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
Isabelle wakes up and finds that she is being imprisoned by the Gestapo. Upon assessing her situation, she recalls what she was told earlier—that is, she needs to hold up under interrogation for 48 hours. Right after she regains consciousness, the German authorities interrogate Isabelle about the Nightingale’s identity. They claim to know that Isabelle works for the Nightingale and want the truth. When Isabelle says that she does not know anything, the authorities beat her.
The following 48 hours will be a true test of Isabelle's will. She knows she must hold up even in the face of sadistic torture. From the start, Isabelle refuses to give in. Additionally, there is an added layer of irony to the torture scenes because the Nazis do not realize they are torturing the person they are looking for—but they don’t realize it, since they don’t believe a woman is capable of carrying out the Nightingale’s missions.
Themes
However, no matter how many times the German authorities hit Isabelle, she doesn’t give up any important information. Instead, she continues to claim that her name is Juliette Gervaise and that she doesn’t know what they are talking about. To stay strong, Isabelle thinks about her family and how much she loves them. In particular, she thinks about Vianne and wishes that the two of them had left on better terms.
Although Isabelle could rightfully be called reckless, she is not selfish, as Vianne suggests at the beginning of the novel. Here, she undergoes horrible torture and keeps her mouth shut because she wants to make sure that her friends are safe and that she does not compromise the resistance effort.
Themes
In Carriveau, Vianne witnesses a horrific scene. All around town, the Nazis have hung bodies from streetlamps to warn French civilians about rebelling. Vianne has heard that it is not uncommon for the Nazis to execute French civilians en masse for even the smallest act of rebellion. As Vianne walks around town, someone grabs her and pulls her into an alleyway. At first, she is frightened, but then she realizes that her pursuer is Julien Rossignol. Julien asks Vianne for a safe place to talk, and so they head to Rachel’s house.
Executions are becoming more and more common as the Nazis grow desperate. Everything depicted in this part of the book has its roots in history. Indeed, desperation drove the Nazis to greater and greater crimes against humanity. The longer the war went on, the more savage the Nazis became. Additionally, this is the first time in the novel that Vianne and her father directly interact with each other.
Themes
Once they are in Rachel’s home, Julien Rossignol informs Vianne about Isabelle’s situation. When Vianne asks how she can help her sister, Julien tells her that she must remain in Carriveau and protect Sophie. Vianne wants to show her father that she is just as brave as Isabelle. However, to do so would mean telling him about the children she’s been hiding, which would seem disingenuous and pathetic. Instead, she listens to Julien tell her about how she will need to treat Isabelle once she returns home. Julien knows that Isabelle will be fragile and need all the support in the world. As he says this, Vianne realizes that he is speaking from experience.
Vianne wants her father to be proud of her, but she knows that she cannot be proud of herself if she tells him the truth. As such, she does the mature thing and decides not to say anything. Meanwhile, Julien talks about Isabelle's experiences and the horrors that she will likely witness as a result of her current position. Julien now identifies with his youngest daughter in a way he presumably wishes he did not. Despite everything, the war brings Julien, Isabelle, and Vianne closer together than ever before.
Themes
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Additionally, Vianne deduces that Julien Rossignol plans to sacrifice himself in order to save Isabelle. She can tell he has already made up his mind and does not try to talk him out of it. Instead, she tells her father that she loves him and gives him a big hug. Then she rips a piece of cloth from his sleeve, which she plans to tie to her tree. After, Vianne and Julien exchange “I love yous,” and then Julien leaves. Vianne knows that it will be the last time she sees her father alive.
Now, Julien's reason for visiting is clear. Although he was not the best father when his daughters were growing up, Julien sees an opportunity to redeem himself. Realizing there is nothing else she can do, Vianne lets her father carry out his plan.
Themes
Vianne returns home and finds Von Richter there with an evil look on his face. He reveals that he knows Ari is not Vianne’s son and then asks her what she is willing to sacrifice in order to keep him. Vianne tells Von Richter that she will do anything to keep Ari safe. This answer satisfies Von Richter; he then undresses Vianne and rapes her.
When she returns home, Vianne's already traumatic day goes from bad to worse. This section demonstrates just how evil Von Richter can be. During World War II, there were many situations like Vianne's where soldiers would billet and then sexually assault their hostesses.
Themes
