Once upon a time, there was a young girl who loved a boy very much. One day, the boy invited her to a grand ball at the palace. She wanted to go, but there was a problem. She did not have a red rose to give him. She believed that without a red rose, the boy would not dance with her, because all the other girls would be bringing beautiful flowers. Feeling hopeless, she sat alone in her garden at night, staring at the stars, and quietly wishing for a miracle that could give her a red rose.
High above, a nightingale perched on a tree and listened to her sad words. The nightingale was famous throughout the land for its extraordinary song and its compassionate heart. Moved by the girl’s sorrow, the bird decided to help her. That night, the nightingale flew around the garden, searching for a red rose, but she could not find a single one. All the roses were white, yellow, or pale pink. Finally, she approached an old rose tree and asked for help. The rose tree explained a secret: to create a red rose, someone must give their own life. The nightingale must press her heart against a thorn until her blood falls onto a white rosebud. Only then will it turn red.
Without hesitation, the nightingale agreed. She believed that true love and sacrifice were worth everything. She found the loveliest white rosebud in the garden and perched on it. Then she began to sing a song so beautiful and full of passion that the whole garden seemed to shine with her music. She sang about love, hope, pain, and sacrifice, pouring all her heart into the melody. As she sang, she pressed her tiny breast against the sharp thorn, and blood began to trickle from her body onto the petals. Slowly, the white rose absorbed the blood and turned a deep, vibrant red. The nightingale had succeeded in creating the perfect red rose, but at the cost of her own life. Exhausted and lifeless, she fell to the ground beside the rose.
The next morning, the girl went into the garden and found the most beautiful red rose she had ever seen. Her heart leapt with joy. She plucked it carefully and ran to the boy’s house, eager to give it to him. She imagined his delight and how he would dance with her at the ball. But when the boy saw the rose, he only laughed lightly. He said the rose was worthless because it came from the garden and not from something expensive or valuable. He threw the rose aside and went off to the ball with richer girls who could offer him jewels and fine gifts. The girl was stunned. Her joy vanished instantly, leaving her heartbroken. The red rose, which had been created through a nightingale’s ultimate sacrifice, now seemed meaningless and unappreciated.
The story ends as a lesson about love, sacrifice, and human ingratitude. The nightingale gave her life to help the girl, showing that acts of true devotion and kindness are often overlooked by those who are blind to anything but appearances or material wealth. It is a story that reminds readers how precious and rare genuine love truly is, and how often it is ignored or taken for granted.
Why would the nightingale sacrifice its life just to make the girl happy? Does it make any sense?
It may seem illogical that the nightingale would give its life for a human, but in Oscar Wilde’s story, the bird represents true, selfless love and the highest ideals of devotion. Its act is symbolic, not meant to follow the rules of reality. The story contrasts genuine love with human selfishness, showing that acts of kindness are often unappreciated. By giving everything without expecting reward, the nightingale teaches readers about the value of selflessness, beauty, and emotional courage. In this symbolic sense, the bird’s sacrifice is meaningful, not meaningless.