Please write down the characters’ different attitudes toward Love: (1) The student’s (2) The Lizard’s, the Butterfly’s and the Daisy’s (3) The Nightingale
Love is mysterious thing, attracting many authors in all-time. “The Nightingale and the Rose”, a fairy tale by Oscar Wilde, is a meaningful story following the theme of Love. The theme is deeply conveyed in this story through the characters’ different attitudes toward Love.
For the Student, the need for Love, simply, is red rose. He fell in love with the Professor’s daughter. She promised to dance with him if he bought her red roses but he could not find any red roses. He was so sad and disappointed. “He cried and his beautiful eyes filled with tears”, “He flung himself down on the grass, and buried his face in his hands, and swept.” Therefore, the Nightingale thought wrongly that the Student was a “true lover” and tried her best to help him. However, in fact, the feelings the Student has for the Professor's daughter are those of material Love. He is only interested in her beauty. He did nothing to make his dream come true. He only cried and “went into his room, and lay down on his little pallet-bed, and began to think of his love; and, after a time, he fell asleep.” He never understands the Nightingale’s sacrifice and take it for granted. He happily “ran up to the Professor’s house with the rose in his hand”. Nevertheless, when being refused, he “threw the rose into the street” without hesitating. He discards the red rose- Love. The Student is ignorant of love and is not persistent in pursuing love. For him, “What a silly thing Love is”, “it does not prove anything”, “it is quite unpractical, and, as in this age to be practical is everything.” The Student represents the contemporary society, following materialism. Money is everything and Love is nothing.
The Lizard, the Butterfly and the Daisy- personified animals- also have their own thought about love. Love, for