The Struggle

Title: The Awakening
Author: L.J. Smith
Publisher: Harper Collins
Pages: 210
Release Date: 1991
Chapters: 16
Genre: Young Adult, Horror, Science Fiction, Romance
Followed by: The Fury

After the disappearance of Stefan, Elena races to the woods to find Damon, Stefan’s older brother. Damon tries to persuade Elena to forget Stefan and be his, when Elena refuses Damon leaves and in anger tells Elena that he killed Stefan.

With the help of Bonnie, Meredith and Matt, Elena soon finds Stefan, dumped in a well on an abandoned farm. Back at school Alaric Saltzman replaces Mr. Tanner as the teacher of European History. Elena and Stefan become suspicious of Alaric and his overly friendly behavior. At Alaric’s house gathering, designed to help the students with their grief over Mr Tanner, Damon shows up and confronts Stefan.

Vickie Bennett returns to school after her attack but continues to act irrationally in front of the whole school. Elena and the girls discover that Caroline Forbes is responsible for stealing Elena’s diary which she plans to use as evidence to prove that Stefan is a murderer.

Elena, Bonnie and Meredith break into Caroline’s house to recover the diary, however when Caroline and her parents return home suddenly Elena is left without an escape root. She escapes to the balcony where Damon pulls her onto the roof. Once again Damon tries to persuade Elena to pick him over Stefan – again Elena refuses and Damon leaves, claiming that Elena now owes him.

At thanksgiving Damon is mistakenly invited into Elena’s house and that night after Damon threatens to hurt Elena’s four year old sister Margaret, Elena agrees to let Damon take her blood. Elena later tells Stefan about Caroline’s plan to destroy them both, she does not however tell him about her liaisons with Damon.

At the Founder’s Day Celebration Damon steals back Elena’s diary from Caroline, saving both Elena and Stefan. However Elena and Damon argue and Elena announces that she plans to marry Stefan – which her Aunt Judith forbids. Elena leaves in a rage, heading to the boarding house, however on the way she becomes aware that she is being followed by an evil power. In an attempt to get to safety Elena drives her car off Wickery Bridge where she drowns.

A while later Elena wakes, confused and dazed. The blood that she had exchanged with Stefan and Damon had prevented her death and changed her. Elena finds the brothers fighting in the woods where she, in confusion, attacks Stefan, to save Damon whom she thinks she loves.

Memorable Quotes

  • “Elena, don’t go to the bridge. It’s Death, Elena. Your death is waiting there.’ – Bonnie
  • “I told you when school started that things were going to be different this year. I warned you that your time on the throne might be running out. But it isn’t my doing. What’s happening is simply natural selection. The law of the jungle.” – Caroline
  • “Don’t even think about leaving. Stefan, that’s the one thing I couldn’t stand. Promise me you won’t; promise me”. – Elena
  • “I may just have to make you my Queen of Shadows. I’ve had many companions, girls as young as you and women who were the beauties of Europe. But you’re the one I want at my side. Ruling, taking what we want when we want it. Would that be so bad?” – Damon
  • “When Katherine died, I thought I could never love anyone else. Even though I knoew she would have wanted me to, I was sure it could never happen. But i was wrong.” – Stefan