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Task: Analysis of patriotism and hatred towards enemies by Trần Quốc Tuấn demonstrated through the 'General's Testament'
Analysis of patriotism and hatred towards enemies by Trần Quốc Tuấn demonstrated through the 'General's Testament'
Task:
The spirit of patriotism has long been a traditional beauty in the soul of every Vietnamese citizen. And that patriotism has also been brought into literature by poets and writers with fresh and sincere colors, expressed in various ways. It is love for nature, pride in the country's beauty. It is the admiration for the brave fighting spirit against enemy bullets. It is the love of voices, of the nation's roots. And that patriotism is deeply expressed once again by Trần Quốc Tuấn in the poem 'General's Testament,' a poem he wrote before the Mongol - Yuan resistance war to boost the morale of the Trần dynasty's army and people.
The poem contains the fervent spirit of patriotism and the determined will of a talented leader. Firstly, patriotism is expressed in pride, admiration for the names of forefathers with many heroic deeds. It is wholehearted dedication, loyalty to serve the lord of the heroic figures. It is the heroic battles with the armies of many heroes sacrificing for the beloved country. They are examples to illuminate us, to motivate us in our fighting spirit. It is the spirit of serving the country's army from generations past. 'We often hear: Kỷ Tín sacrifices himself to save the Emperor; Do Vu shoulders the punishment, protecting the King; Dự Nhượng swallows bitterness, seeking revenge for his master; Thân Khoái cuts his own hand to save the nation from disaster. Respect to Đức, a young man, saves King Thái Tông from the siege of Thái Sung; Cảo Khanh, a group of youths far away, curses Lộc Sơn, refusing to follow the enemy's schemes. Since ancient times, there have been loyalists sacrificing themselves for the nation, which era has not?'. True heroes must achieve great success, great fame to be remembered throughout history, generations to come. By presenting the examples of heroes, Trần Quốc Tuấn has made soldiers reflect on themselves, to see if they are worthy of the indomitable traditions left by previous generations.
Secondly, patriotism is expressed by King Hưng Đạo in his hatred towards enemies. The intense flame of patriotism burns as fiercely as the hatred towards the vile enemy, growing as much as the resentment towards the ruthless enemy soldiers. He has exposed the crimes, the arrogance, and the greed of the enemy. The treacherous enemy is wicked, deceitful, and greedy. Their actions are like beasts, cruel, ruthless: 'We were born in troubled times, grew up in difficult times. Secretly watching the Mongols arrogantly parade on the streets, mocking the court with their tongues, insulting the royal court with goat hides. Following Hốt Tất Liệt's orders, demanding precious jewels to satisfy their insatiable greed; wearing the title of Vân Nam Vương, but stealing silver and gold, to empty the limited treasury. It's no different from throwing meat to hungry tigers, trying to avoid future disasters.'
That spirit is also demonstrated in the heart of a general who worries day and night for the fate of the nation facing imminent danger, where the homeland is hard to preserve intact. The author has been deeply distressed, compassionate, and worried, pondering over the country's current situation. The enemy devastates the homeland, the people lament, suffer, and die tragically, causing the knights' hearts to be restless. 'I often forget to eat, beat my pillow at midnight, my stomach hurts like being cut, tears flooding.' Resentment turns into strong and decisive action: 'even if a hundred bodies are exposed to the elements, a thousand hides are wrapped in horse skin, I am willing to do it.' It is the utmost resentment of a heart soaked in love for the country, love for the people. It is a determination to the extreme, even if it requires sacrificing everything to kill the inhumane, treacherous enemies.
Thirdly, patriotism is expressed in the spirit of unity, encouraging righteous brothers above and below to unite in fighting the enemy to save the country. The sincere words written are deeply moving about the king-subject relationship:
'You who live under my command, holding military authority, if you don't have clothes, I'll give you clothes; if you don't have food, I'll give you rice. If you're low-ranking, I'll promote you; if you're unlucky, I'll provide income. Going by water, I'll give you boats; going by foot, I'll give you horses. In the battlefield, we live and die together; in leisure, we laugh together.'
These are also words of profound understanding, strict but insightful of him when he sees his talented generals forgetting the great tasks for their own desires. Trần Quốc Tuấn bluntly pointed out the existing shortcomings of his soldiers: the indifference to the people's suffering, facing the enemy's sword while indulging in mundane pleasures. The country is in dire straits yet still indulges in trivial pleasures: 'Some find joy in cockfighting; some find pleasure in gambling. Some diligently tend to gardens to support their families; some cling to wives and children to satisfy their own desires. Some plan for the future but forget about the country; some are keen on hunting and neglect military matters. Some love good wine; some are obsessed with idle talk.' Therefore, Trần Quốc Tuấn admonished, encouraged the generals to act, elevate the fighting spirit, brave and resolute, remain vigilant, diligently train the troops, rather die gloriously to disgrace the enemy than live in the shame of a lost nation.
