Analyzing the Character of An in 'Two Children'

Prompt: Analyze the character of An in Two Children

Analyzing the Character of An in 'Two Children'

I. Structuring the Analysis of An's Character in Two Children (Standard)

1. Introduction

- Introduce the author Thạch Lam and the short story 'Two Children'
- Introduce the character An

2. Main Body

a. An possesses a childlike yet refined and sensitive soul
- An observes the subtle changes in time 'Evening, it's evening. An evening as gentle as a lullaby, the echoing sound of frogs croaking in the fields following the gentle breeze.'

b. An is a child with a heart that cares for the unfortunate lives
- Caring for Tí's mother 'during the day, she goes crab hunting; at night, she arranges this water stand under the banyan tree, next to the milestone.'
- Compassion for poor children collecting leftovers left by the vendors
- An and Tí pouring wine for the eccentric Thi

c. An craves joy, enthusiasm, and dreams of a better life
- Due to his father losing his job, the family has to move to a poor district. An and Liên are entrusted by their mother to take care of a small grocery store.
- An yearns to see the night train pass by. An's anticipation is a habit similar to Liên's, and it is also his hobby and dream.
- When the train arrives, An rubs his eyes 'to stay completely awake,' despite the overwhelming drowsiness. He eagerly awaits the sight of the train.
- The train from Hanoi passing through the poor district evokes memories of a beautiful past when An's family was still prosperous, enjoying boat trips and drinking colorful drinks.
- An sees the train as a glimpse of joy, a glimpse of a world beyond the stagnation in the poor district.

- Artistic Elements:
+ Thạch Lam excels in portraying the inner world of characters with just a few distinctive details.
+ The prose is gentle and vivid.

3. Conclusion

- Through the character An, the author aims to convey profound human values.

II. Sample Essay Analyzing the Character of An in Two Children (Standard)

As a member of the Self-Reliance Literary Group, Thach Lam stands out as a writer with a unique and remarkable writing style. His works leave an indelible mark on readers' hearts due to his talent in exploring the inner world of characters with great subtlety. The standout example is the short story 'Two Children,' featured in the collection 'Sunshine in the Garden' (1938). The author not only vividly portrays Lien with sensitive emotions in the backdrop of nature and human life but also conveys his artistic ideas through the character An.

The boy An also harbors dreams and aspirations like many other children. Similar to Lien, An is a young boy with a soul of delicate innocence, sensitivity, and a profound understanding of life, dreaming of happiness. Like Lien, An gradually perceives the subtle changes in time, 'In the evening, a quiet evening like a lullaby, the echoing sound of frogs croaking in the fields following the gentle breeze.'

Perhaps An is an carefree child, not fully understanding everything happening around him, but to some extent, he senses the sadness, the poverty prevailing in this district - a dark, desperate, impoverished district, yet to see the gleam of the future.

As a young boy with little life experience, An's heart surely knows love and empathy for the unfortunate lives, living in stagnation and without an escape. For families like Sister Ty's, poor children, and the families of Uncle Xam and the crazy Mrs. Thi, An can't help but feel pity for their difficult lives. Unfortunately, the boy has nothing more than his own heart to warm the cold and hunger. Through Thach Lam's keen eyes, we understand that An also likes to dream, 'An and Lien silently look up at the stars to find the Milky Way and the duck following Lord Nong,' but soon after, An returns to reality, facing the harsh truths right in front of him.