Bella

Bella Wilfer is an important character in Charles Dickens’ last novel, Our Mutual Friend, written in 1864/5. Bella figures in the will of wealthy old Mr. Harmon, who conditionally leaves his fortune to his absentee son, John, if he marries her. John has never met her, and naturally objects to this little coda. Consequently, he fakes his own death and moves in with the family who are fostering Bella and who conveniently have also inherited Mr. Harmon’s estate. Well, this is Dickens, after all! Bella is a product of a manipulative, money-loving mother and a gentle, doting father. During the course of the novel, she moves from taking after one parent to the other. Initially bound and determined to marry for money, she eventually concedes to marry John Harmon, not knowing his true identity and believing him to be poor. She becomes a loving and devoted wife to him, and - voila – finds out she hit the jackpot. Thus is rather shaky virtue rewarded! Truth be told, she was somewhat more interesting before she found religion!

Isabella Swan is the main character in Stephanie Meyer's Twilight book series, although she is called "Bella" throughout the novels. She is an average girl who moves from Arizona to a remote part of Washington state to live with her father. There, she befriends, is intrigued by, and eventually falls in love with a vampire named Edward Cullen. Strong, independent, sassy and willful, it seems everyone falls under the spell of this girl, including the werewolf/friend Jacob Black. But Bella's heart remains with Edward, and this devotion propels her to join the coven of vampires herself.