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Prompt: Analyze the conflicts in Farewell to the Nine-Insect Pavilion and express opinions on resolving these conflicts in the excerpt.
Sample essay analyzing fundamental conflicts in Farewell to the Nine-Insect Pavilion
Written Work
Vu Nhu To is a historical tragedy in 5 acts narrating an event in Thang Long around 1516-1517, during the reign of Le Tuong Duc. Completed by Nguyen Huy Tuong in the summer of 1941, the play's three acts were published in the magazine Tri Tan in 1943-1944. Nguyen Huy Tuong later revised it into a 5-act play.
Farewell to the Nine-Insect Pavilion belongs to the fifth act (A Forbidden Palace) of the play Vu Nhu To.
Within the excerpt, there are two main conflicts: the conflict between the rebellious faction and the faction led by Le Tuong Duc, and the conflict between the Trinh Duy San faction and Kim Phuong and the palace maidens.
Conflicts between the Rebellion and Le Tuong Duc's Faction:
The rebellion faction comprises various characters: the common people, the builders of the Nine-Insect Pavilion. In this excerpt from Farewell to the Nine-Insect Pavilion, these characters only appear through the words of Dan Thiem: The impoverished masses rise up in a tumult... when the people rebel, they become extremely unruly. These characters also appear through the words of a spy: More than half of the builders of the Nine-Insect Pavilion lean towards the rebellious forces.
The opposing faction in the court is led by Trinh Duy San, followed by Ngo Hach, and An Hoa Hau.
The conflicts in chapter V reach their climax and are fully resolved. Trinh Duy San and Ngo Hach kill Le Tuong Duc. This conflict is dominated by other conflicts and is intensified by those conflicts.
Conflicts between Trinh Duy San and Kim Phuong and the palace maidens:
Trinh Duy San sees Kim Phuong and the palace maidens as the indulgence tools of King Le Tuong Duc, hence this conflict is also elevated to its peak. Kim Phuong and the palace maidens shifted that hatred to Dan Thiem, Vu Nhu To, hoping to escape guilt, hoping to avoid the punishment of the rebellion faction.
Conflicts within Vu Nhu To are also vividly portrayed. A large number of Nine-Insect Pavilion builders join the rebellion due to hunger and oppression. They resent the court, resent architect Vu Nhu To, and even Dan Thiem. Meanwhile, Vu Nhu To is passionately dedicated to the artistic endeavor, forgetting the harsh reality faced by the people. When the uprising occurs, Vu Nhu To still considers himself innocent, wanting to prove his righteousness, and hoping to persuade An Hoa Hau. Especially, Vu Nhu To is willing to live and die with the Nine-Insect Pavilion, as he sees it as his own raison d'être. This is the conflict between the societal individual and the artistic individual in Vu Nhu To.
The conflicts in the excerpt are closely intertwined, mutually impactful, and ultimately resolved completely.
The conflict between the lofty, pure artistic perspective enduring through generations and the interests of the people in the excerpt remains unresolved. This is evident in the play's conclusion. The masses rise up, killing Vu Nhu To and destroying the Nine-Insect Pavilion. Despite his death, Vu Nhu To fails to realize his mistake. Although not aligned with Le Tuong Duc's faction, he still wants to complete the artistic work. The author himself is conflicted by this outcome.
The act of the masses killing Vu Nhu To is justifiable: Without the Nine-Insect Pavilion, the people would not suffer due to Le Tuong Duc's incompetence. However, the act of killing Vu Nhu To and destroying the Nine-Insect Pavilion demonstrates excessive brutality. The artistic value and the efforts of the people invested in it are significant. If the project could be completed in another stage, it would be better for both art and the people.
The excerpt vividly showcases the exceptional theatrical artistry of Nguyen Huy Tuong with sophisticated language and high synthesis. The author skillfully uses language and actions to depict the characters' personalities.
