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The bonfire at the center of Le Cirque des Rêves is what gives the circus life, and keeping that fire burning is essential to the survival of the circus and its performers. The lighting of the bonfire on the opening night of Le Cirque des Rêves is a symbolic ritual of birth, inaugurating the circus and its family; it also coincides with the birth of the Murray twins, Widget and Poppet, who become an integral part of the circus family. The fire is also a protective element in the novel: Marco’s protective spell, which keeps those associated with the circus unnaturally young and healthy, is written into a notebook that he placed within the bonfire.
When Marco and Celia decide to exit the competition and possibly end their lives, they jump into the bonfire. As a life-giving element, however, the fire does not kill the two magicians, but instead transports them to a magical space within the circus, suspended between life and death like ghosts. The bonfire goes out, and only a ceremonial re-lighting of the fire, using another copy of Marco’s notebook with the protective spells, will save Le Cirque des Rêves and ensure its eternal life.
The Bonfire Quotes in The Night Circus
The The Night Circus quotes below all refer to the symbol of The Bonfire. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Part 3: Intersections
Quotes
“I cannot leave. I am not allowed. I must remain here, and I must continue with this nonsense, as you so aptly put it. You are going to return to your drinking and your parties and you will not even remember that we had this conversation.”
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“You’re joking.”
“I’m not, I swear I’m not. I wanted to wait until I was sure it was the right thing to ask, the right thing to do, and I’m sure now. It’s important.”
“What do you mean? Important how?”
“I know you’re supposed to come with us. I know that part for certain.”
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Part 4: Incendiary
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“But I’m not […] special. Not in the way they are. I’m not anyone important.”
“I know. You’re not destined or chosen, I wish I could tell you that you were if that would make it easier, but it’s not true. You’re in the right place at the right time, and you care enough to do what needs to be done. Sometimes that’s enough.”
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Part 5: Divination
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“I’m not going to give you your memory back. I don’t know if I could even if I tried, though Widge could probably manage it. At this point, I don’t think you need that weight on you. I think looking forward will be better than looking back.”
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Get the entire The Night Circus LitChart as a printable PDF.
The Bonfire Symbol Timeline in The Night Circus
The timeline below shows where the symbol The Bonfire appears in The Night Circus. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part 2: Illumination
...is finally opening, and at midnight on October 14, twelve fire performers light the central bonfire. Opening night is a success, and the only strange event is that the wild-cat tamer...
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In the meantime, Marco is nervous and impatient for the lighting of the bonfire, which he has organized. Ever since learning that the circus is the venue for the...
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...and reassuring people that it will be fine. And although she is nowhere near the bonfire, she can feel the lighting before she hears the applause; it nearly knocks her off...
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...bumps into the Burgess sisters, Tara and Lainie, instead. They watch the lighting of the bonfire, and when the clock strikes midnight, Chandresh begins to feel dizzy and unsettled. Just at...
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...new information about Poppet and Widget, she looks past them towards the courtyard and the bonfire. The bonfire never goes out; even as the entire circus travels by train, the fire...
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Concord, MA, 1902: Bailey continues to wander the circus, stopping to watch the bonfire and then buy a bag of chocolates that are shaped like mice. He happens by...
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...in Thiessen’s workshop, and Celia is particularly interested in one that reminds her of the bonfire. It is not working, and Celia asks if she can help. Without touching it, she...
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...begin to talk about magic, or “manipulation,” as she calls it, starting with the white bonfire. She also calls it “enchanting,” which sparks a conversation about how Marco has gotten both...
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...to each other’s eyes. Celia mentions how clever it was for Marco to use the bonfire as a stimulus, though it had consequences—namely, Poppet and Widget’s clairvoyance.
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...could protect the people outside the circus, like the late Tara Burgess, the way the bonfire protects the performers. Celia did not realize that the bonfire was protective, and admits that...
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Part 3: Intersections
...is no scent, but then he is surprised by the smell of caramel and a bonfire, and then he feels a sharp pain in his chest, the sensation of falling, and...
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...concentration. Marco tells her that she needs a power source, like he has with the bonfire, rather than constantly controlling the circus on her own. It must be exhausting, he tells...
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Across the circus, an acrobat nearly misses her partner and crashes to the ground, the bonfire sputters and blows a puff of black smoke, and Poppet’s kitten falls on its back...
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...bound everyone in the circus. He has placed another copy of this notebook in the bonfire at the circus as a safeguard, though he has made adjustments to the one on...
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Part 4: Incendiary
...possible. Tsukiko asks if it would also be problematic if she were to extinguish the bonfire, and Celia nods.
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...tells him that this is when she knew she loved him. They kiss, and the bonfire burns brighter, and the circus is perfect for just one moment.
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...if it doesn’t make any sense to her. Poppet describes a fire, starting with the bonfire but bigger and uncontained, like the courtyard is on fire. There is also a loud...
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...but the grounds are empty. He turns a corner to see the cauldron where the bonfire is supposed to be, but the fire is not burning anymore, and there is someone...
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...may call her Tsukiko. He looks past her and tells her that he thought the bonfire never went out, to which she responds that it never has before.
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...the tree. She tells him that there are many trees that would suffice, but the bonfire would be more appropriate. He looks at the bonfire and realizes that the story of...
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...for him to trust her. They dissolve into the air in the moment before the bonfire explodes, turning into nothing more than light and shadow. They are gone and the circus...
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...looks around he realizes that the Ice Garden is melting. He tells Celia that the bonfire went out, and that she is the only thing holding it together. She nods, and...
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Marco then explains that Tsukiko tried to imprison him in the bonfire, and there was a change of plans that led to the current situation. Marco is...
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...and Celia tells him he needs to finish something she started, and to re-light the bonfire. When he re-lights the fire, that will power half the circus, and he will need...
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...it is old. She then asks if he is going to try to light the bonfire again, and he tells her he is, and asks if she would like to help....
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...flames catch. He is blown back on to the ground by the force of the bonfire, and all around him the circus springs back to life again. From inside the Wishing...
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