Nightwood
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Bow Down La Somnambule Night Watch “The Squatter” Watchman, What of the Night? Where the Tree Falls Go Down, Matthew The Possessed
Themes
All Themes Sexuality, Gender, and Nonconformity Identity Obsession and Despair Otherness and the Search for Acceptance
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Robin Vote Dr. Matthew O’Connor Nora Flood Felix Volkbein Jenny Petherbridge Guido Volkbein (senior) Hedvig Volkbein Frau Mann / Duchess of Broadback Guido Volkbein (junior) Sylvia
Symbols
All Symbols Night
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Nightwood

by Djuna Barnes
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Introduction Intro
Plot Summary Plot
Summary & Analysis
  • Bow Down
  • La Somnambule
  • Night Watch
  • “The Squatter”
  • Watchman, What of the Night?
  • Where the Tree Falls
  • Go Down, Matthew
  • The Possessed
Themes
  • All Themes
  • Sexuality, Gender, and Nonconformity Theme Icon
    Sexuality, Gender, and Nonconformity
  • Identity Theme Icon
    Identity
  • Obsession and Despair Theme Icon
    Obsession and Despair
  • Otherness and the Search for Acceptance Theme Icon
    Otherness and the Search for Acceptance
Quotes
Characters
  • All Characters
  • Robin Vote
  • Dr. Matthew O’Connor
  • Nora Flood
  • Felix Volkbein
  • Jenny Petherbridge
  • Guido Volkbein (senior)
  • Hedvig Volkbein
  • Frau Mann / Duchess of Broadback
  • Guido Volkbein (junior)
  • Sylvia
Symbols
  • All Symbols
  • Night Symbol Icon
    Night
Theme Wheel Theme Viz
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Sylvia

Nightwood Symbols

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Night

Night

In Nightwood, Djuna Barnes uses night to represent the hidden parts of Robin Vote’s personality. The other four primary characters—Felix Volkbein, Nora Flood, Jenny Petherbridge, and Dr. Matthew O’Connor…

read analysis of Night

Night Symbol Icon
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Sylvia
Previous
Sylvia
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Night
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Night

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