The Nightingale and the Rose is short story written by Irish poet, Oscar Wilde. The story was first published in 1888 and it was republished again in 1927. The major theme of “The Nightingale and the Rose” is Love and Sacrifice.
The Nightingale and the Rose By Oscar Wilde
Summary of The Nightingale and the Rose By Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde’s “The Nightingale and the Rose” story begins with a crying sound of a student, student says she promised me if I would give her red rose then she would dance with me. But in my whole Garden there is no rose flower. Our city price is throwing a party and my lover has asked me to bring Red rose for her.
If I will give her Rose then she will dance with me till morning. But how unlucky I’m that I have good knowledge and knows philosophy but I do not have any Rose flower. After saying this, student started crying more loudly.
There comes nightingale bird who lives in Oak tree and listening a talks of Student. After seeing student, Nightingale bird thinks that she has finally found a true lover. I often sing love songs and tells people about true love but I saw a true love in this boy only.
The student again started saying about his sad story, he says there will be musician in party who will play interesting instrument and my lover will dance on those instrument tunes. But she will not dance with me because I do not have Rose flower to give her. After this, Student throws himself on grass of his Garden and started crying loudly.
There comes a butterfly after listening student cry sound, She ask nightingale, why this boy is crying here ? The Nightingale replied that he is crying for red flower. On this butterfly starts making fun of student, is he just crying for a Rose flower ? Thereafter, butterfly flies away from garden. The Nightingale is understanding student’s pain, she decides to help the student.
The Nightingale spread her wings and starts looking for Rose flower in garden. First, Nightingale goes at Rose plant and ask for a Rose from her and in return I will sing a beautiful song for you. The Rose plant says I can give you flower though but my flowers are of white color.
You don’t need to worry, you just move forward and there is one fountain in garden where one more Rose plant is planted. He is my brother you can take Red Rose from him. The Nightingale goes at second Rose plant and ask for one flower from him, and in return I will sing a sweetest song for you.
The Rose replies my flowers are of yellow color which I believe are no use to you. But you don’t worry there is one more Rose plant which is planted under Student’s room window. He is my brother and he can give you Red flower.
The Nightingale flies and goes at third Rose plant which is planted under Student’s room window. The Nightingale says the same thing to third plant, she ask for one Red flower and in return will sing a beautiful song for you.
The third rose plant replies it is true that my Rose are of Red color, but my plant is completely dried up. As its a winter season, my veins has dried up, frost season has destroyed my flowers. As well as recent thunderstorm has broke my branches.
So this year I can’t give even a single Rose to you. The nightingale persist and ask for just one Red flower. The third Rose plant say, I have a way but leave it I can’t tell you because you will not do it. The Nightingale says I will do it for sure, just tell me the way.
There is a way through which I can give you Red flower and that is you will sing a song for me at moon’s light with my thorn prick in your chest. Through this way your blood will flow in my veins and I will develop new flower again. Now you can understand what plant is trying to say, that he will give her flower only when she will sacrifice her life for it.
The Nightingale says giving up one’s life in exchange for a rose is a big deal. Please tell me one thing, is Birds life are more precious than Human life. I will do it as you said. Thereafter, Nightingale goes to Student who is still crying on grass, she says to student, stop crying because you will get Red flower soon and I will make it with my blood and song.
In return I just want one thing from you that you will never forget your love no matter what. Always be a true lover. The student does not understand Bird words he just understand her song. The student thinks in mind that Nightingale is singing nicely but her song has no feelings and emotions.
Afterwards, Student goes back to his room. The Oak tree is sad because he knows that his friend nightingale is going. So before that tree ask bird to sing a beautiful song for him. The Nightingale sing a beautiful song for him.
At night, nightingale goes at Red Rose plant, she prick his thorn into her chest and started singing song. She sing different types of song whole night, she sing song about lover’s heart feeling and sing continuously whole night.
The Nightingale Develop a beautiful Rose flower with her blood and died. The next day, when student wake up, he shocked to see Red rose flower in his garden. He plucked flower and goes to his lover. He found his lover at his house door, he says my dear love I have bring a beautiful Red Rose flower for you.
You told me if I will give you red flower then you would dance with me. On this, girl replies I don’t think so this flower will match my dress. And by the way prince’s nephew has gave me lots of Jewellery which is costlier than your flower so I don’t need your flower anymore.
The Student gets angry, he yells at girl and throw flower at road which goes at gutter. Student thinks how bad love is as it has no logic and it is very unpractical. So for me its better that I focus on my studies and don’t get distracted to these types of things. At the end of story, student returns to his home and started studying.