Analysis Of The Novel 'All The Light We Cannot See'

World War II, a war that began in the late 1930s, have taken the lives of many: old, young, disabled, or Jewish. The world, once ravishing, became an ominous place. Inflicting a large amount of pain, the war affected people of each age group differently. Set in the course of World War II, both All the Light We Cannot See and The Nightingale describes the roles both men and women play; however, due to the characters’ age differences, the characteristics they exhibit and the prominent themes throughout the novel are different. During the war, the men are expected to fight for their beloved country, while the women are expected to stay home to watch the children. In All the Light We Cannot See, Jutta, Werner’s sister, often questions the tasks …show more content…
Throughout the novel, All the Light We Cannot See, Marie is shown to be a peaceful and deferential girl. She obeys instructions given to her. When Uncle Etienne demands for her to return home immediately, “[Marie] will come directly back” (Doerr 323). Believing her comments may be misguided, Marie rarely participates in discussions. When Madame Manec invites guests to their home, Marie “sits in her customary spot in the corner of the kitchen […] and listens to the friends of Madame Manec complain” (Doerr 248). However, Marie-Laure will ask Madame Manec or Uncle Etienne question after question when they are alone: “‘What is a pseudonym?’ […] ‘If I were to have one, what sort of name [can] I choose?’” (Doerr 266). Aside from her deference, Marie-Laure is remarkably observant. Living without her vision, Marie depends on her senses, the most prominent ones being touch and sound. When learning how to survive in the outside world, Marie “runs her fingers over the model [of the city] in [her] kitchen [and counts the] miniature benches, storm drains, and hydrant” (Doerr 40). On the streets, she relies on her listening abilities and focuses in order to hear “cars splash[ing] along streets […] and [the] snowflakes tick[ing]” (Doerr 40). Conversely, Isabelle, from The Nightingale, is a rebellious and heedless woman. She has been kicked …show more content…
In All the Light We Cannot See, the theme is the ability to see light despite the darkness one is surrounded by. A broadcast, transmitted by Uncle Etienne, states “the brain is locked in total darkness” (Doerr 48) and “mathematically, all of light is invisible” (Doerr 53). Even though light is invisible, it will always exist within the air. With the ongoing war in Europe, most are consumed by the darkness. No matter how tempting it may have been for Werner and Marie to lock themselves in total darkness, “only the strongest people can turn away from feelings like this” (Doerr 518). They turned away from the cruel ways of the Germans and did what was right, not “because everyone else is doing it” (Doerr 133). On the contrary, The Nightingale’s theme is the strength of love can get one through rough times. Throughout the entire novel, Vianne, Isabelle’s sister, uses her love for her children as strength to continue fighting. On multiple occasions, Vianne is reminded by her best friend, Rachel, “to not die [because] Sophie needs [her]” (Hannah 226). The love she has for her children pushes her through the war. It forces her to keep fighting for the lives of her children. Isabelle, on the other hand, uses the love she has for Gaëtan as fuel to continue being ‘The Nightingale’. When Isabelle is captured for working with ‘The Nightingale’, the Germans left her in a freezer.