Analysis of the final two lines of the poem Beloved Wife by Tran Te Xuong

Prompt: Analysis of the final two lines of the poem Beloved Wife by Tran Te Xuong

Analysis of the profound meaning behind the final two verses of the poem Beloved Wife

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I. Outline: Analyzing the final two verses of the poem Beloved Wife by Tran Te Xuong (Standard)

1. Introduction

- Despite his short life span of only around 37 years, Tú Xương left behind a rather extensive poetic legacy with 100 works. Most impressively, among those works, he dedicated an entire theme to his virtuous wife - Mrs. Tú.
- Beloved Wife is one of the most remarkable and touching works of Tú Xương depicting Mrs. Tú. The emotions are authentically and vividly expressed, especially in the closing lines, akin to the poem's 'scolding'.

2. Body

* Overview:
- Beloved Wife is a quintessential poem on the theme of sentimentality by Tú Xương. In ancient poetry under feudalistic views, the valorization of men and belittlement of women were common, making works about wives and women rare.
- Feudalistic men often regarded the struggles and hardships endured by women for their families as natural... (Continued)

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II. Sample Essay: Analyzing the final two verses of the poem Beloved Wife by Tran Te Xuong (Standard)

Tran Te Xuong (1870-1907), commonly known as Tu Xuong, hailed from Nam Dinh. Despite being highly educated and ambitious, he faced unfortunate setbacks in his career path. Due to his lack of success in academic exams, Tu often turned to writing literature as a hobby to alleviate boredom and frustration. His poetry is a fusion of sentimentality, satire, and profound realism, often likened to a vivid diary of a tumultuous era where Western, Chinese, and Vietnamese cultures intertwine. Despite his brief lifespan of only around 37 years, Tu Xuong left behind an extensive poetic legacy with 100 works. Most notably, he dedicated an entire theme to his resilient wife - Mrs. Tu. Among these works, the poem Beloved Wife stands out as one of Tu Xuong's most remarkable and touching pieces depicting Mrs. Tu. The emotions are authentically and vividly expressed, especially in the closing lines, resembling a poetic 'reprimand'.

Beloved Wife is a quintessential poem on the theme of sentimentality by Tu Xuong. In ancient poetry under feudalistic views, the valorization of men and belittlement of women were common, making works about wives and women rare. Feudalistic men often regarded the struggles and hardships endured by women for their families as natural. However, Tu Xuong's perspective diverges from this norm. His motivation for writing poetry about his wife stemmed not from the obligation to provide for his wife, but from his boundless love and profound appreciation for his virtuous wife. Recognizing his wife's sacrifices and hardships in life, which he couldn't share due to his own struggles, Tu Xuong portrayed her as the backbone of the family. Despite the burdens of daily life, Mrs. Tu didn't want her husband to abandon his literary pursuits for manual labor; instead, she wished for him to fully indulge in his literary passion without much hardship. Tu Xuong openly expressed these sentiments in his poetry, using simple, honest language with occasional sharpness and bitterness, which truly embodies his distinctive poetic style - sentimental, realistic, and satirical intertwined.

The final two lines in Tu Xuong's poem Beloved Wife unmistakably sound like a 'scolding'.

'Parents living a life of silver
With a neglectful husband akin to nothing.'

'Parents' here doesn't blame the parents. Rather, Tu Xuong pities his wife's suffering greatly. He's angered by life's chaos, not providing him a clear path to success, not allowing him to fully utilize his talent. For so long, despite his talents, he's remained obscure. If during the Confucian era his talent might have been recognized, but now, in the turbulent times of mingled Western, Chinese, and Vietnamese cultures, social decay prevails. Confucianism is declining, intellectuals are retreating to rural areas, disregarding worldly affairs, as social ethics degrade, and people trample on integrity and morality for personal gain. Yet, those like Tu Xuong endure the oppression, being forced to submit to unfairness and exploitation. Can one not feel frustrated, not curse this 'life of silver'?

This curse on life is also self-directed by Tu Xuong. He blames himself for being inept, unable to relieve his wife's burdens, only being a breadwinner, watching his wife endure countless hardships. Thus, Mrs. Tu is truly as Tu Xuong said, 'With a neglectful husband akin to nothing.' Under the feudal system, the husband is the breadwinner, the backbone of the family, while the wife manages household affairs, raises children. The heavens created men and women this way. However, in Tu Xuong's family, it's different. Mrs. Tu carries both burdens alone. She doesn't want her husband to work for others or to face invaders he detests. She worries about her husband, children, so she takes on everything. Understanding the family's situation, Tu Xuong blames himself more, feeling more pain and hatred towards the society's push and pull at that time.

But is Tu Xuong only cursing life, cursing himself? Tu Xuong also curses those like himself, blaming the lazy, indulgent, pleasure-seeking husbands who see their wives as servants, serving their pleasures. He curses the husbands, the oppressors, unwilling to share the burdens, lacking sympathy, not respecting and cherishing their wives, causing these unfortunate women to endure life's bitterness and suffering. So, indeed, the phrase 'With a neglectful husband akin to nothing' is true. Perhaps not having a husband would make life less difficult.