Twilight: How Jasper’s Powers Work (& Why He’s So Dangerous)

Every vampire in The Twilight Saga has powers, but out of all the Cullens, Jasper has the most intriguing and dangerous one. Vampires continue to be one of the most beloved creatures in pop culture, and while they have been adapted to all types of media for years, Stephenie Meyer took the world by surprise with her unique take on these creatures in her debut novel Twilight. The book marked the beginning of a series of four novels chronicling the romance between vampire Edward Cullen and mortal Bella Swan, who had to overcome a variety of obstacles so they could be together.

The Twilight books were a worldwide phenomenon but they also drew a lot of criticism, though that didn’t stop them from making the jump to the big screen. The Twilight Saga was released between 2008 and 2012, with the final novel, Breaking Dawn, divided into two movies. The movies expanded the already solid and loyal Twilight fanbase but also left the audience with a lot of questions about the characters, especially the vampires and their powers. Meyer’s vampires have superpowers, as when they are transformed, their strongest trait is enhanced, but these can be confusing when seen on the big screen, as is the case of Jasper and his fascinating yet dangerous abilities.

Jasper Hale is one of Edward’s “brothers” and adoptive son of Carlisle and Esme Cullen. Jasper has a complicated backstory, as he is one of the few survivors of the Southern vampire wars and aided his creator, Maria, in the creation of a newborn vampire army, all of which made him violent. Jasper changed his ways when he met Alice and joined the Cullen clan, becoming a “vegetarian” and learning to control his instincts, even if he still struggled at times (like when he tried to attack Bella when she got a paper cut at his place). Jasper is one of the Cullen’s most skilled members, as he’s the family’s best fighter, the second fastest (after Edward), and the second strongest (after Emmett), but it’s his supernatural power that makes him stand out: pathokinesis.

Jasper’s strongest trait when he was a human was his charisma, which once he became a vampire translated into pathokinesis, which is the ability to sense and change the emotions of the people around him. Jasper mainly uses this power in the Twilight books and movies to calm people down as to avoid fights and end a situation peacefully, but before he joined the Cullens, he used it to control Maria’s newborn vampire soldiers. His powers are also one of the few that can pass through Bella’s mental shield as he’s influencing feelings, so it’s not exactly a power that affects the mind, though it can have serious consequences. If Jasper constantly manipulates the emotions of those around him, he can end up creating a false reality for them as they are feeling what he wants them to. Like the powers of most vampires in the Twilight universe, Jasper’s have some limitations, as the effect of his manipulation can only last for as long as his targets are within his range.

Jasper’s powers are clearer and used more often in the Twilight books than in the movies, though it can be argued that he used them in specific moments throughout the movies but it was never explicitly pointed out. Jasper is one of the most interesting characters in the Twilight universe and who, unfortunately, was left aside through the whole series, but he managed to win a place in the hearts of readers and viewers.

About The Author

Adrienne Tyler
(3269 Articles Published)

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Adrienne Tyler is a features writer for Screen Rant. She is an Audiovisual Communication graduate who wanted to be a filmmaker, but life had other plans (and it turned out great). Prior to Screen Rant, she wrote for Pop Wrapped, 4 Your Excitement (4YE), and D20Crit, where she was also a regular guest at Netfreaks podcast. She was also a contributor for FanSided’s BamSmackPow and 1428 Elm. Adrienne is very into films and she enjoys a bit of everything: from superhero films to heartbreaking dramas, to low-budget horror films. Every time she manages to commit to a TV show without getting bored, an angel gets its wings.

When she’s not writing, you can find her trying to learn a new language, watching hockey (go Avs!), or wondering what life would have been like had Pushing Daisies, Firefly, and Limitless not been cancelled. Breakfast food is life and coffee is what makes the world go round.

Guillermo del Toro said “hi” to her once. It was great.

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