Jackson Nathaniel Jax Teller is a fictional character and the protagonist of the FX television series Sons of Anarchy, portrayed by Charlie Hunnam. A member of the titular outlaw motorcycle club, he spends the series as the Vice President and later President of the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club Redwood Original (SAMCRO), charter based in the fictional town of Charming, California. The son of one of the club's founding members, his conflict between wanting to maintain the longevity of his father's organization by reducing the criminal element and his desire to become a law-abiding family man despite increasing levels of violence forms the central conflict of the series.
The character and Hunnam's portrayal have been received positively by critics. Hunnam was twice nominated for the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor. The character's descent into a brutal antihero and even villain has been described as both "shocking" and "brilliant". His character is based on Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark from William Shakespeare's play Hamlet.
Character
Jax Teller was born in 1978 to John and Gemma Teller. He was raised within the world of SAMCRO as his father, a Vietnam veteran, was the founder and President of the M.C. John Teller died in a road accident on November 13, 1993, with leadership of SAMCRO passing to Clay Morrow who would eventually marry Gemma, becoming Jax's step-father. Jax is a trained mechanic and possesses a GED.
Jax is depicted dressing as unconventional compared to traditional bikers, specifically wearing white Nike Air Force 1 sneakers throughout the series.
In season seven, Wayne Unser describes Jax as "Formidable, as smart as he is dangerous". By the series end, Jax's kill count numbered 46.
Storyline
Season 1
As the series begins in 2008, Jax serves as SAMCRO's Vice President and works as a mechanic at his family-owned automotive repair shop. Since 1967, SAMCRO has held sway over the town of Charming and protects it from criminal elements while working closely with its Chief of Police, Wayne Unser. A convicted felon, Jax previously served time in prison for gunrunning. He is estranged from his pregnant wife Wendy; a methamphetamine addict who overdoses and endangers the life of their unborn son Abel, who is born premature. Jax discovers a manuscript by his late father, "The Life and Death of SAM CROW: How the Son's of Anarchy Lost Their Way", in which John describes his growing disillusionment with the chaotic and violent life of the M.C. His mother Gemma, discovers that Jax has read the letters and worries that it will drive him away from the club.
Jax renews a relationship with his high-school sweetheart, Tara Knowles, a neonatal surgeon at the local hospital who operates on Abel. The destruction of a gun warehouse brings unwanted attention on SAMCRO from both local and federal law enforcement, specifically the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). As Jax attempts to lead SAMCRO into more peaceful resolutions with other competitors and rivals, he discovers that Tara is being stalked by a former boyfriend; ATF agent Josh Kohn. After multiple confrontations with Kohn, Jax murders him after he attempts to rape Tara.
In order to continue their gun selling relationship with the IRA, SAMCRO is tasked with killing a member of the port authority. Jax, Opie Winston, and Bobby Munson complete the hit but a witness identifies Bobby as the shooter. The ATF investigates SAMCRO for their involvement and ATF agent June Stahl attempts to make Opie out to be the federal informant who ratted on Bobby. Club President and Jax's step-father Clay Morrow and Tig Trager secretly orchestrate a plan to kill Opie and pin the kill on the One-Niners; an African American street gang from Oakland. However, Tig mistakenly kills Opie's wife Donna in a botched drive-by shooting. Jax rescues the actual informant from being killed by SAMCRO and deduces that Clay is responsible for Donna's death, causing a rift within the club.