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
August of 1944 arrives, and Von Richter continues to abuse Vianne. One night, after Von Richter rapes her, Vianne lets her mind wander to Isabelle and Antoine. She wonders if they are still alive and prays that they will come back to her. Vianne desperately needs support, as Von Richter has only grown more brutal as time goes by. His mood always aligns with how well the Germans are doing in the war, and by this time, it looks like they are going to lose.
While Isabelle endures physical and mental torture in the concentration camp, Vianne goes through something similar in her own home. Von Richter continues to display brutish behavior that she must put up with if she wants her children to remain safe. Here Von Richter represents the most depraved part of the Nazi party. In fact, he acts as its literal embodiment, as his moods shift depending on how the Germans are doing in the war.
Themes
Vianne walks into the kitchen and sees that Sophie is still awake. Sophie tells her mother that she knows what is going on between Vianne and Von Richter. Vianne tries to explain everything away, but Sophie tells her that she is not stupid. Vianne realizes that she should have known better than to try to hide anything from Sophie at this point. Although she has repeatedly tried to save her daughter’s innocence, she has failed at every turn. Sophie tells Vianne that if Isabelle were here, then she would have murdered Von Richter. In response, Vianne can only say that she is not as strong as Isabelle.
No matter what Vianne does, she cannot shield Sophie from the horror of Von Richter. For a long time, Sophie has been more perceptive than her mother has given her credit for. Perhaps this is wishful thinking on Vianne's part, but nonetheless, she must now accept that the war stole Sophie's childhood.
Themes
The next day, the weather is beautiful, so Vianne decides to take her class swimming. When Vianne announces her idea, the entire class immediately seems to forget about the war because they are so excited. Vianne realizes that the war has become normal for young children, which is a devastating thought. Shortly after, Vianne finds herself feeling sick out of nowhere and she vomits. After a few moments, she comes to the sickening realization that she is pregnant.
Despite her horrific situation, Vianne still does her best to find the positives in life, which is why she decides to take the children swimming. However, even on a beautiful day, Vianne cannot be happy. Instead, she must face the fact that she is now pregnant with her rapist's child.
Themes
A week later, Von Richter tells Vianne that the Germans are leaving Carriveau. He claims that the war is not over and that he is going to reinforce other German troops. Before he leaves, Von Richter calls Vianne a “whore” and tells her that she will never forget what he has done to her, even though he plans to immediately discard her from his memory. Vianne knows that, given her pregnancy, this cruel statement is even more true than Von Richter realizes.
Finally, there is some good news. Although Von Richter pretends that the Germans might still win the war, it is clear that that will not happen. However, before he leaves Vianne, he shames Vianne for the repeated sexual assaults he committed against her, further demonstrating his cruelty.
Themes
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When the Germans leave, life starts to return to normal in Carriveau, even though the war is not yet over. However, Vianne is incapable of relaxing. Although she promises Sophie that Antoine and Isabelle will be home soon, she has a hard time believing it herself. Additionally, she worries about what Antoine will think of her when he discovers that she is pregnant. Sophie knows about the pregnancy and asks Vianne what she plans to tell Antoine. Sophie strongly implies that Vianne shouldn’t say anything so that they can go back to their regular lives.
Although Von Richter’s departure solves some of Vianne’s problems, others remain. Most notably, she has to figure out what to do about her pregnancy. She hopes and prays for Antoine's safety but does not know how he will react when he returns to find her with a child that is not his. Sophie is not unaware of her mother's situation and offers advice. It may not be good advice, but it is the only thing she can think to do to allow their lives to return to normal.
Themes
Right after Vianne’s conversation with Sophie, she walks outside and sees Antoine walking toward her. Vianne is overjoyed to see her husband, even though she also feels a deep sense of shame about her pregnancy. Vianne, Sophie, and Antoine, have a tender reunion, and even Ari comes outside to join them.
Vianne's reunion with her husband is bittersweet. Although it is the best thing that has happened to her since the beginning of the war, she does not know if their lives can return to being the same as before.
Themes
Later, at the dinner table, Vianne and Sophie immediately notice that Antoine is a changed man. Vianne thinks that even his voice is different; it seems to be filled with loss. After dinner, Antoine explains that he managed to escape the Germans by simply running away. He was worried that if he stayed in his POW camp, the Germans would beat him to death. With nothing left to lose, Antoine managed to escape on foot.
Vianne worries that Antoine’s experience in the war will affect him as it affected her father. Both she and Antoine will have to overcome the various traumas they suffered and endured over the last several years if they hope to move forward.
Themes
Antoine moves close to Vianne and tries to undress her. However, Antoine’s touch brings tears to Vianne’s eyes as she recalls what she has endured for the past few years. Vianne considers telling Antoine the truth but ultimately decides that it would be better if she didn’t. Instead, she decides to have sex with Antoine that night so that she can pretend the baby forming inside of her is his. Two months later, Vianne tells Antoine she is pregnant. Antoine is sure that they won’t lose the child and calls its conception is a miracle. Vianne doesn’t know for sure, but she wonders whether Antoine has figured out the truth. Either way, he seems content to let the past stay in the past.
Vianne has not had a sexual encounter in years that was not sexual assault. Antoine cannot possibly know this, and Vianne does not tell him. At this moment, Vianne has to choose: should she tell Antoine the truth or have sex with him and then pretend that it was Antoine, not Von Richter, who got her pregnant? Once more, the horror of war forces her to make an impossible decision.
Themes
