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Chapter 15
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
Life is less stressful for Vianne now that Isabelle is in Paris. However, she feels lonelier than ever, and she is worried about what will happen once her money is gone. Soon, she will have to rely on only her teaching salary, which is not enough to get by. One day, Vianne takes Sophie into town for their daily rations where they see a “No Jews Allowed” sign hanging over the butcher’s shop. Sophie asks Vianne to explain the sign, but Vianne doesn’t answer her. When Vianne gets to the front of the line, she sees that the normal shop owner, Madame Fournier, is not handing out the rations. Madame Fournier is Jewish, and so another woman has replaced her.
Although some of Vianne’s problems have disappeared, more always pop up. Additionally, German displays of antisemitism are growing more blatant. Sophie, who grew up around Jewish people, does not understand antisemitism or its significance to the Nazis. Vianne doesn’t know how to explain such a concept to her daughter, so for now, she says nothing.
Themes
When Vianne and Sophie return home, Sophie is angry with her mother. She doesn’t understand how someone could take over Madame Fournier’s shop and is mad at Vianne for not doing anything about it. Vianne tries to reason with Sophie. She reminds her that French people are often executed for standing up to the Germans. Sophie realizes that her mother is right and then says that she misses Antoine. To cheer Sophie up, Vianne decides that it would be a good day to make pickles. She sends Sophie to the garden to gather cucumbers. While Sophie harvests food from the garden, Vianne worries about how they will survive the upcoming winter.
Because Sophie does not understand the gravity of the situation, her mother’s passivity frustrates her. She knows Isabelle would have stood up to the Germans and is ashamed of her mother for not doing the same. Like Isabelle, Sophie doesn’t yet understand the consequences of rebellion. Instead, Vianne tries to calm her daughter down by suggesting a fun activity that will distract them from the horrors of their current situation.
Themes
Inside, Vianne sees Beck reading in the living room. When Beck spots Vianne, he immediately notices that she is upset. He asks her if she is having a hard time because Isabelle is gone, and he notes that he regularly hears her walking around at night. In response, Vianne tells him that if he hears her walking around, then he must not be sleeping well either. Beck admits that this is the case; he also misses his family and does not like that the war has gone on for so long.
This interaction between Vianne and Beck humanizes them to each other. They share similar problems and concerns, even though they are on different sides of the war. Although Vianne does not fully trust Beck, she does not think he is fundamentally bad and is glad they share the same struggles.
Themes
Luckily, Beck has some good news for Vianne. He has gotten his hands on a letter from Antoine, which he gives her. The letter is short and reassuring. Antoine says that he is doing alright and only asks that Vianne send him his gloves because winter will be coming soon. The letter makes Vianne overjoyed, and she reads it repeatedly.
Antoine’s letter is the first good news that Vianne has had in a long time. However, one wonders whether Antoine is truthful in what he says. The Nazis were notorious for censoring letters, and even if they haven’t censored Antoine’s letter, it’s possible he may not want to tell Vianne the truth anyway.
Themes
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Back in Paris, Isabelle is preparing herself for her first meeting with her fellow resistance members. She does everything she can to make herself inconspicuous. She dresses up like a schoolgirl and plans to tell anyone who questions her that she is going to meet a boy. After leaving Julien’s apartment, Isabelle goes to the agreed-upon meeting place. There, a man approaches her and speaks to her in code. Isabelle responds appropriately, and the man leads her down several streets. He asks her to close her eyes so she won’t know exactly where they are going. Isabelle does as the man asks.
Again, Isabelle uses her gender to her advantage, emphasizing her youth and femininity to ensure her safety.
Themes
Eventually, Isabelle ends up in a poorly lit room where several people have gathered. As 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 the secret message. Levy knows Isabelle’s childhood reputation and warns her that she could get herself and others killed if she joins the resistance group. In response, Isabelle tells Levy that she is perfect for the cause because no one would expect her.
Finally, Isabelle gets a good look at some of her coconspirators, and, as it turns out, she sees some familiar faces. Although Levy is wary of Isabelle, Isabelle is right to point out that because she is a young woman, she can be a valuable asset to the resistance—her previous experience has shown this to be true.
Themes
Isabelle’s reasoning is sound. After a short discussion, the others admit her into the group. Levy warns Isabelle that she cannot tell anyone what she is doing. Then, Anouk gives her a package to deliver. As Anouk explains what Isabelle needs to do with the package, an RAF pilot is escorted through the room. Isabelle knows they would all be killed if the Germans discovered they were hiding the pilot. Because Isabelle speaks English, she is able to help the pilot communicate with her French colleagues. She promises the pilot that the resistance will do everything it can to help him, which seems to put him at ease. Afterward, the pilot is taken to a room in the back of the building.
An RAF pilot is a “Royal Air Force” Pilot, a member of the British air force. During World War II, enemy troops regularly shot down and captured pilots. In this case, the resistance captured the pilot before the Germans could, and as such, they are looking for a way to get him home and back in action. Historically, similar operations occurred throughout France and other Nazi-occupied countries like Italy.
Themes
Isabelle, Anouk, and Levy return to their conversation about Isabelle’s new position in the resistance. Levy asks Isabelle how they can contact 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 the day without standing out. Additionally, Isabelle tells Levy that her father is working with the Nazis. Levy nods like he already knows, and the two of them agree that Julien Rossignol’s position is a sad state of affairs.
Isabelle’s idea is brilliant; opening the bookstore allows the resistance constant access to her without raising suspicion. The only difficulty will be convincing Julien of the plan without letting him in on what she is up to. After all, his current position means he might be willing to turn his daughter in to the Nazis.
Themes
Levy and Anouk reiterate that Isabelle’s life will be extremely dangerous from now on. Anouk warns Isabelle about the special punishments that exist for women whom the Nazis catch. Although Anouk does not specify, Isabelle senses what she has in mind. Additionally, the others tell Isabelle that if the Nazis catch her, then she must do her best to not give away any vital information for at least two days. This will give the other resistance members a chance to hide and change their center of operations.
The “special punishments” that Anouk alludes to almost certainly entail sexual abuse. Although being a woman in the does have some benefits—enemies are less likely to suspect women of resistance activity, for instance—there are also many pitfalls, as Anouk suggests here. Although two days do not seem like a long time, the Nazis are not above physical, emotional, and sexual torture, and Anouk knows this.
Themes
When Isabelle goes home, she tells Julien Rossignol that she plans to reopen his shop. At first, Julien is angry, but Isabelle reminds him that she promised to get a day job. She thinks she will have no problem selling books to the Germans and bringing in some additional money. Julien agrees to let her reopen the shop on the condition that she does not open a room in the back of the store. Apparently, there is something important in the room, which he does not want touched. Isabelle agrees to his terms, but not before insinuating that he uses the backroom to have sex with women. Disgusted, Julien tells Isabelle that he is glad her mother isn’t alive to see how she behaves.
Isabelle's plan is great because it satisfies her father's demands and those of the resistance. However, it’s clear that Julien is hiding something from Isabelle. Whatever Julien is hiding, it is not what Isabelle insinuates. However, her insinuation only further damages their crumbling relationship.
Themes
