Plot summary, “The Nightingale and the Rose” by Oscar Wilde in 4 Minutes - Book Review
0"The Nightingale and the Rose" is a poignant and allegorical short story written by Oscar Wilde. Originally published in 1888 as part of Wilde's collection titled "The Happy Prince and Other Tales," this narrative explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the fleeting nature of beauty.
The story unfolds with a young student who is deeply infatuated with a beautiful girl. The girl expresses that she will only dance with him at the upcoming ball if he presents her with a red rose. However, the student laments the absence of red roses in his garden. A nightingale, overhearing the student's plight, becomes sympathetic to his cause and decides to help him.
Driven by love and compassion, the nightingale embarks on a quest to find a red rose for the student. The bird encounters various obstacles in its search, including the refusal of a red rose from a red rose tree and a white rose tree. Ultimately, the nightingale discovers that the only way to create a red rose is through an act of supreme sacrifice. The nightingale presses its breast against a thorn, allowing its blood to soak into the white rose, transforming it into a red rose.
Tragically, the student, preoccupied with his own concerns, is indifferent to the sacrifice made by the nightingale. When presented with the red rose, he dismisses it, declaring that a mechanical nightingale would be a more practical gift for the girl. The story concludes with the nightingale's song expressing the ephemeral nature of love and beauty, and the inevitable sorrow that accompanies such sacrifices.
"The Nightingale and the Rose" showcases Wilde's mastery in combining elements of fairy tales and social commentary. The narrative delves into the complexities of human nature, the superficiality of societal expectations, and the genuine sacrifices made for love. The story is both a critique of societal values and a meditation on the purity of selfless acts of love and sacrifice.
Other Videos By Сliff Notes
Other Statistics
Nightingale Statistics For Сliff Notes
There are 38 views in 2 videos for Nightingale. Less than an hour worth of Nightingale videos were uploaded to his channel, making up less than 0.03% of the total overall content on Сliff Notes's YouTube channel.