In The Nightingale, scraps of clothing represent the uncertainty of fate. Throughout the novel, Vianne ties scraps of clothing to a tree in her yard. Each of these scraps belongs to a loved one whose fate she does not know. These scraps are subject to the forces of nature; they blow in the wind, freeze in the cold, and get drenched by the rain. Similarly, the individuals who wore the scraps are subject to the whims of fate. For characters like Antoine and Rachel, who are in concentration camps, survival is mere luck. Like the scraps of clothing, they have no control over their future—instead, they are subjected to the elements and whatever else the Nazis decide is appropriate. In the end, some of the owners of the clothing, like Antoine, come home; others, like Rachel, do not.
Scraps of Clothing Symbol Timeline in The Nightingale
