Changes: Jane

Revision as of 05:33, 20 March 2011

"This may hurt just a little."

―Jane before she attempts to torture Bella Swan.^[src]

Jane is a high-ranking member of the Volturi guard in the Twilight Saga. She is the twin sister of Alec, and together they are the Volturi's most offensive weapons. Jane has the ability to inflict a mental illusion of burning pain.

Story

Early life

The Volturi had their eyes on Jane and her brother Alec as potential vampires when they were still human, but were waiting until they were older to change them. When frightened humans started to burn the twins at the stake because of suspected witchcraft, Aro stepped in, slaughtering the whole village. Due to the pain Jane experienced during her burning at the stake and the anger she felt towards the villagers, after her transformation from human to vampire she gained the supernatural talent of inflicting the mental illusion of pain on others (the illusion of burning). Jane has since become one of the prize members of the Volturi Guard. It is unknown whether or not Jane's human name was 'Jane' as well, but the chances are high that it was. Her and Alec's surname remains unknown.

Nowhere in the Twilight Saga is it stated when Alec and Jane lived as humans, other than that it was in a period where burning criminals at the stake was a common execution method. Though already used by the Romans (the notorious tunica molesta), it saw its widest use from the late 12th century, almost at the beginning of the Renaissance, to the 18th century, well into the Illuminism, which may be an indication of when Alec and Jane lived as humans. The mention of them meeting Carlisle may put an earliest date around the 1650-1700s.

New Moon

Main article: New Moon

Jane makes her first appearance in New Moon, when Aro sends her and two other guards to bring Edward to their castle. Upon Jane's arrival, Bella realizes immediately that she is very dangerous despite her size (small at 5 ft), as Edward does exactly what she says without hesitation. Bella also notices her child-like beauty. After returning with Edward, Alice and Bella, Alec takes great delight in Jane bringing back more people than she set out for. When Aro realizes he cannot read Bella's mind, he asks Jane to try. Edward immediately stands between Bella and Jane and takes Jane's torture. Once Jane finishes with Edward, she tries to inflict her pain on Bella, but it fails as well, which infuriates her. She instantly takes a deep profound hatred for Bella, and is very displeased, angered, and offended when Aro compares her gift to Bella's ability to block mental powers.

Eclipse

Main article: Eclipse

"Either we let them do what they were created for or we end them."

―Jane on Seattle Newborn Army^[src]

In Eclipse, Jane travels to Forks with Demetri, Felix and two other guards to deal with the Seattle newborn army that Victoria had created. She is rather shocked to find that the Cullens have dealt with the situation on their own, without one of them being injured or killed (but keeps her emotions hidden). Upon their arrival, Jane notices that there is one newborn left, Bree Tanner. Jane asks for her name, and when she doesn't reply, Jane inflicts her torture. Bree contorts on the floor in absolute agony. When Jane stops, Bree starts talking, and she decides to inflict her torture onto her another time, due to her taking time to answer questions. She takes delight in knowing that Bella is still human, as Caius will probably be interested to send a hunting troop after her, but Alice informs her that the date has been set, much to her dismay. After several minutes of discussion, the Cullens' failed offer to take responsibility for Bree and another unsuccessful attempt to torture Bella with her power, Jane orders Felix to "deal with her" because she is bored and wants to go home. Felix deals with Bree, and returns back to Volterra.

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner

Main article: The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner

"I glimpsed her face for the first time. She was younger than me, but older, too, I guessed. Her eyes were the velvet color of dark red roses."

―Bree Tanner on Jane^[src]

The Eclipse novella, The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, reveals that Jane and her companions have already been aware of the newborn army for a while, and decide to see Victoria and Riley in a small cottage. Though they try to hide, Jane knows that they're there and warns them to stop hiding, because they will find them eventually.

She gives Victoria a five day limit to "serve" her army's purpose, knowing that she holds some grudge against the Olympic Coven, and then decide what to do with her and her army after they served their purpose. Unbeknownst to all of them, their conversation is eavesdropped by two vampires, Bree and Diego.

After the army is destroyed, Bree telepathically informs Edward on everything that she knows about the agreement that Jane had made with Victoria before she dies.

Breaking Dawn

Main article: Breaking Dawn

During Breaking Dawn, Jane, accompanied by the entire Volturi guard, make their way back to Forks, this time to destroy an immortal child. She is really annoyed to find that Aro has given Bella a wedding gift, a sparkling pendant. Later, it is discovered that Renesmee Cullen is in fact a vampire-human hybrid. As this confrontation takes place, Jane tries to use her power on her enemies to incapacitate them, but since Bella is shielding them, her power is rendered neutralized. She is infuriated by this and tries to target Bella. When that fails as well, she tries to spring but Alec stops her with a restraining hand. When Alec's power proves as unsuccessful, she tries to attack again until Aro restrains her. Kate chooses Jane as her target when the battle is about to commence, saying that "she needs a taste of her own medicine". However, Alice and Jasper return in time to prevent the fight from declaring, with prominent witnesses to resolve the situation.

At the end of Breaking Dawn, Jane departs with the rest of the Volturi guard, with extended hatred toward Bella's power.

Personality

Jane has a very dark and sadistic personality, and she takes great pleasure in using her gift to torture others. She is often very easily angered when her gift is made useless, which is where her deep hatred of Bella first began. She shows strong jealousy towards Alice, as Aro is even more impressed by Alice's gift than her own. She appears to worship Aro and seems happy to be in his presence.

Jane enjoys her gift, and the respect and fear that it brings her, and she never wastes an opportunity to use it on someone. Kate of the Denali Coven has a strong dislike for Jane, due to her sadistic nature. When they think the Volturi confrontation will turn into a battle, Kate tells Bella, "Jane is mine". During Eclipse when Jane and five other members of the Volturi guard ventured to Forks, she was seen as the leader. But, despite her personality she seems to have a very strong as well as loving relationship with her twin brother Alec, as seen in New Moon and Breaking Dawn.

It also seems that Jane has a jealous side, as she dislikes it when Aro gave Bella an extravagant gift (a diamond necklace).

Physical appearance

Jane is described as tiny with lank, pale brown hair trimmed semi short and pale skin to match it; her figure is rather slim and androgynous. Her face is both angelically beautiful in its childlike appearance, and lovely when it is animated. Bella describes her as having an exceptional face that would make a Botticelli angel look like a gargoyle. Her eyes are wide and her lips full, while her voice is described as childlike. As with the rest of the Volturi, her eyes are dark red in colour and they become darker when she thirsts.

In the films, she is portrayed as having blonde, longer hair.

Illusion of pain

Main article: Illusion of pain

Torture — Jane tortures Edward in *New Moon*

"Jane smiled at me, the bright, happy smile of an innocent child, and suddenly I was on fire. It was like I'd gone back in time to the worst night of my life. Fire was in every vein of my body, covering every inch of my skin, gnawing through the marrow of every bone. It felt like I was buried in the middle of my coven's funeral bonfire, with the flames on every side. There wasn't a single cell in my body that wasn't blazing with the worst agony imaginable. I could barely hear myself scream over the pain in my ears."

―Bree Tanner going through Jane's power^[src]

Jane possesses a formidable gift, which has been shown to frighten even the strongest of vampires; for this reason she is feared and shown the utmost respect among both the Volturi guard and the rest of the vampire world.

Her gift allows her to create within her targets the illusion of burning. Her gift is an illusion of the mind: it deceives the mind into believing that the body is truly in pain, and thus the tormenting pain is experienced throughout the whole body. A person on whom she uses her gift immediately feels excruciating pain, collapses on the floor, and writhes in pain. It is also said that Jane can control the level of pain she delivers to her victims. Due to the strength of her gift, she is able to incapacitate any vampire into a helpless target.

In contrast to her brother's gift which takes some time to take effect, Jane's works very quickly. Also, though her brother's gift is capable of working on multiple targets at once, Jane's can only work on the object of her focus.

Since finding Jane and Alec, the Volturi have never fought a fight where they were at a disadvantage. The only exception came during the confrontation between the Volturi and the Cullens and their witnesses. Jane, with her "burning" gift, and her brother Alec's with his "numbing" gift, are the cornerstones of the Volturi's offense. Together, they are one of the main reasons why the Volturi are referred to as invincible. Despite how powerful her gift is and the reputation it has given her and the Volturi, it is thwarted by one individual, Bella Swan. This is shown in New Moon, during their first meeting. This immunity instantly draws Jane's anger and later hatred towards Bella.

During Breaking Dawn when the two Romanian vampires, Vladimir and Stefan, are discussing the Volturi's offensive powers, they mention that despite Benjamin's powerful element manipulation, his ability is no match for Jane's.

Relationships

Alec

Main article: Alec

Alec is Jane's twin brother. In Breaking Dawn, it is said that the two have a very close relationship. Her brother has been shown on occasion to tease her, seen when he comments that she brought back two and a "half" vampires instead of one as she was supposed to. When she is angry or throwing one of her anger tantrums, Alec is the one who calms her down.

Film portrayal

Dakota Fanning has played the role of Jane in New Moon and Eclipse. She has been confirmed to reprise her role in Breaking Dawn - Part 2.

Although Jane is said to have "lank, pale brown hair trimmed short", she has long, blond hair in the film portrayal.

@@ Line 109: / Line 109: @@
 ** ''[[The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner]]''
 * ''[[Breaking Dawn]]''
-** ''[[Breaking Dawn (films)|Breaking Dawn Part II]]''
+** ''[[Breaking Dawn (films)|Breaking Dawn Part 2]]''
 ==See also ==