Student Question
What does Charlie say about the bonfires on the cliffs after Bella's rescue in New Moon?
Quick answer:
After Bella's rescue, Charlie says that the lighting of bonfires on the cliffs in La Push is worrying. When Bella asks about them, he tells her that the bonfires had been lit in celebration of the departure of the Cullen family.
While Bella is trying to sleep after having been rescued from the woods following the sudden departure of the Cullen family, Charlie receives a phone call. The caller, identified as Mrs. Stanley, informs him that there are fires on the cliffs outside La Push.
It is immediately apparent that Charlie is concerned and confused about these fires, and he immediately calls Billy to "check it out." Billy explains that the fires are being lit intentionally, and Charlie, speaking with "an edge in his voice" of "irritation" or "anger," urges Billy to make sure that the flames do not spread and expresses surprise that people had been able to light fires in the current weather conditions.
When Bella asks Charlie for more information about the fires, Charlie tells her that the kids from the reservation are being "rowdy" and have lit bonfires in celebration of "the news." Bella quickly understands that...
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the news they are celebrating is the same news that has crushed her: Edward has broken up with her and the Cullen family has left town, presumably for good. Bella understands why the Quileutes, whose legends include stories of "the blood-drinkers that were enemies to their tribe," might be celebrating the departure of the Cullens.
After Bella's rescue, what does Charlie say about the cliff bonfires?
In chapter 3 of Stephenie Meyer's New Moon, when Bella arrives home from her job at Olympic Outfitters (hoping to pay for college even though Edward constantly tells her he can), Edward is waiting there for her, completely quiet. Days pass, and Edward is still being stoic and unresponsive, so Bella decides to have a serious conversation with him. Before she can ask him to talk, Edward suggests they go for a walk in the forest.
Edward tells Bella that his family, the Cullens, are leaving, because his "world" is not for her. Bella, of course, fervently protests, trying to assure him that she does not care about any of the complications, but Edward tells her sternly that he does not want her to come with him. Bella asks plainly if Edward wants her, and he says no, his face blank.
Edward assures Bella that he will vanish and it will be as if he never existed. Her human memory, according to Edward, is "no more than a sieve" and time will heal her. Then, he says goodbye and leaves her alone in the woods.
Bella is completely shocked. Heartbroken, she stumbles through the forest until well after nightfall. Her father, Charlie, gathers a search party, and she is eventually found by Sam, a young man from La Push's Native American reservation.
Sam carries Bella home. As Bella succumbs to unconsciousness (having just wandered the forest and been exposed to the elements for several hours), she overhears Charlie saying that there are bonfires on the cliffs of La Push. We can assume that the Quileute people, Native Americans living in La Push, are celebrating the departure of the Cullens. Finally, Bella falls asleep.