Synopsis
Covers the whole plot, including the ending.
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Pacing
- Slow
- Mood
- Melancholy, introspective, atmospheric, intense, philosophical, dreamlike
Nightwood Plot Summary
Covers the whole plot, including the ending.
Baron Felix Volkbein's Obsession
The novel introduces Baron Felix Volkbein, a man who wants an aristocratic background despite his uncertain Jewish heritage. He invents a noble past, driven by a longing for grandeur he never knew. Felix's search for legitimacy leads him to Vienna, where he meets and marries Hedvig, a woman of genuine but faded aristocracy. Their marriage, however, is not one of passion but of convenience and shared sadness. Hedvig, with her own quiet despair, puts up with Felix's quirks and his strong wish for an heir. This desire for an aristocratic child becomes the central focus of Felix's life, as he believes it will solidify his invented identity and give him the roots he wants in a changing world.
The Birth of Guido and Nora's Introduction
Felix's dream of an heir comes true with the birth of his son, Guido. The child shows signs of developmental issues, further complicating Felix's pursuit of a perfect lineage. Guido's strange, almost animal-like nature becomes a source of both fascination and sadness for Felix. Meanwhile, the story shifts to Nora Flood, a wealthy American living in Paris. Nora is a very independent woman with a strong connection to suffering. She runs a salon, a meeting place for the city's lost souls and thinkers. There, Nora meets Robin Vote, a beautiful, mysterious, and restless woman who sleeps through days and wanders at night. Robin's wild spirit immediately captivates Nora, drawing her into an intense and ultimately destructive love affair.
Nora and Robin's Tumultuous Relationship
Nora Flood falls in love with Robin Vote, offering her a home and a stable, if unusual, life. Nora's love is very intense and she desperately wants to understand and possess Robin. She sees Robin as a wild creature, a beautiful spirit she wants to protect. However, Robin cannot be contained. She constantly wanders, drawn by an instinctual pull towards the night, new faces, and brief encounters. She often disappears for days or weeks, leaving Nora in despair. Nora's attempts to hold onto Robin only highlight their fundamental incompatibility: Nora's need for faithfulness and permanence against Robin's urge for freedom and temporary connection.
The Arrival of Dr. Matthew O'Connor
Troubled by Robin's frequent disappearances and her own heartbreak, Nora seeks advice from Dr. Matthew O'Connor. Dr. O'Connor is a central figure in the Parisian underworld, an Irish-American doctor who, despite having no medical license, offers unique, often darkly humorous advice to the city's outcasts. He is known for his elaborate, often drunken speeches, his cross-dressing, and his deep, if cynical, understanding of human nature and suffering. Nora confides in him, pouring out her soul and her pain over Robin. O'Connor, with his empathy and sharp wit, becomes Nora's confessor, offering her a distorted view of her own despair and a unique perspective on love, betrayal, and identity in their nocturnal world.
Dr. O'Connor's Monologues on Life and Night
Much of the novel's philosophical ideas come from Dr. Matthew O'Connor's long speeches. These rambling, often poetic talks are given late at night, usually to Nora, and cover many topics. O'Connor discusses identity, the roles people play, the pain of existence, and the appeal of the night. He speaks of the 'night people,' those who live outside normal society, and their deep, often sad, understanding of life's truths. His words mix self-pity, insight, and a biting cynicism, reflecting his own marginalized life and his deep, if unconventional, compassion for the suffering he sees. These speeches are a philosophical core, helping to interpret the characters' struggles.
Robin's Affair with Jenny Petherbridge
Robin's wandering nature leads her into an affair with Jenny Petherbridge, a wealthy, manipulative, and insecure woman. Jenny wants to collect people and experiences, and she sees Robin as another prize. This new relationship devastates Nora, who is left to deal with the painful reality of Robin's infidelity and her own inability to keep the woman she loves. Jenny, in her possessiveness, tries to completely absorb Robin, similar to Nora's earlier desires but with more selfish control. The affair shows Robin's inability to commit to any one person or place, and the destructive cycle of longing and abandonment that defines her relationships.
Nora's Confrontation with Jenny
Driven by desperation and hope, Nora confronts Jenny Petherbridge, trying to understand and perhaps reclaim Robin. This confrontation is full of tension and emotional pain. Nora appeals to Jenny, trying to explain the depth of her love for Robin and their unique bond. However, Jenny, with her own possessiveness and lack of true empathy, is unmoved. The encounter leaves Nora feeling more isolated and defeated, realizing her efforts are useless. It confirms Robin's complete emotional detachment and her inability to be swayed by either woman's pleas. Nora's attempt to intervene only solidifies her position as the abandoned lover, deepening her despair.
The Passage of Time and Robin's Further Drifting
As years pass, Robin Vote continues her pattern of restless wandering and temporary relationships. She moves from lover to lover, country to country, never settling, always seeking something undefined. Her beauty remains, but her spirit becomes more fragmented and lost. She is a creature of instinct, driven by an internal need for movement and newness that she cannot explain or control. The story emphasizes her almost animalistic nature, her inability to form lasting bonds, and her deep sense of alienation from normal human society. Her journey becomes a metaphor for a deeper existential homelessness, a ceaseless search for belonging she can never find.
Felix's Return to the Narrative
The story briefly returns to Felix Volkbein, now an old man, his earlier aristocratic hopes mostly unfulfilled. He thinks about his life, his marriage to Hedvig, and the strange, silent existence of his son, Guido. Guido, who never truly fit into society, remains a figure of quiet tragedy, embodying the failure of Felix's attempts to create a noble lineage. Felix's thoughts are tinged with sad resignation, a recognition that his earlier ambitions were futile. His story contrasts with the more passionate and volatile relationships of the other characters, showing a different kind of human longing and its eventual, quiet disappointment.
Nora's Enduring Grief and Solitude
Nora Flood continues to live in the shadow of her love for Robin. Despite the years and Robin's many infidelities, Nora's devotion remains strong, though now marked by a deep, lasting grief. She lives alone, haunted by memories of Robin and unable to move on. Her love becomes a kind of spiritual wound, a constant source of pain and longing. Nora's character shows the profound suffering that can come with unrequited or lost love, her life a demonstration of the destructive power of an obsessive attachment to an elusive ideal. Her solitude is not chosen but imposed by the lasting mark Robin has left on her soul.
The Final Scene: Robin and the Dog
In the novel's final scene, Nora tracks Robin down to a dilapidated chapel in the countryside. She finds Robin in an almost wild state, interacting with a stray dog. Robin, without pretense or social conditioning, has regressed to a primal, animalistic existence. She mimics the dog's movements, growls, and ultimately, engages in a strange, almost sexual wrestling match with the animal. This disturbing scene symbolizes Robin's complete abandonment of human society and her surrender to instinct. Nora witnesses this transformation, realizing the futility of her love and her inability to ever reclaim the 'human' Robin. The scene is a stark depiction of ultimate alienation and the dissolution of identity.
Nightwood Characters
Nora Flood
Protagonist
A wealthy American expat consumed by her love for Robin Vote.
Nora is a deeply sensitive and introspective American woman living in Paris. She is characterized by her profound capacity for love, which often manifests as a possessive and agonizing devotion. Nora runs a salon, providing a haven for other outcasts, yet she herself is profoundly lonely. Her love for Robin Vote becomes the central, defining force of her life, leading her into a spiral of despair and obsession. She represents the tragic figure of the abandoned lover, forever haunted by the elusive object of her affection.
Relationships: Robin Vote (Obsessive, unrequited love); Dr. Matthew O'Connor (Confidante, philosophical interlocutor); Jenny Petherbridge (Rival for Robin's affection)
Robin Vote
Antagonist/Central Figure
An enigmatic and restless woman, incapable of commitment, who drives the plot.
Robin is a beautiful, wild, and profoundly restless woman, an enigma to all who encounter her. She is characterized by her almost animalistic nature, her need to wander, and her inability to form lasting attachments. Robin is often described as sleeping through the day and coming alive at night, drawn to the transient and the unknown. She is not malicious, but rather driven by an uncontrollable instinct for freedom and new experiences, leaving a trail of heartbreak in her wake. Her allure lies in her elusiveness and her almost primal connection to the 'night.'
Relationships: Nora Flood (Object of Nora's obsessive love); Jenny Petherbridge (Transient lover); Felix Volkbein (Brief, unfulfilling marriage)
Dr. Matthew O'Connor
Supporting
An eccentric, cross-dressing 'doctor' and philosophical commentator.
Dr. Matthew O'Connor is an Irish-American, self-proclaimed doctor living in Paris, known for his cross-dressing, heavy drinking, and lengthy, philosophical monologues. He is a deeply empathetic yet cynical observer of the human condition, particularly the plight of the marginalized and heartbroken. O'Connor serves as Nora's primary confidante, offering her a unique, often brutally honest perspective on her suffering and the nature of love and identity. He embodies the wisdom of the outcast, using his eccentricities as both a shield and a means of revealing profound truths.
Relationships: Nora Flood (Confidante, advisor); Felix Volkbein (Acquaintance, occasional drinking companion)
Felix Volkbein
Supporting
A 'Jew by instinct' obsessed with aristocratic lineage and a fabricated past.
Baron Felix Volkbein is a man consumed by a desire for a noble, aristocratic past that is largely fabricated. He is a 'Jew by instinct' who attempts to secure legitimacy through a strategic marriage and the birth of an heir. Felix is a figure of profound melancholia and anachronism, clinging to a bygone era. His quest for an heir to cement his fictional lineage drives his early actions, but his life ultimately leads to quiet disappointment. He represents the futility of trying to construct an identity based on external validation.
Relationships: Hedvig (Wife of convenience); Guido (Son, object of his dynastic hopes); Robin Vote (Brief, failed marriage)
Jenny Petherbridge
Supporting
A manipulative and insecure socialite who collects people and experiences.
Jenny Petherbridge is a wealthy and deeply insecure woman who attempts to fill her emptiness by 'collecting' people, experiences, and even personalities. She is manipulative and possessive, seeing others as objects to acquire and control. Her affair with Robin Vote is driven by a desire to possess Robin's wildness and beauty, rather than genuine affection. Jenny embodies a shallower, more materialistic form of obsession compared to Nora's profound love, highlighting the destructive potential of insecurity and superficiality.
Relationships: Robin Vote (Lover, object of possession); Nora Flood (Rival)
Hedvig
Minor
Felix's aristocratic wife, marked by quiet resignation.
Hedvig is Felix Volkbein's first wife, a woman of genuine but faded aristocracy. She is quiet, melancholic, and possesses a resigned acceptance of her circumstances. Her marriage to Felix is one of convenience rather than love, and she endures his eccentricities with a quiet dignity. Hedvig represents a fading aristocratic world and the quiet suffering that can exist beneath a veneer of social propriety. She has little agency but serves as a contrast to the more volatile characters.
Relationships: Felix Volkbein (Husband of convenience); Guido (Mother)
Guido
Minor
Felix and Hedvig's son, a child with developmental challenges.
Guido is the son of Felix and Hedvig, and the hoped-for heir to Felix's fabricated lineage. However, Guido is depicted as a strange, almost animalistic child with developmental challenges, unable to fully engage with the world in a conventional way. His existence is a source of both fascination and profound disappointment for Felix, as he fails to embody the aristocratic ideal his father so desperately sought. Guido symbolizes the failure of artificial constructs and the unpredictable, often tragic, nature of life.
Relationships: Felix Volkbein (Father, source of dynastic hopes); Hedvig (Mother)
Nightwood Themes
The Nature of Love and Obsession
The novel explores the destructive and consuming nature of love, especially unrequited or impossible love. Nora's obsession with Robin, despite Robin's inability to return her feelings, shows love as a source of suffering, longing, and loss of identity. Love is not a comforting bond but a tormenting force that can trap individuals in pain and despair, showing its capacity to both elevate and destroy the self.
“We are but skin about a heart, that must forever beat against the world.”
Identity and Self-Deception
Characters in 'Nightwood' constantly struggle with their identities, often creating elaborate fronts or clinging to invented pasts. Felix Volkbein's obsession with an aristocratic lineage, and Dr. O'Connor's cross-dressing, are clear examples. The novel suggests that identity is fluid, performed, and often a desperate attempt to create meaning or belonging in a world that offers little. The characters' struggles reveal how fragile the self is and how individuals try to define themselves against a backdrop of societal alienation.
“A man is a little thing while he is a man, but when he is a mask he is a great thing.”
Alienation and the Outcast
'Nightwood' is full of exiles, misfits, and 'night people' who live on the edges of conventional society. They are artists, wanderers, and individuals who do not conform to societal norms, especially in their sexuality. This theme explores what it is like to be an outsider, the deep loneliness that comes with it, and the unique bonds formed within these marginalized groups. The night itself becomes a metaphor for this in-between space, where traditional rules and daylight identities disappear.
“We are all of us, in this world, more or less, 'night people.'”
The Primitive and the Civilized
A tension exists between the primitive, instinctual self and the demands of civilized society. Robin Vote embodies this most clearly; her wild, animalistic nature constantly clashes with Nora's attempts to domesticate her love. The novel suggests that beneath civilization lies a primal self, driven by instinct and beyond reason or social conditioning. The final scene with Robin and the dog powerfully illustrates this regression, questioning what it means to be human.
“She was an animal without an animal's peace.”
Memory and the Past
The past, both personal and historical, affects the characters. Felix's obsession with an invented aristocratic past, and Nora's endless replaying of her memories of Robin, show how individuals are haunted and shaped by what has been. Memory is not a passive recall but an active, often painful, force that dictates present suffering and prevents moving forward. The novel suggests that for some, the past is an inescapable prison, constantly intruding upon and defining their current reality.
“The past is a dead man's nose, that still bleeds upon the living.”
Plot Devices & Literary Techniques
Stream of Consciousness/Interior Monologue
Narrative style reflecting characters' inner thoughts and emotions.
The novel frequently employs stream of consciousness, particularly in the lengthy, philosophical monologues of Dr. Matthew O'Connor and the introspective passages concerning Nora's despair. This device allows the reader direct access to the characters' complex, often fragmented thoughts, feelings, and philosophical musings, creating a rich, psychological landscape. It blurs the line between dialogue and internal rumination, immersing the reader in the characters' subjective experiences and the novel's dense, poetic language, often at the expense of linear plot progression.
Symbolism
Use of objects, settings, and characters to represent abstract ideas.
Symbolism is pervasive in 'Nightwood.' The 'night' itself symbolizes the subconscious, the realm of instinct, and the marginalized existence of the characters. Robin Vote is a symbol of untamed nature, primal instinct, and the elusive quality of desire. The circus, frequently mentioned, symbolizes the grotesque, the performative nature of identity, and the spectacle of human suffering. Even Felix's fabricated baronage symbolizes the futility of artificial constructs. These symbols enrich the novel's thematic depth, allowing it to explore complex ideas about identity, love, and alienation through evocative imagery.
Disjointed Narrative Structure
Non-linear storytelling that jumps between characters and timeframes.
The narrative of 'Nightwood' is not strictly linear or chronological. It often jumps between different characters' perspectives (Felix, Nora, O'Connor), and moves fluidly between past and present events, sometimes with little explicit transition. This disjointed structure mirrors the fragmented inner lives of the characters and the chaotic, dreamlike atmosphere of the Parisian underworld. It requires the reader to piece together the story, emphasizing the subjective and often elusive nature of truth and memory, and contributing to the novel's modernist aesthetic.
Gothic Imagery and Atmosphere
Elements of the grotesque, decay, and the uncanny creating a dark mood.
Barnes infuses 'Nightwood' with a distinct Gothic sensibility. Descriptions of decaying mansions, the nocturnal settings, characters with exaggerated or unsettling features (like Guido), and a pervasive sense of doom and melancholia contribute to a dark, oppressive atmosphere. The grotesque is often used to highlight the characters' internal suffering or their alienation from society. This device enhances the novel's exploration of psychological torment and the darker aspects of human nature, giving it a timeless, almost mythic quality beyond its specific 1920s Paris setting.
Quiz
10 questions on the plot and the characters. Each answer comes with a short explanation.
Question 1
What is the primary setting for the novel 'Nightwood'?
- 1920s London
- 1920s Paris
- 1930s New York
- 1920s Berlin
Show answer
B. 1920s Paris The novel is set in Paris during the 1920s, focusing on the expatriate community.
Question 2
Which literary movement is 'Nightwood' often associated with?
- Romanticism
- Realism
- Modernism
- Postmodernism
Show answer
C. Modernism 'Nightwood' is considered a modernist masterpiece, known for its experimental style and themes.
Question 3
According to the provided text, 'Nightwood' is noted as one of the earliest novels to explicitly portray what?
- The Jazz Age
- Homosexuality
- The Lost Generation
- Surrealism
Show answer
B. Homosexuality The novel is recognized for being one of the first to openly address and portray homosexual relationships.
Question 4
Jeanette Winterson compares reading 'Nightwood' to 'drinking wine with a pearl dissolving in the glass.' What does this metaphor suggest about the reading experience?
- It is a simple and refreshing experience.
- It is dangerous and potentially harmful.
- It is intoxicating, unique, and transformative.
- It is a common and easily replicated experience.
Show answer
C. It is intoxicating, unique, and transformative. The image of a dissolving pearl in wine evokes a sense of potent, perhaps dangerous, but ultimately unique and transformative experience, suggesting the novel's profound impact.
Question 5
Eileen Myles describes 'Nightwood' as 'like a dark lesbian genius rolling in a giant heap of damp, dead leaves.' What emotion or tone does this vivid description primarily convey?
- Cheerfulness and lightheartedness
- Melancholy, passion, and a sense of raw, untamed emotion
- Intellectual detachment and order
- Humor and satire
Show answer
B. Melancholy, passion, and a sense of raw, untamed emotion The imagery of 'dark,' 'rolling,' and 'damp, dead leaves' suggests a powerful, perhaps chaotic, and emotionally charged experience, often associated with themes of passion and grief.
Question 6
Siri Hustvedt mentions reading 'with the aching intensity of a person possessed' and that the story spoke to her as someone who 'never felt she quite belonged.' This suggests the novel resonates with themes of:
- Social acceptance and conformity
- Belonging, alienation, and intense emotional experience
- Finding one's place in a stable society
- The joy of simple, uncomplicated relationships
Show answer
B. Belonging, alienation, and intense emotional experience Hustvedt's description highlights the novel's exploration of profound emotional states and the feeling of being an outsider, resonating with themes of exile and loneliness.
Question 7
Andre Aciman compares 'Nightwood' to 'the closest thing to James Joyce.' What aspect of Joyce's work might this comparison allude to?
- Simple narrative structure and straightforward language
- Focus on traditional, happy endings
- Experimental prose, stream of consciousness, and complex linguistic style
- Historical accuracy and biographical elements
Show answer
C. Experimental prose, stream of consciousness, and complex linguistic style James Joyce is renowned for his experimental use of language, complex narrative techniques, and challenging prose, qualities that are also characteristic of Djuna Barnes's 'Nightwood'.
Question 8
T.S. Eliot describes the novel's quality of horror and doom as 'very nearly related to that of Elizabethan tragedy.' This suggests that 'Nightwood' shares which characteristic with Elizabethan tragedies?
- A focus on comedic misunderstandings and witty dialogues
- A tendency towards grand, often fatal, conflicts and intense suffering
- A celebration of heroic triumphs and moral certainty
- A lighthearted exploration of everyday life
Show answer
B. A tendency towards grand, often fatal, conflicts and intense suffering Elizabethan tragedies, like those of Shakespeare, are known for their exploration of profound human suffering, fatal flaws, and often tragic outcomes, a quality Eliot sees reflected in 'Nightwood'.
Question 9
The description of 'Nightwood' as a 'modernist masterpiece' and 'one of the earliest novels to explicitly portray homosexuality' positions it as a significant work within literary history. Which of the following is the most likely implication of this dual classification?
- The novel was commercially unsuccessful due to its controversial themes.
- It broke new ground both stylistically and thematically, influencing subsequent literature.
- Its modernist style made it inaccessible to contemporary readers.
- Its focus on homosexuality limited its artistic merit.
Show answer
B. It broke new ground both stylistically and thematically, influencing subsequent literature. Being a modernist masterpiece implies stylistic innovation, while being an early portrayal of homosexuality signifies thematic pioneering. Together, these indicate a work that was influential and groundbreaking.
Question 10
Elizabeth Hardwick praises Djuna Barnes's 'passionate prose and, in this case, a genuineness of human passions.' Considering the overall descriptions, what does 'genuineness of human passions' likely refer to in the context of 'Nightwood'?
- A straightforward and uncomplicated depiction of love.
- A realistic portrayal of societal norms and expectations.
- An authentic and often intense exploration of complex, perhaps unconventional, emotional experiences and desires.
- A detached and objective analysis of human behavior.
Show answer
C. An authentic and often intense exploration of complex, perhaps unconventional, emotional experiences and desires. Given the context of 'tortured love lives,' 'exile,' 'loneliness,' and 'passion,' the 'genuineness of human passions' points to an authentic, raw, and often difficult portrayal of deep emotional states and desires, rather than a simple or detached one.
Nightwood FAQ
What is Djuna Barnes's Nightwood about?
Nightwood is a modernist novel set in 1920s Paris, exploring the complex and often tortured love lives of a group of expatriates and Europeans. It delves into themes of desire, identity, and alienation within an exotic, nocturnal underworld.
Who are the main characters in Nightwood?
The novel centers around Nora Flood, Robin Vote, Jenny Petheridge, and Dr. Matthew-Maudee. Their relationships are characterized by intense passion, obsession, and emotional turmoil.
What makes Nightwood a modernist novel?
Nightwood is considered modernist due to its experimental prose, fragmented narrative, exploration of subjective experience, and unconventional structure. It challenges traditional storytelling and delves into the psychological depths of its characters.
Is Nightwood a book about homosexuality?
Yes, Nightwood is recognized as one of the earliest novels to explicitly portray homosexuality and lesbian relationships. It explores these themes with a frankness and complexity that was groundbreaking for its time.
What is the significance of the 'nightwood' setting?
The 'nightwood' refers to the nocturnal, often seedy and unconventional world of expatriates and artists in 1920s Paris. It symbolizes a place of hidden desires, alienation, and the search for identity outside societal norms.
How is Nightwood compared to James Joyce's work?
Critics have compared Nightwood to James Joyce's works for its modernist style, rich linguistic experimentation, and dense, allusive prose. Both authors pushed the boundaries of literary expression in their time.
What kind of language and style does Djuna Barnes use in Nightwood?
Djuna Barnes employs a highly poetic, ornate, and often theatrical style. Her prose is rich with imagery, metaphor, and a unique cadence, described by critics as a 'prose poem' and possessing 'wild and original gifts'.
Is Nightwood an easy book to read?
Nightwood is known for its challenging and dense prose, demanding a focused and engaged reader. Its experimental nature and complex themes mean it's often described as a 'cult classic' that rewards careful attention.
Who would enjoy reading Nightwood?
Readers who appreciate experimental modernist literature, poetic prose, and explorations of complex human relationships, particularly those interested in queer literature and the Lost Generation of Paris, would likely enjoy Nightwood.
What themes are explored in Nightwood?
The novel delves into themes of love, desire, obsession, identity, exile, loneliness, alienation, and the search for belonging. It also touches upon the fluidity of gender and sexuality within its specific historical context.
About the author
Djuna Barnes was an American artist, illustrator, journalist, and writer who is perhaps best known for her novel Nightwood (1936), a cult classic of lesbian fiction and an important work of modernist literature.
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