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tanemariacris's review
Intertwining and contrasting two instances of love, two different approaches to it, Oscar Wilde offers in his poetic, astute, and slightly cynic writing a beautiful fable of futile, yet noble sacrifices done in the name of this complex human emotion.
The Nightingale is the embodiment of the idealistic one who knows that love requires selflessness, patience, and the emotional availability to fight for it. The student, on the other hand, proves to be fickle and egoistic, and one rejection pushes him away from the concept of a future indulgement in love, considering the feeling to be impractical and not worth the struggle.
Wilde's short story shows the risks that have to be taken for love, that sometimes pay off, but sometimes are in vain. So is this vulnerability worth it when the possibility of getting hurt is always present? Just as this story illustrates, people have different perspectives on the matter.
'Be happy,' cried the Nightingale, 'be happy; you shall have your red rose. I will build it out of music by moonlight, and stain it with my own heart's-blood. All that I ask of you in return is that you will be a true lover, for Love is wiser than Philosophy, though she is wise, and mightier than Power, though he is mighty. Flame-coloured are his wings, and coloured like flame is his body. His lips are sweet as honey, and his breath is like frankincense.'
The Nightingale is the embodiment of the idealistic one who knows that love requires selflessness, patience, and the emotional availability to fight for it. The student, on the other hand, proves to be fickle and egoistic, and one rejection pushes him away from the concept of a future indulgement in love, considering the feeling to be impractical and not worth the struggle.
Wilde's short story shows the risks that have to be taken for love, that sometimes pay off, but sometimes are in vain. So is this vulnerability worth it when the possibility of getting hurt is always present? Just as this story illustrates, people have different perspectives on the matter.
andyreadsthings's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
5.0
roxyfae's review
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
dynamicdylan's review
4.0
Another good thought provoking short fairy tale about love in the more negative sense.