Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Nightingale, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Morality and Impossible Choices
Antisemitism and Active Resistance
Gender Roles
Love and War
Summary
Analysis
It is now November of 1940. The cold weather has officially arrived, and Vianne does everything she can to keep warm. As the weather gets worse and the war drags on, Vianne worries about what she is going to do. The money Antoine left her is running low and soon will be gone. One day, early in the morning, while Vianne knits a scarf for Sophie, Isabelle comes in from outdoors. Vianne asks Isabelle if she’s been meeting up with a boy, and Isabelle says no. Isabelle pretends that she is just coming in from feeding the chickens. Vianne doesn’t believe Isabelle, but there is nothing she can do.
Time jumps ahead again, and conditions have only gotten worse. Vianne is understandably worried about her situation; she knows it is not sustainable. Meanwhile, Isabelle continues to engage in acts of rebellion right under Beck’s nose. Vianne still has not caught on to what Isabelle is doing, which is probably for the better—she would only worry more if she knew the truth.
Themes
Vianne gets up to look at the pantry. At this point, it is almost empty, but she makes do with what she has. When Vianne gives Sophie her breakfast, Sophie complains about how the Germans are using up all the food. Just as those words leave her mouth, Beck walks into the room. Not wanting to cause problems, Vianne chastises Sophie for speaking in such a way. However, Beck doesn’t seem to mind. He tells Sophie that the Germans take as much as they give, and then he hands her a chocolate bar. Sophie eats the chocolate, ravenously. After, Vianne tells Sophie that she should have saved some for later.
No matter what happens, Vianne refuses to complain to Beck; she fears that if she does, it will only make matters worse. However, she cannot stop Sophie—still a young child—from doing exactly that. Luckily, Beck takes Sophie’s comment lightly and even offers her a gift. Although it is a nice gesture, Vianne does not know if she can trust Beck after the incident with the list.
Themes
Vianne makes her way to school. Not long after the start of her lessons, some German soldiers appear and fire everyone on the list that Vianne made for Beck. This sudden change of events deeply disturbs Vianne, and she feels guilty for what she’s done. At midday, she cannot take it anymore and decides to walk into town to find Beck.
Here, for the first time, Vianne sees the result of her actions. Because she helped Beck, many of her colleagues were hurt. Of course, this includes Rachel, who is Vianne’s best friend.
Themes
Beck’s office is elaborate. It is replete with Nazi imagery, and Vianne spots piles of food in one corner. When Vianne tells Beck what has happened and asks him to explain himself, Beck tells her he was only following orders. He promises that he did not know what the list was going to be used for. Before the conversation can go further, Beck asks Vianne to leave his office. He doesn’t think anything good can come from the two of them being seen together. Vianne does as he asks.
Finally, Vianne stands up to Beck. However, Beck does not have any good answers. It is possible that he did not know what his higher-ups would use the list for. On the other hand, the elaborate nature of his office suggests that he has a relatively high rank and could possess such knowledge. As such, Vianne feels she can trust him even less than she did before.
Themes
Get the entire The Nightingale LitChart as a printable PDF.
When Vianne leaves Beck’s office, she notices German soldiers looking at her. She doesn’t put too much thought into their glances; she assumes they think that she is romantically involved with Beck. However, Isabelle also spots her and demands to know what she was doing. Vianne tells Isabelle the truth about the list and what happened at the school. Isabelle is disgusted by her sister’s actions and tells her to stop doing favors for the Nazis. Vianne agrees and then sends Isabelle to go get Sarah and Sophie from school.
Again, the novel brings the idea of a sexual relationship between Vianne and Beck to the reader’s attention. Even if there is romantic tension between them, though, neither has acted on it. When Isabelle learns what Vianne has done, their relationship erodes even further. Isabelle already does not respect her sister’s pacificism, and, in this case, she directly aided the enemy.
Themes
Next, Vianne heads to her local church to speak with Mother Superior Marie-Therese to seek advice. Vianne is honest with Mother Superior about what she’s done. She is worried that her actions are unforgivable because she has hurt many people, including her best friend, Rachel. Mother Superior calms Vianne’s nerves: she tells Vianne that the moral fault rests with the Germans and that they would have found the names one way or another. Vianne thinks that she should behave more like Isabelle, but Mother Superior disagrees. Mother Superior says that Isabelle has not yet been tested by the war, but she will be soon enough—just like everyone else.
Vianne feels genuine guilt over her actions, especially because she’s hurt Rachel. Although Marie-Therese tries to calm Vianne’s nerves, it is difficult for Vianne—and perhaps the reader—to come away feeling okay about what Vianne did. Although the Nazis would have fired Rachel anyway, Vianne’s actions still feel like a betrayal, albeit a relatively small one in the grand scheme of things.
Themes
After her talk at the church, Vianne heads to Rachel’s house. She knows she must tell her friend the truth, no matter how painful it is. When Vianne enters Rachel’s home, her friend is clearly already upset. Vianne sits her down and tells her the truth about the list and then apologizes. In doing so, she only gives the fact and does not make excuses for herself. After Vianne is finished, Rachel angrily leaves the room without saying anything. Vianne is left to sit at Rachel’s table and think about the consequences of her actions.
This is a significant moment for Vianne. Although she has done wrong, she owns up to it immediately and without making excuses. And though she knows her conversation with Rachel will be a difficult, she goes through with it anyway. It would be understandable if Rachel did not want to associate with Vianne anymore, and Vianne knows that going into the conversation.
Themes
After some time, Rachel returns. Although she is still angry, she forgives Vianne and warns her to be more careful in the future. Rachel knows that the whole town is aware of her Judaism, so the information wouldn’t have been kept from the Nazis anyway. However, she advises Vianne to be careful around Beck; no matter how kind and handsome he is, he is not to be trusted.
This section shows the strength of Rachel’s character. Although she could treat Vianne harshly, instead she forgives her and offers advice. Admittedly, it is not advice that Vianne needs at this point—she already does not trust Beck.
Themes
Winter rages on and the weather is especially brutal. Still, no matter how cold it gets, Isabelle hands out pamphlets for the resistance. Unfortunately, the Nazis are aware of the pamphlets and have started looking for whoever is handing them out. In town, Isabelle sees posters with warning messages about aiding the resistance. Apparently, the Nazis will execute anyone who undermines the Nazi agenda.
Isabelle’s willingness to go out early in the morning in the middle of winter demonstrates how much she cares about the resistance effort. However, now that the Nazis know about her pamphlets, she is in greater danger every time she goes out.
Themes
While in town, Isabelle spots a bicycle sitting by itself. Although it is risky, Isabelle decides to steal the bike and ride it to Henri’s hideout. Henri tells her that he can paint the bike in exchange for a kiss. This reminds Isabelle of the pact she made with Gaëtan, back when life was less complicated. Isabelle agrees to Henri’s deal and gives him a kiss.
Isabelle continues to behave recklessly. Each of her small rebellions could result in death, but she goes through with them anyway. But, like Vianne, she does not yet realize the total weight of her actions.
Themes
