One of the many factors that made The Twilight Saga iconic was, of course, the soundtrack itself. Renowned singer and songwriter Ryan O’Neal, the lead vocalist of Sleeping At Last, has established a cult following from one of the band’s biggest songs to date, “Turning Page,” which appeared in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 1.
After the success of “Turning Page,” Sleeping at Last continued to land in the spotlight and hearts of fans for their unique approach to songwriting and album concepts. An example of this can be heard in their 2019 album Atlas: Enneagram, which is centered around Enneagram personality types.
You’re probably thinking to yourself, “what is an enneagram?” An enneagram is a pseudoscientific tool that measures our fears, core beliefs, motivations, and unconscious patterns. The Enneagram model was credited in the 1950s by philosopher Oscar Ichazo, whose main objective was to teach programs to students who were interested in their self-development while improving their sense of identity.
There are nine enneagram types: The Reformer, The Helper, The Achiever, The Individualist, The Investigator, The Loyalist, The Enthusiast, The Challenger, and The Peacemaker. Further described by The Enneagram Institute,
“At its core, the Enneagram helps us to see ourselves at a deeper, more objective level and can be of invaluable assistance on our path to self-knowledge” (The Enneagram Institute, 2016).
In admiration of the band’s memorable impact in The Twilight Saga, and in honor of four Twilight Saga movies reaching milestone anniversaries this November (with the exception of Eclipse, which turned 15 this June), we took a deep dive into the characters to see which characters would be which Enneagram. More specifically, we analyzed which personality type fits each Twilight character based on the Atlas: Enneagram album by Sleeping At Last.
1. Bella Swan: The Achiever (Atlas: Enneagram “Three”)
Bella Swan, portrayed by Kristen Stewart, is an adaptive and driven character who will do anything to get what she wants.
Known as The Achiever, Bella’s journey throughout the series showcases her resilience and adaptability in wanting to become a vampire. As viewers witness her story unfold, however, Bella was once portrayed as timid and self-conscious.
In Atlas: Enneagram‘s “Three,” Bella’s personality coincides with the second verse: “It’s so exhausting on this silver screen / Where I play the role of anyone but me / And I finally see myself / Unabridged and overwhelmed / A mess of a story I’m ashamed to tell / But I’m slowly learning how to break this spell / And I finally see myself.” Here, “Three” displays how one is expressing feelings of melancholy while they aren’t being their true self. However, they eventually realize their worth in wanting to fix themselves.
Bella’s transformative growth was alluring to watch during The Twilight Saga.
2. Edward Cullen: The Loyalist (Atlas: Enneagram “Six”)
Edward Cullen, portrayed by Robert Pattinson, is the charming vampire we all know and love.
Known as The Loyalist, Edward’s introverted yet magnetic demeanor shines through his ability to navigate complex situations. For instance, Edward exhibits commitment and responsibility in caring for his loved ones — especially Bella Swan. In Atlas: Enneagram‘s “Six,” the first verse can compare to Edward’s thought process in Breaking Dawn — Part 1 in which Bella dies during childbirth: “My mind was heavy, running ragged with worst-case scenarios / Emergency exits and the distance below / I woke up so worried that angels let go.”
His mind occupied with anxious and fearful thoughts of losing his soulmate, Edward did everything he could in order to save her life; even if it meant turning Bella into a vampire. As the loyalist, individuals with this personality trait are also deemed security-oriented.
Edward is the person you’d trust with your entire being.
3. Jacob Black: The Challenger (Atlas: Enneagram “Eight”)
No character is more rebellious than the infamous Jacob Black, played by Taylor Lautner.
Known as The Challenger, Jacob is a confident spirit who doesn’t take no for an answer. His go-getter energy is portrayed throughout the entire series. From forming a strong friendship with Bella, unintentionally falling in love, and going through growing pains in navigating difficult obstacles, Jacob’s character development has blossomed maturely in accepting his fate of not being with the woman he loves.
In Breaking Dawn — Part 1, he bit the bullet in attending Bella’s and Edward’s wedding despite the feelings he has towards her. This relates to the chorus in Atlas: Enneagram‘s “Eight”: “I can’t let you in, I swore never again / I can’t afford to let myself be blindsided / I’m standing guard, I’m falling apart / And all I want is to trust you / Show me how to lay my sword down / For long enough to let you through.” Based on these lyrics, this perfectly intwines with how Jacob was feeling throughout his friendship with Bella.
Despite it all, Jacob was a shoulder to lean on.
4. Alice Cullen: The Enthusiast (Atlas: Enneagram “Seven”)
The quirky fan-favorite Alice Cullen, portrayed by Ashley Greene, is the hype girl we’ve always wanted in our corner.
Known as The Enthusiast, Alice is a beloved vampire notable for her witty remarks, sweet demeanor, and magnetic personality. Throughout the entire trilogy, Alice goes above and beyond for her loved ones. From being Jasper’s number one support system to being there for her brother in times of need, Alice is a reminder of what it means to have empathy regardless of a dire situation.
In Atlas: Enneagram‘s “Seven,” the bridge describes her verbatim: “But I want to be here / Truly be here / To watch the ones that I love bloom / And I want to make room / To love them through and through and through / And through the slow and barren seasons too / I feel hope / Deep in my bones / Tomorrow will be beautiful.”
Alice’s warm optimism makes her admirable in letting people feel more at ease.
5. Jasper Hale: The Investigator (Atlas: Enneagram “Five”)
Jasper Hale, portrayed by Jackson Rathbone, carries an introverted and perceptive nature, which makes him Twilight’s most compelling character.
Known as The Investigator, Jasper’s quiet aura shines through in how carefully he observes the world around him. When he isn’t helping the Cullens, Jasper is seen working on himself in trying his best to become vegetarian after struggling in attempts to drink Bella’s blood.
Uniquely enough, in Atlas: Enneagram‘s “Five,” the first two minutes are instrumental — bringing the listener into a blissful trance. Afterwards, the narrator delves deep into a flow-state with the lyrics: “It feels like an out-of-body experience / but something gets lost from a safe distance and now I can’t put my mind to rest / and I can’t help but second guess living behind this one-way mirror.” This corresponds with Jasper feeling dissociated while not caving into something he’s been accustomed to his entire life. Notably, this is common with type fives who tend to get lost in their thoughts, regressing back to a mental state in which their nervous system feels at ease.
Jasper is a quiet storm that overcomes all.
6. Charlie Swan: The Peacemaker (Atlas: Enneagram “Nine”)
Charlie Swan, portrayed by Billy Burke, is the best dad anyone could ask for.
Known as The Peacemaker, Charlie Swan is infamously known as Bella Swan’s father. Due to his soft demeanor and understanding towards his daughter, he makes Bella feel understood when going through hardships, such as navigating her relationship with Edward while wanting to maintain a close friendship with Jacob.
Some lyrics in Atlas: Enneagram‘s “Nine” align with Charlie’s experience in getting used to Bella’s transformation as a vampire in Breaking Dawn — Part 2: “It looks like empathy / To understand all sides / But I’m just trying to find myself / Through someone else’s eyes / So show me what to do / To restart this heart of mine / How do I forgive myself / For losing so much time?” Here, verse two correlates to Charlie’s internal monologue.
As viewers watched the progression of Bella and Edward’s relationship over the years, Bella spent less quality time with her father. In both Breaking Dawn films, Charlie was seen as confused and guilty in discovering what was wrong with Bella, all while wanting to acknowledge her decision of becoming an immortal vampire. Charlie’s fatherly concern is normal, since his only daughter was on the brink of death.
Charlie’s reassuring and empathetic nature has led Bella to become her most authentic self.
7. Esme Cullen: The Reformer (Atlas: Enneagram “One”)
Esme Cullen, portrayed by Elizabeth Reaser, is the glue that holds her family together.
Known as The Reformer and the matriarch of the Cullens, Esme is a principled character who is willing to do anything to support her loved ones. After going through the hardest moments of her human life, Carlisle was her saving grace after turning her into a vampire — similar to what Edward did for Bella.
Atlas: Enneagram‘s “One” is an ode to individuals who are advocates for change while not necessarily needing to change themselves: “Now, I have learned my lesson / The price of this so-called perfection is everything / I’ve spent my whole life searching desperately / To find out that grace requires nothing of me.” Based on verse 2, the lyrics mirror Esme’s life before she became immortal. Particularly, this song is written from the perspective of an individual critiquing their self-worth, only to register that they don’t need to change themselves for the sake of love.
Esme Cullen’s story is a reminder that the right person can help rebuild what’s broken.
8. Carlisle Cullen: The Helper (Atlas: Enneagram “Two”)
Carlisle Cullen, portrayed by Peter Facinelli, is the compassionate doctor who is willing to take care of your needs.
Known as The Helper and patriarch of the Cullen family, Carlisle is a kind man who is willing to go above and beyond in saving a life. From stitching Bella’s arm in New Moon after Jasper lost control after smelling her blood at her birthday party to saving Rosalie from almost being killed by her ex-fiancé, everyone in the Twilight multi-verse can vouch for how interpersonally caring he is.
However, the entirety of Atlas: Enneagram‘s “Two” can vouch for the entirety of Esme’s and Carlisle’s relationship. A fan-favorite song in this album, the introductory verse is a testament to Carlisle’s point of view: “Sweetheart, you look a little tired / When did you last eat? Come in and make yourself right at home / Stay as long as you need / Tell me, is something wrong? / If something’s wrong, you can count on me / You know I’ll take my heart clean apart, if it helps yours beat.”
In essence, Carlisle embodies selfless love as reflected in the song’s lyrics.
9. Renesmee Cullen: The Individualist (Atlas: Enneagram “Four”)
Renesmee Cullen, portrayed by Mackenzie Foy, changed the trajectory of The Volturi’s history. The Volturi are a powerful, influential vampire coven that acts as the unofficial guardians or royalty of the vampires, keeping them hidden from humans.
Known as The Individualist, Renesmee is the daughter of Edward and Bella Swan-Cullen. More importantly, this makes her the first vampire/human hybrid in the series. Due to this never-before-seen shift, Renesmee’s existence was the defining moment of reaching a truce between vampires and humans. Although she’s the youngest character in the Twilight franchise, her natural-born talents in foresight and enchanted strength are gifts that shape fate for future generations.
In Atlas: Enneagram’s “Four,” the first verse coincides with Renesmee’s view towards the rivalry that occurred for centuries: “I’m turning out the lights / To remember how to see / Until a renaissance takes place / And resuscitates the color of paint and divinity.” This can be interpreted as Renesmee’s viewing The Volturi conflict from a first-person perspective. Additionally, “turning out the lights” can symbolize Renesmee distancing herself from the rivalry between vampires and humans.
Carrying both legacies in her blood, Renesmee stands as a miracle unlike any other.
Decades later, Twilight continues to touch the hearts of many fans. Revisiting the franchise through Sleeping at Last’s Atlas: Enneagram is a testament to how impactful it is. Each song serves as a reflection of every character who has been through grief, love, empathy, and courage. As a result, this analysis serves as an ode to the obstacles every character has overcome, alongside the fans who matured with them.
