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Chapter 21
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
Isabelle goes outside to witness what the Germans are doing to the Jewish people of Paris. She watches as the Germans load countless people are onto buses, many of whom are women and children. When she asks a nearby French policeman what is happening, the officer warns to her to go away and stay low. Apparently, the Nazis have threatened to kill anyone who escapes or tries to help Jewish people in any manner.
This is the novel’s first portrayal of the mass deportation of Jewish people, likely to concentration camps. Although modern readers know the grim fate that awaits them, in this scene, no one knows what is happening.
Themes
Vianne meets Rachel at her house, along with Sarah and Ari. Together, they walk through the woods on the path that Beck suggested. Eventually, they reach a checkpoint where a line of people are waiting to walk through a guarded gate. Vianne says goodbye to Rachel, and then Rachel gets in line. Moments later, some sort of disturbance occurs, and a Nazi guard starts indiscriminately firing his machine gun into the crowd. One the bullets hits Sarah, and she falls to the ground.
With Beck’s help, Vianne helps the de Champlains escape Carriveau, presumably to get them to the Free Zone of France. Sarah’s seeming death is the first death that has affected Vianne personally. It remains to be seen if it will frighten her back into submission or reinvigorate her urge to fight back.
Themes
That evening, Vianne gives Sophie a sedative to ensure that she stays asleep. When Vianne goes downstairs, she finds Beck staring at a picture of his family. Clearly, there is a lot on his mind, and he admits to Vianne that he wonders how his family will think of him when the war is over. Vianne tells Beck that she thinks the same thing about how Antoine will view her. Before Vianne can leave to help Rachel, Beck gives her some advice on the safest route out of town.
Beck uses the picture of his family to comfort him. He knows the Nazis are carrying out evil acts, but he must follow orders if he ever wants to return to his wife and child. Beck’s position is not enviable, even if it is preferable to that of Vianne or Rachel.
Themes
In Carriveau, Vianne and Sophie stand in line for rations. After waiting for some time, they get a pittance of cheese and bread, half of which they give to Rachel and Sarah. While Vianne is dropping off the food at Rachel’s house, Beck shows up with a warning. He tells Vianne and Rachel that Rachel should make sure she is not at home the following morning. Beck does not elaborate, but he does let Rachel know that her children will be okay because they were born in France. After handing out the warning, Beck leaves. Rachel asks Vianne if they can trust Beck, and Vianne thinks that they can. Vianne decides that it is best to hide Rachel in the secret spot Isabelle made in the barn.
Vianne and Sophie are always underfed, even in the summer months. And Vianne and Sophie are especially hungry because they give half of their food to the de Champlains. In the scene at Rachel’s house, Beck reveals his true colors. Although he is a Nazi, he is not heartless and does not want to see Rachel and her children get hurt. Although Beck may not know the details of Hitler’s plan, he knows enough to be worried for Rachel’s sake. Of course, if any Germans learned he had warned Rachel, Beck’s actions could cost him his life.
Themes
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Rachel and Vianne recover Sarah’s body and head back in the direction of Vianne’s home. However, it immediately becomes clear that Sarah is not going to make it. Rachel says goodbye to her daughter and feels the crushing grief of her loss. Vianne knows her friend is still in danger and convinces her to carry on for Ari’s sake. Vianne hides Rachel and Ari in Isabelle’s secret spot and then goes back to find Sarah’s body. Afterward, she buries Sarah next to the other crosses on her property.
Sarah’s death is the first significant death in the book. It is especially heartbreaking because Sarah is only a child whose death was obviously avoidable. Vianne knows the pain of losing a child and understands what Rachel feels. As such, she takes it upon herself to be strong, leads Rachel back to safety, and buries Sarah.
Themes
