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
Since France surrendered to the Germans, food and resources are scarce. Vianne does her best to fix her damaged garden, but most of the food that was once there is now gone. While Vianne works in the garden, Isabelle stands nearby and angrily talks about the German forces. Vianne does her best to ignore Isabelle, but Sophie listens to her aunt and takes in what she says. Vianne worries that Sophie will learn all the wrong things from Isabelle.
The fact that Vianne is already running short on food is a problem. The Germans would occupy France until 1944, and food was scarce for much of that time. While Vianne does her best to keep her head down, Isabelle seems to go out of her way to create problems. In this case, Isabelle is lucky she is a woman because a man would have been treated much harsher for similar offenses.
Themes
Later, Vianne, Isabelle, and Sophie walk into town. On their way to town, Isabelle purposely steps out into the road to get in the way of a group of German soldiers. Although she does so as an act of protest, her behavior only amuses the Germans. Before Isabelle can cause a problem, Vianne grabs her by the arm and pulls her out of the road. She asks Isabelle to be more careful for her own sake and for Sophie’s.
Again, Isabelle tries to rebel in any way she can. Although she sees her behavior as brave, it is also rather foolish. Vianne knows that Isabelle is putting everyone in danger, while Isabelle either seems not to know or not to care.
Themes
Isabelle explains to Vianne that the Germans are in Carriveau, so they have access to the airfield. Isabelle thinks the war is far from over and that they should take Sophie away from Carriveau and into the free part of France as soon as possible. However, Vianne refuses. She thinks the war is already over, and she doesn’t want to leave her home. She trusts the French government to iron everything out with the Germans.
Here, the novel cleverly utilizes the dramatic irony that exists because of the contemporary reader’s historical perspective. Contemporary readers will know that what Vianne says here is false. Historically, during the German occupation of France, the French government did a terrible job of protecting its citizens and effectively aided the Nazis in carrying out their abhorrent goals.
Themes
The following evening, Isabelle begins preparing for the long war that she thinks is coming. She rounds up all of the expensive and important items in the household and hides them in a cellar beneath the family’s barn. Isabelle’s actions anger Vianne because Vianne asked her to go shopping and now the family is without food. Additionally, Vianne thinks Isabelle is being silly and that her actions are useless. After Vianne chastises Isabelle, Isabelle hears a message on the radio from General de Gaulle to the French people. General de Gaulle is a resistance figure, and he encourages the French to join his cause. This broadcast gives Isabelle hope; she is disappointed in the French government’s reaction to the German occupation, and she is glad someone is fighting back.
Although Vianne is angry with Isabelle, Isabelle’s actions are undeniably sharp, and later Vianne will appreciate them. Isabelle feels like Vianne does not support her and that she is acting incredibly naive. Luckily, General de Gaulle’s voice gives Isabelle hope. General Charles de Gaulle is an actual historical figure who was a leading figure in the French resistance and helped restore democracy to France following World War II. Eventually, de Gaulle became president of France from 1959 to 1969. He is largely a beloved figure in French history, although the end of his political career was met with some controversy.
Themes
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The next day, everyone in Carriveau gathers in the town square to partake in a meeting that the Germans set up. Vianne, Isabelle, and Sophie attend the meeting together where they see Rachel and Sarah. Rachel greets Isabelle kindly and apologizes for the way she acted when they were kids. Isabelle accepts the apology and then the meeting begins. The Germans tell everyone that they need to turn in their radios, guns, and vehicles. Additionally, they institute a curfew that everyone must follow. The Germans claim that they want to live peacefully among the residents of Carriveau; however, they promise that all forms of resistance and rule breaking will be punished. Additionally, they reveal that the Frenchmen who have been captured during the war will not be allowed to come home. Instead, they must live in prisoner of war camps in Germany.
Almost immediately, Isabelle’s intuitions prove helpful. The Germans plan to rule over France like fascists, and Isabelle is right to rebel. Additionally, although not unheard of, it is rare that prisoners of war would not return home once their home country is no longer a threat to the war effort. However, the Germans decided to keep French prisoners of war in camps because they did not want them to return home and rebel. This is one of many ways the Nazis defied the status quo. It is also one of the reasons for the establishment of the Geneva Conventions following World War II.
Themes
On the way home from the meeting, Vianne’s head is reeling. She worries that Antoine has been captured and will not be coming home anytime soon. However, when Isabelle begins speaking about resistance, Vianne chides her and tells her to keep her head down. She insists that the Frenchmen will be home soon and that they will know what to do. Until then, she plans to live her life as peacefully as she can under German rule. However, Rachel gives Vianne some pushback. Rachel tells her that Isabelle is probably right and that they should try to hide their gun and radio. Still, Vianne holds strong and insists that she will do what the Germans say until Antoine comes home.
Unlike Isabelle, Vianne refuses to take on a masculine role any more than she has to. She holds on to hope that Antoine will be home soon so she will not have to make any tough decisions herself. Here and elsewhere, Vianne’s actions are rooted in fear; she wants to do everything she can to protect Sophie, and she knows that rebellion could result in Sophie’s death. However, as always, Rachel acts as the voice of reason and tells her that Isabelle is more correct than Vianne would like to believe.
Themes
Not long after Vianne arrives home, a German soldier knocks on her door. When Vianne opens the door, the German introduces himself; his name is Captain Beck, and he plans to billet in Vianne’s home. Although Vianne is reluctant to let Captain Beck into her house, she knows she has no choice. Captain Beck sees the look on Vianne’s face and promises her that he will act respectfully.
Billeting is a common practice during wartime. A billet is a civilian household that a soldier takes over for the purpose of lodging. For most of modern history, billeting soldiers were expected to act respectfully, and it appears that Captain Beck plans to live up to that promise.
Themes
Vianne takes Captain Beck inside and shows him to his bedroom. Captain Beck thanks Vianne and once again promises to be an upstanding house guest. Vianne doesn’t know what to make of Captain Beck, and she worries about how Isabelle will treat him. Sure enough, when Captain Beck introduces himself to Isabelle and tells her that she has beautiful hair, Isabelle does not reply in a polite manner. Instead, she takes some scissors and chops her hair off, neutering her beauty. Vianne witnesses this scene and immediately asks Captain Beck for his forgiveness.
Vianne does not want Captain Beck in her house, but she has no choice in the matter. Vianne knows that he will butt heads with Isabelle because Isabelle won’t stifle her rebelliousness in his presence. Vianne knows that Isabelle’s behavior is dangerous, even if Captain Beck seems committed to behaving civilly.
Themes
Captain Beck forgives Isabelle but warns Vianne that such behavior will not be tolerated in the future. Captain Beck tells Vianne that she must make sure Isabelle behaves politely and follows the rules if she wants to be safe. Vianne agrees, and when Captain Beck is gone, she has a talk with Isabelle about her conduct. Although Isabelle is reluctant to obey the Germans and treat Captain Beck with respect, Vianne eventually convinces her that it is necessary. After all, if Isabelle slips up, she is putting the lives of the entire household in danger.
Once again, Beck comes off as reasonable and inoffensive. However, just as Vianne feared, others have noticed and commented on Isabelle’s bad behavior. Although Isabelle is right to distrust the Germans, she is not entirely in the right. Though brave, her actions are also selfish, and Vianne is right to worry about what could happen to her and Sophie as a result of Isabelle’s behavior.
Themes
