Character Analyses Compilation

INTRODUCTION

Elena Gilbert is the protagonist of the modern fantasy television series known as "The Vampire Diaries" which was released on 2009, and co-created by Julie Plec and Kevin Williamson. The story was based on the novel saga written by L. J. Smith, which was first published on the year of 1991. While both series share the same basic setting and storyline, there were more differences than similarities between the two canon materials. The most prominent regards the cast, their relationship dynamics, and eventual fates.

In the case of Elena, almost everything about her was changed from her appearance to her personality. Even her background was remade to fit an entirely new plotline. Instead of the popular mean girl in the books, she became the school's popular sweetheart. Her hostile rivalry with Caroline Forbes turned into a friendship closely compared to her bond with Bonnie Bennett. The main love triangle composed of herself with the Salvatore Brothers, Damon and Stefan, also became more dramatic and intense in the show.

Under the request of JuLy-is-Life, I will be focusing on the version of Elena Gilbert in the show.

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BIOGRAPHY

The following is a summary of important details regarding the life of Elena Gilbert. The information given here was copied from the wiki, and revised by my own knowledge.

Elena was originally born to John Gilbert and Isobel Flemming, whom both possess unique ancestries relating to the supernatural. Her paternal lineage is composed of hunters whom invented many magical artifacts that helped them either fend off the supernatural, or protect themselves against it. Her maternal lineage is descended from the female Immortal, Amara, and thus a renowned bloodline of her doppelgangers.

Due to particular circumstances, John and Isobel chose not to raise Elena or even let her know that they were her biological parents. This decision led to her being adopted by John's brother—hence, Elena's paternal uncle—and his sister-in-law: Grayson and Miranda Gilbert. Both wanted children very badly but had trouble conceiving. Being a doctor, Grayson managed to forge the documentation of Elena's birth to make it look like they were her real parents. The only other person whom knew the truth was Miranda's own sister, Jenna Sommers. Later, Grayson and Miranda managed to actually conceive their own child whom they named Jeremy. He and Elena were then raised as siblings rather than cousins.

Elena was described as a star student, a nearly flawless role model for girls of her generation. She was popular, sporty, smart, compassionate, empathetic, caring, and friendly. She could be very vulnerable and a damsel in distress, but there are moments where she shines as an empowered young woman.

For most of her life, Elena lived at 2104 Maple Street in the Gilbert family house. Before the canon storyline began, Elena lost her parents in a car accident. Unbeknownst to her, she separately met two men—a pair of brothers—that night whom would change her life forever. After the deaths of Grayson and Miranda, an inexperienced Jenna took custody of them as their guardian. Jeremy coped in the worst of ways by turning to drugs, acting out like a brooding teen while immersed in his grief and anger. Elena repressed all her trauma and negative emotions within her, wishing to be strong for Jeremy and not be pitied.

In Season 1, a mysterious new student named Stefan Salvatore joins Mystic Falls High School. Elena and Stefan fall in love with each other, drawn by an incomprehensible allure between their souls. Amidst their growing bond, Elena learned Stefan's secret: he is a vampire. While she learns to cope with this newfound truth, more of the supernaturals in Mystic Falls began to unravel. One of them came in the form of Stefan's older brother, Damon Salvatore. As tensions grew higher between the Salvatores, a startlingly familiar face came to town. It was Katherine Pierce, the woman whom turned the brothers into vampires back on 1864 and someone whom bears a strange physical resemblance with Elena. Then, in the process, the heroine ends up finding out her true parentage. Furthermore, she also discovers that her new history teacher named Alaric Saltzman was the husband of her biological mother.