Analysis of the Character Thị Nở

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Students delve into the character of Thị Nở in Nam Cao's 'Chí Phèo' to empathize with the tragedies and hardships of this woman's life and to discover the hidden strength within what seems like ugliness and abnormality, which in reality is a compassionate heart, warm humanity that awakens a demon of Vũ Đại village.

Essay Topic: Analyzing the Character of Thị Nở in the short story 'Chí Phèo' by Nam Cao.

Assignment Submission

A successful autobiographical work requires the presence of many elements such as plot, situations, events, details, ... and one indispensable factor is the character. In the short story 'Chí Phèo', Nam Cao portrayed Thị Nở, a character who appears alongside Chí to awaken the conscience, humanity of the evil spirit. This character also evokes a lot of emotions in the readers.

Through realistic descriptions, writer Nam Cao depicted Thị as a woman so ugly that she is compared to a demon, with a face 'short to the point of being wider than it is long, yet her cheeks are so sunken that if they were plump, it would be catastrophic, if her cheeks were chubby then her face would be exactly like a pig's'. Thị's nose is described as 'both big and short, red and rough like tangerine peel, swollen as if they want to merge with the lips which are also puffed up to match the nose: perhaps because they are too swollen, they crack open like rifts'. Thị 'chews betel nuts, her thick lips are further thickened, fortunately the betel smears together, covering the grayish color of Thị's meat'. 'Even though the teeth are very large, they protrude: presumably they think that symmetry will make some parts of the ugliness look better'. This is 'a mockery of the art of transformation'. Nam Cao does not use diminishing or avoiding methods, he always describes the subject with the most realistic, truthful perspective.

Not only ugly in appearance, Thị Nở is also a foolish, unmarried woman, with a family of lowly origin. Thị lives with her aunt also unmarried because 'that person is fifty years old, who would marry at fifty'. Due to her forgetful nature, Thị falls asleep in a posture with both hands hanging down, her mouth 'gaping at the moon as she sleeps', 'her legs stretched straight in front of her, her black dress wrinkled' as she goes to the river. That night, Thị and Chí Phèo 'ate together and then slept soundly under the moonlight'. Romantic nature has paved the way for a couple's love affair, unique in literary history.

Surprisingly, Thị, who seems ugly in appearance and whose soul is twisted, still shines with a love for Chí Phèo. This is shown through details: 'At midnight, Chí Phèo had stomach pain, nausea. Thị Nở led him into the tent, put him on the bed, covered him with a blanket and then went out'. Afterwards, Thị cooked a bowl of onion porridge for Chí to relieve his cold. Thị saw Chí as pitiful, 'what is more pitiful than being sick and lying alone'. Thị thought: 'If I leave him now, I'll regret it' because the two had eaten and slept together.

Thị Nở realizes she loves Chí Phèo, 'that's the love of a helpful person'. That foolish woman knows how to love, truly. Thị comes to Chí Phèo without caring that he is the evil spirit of Vũ Đại village, who has slashed and stabbed many people. Thị sees him as kind, different from his usual fierceness. It seems that in that society only Thị Nở acknowledges Chí Phèo as a human being. Thị wholeheartedly cares for him when he's sick and stays at his home for five consecutive days. Chí Phèo and Thị Nở will be a very suitable couple.

Thanks to Thị's bowl of onion porridge, Chí desires to return to being a good person. Thị is the lifebuoy for Chí's life when he is struggling, floundering in the whirlpool. Thị Nở will pave the way for him to reconcile with everyone. The love and compassion of Thị Nở move Chí Phèo, his eyes 'teary' because he has never had 'a woman like that', and 'wants to cuddle up to Thị like with his mother'. The two will marry so that Chí can fulfill his modest dreams of a life of manual labor, rented plowing, and his wife weaving fabric.

But due to social prejudice, Thị Nở cannot marry Chí Phèo. The words of the aunt have made Thị reject and bluntly refuse Chí's love: 'Are all the men dead that you have to marry someone without a father. Who would marry someone whose only skill is slashing and begging'. Because of those reasons, Thị 'pursed her lips grandly', threw the aunt's words at Chí Phèo's face, then 'swung her butt and walked away'. Thị truly loves Chí Phèo, she loves Chí and wants to live in the same house with him, calling 'husband and wife' is also true. That foolish person also desires happiness like any other ordinary person. Thị knows how to care for Chí, knows how to use love to humanize the awakening evil spirit. This is something that many people in Vũ Đại Village cannot do. They only see Chí as a rogue, a scoundrel, losing all human shape and character. Thị Nở is like a breath of fresh air blowing life into Chí's life, into the soul of a person who seems to have become desolate because of the times he slashed and begged, served as a henchman for Bá Kiến. When beside Thị Nở, Chí Phèo is a good person.

Nam Cao's sharp realistic pen has depicted the character of Thị Nở with the most realistic appearance and characteristics. The person whom people avoid like 'a very disgusting animal' actually has humanity, love for Chí Phèo. Nam Cao's tone is extremely cold but hidden deep within it are writings permeated with humanistic thoughts.

Thị Nở contributes significantly to the enlightenment of humanitarian ideals by the realistic socialist writer, leaving an indelible impression on readers. Despite her unattractive and rough appearance, Thị's image has left a mark on us because of the beauty of compassion, the beauty of humanity. Perhaps building the character of Thị Nở is the writer's tool in depicting the tragedy of the reformed rogue, the redemption of the inherently good farmer?

Anyone who has ever read Nam Cao's work 'Chí Phèo' will surely not forget the moment when Chí Phèo meets Thị Nở, albeit a very brief moment but incredibly beautiful, capturing the moment when the inherently good nature that was no longer present in the 'evil spirit of Vũ Đại village' is awakened. Refer to the analysis of Chí Phèo's emotional development after meeting Thị Nở to understand the longing for happiness, so simple, so human of Chí.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main characteristics of Thị Nở in 'Chí Phèo'?

Thị Nở is depicted as an ugly woman with a compassionate heart. Despite her grotesque appearance and foolish nature, she possesses a deep love for Chí Phèo, showcasing humanity and emotional depth.

How does Thị Nở influence Chí Phèo's character development?

Thị Nở plays a crucial role in Chí Phèo's transformation from an evil spirit to a more humane individual. Her compassion and care awaken his inherently good nature, making her a pivotal character in the story.

What is the significance of Thị Nở's appearance in the story?

Thị Nở's unattractive appearance serves as a stark contrast to her warm, loving personality. It emphasizes the theme that true beauty lies within and challenges societal norms regarding physical appearance.

How does Nam Cao portray social prejudices in 'Chí Phèo'?

Nam Cao illustrates social prejudices through Thị Nở's rejection of Chí Phèo due to his background. This highlights the harsh realities faced by individuals who are marginalized by society, despite their genuine emotions.

In what ways does Thị Nở represent humanitarian ideals in the story?

Thị Nở embodies humanitarian ideals by showing compassion and love towards Chí Phèo. Her character challenges the notion of worth based on appearance and illustrates the importance of empathy in human relationships.

What role does the relationship between Thị Nở and Chí Phèo play in the narrative?

The relationship between Thị Nở and Chí Phèo is central to the narrative, symbolizing redemption and the potential for change. Their bond illustrates the transformative power of love and compassion in a harsh environment.