilight

The Twilight quotes below are all either spoken by Esme Cullen or refer to Esme Cullen. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Love and Lust Theme Icon
).

Chapter 1 Quotes

“They’re all adopted. The Hales are brother and sister, twins—the blondes—and they’re foster children.”

“They look a little old for foster children.”

“They are now, Jasper and Rosalie are both eighteen, but they’ve been with Mrs. Cullen since they were eight. She’s their aunt or something like that.”

“That’s really kind of nice—for them to take care of all those kids like that, when they’re so young and everything.”

“I guess so,” Jessica admitted reluctantly […] “I think that Mrs. Cullen can’t have any kids, though,” she added, as if that lessened their kindness.

Related Characters: Jessica (speaker), Bella Swan (speaker), Dr. Carlisle Cullen, Esme Cullen, Edward Cullen, Alice Cullen, Emmett Cullen, Rosalie Hale, Jasper Hale
Page Number and Citation: 2
Explanation and Analysis:
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Esme Cullen Character Timeline in Twilight

The timeline below shows where the character Esme Cullen appears in Twilight. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 13
Self-Restraint and Morality Theme Icon
Good, Evil, and Perspective Theme Icon
...Edward says he went to Carlisle and ran away to Alaska. He knew he upset Esme and his siblings, but running gave him the space to think, hunt, and decide he... (full context)
Chapter 14
Self-Restraint and Morality Theme Icon
Family Theme Icon
...say that Carlisle turned Edward into a vampire out of loneliness. Soon after, Carlisle found Esme—she’d fallen from a cliff and was nearly dead. Edward explains that it’s just Carlisle’s preference... (full context)
Chapter 15
Good, Evil, and Perspective Theme Icon
Family Theme Icon
...floorplan with a wall of windows on one side. Dr. Cullen stands with his wife, Esme, on the staircase, ready to welcome Bella. They greet her warmly, and then Alice and... (full context)
Family Theme Icon
...begins to play. He’s shockingly good, and he reveals that he wrote this piece for Esme. Then, the music changes, and Edward says he wrote this for Bella. She’s awestruck. As... (full context)
Good, Evil, and Perspective Theme Icon
Family Theme Icon
...wishes she were human. Edward says that he warned Jasper to keep his distance, and Esme and Carlisle are just happy that Edward is happy. When Bella asks about Alice, Edward... (full context)
Chapter 16
Self-Restraint and Morality Theme Icon
Good, Evil, and Perspective Theme Icon
...saving people. But Edward ultimately couldn’t justify taking human lives and returned to Carlisle and Esme. (full context)
Chapter 17
Self-Restraint and Morality Theme Icon
Good, Evil, and Perspective Theme Icon
Family Theme Icon
Edward takes Bella’s hand and leads her to an enormous, open field. Esme and Emmett run over, but Rosalie disdainfully stalks away. Alice also comes running from across... (full context)
Love and Lust Theme Icon
Good, Evil, and Perspective Theme Icon
...and then suggests that they continue playing; the newcomers, according to Alice, are just curious. Esme agrees to catch, leaving Edward next to Bella. Edward tells Bella to put her hair... (full context)
Chapter 19
Good, Evil, and Perspective Theme Icon
Family Theme Icon
...Victoria are circling outside and tells Rosalie to trade clothes with Bella. Rosalie refuses, so Esme offers. Esme picks up Bella, whisks her upstairs, and then starts pulling Bella’s shirt off.... (full context)
Love and Lust Theme Icon
Family Theme Icon
...and Edward are ready to head out into the night to chase James. Carlisle offers Esme and Alice small cell phones and says that Esme and Rosalie will take Bella’s truck.... (full context)
Chapter 20
Love and Lust Theme Icon
Family Theme Icon
...Alice says that Carlisle was going to lead James north and then ambush him, while Esme and Rosalie were going to lead Victoria west and then watch Charlie. If nobody has... (full context)
Love and Lust Theme Icon
Family Theme Icon
...him. He explains that James got on a plane, presumably to head back to Forks. Esme is currently watching Charlie—Victoria has been at the house, but only when Charlie is at... (full context)