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Prompt: Analyze the Characterization of Hoan Thu in the Excerpt Kieu's Gratitude and Revenge
Explore 3 Sample Essays Analyzing the Characterization of Hoan Thu in the Excerpt Kieu's Gratitude and Revenge
Sample Essay #1: Analysis of the Characterization of Hoan Thu in the Excerpt Kieu's Gratitude and Revenge
In the face of Kieu's words and demeanor, Hoan Thu initially appeared arrogant and haughty, yet she quickly regained composure to present her case. This demonstrates her astuteness and cunning nature.
Initially, Hoan Thu relies on the common sentiments of women to defend herself:
Saying that I am just a woman
Jealousy is a common sentiment among people.
This reasoning has erased the opposition between Kieu and Hoan Thu, turning Kieu from a conflicting figure into a fellow woman, sharing the common plight. If Hoan Thu is guilty, it is also due to the common mentality of women:
Each person loves in their own way,
It's not easy for anyone to please another.
Being a woman, few find it easy to accept sharing their husband with another, and Hoan Thu is no exception to that rule. From being a culprit, Hoan Thu has argued to become a victim of the polygamous system.
Next, she recounts her 'achievements' to Kieu:
Thinking when setting aside the brush,
And when leaving the door, ending the affectionate bond.
Hoan Thu tactfully reminded of a bit of past kindness: firstly, allowing Kieu to stay at Quan Am Temple to transcribe scriptures, without punishing her as a servant girl; secondly, when Kieu fled with the precious golden bell, she chose to overlook it and did not pursue. This manner of speech is very cunning, hinting at the truth and past events, known only to insiders. Thinking is recalling, reflecting.
Finally, Hoan Thu accepts all blame upon herself, now relying solely on Kieu's forgiving heart and vast, ocean-like magnanimity:
Unintentionally causing distress,
Relying on the vast ocean of compassion for any resolution.
Although it's not easy for spouses to accommodate each other, deep down, Hoan Thu always cherishes Thuy Kieu. Hoan Thu admits fault for causing distress and asks Thuy Kieu for forgiveness. Through the reasoning to clear her name, it can be seen that Hoan Thu is a mysterious individual deeply entrenched in the intricacies of life.
Sample 2: Analyzing the character portrayal of Hoan Thu in the excerpt 'Kieu's Retribution'
In the excerpt 'Kieu's Retribution', the great poet Nguyen Du not only constructs the character of Thuy Kieu, a person with debts and vendettas, but also vividly depicts the antagonist Hoan Thu in a realistic and lively manner.
Hoan Thu, originally the daughter of a high-ranking official, was pampered since childhood, hence arrogant and disdainful of others. As Thuc Sinh's legal wife, when Thuc Sinh redeemed Thuy Kieu from the brothel and intended to marry her, Hoan Thu's cruel and violent nature was brought to the fore.
Hoan Thu's blinded jealousy has trampled upon, tortured Thuy Kieu both physically and mentally, inflicting upon Kieu immense pain, humiliation, and disgrace.
Being astute and wise, when brought to 'trial' by Thuy Kieu, Hoan Thu easily employs her words to escape guilt. Revealing an extremely alert, cunning individual, adept at manipulating others' emotions. The psychological development of Hoan Thu is vividly and uniquely depicted by Nguyen Du:
'Hoan Thu, once haughty and proud,
Now bowed before judgment, seeks redemption'
When brought to trial by Thuy Kieu, Hoan Thu, aware of her situation, appeared composed and unperturbed. It seemed she also knew that given the pain she inflicted upon Thuy Kieu, her own fate today would not be any brighter. Hoan Thu made efforts to plead and lament, hoping for Thuy Kieu's compassion, while simultaneously trying to save herself.
Thus, with just two lines of verse, we can feel Hoan Thu's cunning, not only understanding others, oneself, and the situation she faced, she discarded the dignity of a 'noble lady', humbling herself before those she once scorned.
Faced with Thuy Kieu's stern accusations, 'The very culprit bears the name Hoan Thu', and 'The more ruthless, the more unjust', Hoan Thu seemed to anticipate the outcome she would endure. In such a situation, few could handle it as astutely as Hoan Thu:
'That I am but a woman'
Jealousy, a common human sentiment.
Despite simmering inside like a burning fire, Hoan Thu managed to maintain a calm exterior, using her words to persuade Thuy Kieu. Just by observing her composed demeanor, we can sense the formidable strength of that woman.
Acknowledging herself as 'just a woman,' Hoan Thu justified her jealousy as a common sentiment. Despite the many wrongs committed against Thuy Kieu, with just a few words, Hoan Thu seemed to shed all guilt, attributing it to the common nature of women. In doing so, she placed herself in the same 'world' as Thuy Kieu, anticipating empathy and significantly reducing her level of wrongdoing.
Having tapped into Thuy Kieu's psyche, Hoan Thu continued to employ her cunning, leveraging her essence so that Thuy Kieu not only sympathized but also felt indebted to her:
'Consider when you were copying scriptures
And when leaving the door, cut off affection not to follow
Each love secretly in their own heart'
Hoan Thu expressed gratitude for the past kindness of allowing Thuy Kieu to copy scriptures at the Quan Am temple, which provided a less harsh life compared to living with Hoan Ba. Through this, Hoan Thu reminded Thuy Kieu to anticipate her hidden intentions. Furthermore, when Thuy Kieu took belongings from Hoan Thu's house to flee, Hoan Thu did not pursue or force her to return due to the 'secret admiration' she harbored for Kieu.
Here, speaking of Hoan Thu's 'artful speech' is not entirely accurate, because despite being cruel, Hoan Thu also possesses cunning. When hearing Thuy Kieu play the zither, Hoan Thu also recognized her talent and knew that Thuy Kieu was a good person, feeling a bit of sympathy for her. That's why she took Thuy Kieu to the Quan Am temple, avoiding her mother's brutal abuse.
Furthermore, Hoan Thu continues to present arguments that strongly affect Thuy Kieu's emotions:
'Sharing a husband is not easy for anyone to bear
Regretfully causing hardships
'Seeking solace from the reservoir of compassion'
Because she is a 'common husband,' jealousy and folly on Hoan Thu's part can be understood. The actions that caused distress to Thuy Kieu were merely 'regrettable,' emphasizing that she did not intend to harm Thuy Kieu in any way, it was entirely unintentional. Hoan Thu does not deflect responsibility or deny guilt but accepts all blame and hopes for Kieu's forgiveness: 'Seeking solace from the reservoir of compassion.'
It is through her cleverness, eloquence, and cunning arguments that Hoan Thu almost erases all charges against her, transforming herself from a culprit to innocent, and even making Kieu feel grateful towards her. Hoan Thu's essence of life wisdom and shrewdness is also acknowledged by Thuy Kieu herself:
'Praise indeed is due,
'Wisdom to the extent that speech is eloquent'
And it is precisely because of this that Hoan Thu escaped 'capital punishment' dramatically:
'To forgive is fortunate indeed
To commit is to yield to weakness'
'If one's heart is too cunning, it's better
To relay orders down to the front lines and release them right away'
When apprehended by Thuy Kieu and even when decisively convicted by Kieu herself, defiantly stating 'The true perpetrator's name is Hoan Thu.' The fate of this woman seemed predetermined with no way out, but the cunning and resourcefulness of Hoan Thu helped reverse the situation. Through this, we also see the sharpness, and extraordinary courage of Hoan Thu.
Apart from the above content, you can also explore the section Composing Kieu meets Tu Hai to prepare for the content of Kieu meets Tu Hai (excerpt from The Tale of Kieu - Nguyen Du) Literature Textbook Grade 9.
Details of the section Composing Ma's purchase of Kieu to have good preparation for Ma's purchase of Kieu (excerpt from The Tale of Kieu - Nguyen Du).
Sample essay #3: Analyzing the character of Hoan Thu in the excerpt Kieu expressing gratitude and resentment
When mentioning Hoan Thu, we not only know it as a proper noun but it serves as a signifier to depict jealous women in love stories full of ups and downs. In the excerpt 'Kieu expressing gratitude and resentment', the character's personality is highlighted, a character mentioned more than Thuy Kieu herself.
Hoan Thu is the daughter of a high-ranking minister in the Ming dynasty equivalent to the position of Prime Minister today, holding the power to arrange all affairs in the court. When her mother chose Thuc Sinh, a man with a position and wealth far inferior to Hoan Thu's, it's evident that Hoan Thu's influence over Thuy Kieu is much stronger.
And strangely enough, almost everyone knows the name Hoan Thu even if they haven't read The Tale of Kieu, as it has become a 'grand noun' symbolizing the malicious jealousy of women.
If we compare Hoan Thu's jealousy to today's standards, Hoan Thu appears tame compared to the vindictiveness of women nowadays. Because Hoan Thu is educated and sophisticated, her acts of jealousy are calculated and meticulously planned, demonstrating her intelligence and cunning. Through her interactions with Kieu, it's evident she is not naive. Hoan Thu's jealousy aims to seek revenge on Thuy Kieu, to trample upon her dignity, just as she does to avenge herself against Thuc Sinh. The author also mentions how Hoan Thu allowed Thuc Sinh to bring Kieu home for an introduction, but Thuc Sinh was too scared to do so. Hoan Thu is a knowledgeable person, with intellect and a vengeance towards her morally bankrupt husband.
In this excerpt, the author discusses Thuy Kieu's revenge. Originally, Thanh Tam Tai Nhan's revenge was extremely cruel, but Nguyen Du used the Vietnamese people's heart and culture to make Thuy Kieu's revenge humane, fitting with our customs and culture. To understand Hoan Thu's character more, we need to explore the scene where Thuy Kieu confronts Hoan Thu in retaliation.
After repaying the gratitude to Thuc Sinh for rescuing her from the green chamber, the scene where Thuy Kieu summons Hoan Thu for retribution unfolds. When inviting Hoan Thu onto the stage, Thuy Kieu immediately greets her.
Initially, faced with Thuy Kieu's words and attitude, Hoan Thu seemed 'bewildered and disoriented', but with her inherent wisdom, Hoan Thu quickly composed herself to 'plead for understanding'. What Hoan Thu 'pleaded for' was essentially reasoning to absolve herself of blame or, more accurately, self-justification:
Firstly, Hoan Thu presented the common sentiment of women:
'That: 'I have a woman's fate,
Jealousy, after all, is just a common human sentiment.'
With this reasoning, the contrast between Thuy Kieu and Hoan Thu has been erased. Hoan Thu cleverly transitioned Kieu from an adversary to a fellow participant, sharing a common 'woman's fate'. If Hoan Thu is guilty, it's also due to the common mentality of women: 'Being a common spouse isn't easy for anyone to indulge'. From being the 'culprit', Hoan Thu argued to make herself a 'victim' of the polygamous system.
Then, Hoan Thu recounts her 'deeds' towards Kieu:
'Thinking about when putting down the sutra scrolls,
And when stepping out the door, abandoning feelings, it's not easy.'
The couplet recalls Hoan Thu allowing Thuy Kieu to transcribe sutras in the Quan Am attic and refraining from capturing her when she fled the Hoan household. Transitioning from wrongdoer to victim to 'benefactor', this individual exhibits true cunning and resourcefulness.
After attempting to justify her transgressions, Hoan Thu sought to lure Thuy Kieu back to her side and relied on her forgiveness and magnanimity. Recognizing her vulnerabilities and her inherently gentle, compassionate nature, Hoan Thu proceeded to:
'Getting involved in trouble,
Hoping for forgiveness and mercy, no matter the cost.'
Through her interaction and defense before Thuy Kieu, transforming herself from passive to proactive, Hoan Thu revealed herself as a cunning strategist and, notably, a 'profound observer of life', understanding various types of people to deal with and finding ways to be crafty.
The words of Hoan Thu were both reasonable and affectionate, prompting Kieu to praise:
'Praise for truly deserving,
So wise to the point of speaking wisely.'
Being a gentle and compassionate person, despite being harmed by Hoan Thu into this plight, Thuy Kieu felt a bit hesitant upon hearing her words, unsure whether to seek revenge or to forgive her.
'To forgive, perhaps it's a blessing,
To punish, it's also to belittle oneself.'
There's a folk saying: 'Hit a person and they run away, no one hits a person who runs towards them.' Hoan Thu acknowledged her fault, and Kieu, with her forgiving nature, though she had been inflicted with many wounds by her, stood on the perspective of a woman betrayed by her husband, so everyone would act like Hoan Thu did.
Through the excerpt and the story of Kieu in general, we see Hoan Thu as a knowledgeable and educated person, demonstrated through her manner of jealousy and her reasonable and affectionate responses to Kieu. However, due to love, and the betrayal of her weak and timid husband, both women suffered greatly.
'Why inquire about love in this world,
When couples vow to be together in life and death?'
Preparing the lesson Sisterhood in Thuy Kieu is an important lesson in the 9th-grade Literature curriculum that students need to pay special attention to.
