Story Summary
Hans Christian Andersen's The Nightingale tells of an Emperor who learns the value of true nature over a mechanical bird when a real songbird saves his life.
In ancient China, the Emperor lived in a magnificent palace of porcelain. Beyond his gardens lay a deep forest where a nightingale sang so beautifully that even the poorest fisherman paused to listen. When the Emperor heard of the bird, he commanded it be brought to court. The small, gray bird agreed to sing for him, and her melody moved the Emperor to tears. She was kept in a golden cage, but soon, a gift arrived from the Emperor of Japan: a mechanical bird encrusted with jewels that could sing one of the nightingale's songs perfectly. The court preferred the predictable toy, and the real nightingale flew back to her forest. Years later, the mechanical bird broke, and the Emperor fell deathly ill. As Death sat upon his chest, the real nightingale returned. Her song was so divine that Death itself wept and retreated. The Emperor recovered, realizing that true art and life cannot be replaced by machines, and the bird promised to return and sing for him of the world beyond his palace walls.
The Moral
True beauty and genuine emotion cannot be manufactured or owned; nature's simple gifts are more powerful than the most expensive artifice.
“I love your heart more than your crown, and yet the crown has an odor of something holy about it.”
Fun Fact
Hans Christian Andersen wrote this story as a tribute to Jenny Lind, a famous opera singer known as the 'Swedish Nightingale,' with whom he was deeply in love.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the moral of The Nightingale?
The moral is that nature and authenticity hold more power than artificial imitations. It teaches that true art comes from the heart and cannot be forced or fully captured by technology.
Who wrote The Nightingale fairy tale?
The story was written by the famous Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. It was first published in 1843 in his collection 'New Fairy Tales'.
What happens to the mechanical bird in the story?
The mechanical bird eventually wears out from over-use, and its gears break. Despite being repaired by a watchmaker, it can only be played once a year to prevent further damage.
How does the Nightingale save the Emperor from Death?
When Death comes to claim the Emperor, the Nightingale sings a song so beautiful and moving that Death is touched. The spirit of Death eventually leaves the Emperor's bedside to return to its graveyard.
Why did the real Nightingale leave the palace?
The Nightingale left because the court became obsessed with the jewel-encrusted mechanical bird. Feeling replaced by a machine that played the same tune repeatedly, she returned to her freedom in the woods.
What is the significance of the Kitchen Maid?
The Kitchen Maid is the only person in the court who initially knows where the Nightingale lives. She represents the common people who appreciate the bird's song for its beauty rather than its status.