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Chapter 16
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Twilight, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Love and Lust
Self-Restraint and Morality
Good, Evil, and Perspective
Family
Summary
Analysis
Later, as Edward turns onto Bella’s street, Bella assumes that Edward is going to stay with her for the next few hours. But then they notice Jacob and Billy on the porch, and Edward mutters that Billy is here to warn Charlie. Bella promises to take care of the Blacks and Edward teases that Bella also has to prepare Charlie to meet her boyfriend. Bella races out of the car to the porch, greets Billy and Jacob, and purposefully ignores Billy’s meaningful stares. Billy explains he came to drop off some homemade fish fry from a friend. Bella is thrilled and mentions that Charlie will be home with more fish tonight. With a gleam in his eye, Billy suggests he’ll go meet up with Charlie at the usual spot, but Bella lies that Charlie is fishing somewhere new.
Billy’s suspicion of Edward—and the implication that he wants to go tell Charlie that Edward isn’t an appropriate boyfriend for Bella—suggests that Billy takes the old Quileute legend at face value. The legend holds that the Cullens are, if not terribly dangerous, still evil and to be avoided at all costs. In contrast, Bella has spent time with the Cullens, learned their history, and seen who they really are recognizes their actual worth beyond just their nature as vampires.
Themes
Billy sends Jacob out to the car to find a picture of one of his sisters for Charlie. Once he’s gone, Bella thanks Billy for the fish fry and says that Charlie won’t be home for a long time. Billy finally speaks and says that it’s not a good idea for Bella to spend time with the Cullens. Bella says she knows about the Cullens’ “reputation,” and in her opinion it’s undeserved. Billy asks if Charlie is also aware, but Bella cagily implies that it’s her choice to tell Charlie or not. Billy finally gives in and tells Bella to think about what she’s doing. He’s clearly concerned for her. Just then, Jacob bursts in the front door without a photo, and Billy grunts that it must be at home. He says it’s time to leave, so Jacob sadly says goodbye to Bella.
Billy attempts to step into a more paternal role with Bella here. But ultimately, he concedes that Bella can make her own choices—even if he believes that she’s making the wrong ones. It also seems like a shock for him that Bella knows about the Cullens’ “reputation” (the fact that they’re vampires). Jacob’s behavior throughout this passage shows that he has no idea what’s actually going on here—he’s just still interested in Bella.
Themes
Bella throws on some warm clothes and picks up the phone when it rings. It’s Jessica, wanting to tell Bella everything about the dance. She says that Mike kissed her and asks about Edward just as Charlie gets home. Jessica hangs up when she hears Charlie come in the door. A bit later, as Bella and Charlie eat, Bella shares that she was at the Cullens’ this morning and has a date with Edward tonight. Charlie is angry and insists that “Edwin” is too old. Embarrassed, Bella tries to sooth his fears and says that Edward will be here soon. Charlie laughs when he learns that they’re playing baseball on their date; he says she must really like Edward.
Bella. In the midst of her all-consuming love affair with a vampire, seems to find Jessica’s excitement about high school things somewhat unexciting. Charlie’s reaction to hearing that Bella and Edward are dating is somewhat surprising, given how interested Charlie has been in gauging Bella’s interest in local boys. It seems as if perhaps he’s just being protective.
Themes
A few minutes later, the doorbell rings. Charlie invites Edward in, and they laugh about Bella playing baseball. Annoyed, Bella says it’s time to go. Edward promises to get Bella home early and follows Bella to the porch. Bella stops dead; there’s a monster Jeep parked behind her truck. Charlie almost chokes. Edward has to lift Bella in and fasten the harness. Once they’re on their way, Edward explains that the Jeep is Emmett’s. This way, they don’t have to run the entire way. Bella is ready to be sick.
Here Bella’s boyfriend and father joke about Bella’s lack of coordination. The story consistently makes Bella’s lack of physical strength or coordination something that makes her a victim, even if here it is of “good-natured” fun. Charlie might have his reservations about Bella dating Edward, but though he is clearly put off by it he doesn’t put his foot down when he sees the monster Jeep—he respects Bella’s choices, even as he makes a show of being protective. The Jeep and Edward’s comment, meanwhile, make clear that the Cullens certainly don’t play baseball where or in the way normal humans do.
Themes
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Edward navigates onto a mountain side road. When it finally ends, Bella insists that she’ll sit in the car. But Edward swiftly pulls Bella out of the car, puts his face close to hers, and asks what she’s afraid of. He kisses her and asks if she’s still worried about hitting trees and getting sick. Bella gasps, but Edward promises she’ll be fine. She gives in, and Edward kisses her deeply; Bella can’t stop herself from pulling him close. Edward pulls away and growls that he’ll be the death of her. Bella can tell that Edward is making an effort to be gentle as he pulls her onto his back.
Kissing Edward is exciting and overwhelming enough that Bella can’t continue being afraid of being carried on Edward’s back as he runs at superhuman speed through the forest—their love can, in this case, help her conquer her fear. When Bella loses control of herself and pulls Edward too close, it shows that Bella is still struggling with her self-control. Edward’s comment shows that he too is struggling to control himself—but while Bella’s desires are human and sexual, Edward’s are also vampiric and bloodthirsty.
Themes
This time, Bella closes her eyes while Edward runs, and it’s not so bad. But she falls off him and into the mud when he stops, and Edward laughs. Annoyed, Bella walks into the woods to find the baseball game. When Edward tells her to lighten up, Bella hisses that it’s not fair that he’s the only one who can get mad. Edward assures Bella that he’s never mad at her—he’s mad at himself for constantly putting Bella in danger. He loves her, but that’s a bad excuse for endangering her.
Bella here addresses a typical aspect of relationships between men and women: that men are allowed to get mad, while women aren’t. Edward doesn’t really respond to that charge, though Bella being able to voice it at all is a sign of her strength. Edward focuses instead not on the fact of his anger, but it’s direction: that he is only anger at himself and how he endangers Bella. In other words, he says that when he is angry, he is angry on her behalf.
Themes
Edward takes Bella’s hand and leads her to an enormous, open field. Esme and Emmett run over, but Rosalie disdainfully stalks away. Alice also comes running from across the field. Esme stays with Bella while the others run onto the field. Esme explains that she acts as the umpire, because the others all cheat horribly. Bella laughs that Esme sounds like her mom, and Esme shares that she hasn’t been able to let go of her “mothering instincts.” She lost a baby right after birth and jumped off a cliff. Bella stammers that Edward didn’t mention that Esme jumped, to which Esme responds that Edward is a gentleman. She’s always thought of him as a son, and she’s thrilled he found Bella. Esme says that even though Bella is human, it’ll all work out.
Esme’s role as a mother and a moral compass for all of the Cullens stands out—it’s the fact that she takes on this role, the novel implies, that makes Esme such a good person. The revelation that Esme tried to kill herself after her baby died also shows how intense emotions color relationships. Bella has consistently said that she’s rather die than live without Edward. Esme actually did try to kill herself rather than live without her baby. That Esme’s human mother instincts survived into her life as a vampire further suggests that vampires can choose how they will act and are not the simple monsters that Edward sometimes seems to think they are.
Themes
Bella takes stock of the teams. Edward, Carlisle, and Alice are in the outfield, while Emmett swings an aluminum bat. After one strike, Emmett hits the ball—it makes a massive crash, and Bella understands why they have to wait for thunderstorms to play. Bella doesn’t enjoy sports, but it’s fun to watch the vampires play. The game continues as the thunder rumbles—and then, suddenly, Alice gasps. Edward looks up at her and then runs to Bella’s side. Everyone else rushes in, and Alice says that the other vampires heard them, and now they’re coming. They’re five minutes away. Edward insists he can’t run with Bella now—he wouldn’t make it in time, and they don’t want the newcomers to try to hunt Bella.
Just as the vampires can be themselves in their home, they can also be themselves while they play baseball together in the protection of nature and a violent thunderstorm. The game provides them an opportunity to use their extreme strength, speed, and reflexes in a way that they can’t in any other situation. However, things become frightening and sinister when Alice senses the other vampires headed their way. Given that Edward seems to consider running away with Bella, it shows that the Cullens don’t trust the newcomers to be good or trustworthy.
Themes
Carlisle deliberates and then suggests that they continue playing; the newcomers, according to Alice, are just curious. Esme agrees to catch, leaving Edward next to Bella. Edward tells Bella to put her hair down and stay as still as possible. Though the game continues, nobody hits the ball very hard—and Rosalie gives Bella angry looks. Edward apologizes for putting Bella in danger, and then he looks to right field. The others turn in the same direction.
For Edward, this is an emotionally difficult situation: his desire to be himself around Bella has put her in danger, which is what he most wants to protect her from. But this passage shows that Bella won’t be left alone—aside from Rosalie, the rest of the Cullens will be there to protect her if the need arises. She has an entire family to protect her, which is not something she ever had before.
Themes
