The Nightingale Feminist Analysis

The novel by Kristin Hannah, The Nightingale, was truly a remarkable and unbeatable story depicting two women who have taken extremely opposite stands in regards to Nazis occupation in France. Throughout the storyline, Hannah was able to weave the ink on a page into wondrous and thrilling narrations from these two sisters. Indeed, one almost feels as if they were completely submerged in the mind’s of these dynamic characters. In a way, Vianne and Isabelle can be compared to the actions of the natural elements of fire and water. One goes with the flow, not really pushing against the current; while the other blazes against everything in its path, not stopping for anything, or anyone. Yet, they both are a force of nature in their own right. Vianne and Isabelle both have their reasons for acting in their particular manner throughout the storyline. “In war, we find out who we really are” (Hannah, p. 1). Previously, Vianne was a simple teacher to grouchy but somewhat enthusiastic children. She lived a quiet existence with her husband and her miracle child Sophie. She strived to be the best possible

A hero? Absurd. it’s a fact that women are useless in war, their job is to wait for the men’s return” (Hannah, pgs. 26-27). Well, it was not a stretch to presume how the author depicted gender roles in that period of time. The men firmly believed that a woman's place was in the home, not on a battlefield. Vianne, could be thought of a woman who stood by her “expected” role in society. After all, she did not draw attention to herself, she lived a simple teacher and was just a relatively normal housewife. In contrast, Isabelle, whom always had a disregard for the rules, burned her own path, not allowing anyone to convince her otherwise. “Women who render help to the enemies will be sent to concentration camps in Germany, but how was it that the German’s hadn’t noticed by now--October 1941--that France had become a country of women?” (Hannah, p.