What is the central idea of the poem The Nightingale?
What is the central idea of the poem The Nightingale?
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By employing the tale of Philomela and her violation done by her brother-in-law, Tereus, the poem goes on to explore the themes of love and suffering and how sorrow is dealt with by two different people. To some extent, it can be said that both Philomela/ the nightingale and the speaker employ art and creativity to express themselves. One on hand, Philomela’s expression of sadness and suffering is done through the means of a tapestry where she vividly shows the scene of her abuse. On becoming a nightingale, Philomela is able to vocalise and sing about the wrongs done to her. On the other hand, even though the speaker claims to have no listeners for the song of his sorrow and thus, is forced to repress his emotions, he is still able to convey his feelings through the poem itself. Thus, the literary form becomes his mode of expression and an act of catharsis.
The Nightingale Summary