Analysis of the tragic life of Vu Nhu To in Farewell to the Nine-Storey Tower

Prompt: Analyze the tragic life of Vu Nhu To in Farewell to the Nine-Storey Tower

3 selected essays analyzing the tragic life of Vu Nhu To in Farewell to the Nine-Storey Tower
 

1. Analysis of the tragic life of Vu Nhu To in Farewell to the Nine-Storey Tower, sample 1:

'Vu Nhu To' is a magnificent historical drama by Nguyen Huy Tuong, representing the pinnacle of modern Vietnamese theater. Created in 1941, it is based on a historical event in the capital Thang Long during the late Le dynasty.

The play consists of 5 acts. The excerpt 'Farewell to the Nine-Storey Tower' is the final act. Within this excerpt, the character Vu Nhu To and the tragic fate of the genius artist leave a profound impression on readers.

Key actions and events of this act can be summarized as follows:

Exploiting the chaotic situation and conflicts between the people, the builders of the tower, Vu Nhu To, and the lord Le Tuong Duc, Trinh Duy San led a faction opposing the court, inciting rebellion and recruiting boatmen to defect.
Upon learning of the rebellion and chaos within the lord's palace, endangering Vu Nhu To's life, Dan Thiem urged him to flee. However, Vu adamantly refused, confident in his righteousness and hoping for the protection of Lord An Hoa.
The situation grew increasingly dire. Le Tuong Duc was killed; nobles, the queen, and his concubines were all implicated; Dan Thiem was arrested,.... The capital was in turmoil.
As the rebels set fire to the Nine-Storey Tower reducing it to ashes, Vu Nhu To finally awakened. He stood alone, in eternal agony, before calmly entering the court.

According to literary dictionaries, tragedy is the conflict between an individual's desires, dreams, and ideals with reality. When reality fails to meet the conditions for individuals to achieve their desires and ideals, it leads to failure, even tragic death. It's understood commonly as an enduring, agonizing pain with no means of escape. In Farewell to the Nine-Storey Tower, Vu Nhu To is a genius artist with lofty ideals but finds himself unable to resolve the complex relationship between artistic creation and life, ultimately falling into agonizing tragedy.

Vu Nhu To is a historical figure meticulously recorded in the Complete Annals of Dai Viet: 'Before, Vu Nhu To, a craftsman in Cam Giang, constructed model roofs with hundreds of layers, presented them to the king; the king was pleased and appointed Nhu To as overseer for the construction of the large roofed palace with a gallery, then started building the Nine-Storey Tower.'(Khâm Định Việt Sử Thông Giám Cương Mục Chính Biên, volume 26). However, the construction of the Nine-Storey Tower caused 'Suffering to the people, exhaustion to the soldiers. The soldiers building the walls couldn't finish their work, and then there was an order to force the aristocrats inside and outside the capital to work, gathering to dredge ponds, carry earth. The king played and gambled everywhere, rewarding gold and silver wherever pleased. Places that were already completed had to be redone, altered and built again, year after year, incessantly. The soldiers building the walls suffered from an epidemic, ten percent of them died.'(Complete Annals of Dai Viet, Real Records, Volume XV, Le Dynasty, Emperor Tuong Duc). Later, Trinh Duy San rebelled, led troops, and Vu Nhu To was killed by boatmen, his body thrown outside the market, spurned by everyone. However, their tragedy was unjust as he was merely following the king's orders to build the Nine-Storey Tower, hence the people mistakenly thought he only served the tyrant lord. In 1941, Nguyen Huy Tuong cleared their name with this five-act play.

Finest analysis of the tragic life of Vu Nhu To in Farewell to the Nine-Storey Tower

In the play, Vu Nhu To emerges as a genius architect, embodying the epitome of passion for creating beauty, 'a once-in-a-thousand-years talent... capable of manipulating bricks and stones like a chess general, capable of constructing towering castles, roofs touching the clouds without ever miscalculating a single brick... merely waving a brush, flowers and birds appear on the silk as if magically transformed.' Through the author's words, we perceive Vu Nhu To as a great artist with noble character, a lofty artistic idealist. His artistic aspirations are greater than ever, desiring to construct a magnificent castle 'as enduring as the moon and stars' to make 'our people proud for a thousand autumns.' It is a grand architectural masterpiece, embellishing the land: 'let me build a Nine-Storey Tower, erect a perpetual monument, a few more years and the Nine-Storey Tower completed, lofty and magnificent, amidst the mundane world there exists a scene of paradise.... My life is not as precious as the Nine-Storey Tower.' Vu's soul is fully dedicated to the Nine-Storey Tower.

The Nine-Storey Tower - as its name suggests - is an architectural marvel whose magnitude cannot be measured solely by the amount of wood, stone, even if those figures sound horrifying ('two hundred thousand stacks of wood towering like mountains, all precious wood beyond measure,' 'twenty thousand large slabs of stone, forty thousand small slabs, transported from Chan Lap'). Its magnitude must be imagined by the magnitude of ideas, the lofty ambitions of the one who will create it: a unique masterpiece, surpassing all wonders in China, India, Chiem Thanh,... and the structures known and legendary to mankind. Yet it is a sustainable wonder, indestructible. Building this structure, the Vus do not 'vie for artifice' with people, only 'vie for artifice with the Alchemist'! It is the embodiment of the

Beauty, not the common beauty, but the 'supreme' beauty.

However, the Nine-Storey Tower epitomizes extravagant Beauty. Erecting that wonder, undoubtedly, incurred immense costs, not only in terms of the national treasury but also in terms of sweat, tears, and blood. Yet the Tower was built for the indulgence of the debauched king, Le Tuong Duc. Remembering the Western Chu dynasty in China, King Wu made the people build Giao Tower for revelry, causing domestic resentment, eventually leading to the downfall of the Western Chu dynasty. The tragic seed of Vu Nhu To lies in such grandiose aspirations but the lack of financial means to realize them. He never collaborated with the debauched king. Yet, Dan Thiem's allure and flattery led Vu to agree to build the Nine Towers. The tragedy lies there, and Vu Nhu To's tragic seed lies there.

Accordingly, the profound symbolic significance of the Nine-Storey Tower is established in various relationships. For Vu Nhu To, the Nine-Storey Tower embodies a 'grand dream.' For Dan Thiem, the Nine-Storey Tower symbolizes national pride. For Le Tuong Duc, the Nine-Storey Tower represents power and indulgence. For the people, the Nine-Storey Tower is a debt of sweat, blood,... hence tragedy befalls Vu Nhu To.

Due to his overwhelming passion for showcasing his talent, Vu Nhu To failed to comprehend deeply. In reality, the Nine-Storey Tower was built with the blood, sweat of the people, and if completed, it would only be a place of extravagant indulgence, akin to the architectural work 'Van Nien' of the Nguyen dynasty later: 'Van Nien is what eternity? The city built with soldiers' bones, moats filled with people's blood.' Thus, Vu Nhu To erred in leveraging the power of the debauched king to fulfill his artistic aspirations. Standing on the pure artist's standpoint inevitably made him an adversary of the people, causing suffering to them. To construct the Tower, the court ordered increased taxation, forced more skilled workers, oppressed dissenters. The people resented the king's actions; the artisans blamed Vu for many deaths due to accidents, as he ordered the execution of deserters. Thus, the people harbored anger towards the tyrant king, also resenting, cursing, even hating the talented architect Vu Nhu To, and ultimately killed both the debauched courtier Le Tuong Duc and Vu Nhu To, burning down the Nine-Storey Tower.

The culmination of contradictions was resolved through violence. Led by Trinh Duy San, the rebels stirred up chaos in the capital. They sought out Le Tuong Duc and killed him. They destroyed the Nine-Storey Tower, sought Vu Nhu To for revenge. But Vu Nhu To was truly a tragic figure. He could not answer the question 'Is building the Nine-Storey Tower right or wrong, virtuous or sinful?'. It is truly painful, tragic for Vu Nhu To. He could not comprehend the impending danger, even stating 'Why should they kill me? Have I caused enmity with anyone?'. His words reflect a sense of naivety and perhaps delusion. Even when apprehended, Vu still didn't believe the truth, bidding farewell to Dan Thiem 'our fates have not converged, our destinies have not aligned. I will build a great tower to repay your friendship.' Even when beaten by soldiers, Vu continued speaking of the Tower: '...in a few more years, the Nine Towers will be completed, towering, magnificent amidst worldly toil, there exists a scene of paradise'. Even in death, he still hoped to persuade An Hoa Hau, a leader of rebellion, but reality unfolded ruthlessly, contrary to Vu Nhu To's ideals. An Hoa Hau ordered the burning of the capital, burning down the Nine Towers. The Nine Towers turned to ashes.

All is but a mirage. Dan Thiem and Vu were arrested, the Nine-Storey Tower was destroyed, only then did Vu awaken, raising his face to the sky, lamenting in utter despair, 'Gone! Oh cruel fate! Oh Heavens! What purpose for my talent now. Oh grand dreams! Oh Dan Thiem! Oh Nine-Storey Tower! It's over! Take me to the court.' In that lament, the words 'Dan Thiem, grand dreams of the Nine-Storey Tower' resounded in harmony, forming a poignant, mournful chorus. That is the predominant sentiment of the excerpt 'Farewell to the Nine-Storey Tower'. Thus, in the end, Vu Nhu To had to pay the price for his own actions. The death of the talented yet tragic artist is both pitiful and infuriating.

As a talented and creative artist, Vu Nhu To wanted to affirm his talent, adorn his homeland, beautify life. However, his artistic aspirations and creative passion led him astray, disconnected from reality, hence paying the price with his own life and the labor of his artistic creation. Readers, viewers pity the artist with talent and soul, passionate about art, eager to sacrifice everything for beauty but detached from reality, having to pay the steep price with both life and the artistic creation full of creative dedication.

The excerpt specifically and the play in general leave a profound humanistic value: 'Beauty cannot be separated from goodness. Artistic works cannot only possess pure beauty, they must have the genuine purpose of serving the people, serving life.' 'Literature is not just literature, it is essentially life, life is the origin and destination of literature.' Artists must have grand dreams, have a creative desire to build great works for generations, but also know how to properly handle the relationship between that ambition and the practical conditions of life with the demands of the people.' Another issue raised is 'Society must create creative conditions for talents, nurture talents, cherish and nurture true artistic values.'

Through the tragic drama of the genius artist Vu Nhu To, Nguyen Huy Tuong evokes profound thoughts about the relationship between the artist and artistic creative activities and the reality of people's lives. Therefore, the issue the author raised back then, now stepping into a new millennium, still retains its value.

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In addition to analyzing the tragedy of Vũ Như Tô in Farewell to the Nine Palaces, to better understand the content and significance of the excerpt, students should prepare for analyzing the conflicts within Farewell to the Nine Palaces and expressing opinions on resolving these conflicts in the excerpt, along with comprehension of Farewell to the Nine Palaces, analysis of the character Vũ Như Tô in Farewell to the Nine Palaces...

2. Analysis of the tragedy of Vũ Như Tô in Farewell to the Nine Palaces, model 2:

Every piece of work is constructed by typical characters, and in the work Farewell to the Nine Palaces, it is such a work that deeply portrays the image of the artist Vũ Như Tô. The work has left readers with many emotions due to captivating and vivid imagery, wherein we need to address the issue between the image of the artist and the art expressed deeply in the work. Each situation leaves readers with much anguish before the tragic fate and tears of Vũ Như Tô.

Being a talented artist with lofty ideals for art, the writer successfully crafted the character with revolutionary ideals. This portrayal leaves readers contemplating the clash between idealism and the harsh realities faced by the people. The artist's image in the work adds allure, resembling a majestic monument, yet evokes deep reflection on the pursuit of beauty.

Vu Nhu To is a gifted artist with dreams of creating grandiose masterpieces. However, he seems to have forgotten that art must first serve the people, stemming from their lives and struggles. As Nam Cao once said, art should not deceive like moonlight; it must serve and reflect the people's reality. Yet, the author overlooks this, pursuing lofty art detached from reality. True art must emerge from and serve the people's lives, embodying their essence.

Analyzing the tragic character of Vu Nhu To in 'Farewell to the Nine-Degree Pavilion' briefly.

The artistry in the work is profound, embedded within every word and sentence. Through creative storytelling and vivid descriptions, the author constructs compelling scenarios and iconic characters that reflect the essence of art. A philosophy emerges: art is not a deceptive moonlight; it must stem from the people's pain. These contradictions manifest deeply in the narrative, where art is not merely beauty but intertwined with the people's existence.

To construct the majestic Nine-Degree Pavilion, countless sacrifices of the people's blood, sweat, and tears were made. These pains epitomize the conflict when Vu Nhu To's ideals and artistry are crushed, leaving bitterness and failure. It vividly depicts the artist's demise in pursuit of art.

Art should be intimately connected to the people's moments, always serving them. True artists stem from and serve the people, yet Vu Nhu To faces a tragic demise, reflecting the loss of a talent. Perhaps the author profoundly conveys that art must always originate from and serve the people, avoiding detachment for the sake of distant artistry.

With exemplary details, the author successfully portrays the artist's journey in pursuit of idealistic artistry, ultimately buried under ruins. The artist faces a painful end, akin to an execution for building beauty upon the people's suffering.

3. Analyzing the tragic drama of Vu Nhu To in Farewell to the Nine-Degree Pavilion, sample 3:

Nguyen Huy Tuong is a talented writer and playwright, renowned for his works on history. Particularly in his dramas, he delves deep into societal issues.

The work reflects national perspectives amidst the clash between common interests and the tyranny of power. It evokes emotions through skillful construction of conflicting tragedies, highlighting societal struggles against oppressive regimes.

Furthermore, the author intricately builds numerous details to portray conflicts, especially the ideological clash between the artist and King Le Tuong Dinh, specifically regarding the construction of the Nine-Degree Pavilion. Vu Nhu To, a brilliant artist, aims for masterpieces without compromising the people's welfare, unlike the king's intention to indulge at the expense of the populace.

In a backdrop of people suffering from hunger while the ruling class exploits them for decadent pleasures, the play's details and scenarios create profound conflicts and contrasts in relationships, offering fresh perspectives on the monarchy's oppression versus the people's struggle. Like Vu Nhu To, the people adamantly resist the regime's actions, leading to deep-seated conflicts. Ultimately, the Nine-Degree Pavilion burns, and the talented artist, Vu Nhu To, perishes with it.

Guide to Analyzing the Tragic Drama of Vu Nhu To in Farewell to the Nine-Degree Pavilion

In the story, dialogues between characters are complex, particularly those between the main character, Vu Nhu To, and the female character Dan Thiem. Like many artists, Vu Nhu To desires to leave a legacy through his work, but unknowingly builds it upon the suffering of many. The story depicts intricate relationships, revealing significant tensions and developments.

In the relationship between Vu Nhu To and Dan Thiem, a genuine artist like Vu Nhu To aims to contribute renowned works to the nation. However, he fails to anticipate the consequences of his actions, causing harm to the people. Despite Dan Thiem's admiration for art and talent, she realizes the danger posed by Vu Nhu To's actions to the entire nation. The story evokes emotions through its captivating narrative and thought-provoking situations.

The tragedy of the characters in the story is powerfully portrayed, reflecting Nguyen Huy Tuong's artistic perspective. Their tragedies lead to despair and death, highlighting the deep conflicts between artists and the people, and the nation's interests. When Vu Nhu To dies and the Nine-Degree Pavilion burns, Dan Thiem bids farewell with poignant words, leaving a profound impact on readers.