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
After Vianne finishes burying Sarah, she is emotionally and physically exhausted. She wishes that Antoine was by her side so that he could help her make decisions. She no longer trusts herself to keep her loved ones safe in a world that is so cruel and violent. Vianne returns to her home, where she finds Beck, who has waited up for her. Beck seems worried, though he is happy to see Vianne return home safely.
The following day, Vianne and Sophie go into town to run their usual errands. While they are there, Vianne doesn’t do anything to let Sophie know that something is wrong. She wants to give her daughter one more morning of innocence before she reveals what happened the night before. Shortly after Vianne and Sophie arrive home, Sophie asks Vianne if she can go spend time with Sarah. At this point, Vianne realizes that she cannot hide the truth from her daughter any longer and tells her what happened. Sarah is devastated and angry when she learns the news. Vianne suggests that they tie some cloth around a tree branch right next to where they placed some yarn in honor of Antoine. However, she knows that this gesture will do little to ease Sophie’s suffering.
Vianne wants to hide the brutal truth from Sophie but knows she cannot do so forever. The events of this scene force Sophie to grow up more than Vianne wants to admit. The tree branch with the cloth in Vianne’s yard symbolizes what she lost in the war.
Themes
After her talk with Sophie, Vianne goes to the barn and helps Rachel out of the cellar. Rachel needs to use the bathroom, and Vianne thinks that the coast is clear. However, before Rachel can get to safety, French policemen arrest her and put her into a car. Vianne follows the car into town, refusing to leave Rachel’s side. After what happened the night before, Vianne can no longer afford to play it safe.
Vianne and Rachel are careful, but they’re not careful enough. Notably, it is a French policeman who comes for Rachel, not a German officer. This is because most French law enforcement followed German orders at this time. This moment is a significant turning point for Vianne. Until now, she has kept her head down as much as possible. However, doing so has done her little good, and she realizes that this is a moment where she needs to stand up to the Nazis.
Themes
The car takes Rachel to the train station where she is to be sent away. At the train station, Vianne spots Beck clutching a whip. The sight disgusts her. Rachel asks Vianne to take Ari so that he doesn’t have to go wherever Rachel is being sent. Vianne knows that taking Ari is the right thing to do, so she agrees. Moments later, Rachel is gone, and Vianne heads home with Ari in her arms. When she arrives, she explains to Sophie what has happened. She also tells her that Ari will stay with them from then on.
Beck’s whip makes him look like someone who is herding animals. Although he may not like his position, he still holds it and so commits morally reprehensible actions, and the thought of this disgusts Vianne. Ultimately, Vianne does the only thing she can do: let Rachel go and take care of Ari. This is the only act of rebellion she can muster.
Themes
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That evening, Vianne takes some lace from her dress and ties it to a tree branch in honor of Rachel. Soon after, Beck shows up, and Vianne treats him callously. Beck tells Vianne that the war has put him in uncomfortable positions as well. He also reminds her that he did his best to save Rachel. Additionally, Beck informs Vianne that they will need to do something about Ari. If they don’t, then he will most likely be deported as well. Vianne believes that Beck wants to help her, and for a moment, the two of them seem like they are on the verge of sharing a kiss. However, before anything can happen, Vianne pushes Beck away from her.
Already, Vianne must add more cloth to her tree as she experiences her second loss in as many days. Beck is still a sympathetic character. His complicity bothers Vianne, but as Beck points out, it bothers him too; he is doing what he can to survive, just like her. Again, romantic feelings pass between Beck and Vianne, but they shut these feelings down before they can get too serious.
Themes
