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
While Isabelle recovers, she and Gaëtan have sex repeatedly, knowing that they will have to go back to war soon. Despite her fierce love for Gaëtan, Isabelle realizes that she does not know that much about him, especially what his life was like before the war. Nonetheless, Isabelle feels incredibly lucky to have found Gaëtan and tells him so. Gaëtan thinks that they are actually incredibly unlucky to have found each other, but Isabelle refuses to think that way.
Isabelle and Gaëtan's time together is meaningful because they know what they will soon have to return to their work with the resistance. The question of whether Isabelle and Gaëtan are lucky to have their love for each other—or unlucky, since they could so easily lose that love if one of them dies—is important to remember as the novel nears its end.
Themes
Meanwhile, in Carriveau, Vianne is getting ready for her worst winter yet. She brings Sophie and Ari into town to get rations, and when she reaches the front of the line, someone asks her about Ari. Vianne lies and says that Ari (whom she calls Daniel) is one of Antoine’s cousins who she adopted. She also gets asked about Beck, but she doesn’t give up any information. She simply says that he disappeared.
Still, Vianne's life continues its downward spiral. Winter is always the most challenging month for her family, and this winter will be the worst yet. Also, though Vianne does her best to spread lies about Ari, she knows that some people in town know the truth. As such, she can never truly feel safe with Von Richter around.
Themes
After receiving her rations, Vianne attempts to head home but cannot because the Nazis have barricaded the streets so they can round up more Jewish people. Vianne passes by a scared woman who begs her to take her baby so that he won’t share her fate. Vianne makes a split-second decision and takes the child. She decides that she can no longer stand idly by while tragedies happen.
This moment marks a significant shift in Vianne's character. Throughout the novel, she’s loved children, but now she acts on that love and makes the risky decision to take the child rather than watch the Nazis take the child away. With this, Vianne becomes an active member of the rebellion, just like Isabelle.
Themes
Vianne takes the child home with her and thinks about what to do with him. Sophie tells Vianne that she is frightened; she knows that Von Richter will do something terrible if he finds out what Vianne has done. Vianne agrees but tells her daughter that saving the child was the right thing to do. When Von Richter sees the child, he asks why Vianne has him. Vianne lies and says that the child’s mother died from tuberculosis and so he has nowhere to go. In response, Von Richter orders Vianne to take the child to an orphanage. Additionally, he tells her that he will be leaving the following day because the Germans are seizing control of the Free Zone in France.
Vianne knows that if Von Richter discovers the truth, he will hurt her and her children. Vianne cannot let that happen, but she refuses to let the baby boy meet the cruel fate the Germans have in store for him. Luckily, Vianne is used to lying, and Von Richter does not seem to suspect her when she makes up a story about the child. Additionally, Vianne receives a rare stroke of luck because Von Richter is leaving the following day, giving her time to figure out next steps.
Themes
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When Von Richter leaves, Vianne leaves too. Before she goes, she tells Sophie what she is doing. Sophie is proud of Vianne for her bravery and is glad that she is doing the right thing. Vianne brings the child to Mother Superior and asks if there is any way to help him. Mother Superior tells Vianne that she can get the child Baptismal certificates but not identity papers. This is good enough for Vianne, who promises to get the identity papers herself. Mother Superior tells Vianne that this first child she brought is only the beginning; she wants Vianne to keep bringing her children who are fleeing persecution. Additionally, Mother Superior gives Vianne a job teaching at the orphanage, which Vianne can use as cover while also earning some money.
Vianne finally feels like she is doing something her daughter can be proud of. Ironically, that same action is putting Sophie in grave danger. Sophie likely realizes this but does not care; she admires her mother for doing the right thing. Vianne takes the child to the only place she knows to go: the church. Indeed, her instincts were right; Mother Superior has a plan in mind, and Vianne is a central part of it. In Italy and France, churches were commonly involved in resistance efforts during World War II.
Themes
