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
In Carriveau, Vianne is leading her students through a normal day of lessons. Suddenly, Nazi soldiers enter the school to arrest a male teacher for distributing propaganda. Concerned for her colleague, Vianne attempts to question the Nazi leading the teacher away. In response, the Nazi turns his gaze on Vianne and asks her if she is colluding with the other teacher. Vianne tells him she is not. The Nazi does not arrest Vianne, but he does fire her from teaching, simply because she asked questions. The decision comes as a shock to Vianne, and she doesn’t know what she will do without her job.
This is an important moment for Vianne’s character development; she’s gradually less content to submit to authority. At this point in the novel, the Nazis have made clear what happens to people who distribute propaganda: they die. Vianne knows this and does what she can to help her colleague. It is a bold act that could result in her death if she is not careful. Although the Nazi does not go that far, he does fire Vianne, essentially severing the last bit of income she has left.
Themes
Vianne goes home and, for a moment, considers writing to Antoine to tell him what is going on. However, she realizes that doing so would be selfish; Antoine is in no position to help her, and she would only be making his situation worse. Not long after, Beck arrives at the house and informs Vianne that he will be away for a few weeks because he is going home to visit his family. Beck is excited to go home but admits to Vianne that he is not the same person he was when the war started. Vianne understands what he means.
Vianne is in a difficult position; she has no one to support her, and now even Beck is leaving. Although Beck and Vianne have regularly discussed their shared troubles, Beck’s departure demonstrates their different situations. Beck gets a chance to see his family; Vianne does not. Nevertheless, Vianne still sympathizes with Beck.
Themes
Beck sees that Vianne is upset and asks her what is wrong. Vianne explains that she lost her job at the school. Beck does his best to comfort her, and for a moment, their relationship looks like that of a husband and wife. However, both of them recognize that what they are doing is wrong, and they attempt to disengage. Additionally, Beck promises to take care of Vianne and Sophie through the winter by making sure they have food.
Again, Beck takes on Antoine’s role, and here, for the first time, something genuinely romantic occurs between them. However, neither one acts on their feelings. Still, regardless of how they try to suppress it, the dynamic exists. When Beck returns, he will continue to serve as the man of the house, and he says as much.
Themes
Meanwhile, in Paris, Isabelle has reopened the bookstore. German soldiers regularly stop by to flirt with Isabelle. Isabelle flirts back to keep herself on their good side. One day, while Isabelle is working the counter, Anouk enters the shop and delivers a secret message hidden in a book. The exchange is subtle, and the German soldiers don’t notice it. After delivering the message, Anouk leaves, and Isabelle begins to close up shop.
As Isabelle expected, the bookstore is a perfect cover for her true plans. Isabelle’s beauty transfixes the German soldiers, so they are too distracted to notice what goes on right in front of them.
Themes
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On her way home from work, Isabelle finds an RAF pilot in hiding. Carefully, she approaches him and tells him to meet her in an hour so she can bring him to safety. The pilot does as he is told, and Isabelle takes him to Julien Rossignol’s apartment. Then, she hides him in her wardrobe, where Julien will not think to look for him. Before Julien can come home, Isabelle takes the pilot’s clothes and throws them into the river so that he won’t be identified.
Isabelle’s actions here are brave but dangerous. If anyone sees her with the RAF pilot, including her father, her life could be in danger. Nevertheless, Isabelle decides to do what is right and quickly snaps into action.
Themes
When Isabelle returns to the apartment, she finds that Julien Rossignol is home from work. As such, for the meantime she cannot do anything further to help the pilot. Julien questions Isabelle about where she has been, and Isabelle makes an excuse about working late at the bookstore. Shortly after, Julien hears a noise coming from somewhere in the apartment and begins searching for its source. Isabelle is terrified that Julien will find the pilot, so she does her best to throw him off the scent. Eventually, Julien calms down and stops his search. Isabelle tells him that he is too afraid of everything. In response, Julien tells his daughter that she is not scared enough.
Just as Isabelle feared, Julien almost catches the RAF pilot. However, perhaps because he is drunk, Julien stops looking before he can find anything. Clearly, Julien is paranoid, although it is not clear why. After all, he already works for the Nazis, so what should he have to fear? It’s increasingly clear that there’s something Julien isn’t telling Isabelle.
Themes
