The Nightingale and the Rose (work by Oscar Wilde)

"The Nightingale and the Rose" by Oscar Wilde is a poetic allegory about love and sacrifice. It tells of a nightingale willing to give her life to create a red rose for a young student who longs for one to impress his beloved. The nightingale's selfless act results in her death, but the student ultimately rejects the gift, valuing riches over love. The story highlights themes of genuine sacrifice, the superficiality of materialism, and the fleeting nature of superficial love, inviting reflection on what truly matters in the pursuit of affection.