The Nightingale and the Rose by Oscar Wilde 

This blog is a part of our classroom task.

Q.-1: Write about your understanding of the story The Nightingale and the Rose.

Answer:

"The Nightingale and the Rose" by Oscar Wilde is a beautiful and poignant story that delves into themes of sacrifice, love, and the human condition. Set in a fairy tale-like world, the story follows a nightingale who overhears a young student lamenting about not having a red rose to give to his beloved. Driven by compassion and empathy, the nightingale decides to help the student by sacrificing her life to create a red rose.

The nightingale represents selflessness and pure love. Despite knowing that creating a red rose would cost her life, she decides to help the student. This act showcases the depth of the nightingale's love and her willingness to sacrifice herself for the sake of another.

The student, on the other hand, symbolizes human desires and superficiality. He is consumed by the idea of presenting a red rose to win the affection of his beloved. His obsession with material possessions blinds him to the nightingale's sacrifice and the genuine love she displays.

Wilde uses vivid imagery and emotive language to convey the nightingale's emotions as she sacrifices herself to create the red rose. The nightingale's death is both heartbreaking and symbolic, highlighting the purity of her sacrifice and the fleeting nature of love.

However, despite the nightingale's ultimate sacrifice, the student remains unaware of her sacrifice. When presented with the red rose, the student dismisses it for being impractical and not matching his desires. This revelation starkly contrasts the nightingale's selfless act with the superficiality and selfishness of the student.

The story's conclusion is bittersweet, revealing the harsh realities of human nature. It portrays how genuine acts of love and sacrifice often go unnoticed or unappreciated in a world driven by superficial desires and selfishness.

Wilde crafts a thought-provoking narrative that challenges societal perceptions of love, sacrifice, and human values. Through the characters of the nightingale and the student, he offers a commentary on the complexity of human emotions and the often overlooked significance of selfless acts.

In essence, "The Nightingale and the Rose" is a powerful allegory that urges readers to reflect on the true nature of love and sacrifice. It serves as a reminder of the importance of genuine compassion and selflessness in a world that sometimes prioritizes materialistic desires over true emotional connections. The story's timeless message continues to resonate with readers, prompting introspection and contemplation about the essence of love and the depth of human relationships.

Q.-2: How many characters are there in the story, and what do they do or say?

Answer:

● Major Characters:

1. The Nightingale:

In the story "The Nightingale and the Rose," the Nightingale is the main character, even though she dies before the story ends. She's a romantic bird who spends her life singing about love and hopes to experience it herself. When she hears the Student's sorrow over love, she decides to help him by sacrificing herself to create a red rose, using her blood. Sadly, others in the story don't realize her sacrifice, but the overall story supports her actions. The Nightingale represents selflessness in true love and the value of art, connecting these themes through her selfless nature and beautiful singing. Essentially, she symbolizes the ideal lover and artist who give without expecting anything back.

2. The Student:

In "The Nightingale and the Rose," the Student starts as a likable character but becomes the antagonist. He claims to deeply love a girl, leading the Nightingale to sacrifice herself for a red rose. However, when the girl rejects the rose, the Student throws it away, dismissing love as a waste. This disrespects the Nightingale's sacrifice and her wish for him to be a true lover. The Student is shown as overly focused on logic and practicality, making it hard for him to understand emotions. He represents the dangers of being too rational; his obsession with rules and results makes him unable to see the importance of selflessness and beauty.

3. The Rose-tree:

In "The Nightingale and the Rose," three rose-trees appear, but only the one near the Student's window is important. This tree tells the Nightingale she can create a red rose but must sacrifice herself for it. Agreeing, the Nightingale spends the night singing while pressing her breast against a thorn, giving life to the rose with her blood. Surprisingly, although the Rose-tree contributes to the Nightingale's death, it shows compassion. It's one of the few characters who understands and acknowledges the Nightingale's sacrifice, speaking kindly to her as she sacrifices herself on the thorn.

4. The Girl:

In "The Nightingale and the Rose," the girl is a crucial character despite her brief appearance. She is the Professor's daughter and represents a lack of emotions and a focus on material things. Initially, she promises to dance with the Student if he brings her a red rose. However, she breaks her promise because another wealthy suitor gives her jewels. Her possessions, like the expensive silk she works with and her dog, highlight her shallow personality and love for luxury items.

● Minor Characters:

1. The Lizard:

Similar to the Nightingale, the Lizard also listens to the Student's sadness about his unreturned love for the girl. However, the Lizard is described as a "cynic," so when he discovers that the Student is upset about a red rose, he reacts by scoffing or mocking the situation because he doesn't believe in or value such sentimental things.

2. Butterfly and Daisy:

Butterfly and Daisy asked the Nightingale that why the Student is weeping.

3. The Oak-tree:

The Oak-tree in the story is a friend to the Nightingale and also where she lives. Similar to the Rose-tree, the Oak-tree realizes how serious the Nightingale's sacrifice is. He pleads with her to sing a final song before she sacrifices herself for the red rose.

4. The Professor:

Even though the Professor doesn't show up in the story, he holds symbolic significance. He shares similarities with the Student in terms of academia and being intellectual. What's interesting is that he's also the girl's father, connecting the Student's logical mindset with the girl's focus on material things. This connection suggests a relationship between the Student's rational view and the girl's materialistic nature.

5. The White Rose-tree:

The White Rose-tree is the first tree the Nightingale approaches while searching for a red rose. Unfortunately, this tree doesn't have a red rose, so he directs the Nightingale to his brother, the Yellow Rose-tree, to seek what she needs.

6. The Yellow Rose-tree:

The Yellow Rose-tree is the second tree the Nightingale goes to while looking for a red rose. However, this tree doesn't have the red rose she seeks, so it advises her to visit its brother, the Red Rose-tree, for what she needs.

Q.-3: If you were asked to do the second part of the story, what would it be? Write Freely.

Answer:

As the boy begins delving into the book, the rose-tree beneath his window inquires, "Does that girl wish to dance with you?"

In response, the boy informs the rose-tree, "The girl was materialistic. Her Chamberlain's nephew had gifted her jewels, so she favored going to the dance with him. That's why I labeled her as ungrateful."

Curious, the rose-tree inquires further, "And what became of the red rose?"

The boy replies, "I threw it away."

The rose-tree reproaches the boy, explaining, "Do you realize the Nightingale sacrificed her life to create that red rose for you, only for you to cast it aside? The girl may not be ungrateful, but you, in truth, are. The Nightingale implored you to be a true lover, yet you failed."

Upon hearing the rose-tree's words, the boy begins to reflect, "The rose-tree speaks the truth. My love wasn't genuine. Another life was lost due to my obstinacy. I accused the girl of ingratitude, but it is I who am ungrateful. I foolishly attempted to purchase her affection with a red rose."

Subsequently, the boy ventures into the garden and asks the oak-tree, "Is there a way to revive the Nightingale?"

The oak-tree replies, "I possess a method to revive the Nightingale, but it comes at a cost."

The boy asserts, "Tell me the way. I am willing to sacrifice myself."

"Today, during the scorching heat of the afternoon sun, stand exposed to it. Your entire body will evaporate, leaving only your heart behind. This will bring the Nightingale back to life," explains the oak-tree.

Accepting the oak-tree's guidance, the boy prepares to comply.

When the boy positions himself under the blazing sun, he endures immense suffering, akin to the Nightingale's plight. Suddenly, something extraordinary occurs—the Nightingale returns to life and shields the boy from the searing heat. Overwhelmed with joy, the boy witnesses the Nightingale's miraculous revival.

Q.-4: Upload the photo of the poetry you have written as a part of classroom activities done based on the story.

Answer:

 Thank You. 😃