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 April of 1941, and the weather has greatly improved. Isabelle is outside, lying in a field near Vianne’s home. Vianne walks up to Isabelle and gives her a note from Henri, which reads, “the curtains are open.” Isabelle recognizes the message as a summons from Henri. Isabelle gets up and heads into town, eventually making it to Henri’s hideout.
Although life is never easy under Nazi rule, the spring weather helps make life a bit less harsh. With the change of season also come new orders for Isabelle. Isabelle heads to Henri’s hideout, wondering what he has in mind.
Themes
Once there, Henri tells Isabelle that he has a mission for her. He wants her to take a letter and deliver it to a resistance figure in Paris. After she arrives, Henri wants her to stay in Paris and act as a point of contact for the resistance. He tells Isabelle that this will be a dangerous mission and that she will have to lie to everyone she holds dear, including Sophie and Vianne.
Isabelle has proven herself and is finally receiving a promotion of sorts. For the first time, the resistance trusts her with a larger (and more dangerous) mission. Luckily, Isabelle won’t have much of a problem lying to Sophie and Vianne—she’s been doing it for months.
Themes
Isabelle is hesitant. Although she wants to help the resistance, she knows that the only way she can stay in Paris is if she lives with Julien Rossignol. She knows that Julien will try to send her away as soon as she arrives. Isabelle expresses this concern to Henri, who tells her that she must convince her father to let her stay. That is the only way this plan works. After giving it some thought, Isabelle agrees to deliver the message and act as a point of contact for the resistance.
Isabelle’s relationship with her father is complicated, and she doesn’t know if she can mend it. However, she ultimately decides to try for the movement's greater good.
Themes
In the meantime, Vianne is at home, thinking about the note she gave to Isabelle. She assumes the note is from a boy with whom Isabelle is carrying on some sort of secret romance. This thought angers Vianne. If true, then Isabelle is putting her own life, as well as the lives of others, in danger for a silly teenage romance. Vianne thinks Isabelle needs to grow up and accept the fact that her actions have consequences.
Vianne has not yet realized her sister’s true purpose. Although Vianne has good reason not to trust Isabelle, her judgments are slightly unfair, especially considering her own wrongdoing. Luckily, Vianne’s ignorance works to Isabelle’s benefit.
Themes
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As Vianne thinks about what to do with Isabelle, Beck shows up with a group of German soldiers. Together, they begin destroying the stone wall around Vianne’s house. Beck explains to Vianne that he is only following orders. Vianne can tell that it pains him to destroy the wall. Later, Isabelle arrives home and asks Beck about why he destroyed the wall. Beck explains that the Germans want to be able to see into the house whenever they desire so they can keep an eye out for whoever has been delivering anti-German propaganda.
Again, whether or not Beck agrees with the orders of his superiors, he still stands by while someone carries them out. This behavior only creates more resentment in Isabelle and more distrust in Vianne. Nonetheless, Beck is still a somewhat sympathetic character. He seems genuinely conflicted about destroying the wall and wouldn’t do it if he didn’t have to.
Themes
In the middle of her conversation with Beck, Isabelle informs him that she wants to go to Paris to live with Julien Rossignol. She lies and says that he is sick and needs someone to care for him. She then asks Beck if he will give her a pass so that she can take the train to go to her father. Beck promises to get her one. Later, when Beck is gone, Vianne asks Isabelle about their father’s health. Isabelle admits to lying but then tells another lie. She claims that she’s been sneaking out to see a boy who is now going to Paris. She tells Vianne that she wants to go to Paris to be with this boy. Vianne immediately believes Isabelle because the story matches what she has thought all along. Isabelle is disappointed that her sister thinks so little of her.
Here, Isabelle lies to get what she wants. In another show of kindness, Beck promises to get her a train pass. Beck probably thinks that, if nothing else, it is safer for everyone involved to have Isabelle out of the house. Meanwhile, Isabelle is simultaneously glad and upset that Vianne believes her lie. The lie is a test that Vianne simultaneously passes and fails, but as it turns out, Vianne thinks of Isabelle exactly the way Isabelle predicted.
Themes
