is a sweeping saga that revolves around Elena Gilbert, a young mortal woman living in the small town of Fells Church, Virginia, and Damon and Stefan Salvatore, vampire brothers who are vying for her affections. Forces of good and evil play out across the town as nearly everyone they know becomes wrapped up in paranormal intrigue, especially when old enemies and ancient forces come to visit. Spanning 13 novels written over 20 years, the series has inspired a long-running television adaptation and unofficial spin-offs. Needless to say, there’s a lot of characters to keep track of. Luckily, we’ve created this guide to the most important players in The Vampire Diaries universe.
Before , and nearly 20 years before the eponymous TV show, the characters we now know and love from The Vampire Diaries made their debut in The Awakening, the first book of's popular series. Originally published in 1991, the novel was followed by three sequels, which were released in quick succession. They became some of the author's most notable works as her career took off in the 1990s, before she took a decade-long hiatus from writing. Here's our breakdown of the most interesting characters from The Vampire Diaries.
Elena Gilbert
Elena Gilbert is your typical "Golden Girl"—she's blond, popular, and pretty, and at times, she can be petty or even mean. Her parents died in a car accident several months before the series opens, and with her younger sister Margaret, she was taken in by her Aunt Judith. At school, she is confident and vain, knowing that she can date anyone she wants. Still, she often feels as though she's not able to connect with others, even her childhood friend and eventual love interest, Matt Honeycutt. When she meets Stefan Salvatore, she finds that she feels things for him she's never felt for anyone, despite Stefan initially ignoring her and dating other girls. Eventually, she and Stefan begin dating, but later she feels an inexplicable attraction to his evil brother, Damon Salvatore. Although she comes across as selfish at the beginning of The Awakening, over time it becomes clear that Elena cares deeply about those she loves, and goes to great lengths to protect them. Elena is Stefan's soulmate. She is also a doppelgänger of Katherine von Swartzschild.
Stefan Salvatore
is a centuries-old vampire who was born to an Italian family during the Renaissance—though he doesn't reveal this to Elena at first. He is described as being tall and good-looking, and friendly with many. At the start of the series, he's recently arrived in Fells Church and attempting to absolve himself of his dark past by not preying on humans, only drinking animal blood. He is the younger brother of Damon. Before he became a vampire, he fell in love with Katherine von Swartzschild, a vampire who turned both him and his brother. Damon has come to Fells Church for a fresh start and, in an attempt to blend in among the locals, enrolls as a high school senior. Though initially drawn to Elena, he is shocked and disconcerted by her striking resemblance to his first love, Katherine. He is Elena's soulmate.
