Student Question
Why does Edward lie and leave Bella in New Moon?
Quick answer:
Edward lies and leaves Bella in New Moon to protect her. After the dangerous incident at her birthday party, he realizes she is not safe around him and his family. By lying and making her think he doesn't love her anymore, he hopes she will move on to a safer relationship and not follow him, thus avoiding further harm.
In New Moon, Edward lies and leaves Bella because after the incidents at her eighteenth birthday party, he realizes that, even after toiling so long to protect her, she isn't safe from anyone, including him and his family. He lies to her when he leaves in the hope that she will think that he doesn't love her anymore and, hopefully, she will move on to healthier relationships that don't have such a risk of hurting her. He also hopes that by lying to her and making her think that he doesn't want her anymore, she won't attempt to follow him as she would if he left without lying, furthering his intentions to keep her safe from harm that might be inflicted upon her by him and the other Cullens.
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