Previous
Gaëtan
Julien Rossignol is the father of Vianne Mauriac and Isabelle Rossignol. He is a World War I veteran who came back from the war a changed man. After the death of his wife, Julien essentially became estranged from his daughters. During World War II, Julien is a key member of the French resistance. He provides fake papers for those who need them and writes anti-German pamphlets. In the climax of the novel, he claims that he is the Nightingale, effectively sacrificing himself to spare Isabelle’s life.
Julien Rossignol Quotes in The Nightingale
The The Nightingale quotes below are all either spoken by Julien Rossignol or refer to Julien Rossignol. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 1 Quotes
If I had told him the truth long ago, or had danced and drunk and sung more, maybe he would have seen me instead of a dependable ordinary mother. He loves a version of me that is incomplete. I always thought it was what I wanted: to be loved and admired. Now I think perhaps I’d like to be known.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
In 1995, an unnamed narrator (Vianne) reflects on her life after World War II. In particular, she is concerned about her relationship with her son, Julien. Vianne never told Julien anything about her war experience, which fundamentally shaped who she is as a person. In this quotation, Vianne lays out her dilemma, and it seems that most of her life has involved sacrificing her happiness (her desire “to be known,” or for others to see her as she truly is) so that her son could live a “ordinary” life. From her examples (dancing, drinking, and singing), it seems like Vianne Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam. Eum accusamus harum. Accusantium iusto voluptas. Totam quae corporis. Impedit non ut. Incidunt rerum est. Aperiam doloremque eum. Animi soluta perspiciatis. Ut minima autem. Modi omnis iure. Sint qui q
Chapter 9 Quotes
Vianne had been so helpless after Maman’s death. When Papa had sent them away, to live in this small town, beneath the cold, stern eyes of a woman who had shown the girls no love, Vianne had . . . wilted.
In another time, she might have shared with Isabelle what they had in common, how undone she’d been by Maman’s death, how Papa’s rejection had broken her heart.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
This quote comes just after Vianne and Isabelle fight over Isabelle’s treatment of Beck. Vianne wishes she had more authority over her sister and realizes that she has none now because she was not there for Isabelle when Isabelle was a child. Here, Vianne describes her younger self as fragile; the word “wilted” suggests that she was delicate like a flower and unable to maintain herself, let alone someone else. Vianne knows that war—in conjunction with her mother’s death—is responsible for making her childhood so loveless and lonely and for making her become so “wilted.” And now that war is Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum
Chapter 12 Quotes
“Don’t think about who they are. Think about who you are and what sacrifices you can live with and what will break you [. . .] Isabelle will have her crisis of faith in this, too. As will we all. I have been here before, in the Great War. I know the hardships are just beginning. You must stay strong.”
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Vianne visits Mother Superior, her local church leader, to express her guilt about following Beck’s order to write a list of the Jewish residents of Carriveau. She feels terrible because the Nazis fired Rachel and the other Jewish people at Vianne’s school after Vianne made the list, and Vianne feels responsible. Vianne’s “crisis of faith” stems from the fact that Beck forced her to make an impossible decision that compromised her morality. In following Beck’s order and writing the list, she betrayed her best friend and the town’s other Jewish residents. But refusing Beck’s order could have put herself and Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nis
Chapter 16 Quotes
“You are a foolish girl. Thank God your maman did not live to see who you have become.”
Isabelle hated how deeply that hurt her. “Or you Papa,” she said. “Or you.”
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
This quote occurs at the end of a conversation between Julien and Isabelle, where Isabelle tells Julien she wants to reopen his bookstore. At the end of the conversation, Isabelle makes a crude sexual jab at her father’s expense, which results in this exchange. Here, the novel lays bare the core of Julien and Isabelle’s fractured relationship; they despise each other because neither is over the death of Isabelle’s mother. Julien’s words sting Isabelle because he knows how dear Isabelle’s mother was to both of them. Meanwhile, Isabelle’s jab hurts Julien because Julien believes he has remained loyal to the Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea
Chapter 33 Quotes
It was all Vianne could do not to say, I’m different now, Papa. I am helping to hide Jewish children. She wanted to see herself reflected in his gaze, wanted just once to make him proud of her.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
This quote comes from Julien and Vianne’s only conversation in the novel. At this point in the story, Vianne feels that she has finally done something worthy of praise by saving the lives of many young Jewish children, smuggling them away to orphanages where they’ll hopefully be safe for the remainder of the war. However, she knows that bragging about her accomplishments to Julien would be selfish, as telling Julien about her actions would make him complicit in them and so put his life in danger. As such, she ultimately denies herself the satisfaction of her father’s approval, thereby sacrificing Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. No
Vianne heard the confession that lay beneath. He was telling her his own story in the only way he could, cloaked in Isabelle’s. He was saying that he had worried about his choice to join the army in the Great War, that he had agonized over what his fighting had done to his family. He knew how changed he’d been on his return, and instead of pain drawing him closer to his children and wife, it had separated them.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
This quote comes from a conversation between Vianne and Julien Rossignol the day before Julien turns himself in to save Isabelle’s life. Julien uses the conversation to say goodbye to Vianne and ensure she will care for Isabelle, explaining that Isabelle’s wartime activities will have traumatized her and that she’ll need Vianne’s help to heal. Though he doesn’t say it, it’s clear to Vianne that Julien is speaking from experience. The conversation is a significant moment for both Vianne and Julien’s characters. For the first time, Julien finds a way to talk about how his service during World War I Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum.
Chapter 38 Quotes
Don’t forget me, Isabelle thought. She wished she had the strength to say it out loud.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
This passage takes place during the novel’s 1940s timeline, just after the war’s end. Isabelle is in Gaëtan’s arms and surrounded by her family. She knows that she will die soon. For much of her life, Isabelle has felt unloved. Her mother died while she was young, her father wanted nothing to do with her, and Vianne was too busy dealing with her own trauma to handle Isabelle’s as well. However, during the war, Isabelle discovers love in all the places she always wanted it, as well as in a place she did not expect (Gaëtan). Isabelle fought the war Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa
Chapter 39 Quotes
“Did Dad know?” Julien asks.
“Your father . . .” I pause, draw in a breath. Your father. And there it is, the secret that made me bury it all.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
This quote comes from a conversation between Vianne and Julien Mauriac at the French reunion for passeurs. As it turns out, Julien is not Antoine’s biological child; in fact, Von Richter Julien’s father (Von Richter repeatedly raped Vianne while he was staying at her house). However, Vianne never tells Antoine, nor does she tell Julien, because the secret is too terrible and painful for Vianne to reveal. As such, dramatic irony is present when Julien asks about his father; although the reader knows the truth about his parentage, Julien does not. For a moment, Vianne considers telling Julien the truth, Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atq
Get the entire The Nightingale LitChart as a printable PDF.
"My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." -Graham S.
Julien Rossignol Character Timeline in The Nightingale
The timeline below shows where the character Julien Rossignol appears in The Nightingale. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 2
...was a frightened, motherless child. Her mother had died just a few weeks before, and her father had already given up on being a good parent. Vianne was left with a Madame...
(full context)
Chapter 3
Vianne’s earliest memories are of war. She remembers watching her mother cry as her father left to fight. She also recalls being cold and hungry. More than anything, she remembers...
(full context)
...coming weeks. Antoine suggests that Vianne take Sophie to Paris, where she could live with Julien Rossignol , her father. However, Vianne refuses—she wants to stay put. Antoine accepts Vianne’s decision and...
(full context)
Chapter 4
Isabelle tells Madame Allard that she is only in school in the first place because Julien Rossignol wants nothing to do with her. Madame Allard tells Isabelle that she should go easy...
(full context)
...train to Paris, unsure of what will happen when she gets there. She hopes that Julien Rossignol will welcome her with open arms, but she knows that is unlikely to happen. When...
(full context)
After her talk with Christophe, Isabelle returns to Julien Rossignol ’s bookstore. Not long after, Julien and Isabelle hear a loud noise and see crowds...
(full context)
Chapter 5
...and now the Germans are moving deeper into France. Before the Germans arrive in Paris, Julien Rossignol decides to send Isabelle away to live with Vianne. He has her pack her things...
(full context)
Chapter 13
...knows that the only way she can stay in Paris is if she lives with Julien Rossignol . She knows that Julien will try to send her away as soon as she...
(full context)
...with Beck, Isabelle informs him that she wants to go to Paris to live with Julien Rossignol . She lies and says that he is sick and needs someone to care for...
(full context)
Chapter 15
...arrives in Paris with her bicycle. When she gets off the train, she bikes to Julien Rossignol ’s store. Isabelle reaches the store and finds it in chaos; it looks like it...
(full context)
Later, Julien Rossignol comes home and sees Isabelle. Immediately, he is angry. When Isabelle tells him that she...
(full context)
The conversation turns to Julien Rossignol ’s current job. Since he is not running the bookstore anymore, Isabelle wants to know...
(full context)
After speaking with Julien Rossignol , Isabelle goes and looks at her old room. Everything is just as she left...
(full context)
Moments later, Julien Rossignol knocks on Isabelle’s door and tells her he is leaving. While he is gone, he...
(full context)
Chapter 16
...Isabelle looks around, she sees a man named Levy who used to regularly shop at Julien Rossignol ’s bookstore. Also in the room is Anouk, the woman to whom Isabelle previously delivered...
(full context)
...her in the future. In response, Isabelle tells him that she is going to reopen her father ’s bookstore. That way, the resistance can come and find her at any point in...
(full context)
When Isabelle goes home, she tells Julien Rossignol that she plans to reopen his shop. At first, Julien is angry, but Isabelle reminds...
(full context)
Chapter 17
...him to safety. The pilot does as he is told, and Isabelle takes him to Julien Rossignol ’s apartment. Then, she hides him in her wardrobe, where Julien will not think to...
(full context)
When Isabelle returns to the apartment, she finds that Julien Rossignol is home from work. As such, for the meantime she cannot do anything further to...
(full context)
Chapter 18
The next morning, once Julien Rossignol is gone, Isabelle goes and steals some of his clothes for MacLeish. MacLeish puts on...
(full context)
After her talk with Gaëtan, Isabelle heads home. There, she finds Julien Rossignol , who reveals that he knows Isabelle hid MacLeish in his apartment. Additionally, he tells...
(full context)
Then, Julien Rossignol reveals that he has been working with the resistance all along. His work for the...
(full context)
Chapter 21
After hiding Levy’s card, Isabelle leaves without completing her job. She heads straight for Julien Rossignol ’s apartment, where the two of them discuss the purpose of the cards. Later that...
(full context)
Chapter 32
The perspective shifts back to 1944. Isabelle is in Paris with Julien Rossignol . When Isabelle looks at her father, she realizes that he’s aged greatly in the...
(full context)
Chapter 33
...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...
(full context)
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...
(full context)
Additionally, Vianne deduces that Julien Rossignol plans to sacrifice himself in order to save Isabelle. She can tell he has already...
(full context)
Chapter 34
...to the Nightingale. For a moment, the torture stops, and then the Germans bring in Julien Rossignol , who is in chains. Julien tells the Germans that he is the Nightingale; evidently,...
(full context)
