The Rose (Symbol)
In “The Nightingale and the Rose,” the student wants to offer a red rose to his beloved. The red rose is often associated to love and passion, and is an internationally recognized symbol of romance. However, Wilde subverts the sweet connotation by literally tainting the symbol with the blood sacrifice of the nightingale. Much like Christ who sheds blood out of love for humanity, the nightingale serves as a reminder that great love requires pain and sacrifice.
The Seasons (Symbol)
In "The Selfish Giant", the seasons halt mid-winter after the Giant chases the children off of his property. Because of his avaricious nature, the seasons stop passing, and Spring cannot arrive. As Spring symbolizes new beginnings, the Giant's unbending disposition prevents any positive evolution.
The Garden (Allegory)
The Selfish Giant’s tale takes place in his garden, which children have begun to use as a playground. This garden is the most straightforward symbol as it mirrors Eden. When the Giant opens up his garden, and his heart to the children, his home becomes a paradise free of evil.
The Color Red (Motif)
The color red is a recurring motif throughout Wilde’s tales. From the red rose to the rubies, and finally to blood, Wilde associates love and passion with the physical pain of bleeding one’s heart out. The color is the most aggressive and is often the most vivid image in the midst of grey and dark landscapes. Wilde wants the reader to picture the bright hue, and to sense the gut-wrenching pain of love.
Gardens (Motif)
There are gardens in many of the stories—"The Nightingale and the Rose," "The Selfish Giant," "The Birthday of the Infanta," and "The Devoted Friend." Gardens are places of beauty and ease and love, but they are also places stalked by pain and despair and even death. In this Wilde is alluding to the Garden of Eden, the ur-garden, which was an ideal place characterized by harmony and beauty, but then destroyed by sin. Wilde cautions us to be aware of seemingly perfect and lovely places, for even those can mask terrors and sorrows.
