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Essay Topic: Analyzing the character Huyen Tria in the Trial of Huyen Tria
Sample essay Analyzing Huyen Tria in the Trial (Excerpt from Clams, Mussels, Snails, Oysters) achieved a high score for excellent students.
I. Analysis of the Character Huyen Tria in the Drama 'Huyen Tria on Trial':
1. Introduction:
- Introduction of the play, excerpt, and character.
2. Main Body:
a. Character Analysis:
- Position: district magistrate.
- Background: wealthy but unhappy and troubled family.
- Personality:
+ Timid: scared to leave home due to scolding from the district head, but uncomfortable staying home as well.
+ Greedy: values money, 'boldly grabbing money'.
+ Arrogant: abuses power to intimidate and exploit the wealth of the people.
+ Romantic, loose relationships: 'Moon and flowers, tomorrow will be carefree.'
- Judicial conduct: Unjust and stern sentencing:
+ Thi Hen is guilty, but upon hearing her circumstances and sweet words, Huyen Tria feels sympathetic, creating conditions for Thi Hen to win the lawsuit.
=> Through the trial, Huyen Tria is not only a greedy and despicable person but also morally corrupt.
b. Character Evaluation:
- Through the character, the folk author wishes to:
+ Express disdain, sarcasm towards those at the top of the ruling machine in feudal society.
+ Expose the emptiness, corruption of feudal society.
+ Express empathy, pity for the 'low-necked' people.
- The character is portrayed through speech, actions.
3. Conclusion:
- Affirming the value, significance of the character for the excerpt and the play.
Sample Essay Analyzing the Character Huyen Tria at Its Best
II. Sample Essay Analyzing the Character Huyen Tria in 'Huyen Tria on Trial':
'Clams, Mussels, Snails, and Clams' is a renowned piece of Vietnamese tuong art. The drama vividly portrays a societal tableau during the feudal era, notably exemplified in the excerpt 'Huyen Tria on Trial.' Through the character Huyen Tria, the author expresses attitudes and thoughts about those at the helm of the ruling apparatus.
Right from the opening of the excerpt, readers gain relatively specific insights into the character through self-introduction:
'District magistrate Tria is a
Praise the kernel of compliments:
Holding sway through the passing days and months,
Moon and flowers will leisurely bloom tomorrow.
[...] Managing numerous banquets is just a routine task.
It is evident that the character holds a significant position in the government machinery. In the villagers' praise lies subtle mockery and sarcasm towards Huyen Tria. Even affairs of romance flow effortlessly, as relaxed as the duties of an official. This demonstrates that the district magistrate is a carefree and unrestrained individual.
Not only that, he is extremely greedy and arrogant, often accepting bribes from the people. If the law is not favorable, he judges based on money. Regardless of age or gender, he closes his eyes and uses whips and sticks for punishment.
Moreover, he is a sycophant, always bowing to maintain his position: 'Where the aim is good, money and silver flow/ Concerned only with lavish banquets/ Officials above, whether competent or not/ Manage numerous banquets with ease.' Huyen Tria always seeks ways to curry favor with superiors. As long as there is a chance for promotion, he will spare no expense. The official, who should seemingly study and excel in examinations, appears to lack intelligence.
On a leisurely day without legal entanglements, Huyen Tria uses wine to reveal his family situation. Pouring wine into a rhinoceros horn cup conveniently shows the wealth and abundance of the district magistrate. Despite his wealth, his family is not happy or warm. Every time he thinks about family matters, Huyen Tria sighs and gets angry at his jealous and nagging wife. Outside, he is arrogant and domineering, but at home, he becomes timid and weak. At this point, the district magistrate falls into a situation of 'can't go out, can't stay in.' Through the self-introduction, readers get a comprehensive view of the character Huyen Tria. He is not only a greedy and malicious person but also a coward, afraid of his wife.
The character's personality and traits are further vividly portrayed through the trial scene. Despite being an official, he judges unjustly. All judgments are based on emotion and desire. At the beginning of the trial, the district magistrate already complains:
'Sitting long, weariness sets in,
Its narrative stretches,
Old De takes the statement,
So I calculate and proceed with the case.'
Upon hearing Thị Hến's explanations, Huyen Tria felt a pang of sympathy. Outwardly, he said, 'Stick to the truth, reveal it immediately, state it genuinely/ Lest the two-way crabs speak with tails, shells speak with silence.' But behind the scenes, he directed the questioner to question Thị Hến first. The purpose was to defend and secure a beneficial outcome for her. Brazenly, he stated before the court:
'Duty, no, I haven't revealed my stance,
Seeing the lone plea, a hint of compassion arises
Must rise to serve the official closely
Who dares to claim injustice sows trouble?
The district magistrate devised a scheme to absolve Thị Hến by frequently favoring her. Only through such actions did he create opportunities for her. Upon hearing Thị Hến's approval, Huyen Tria agreed to a favorable judgment. In the end, he treated his authority and position as a joke when delivering an outrageously unjust verdict:
'Not wholly true as stated,
The trial's situation is unreliable.'
Abusing wealth and power arrogantly,
Assaulting the innocent mother,
Pretending to use proper procedures,
Guilty are both the wife and husband,
I disown both the man and the woman.
Clearly, Thị Hến is the guilty one for consuming stolen food. Despite obvious evidence and clear proof, the district magistrate falsely convicts the Trùm Sò couple, relying on their wealth, oppressing the innocent. In the end, the guilty one escapes, and the blameless ones suddenly become prisoners.
Thus, Huyen Tria has revealed himself authentically with his wicked and unrestrained demeanor. By portraying the character through speech and actions, the folk author aims to express disdain and sarcasm towards those at the top of the ruling machine. Simultaneously, exposing the emptiness and corruption of feudal society, expressing empathy for the 'low-necked' people.
It can be said that the district magistrate's character contributes to the overall success of the excerpt 'Huyen Tria on Trial' as well as the tuong drama 'Clams, Mussels, Snails, and Clams.' Understanding the character enhances our sympathy for the unhappiness of the people in the ancient regime.
In the realm of Huyen Tria, the folk author expresses a disdainful and sarcastic attitude. He embodies those at the helm of a corrupt and rotten ruling machine. To analyze this text, refer to the 10th-grade essay on Analyzing Huyen Tria's Trial. Best of luck with your studies!
For the character Huyen Tria, the folk author portrays a contemptuous and mocking attitude. He represents those who lead a vile and decayed ruling apparatus. To understand how to analyze this text, check out the 10th-grade essay on Analysis of Huyen Tria's Trial. Wishing you all academic success!
