In "The Nightingale and the Rose," how does the student come to realise the reality of love through the support of the Nightingale?

Tragically, the student does not realise that the Nightingale sacrificed her life so that he could have a red rose. In fact, he has no idea about this sacrifice because he could not understand the words of her song. Instead, it is through the red rose (the symbol of her sacrifice) that the student learns an important lesson about the reality of love. Specifically, he learns that love can be shallow and empty because the girl quickly changes her mind about the red rose. At the beginning, for example, she tells the student that she will dance with him if he brings her a red rose. By the end of the story, however, she no longer wants one, as she explains:

"I am afraid it will not go with my dress," she answered, "and, besides, the Chamberlain's nephew has sent me some real jewels."

In the eyes of the student, the girl now appears "ungrateful" and he realises that love is a "silly thing." He could never have reached this conclusion without the Nightingale's support because it was she who brought him the rose.