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Assignment: Analyze the excerpt 'Exchange of Fate' in The Tale of Kieu from the beginning to 'This common object.'
Sample essay Analyzing the excerpt 'Exchange of Fate' in The Tale of Kieu from the beginning to 'This common object.'
Sample essay: Analyzing the excerpt 'Exchange of Fate' in The Tale of Kieu from the beginning to 'This common object'
To fulfill the duties of a filial child, Thuy Kieu chose filial piety. She decided to sacrifice her love to sell herself to redeem her father and younger sibling. Knowing she couldn't maintain a complete love bond with Kim Trong, she handed over her fate to her younger sister. The first fourteen lines of the 'Exchange of Fate' excerpt express Thuy Van's desire to reciprocate for Thuy Kieu's lover, Kim.
When in love, everyone hopes for happiness and a beautiful ending with their loved one. Thuy Kieu is no exception, but due to circumstances beyond her control, she had to hand over her fate to Thuy Van:
'Relying on you, will you accept
Sit up and listen to me'
The vows they once made, Thuy Kieu and Kim Trong, couldn't fulfill; she missed her rendezvous with him, leaving her no other choice in this matter. Entrusting her fate to her younger sister is also entrusting her faithful, steadfast love to Kim Trong. Her plea is deeply sincere, embodying all the love she has for him. 'Rely on,' 'obey,' 'plead,' 'submit' are all terms carrying a tone of formality and reverence typically used by subordinates towards those of higher status. It's not the usual communication between sisters; it's an act of gratitude from one who receives favor to one who does favor. Thuy Kieu uses these words to persuade her sister, simultaneously making it impossible for Thuy Van to refuse since her older sister needs her help. Nguyen Du was very subtle in using the word 'rely' because it implies assistance rather than reliance. Moreover, 'rely' signifies trust and intimacy among blood relations. Other than Thuy Van, no one else can replace Kieu in keeping the vow with Kim Trong. Instead of using the term 'accept,' the author uses the term 'obey,' which implies both pleading and coercion because in Thuy Van's situation, she can only 'obey' but not 'accept.' Thuy Van knows nothing about Thuy Kieu and Kim Trong's love affair, yet Thuy Kieu now asks Van to connect with Kim, leaving her surprised but unable to decline.
Bestowing fate is a grave task; hence, the language, actions, and manner of bestowing fate are all serious. Thuy Kieu invites Thuy Van to 'sit up' to receive her respect before speaking. It's a gesture of gratitude, empathy, and understanding for Thuy Van's sacrifice since Thuy Van will accept someone who doesn't reciprocate her feelings because of her older sister's plea. Does Thuy Van feel disrespected, feeling like a substitute? Understanding her sister's predicament, Thuy Kieu uses gentle words and an urgent attitude to persuade her to accept her plea.
To help Thuy Van understand her love story better, Thuy Kieu confides:
'Midst the burden of unrequited love,
Adhesive on strands of redundant threads, my sister
Since the encounter with Kim,
From the day of the fan's promise, to the night of oaths,
No matter the turbulence,
Filial love, wisely, both sides complete.'
The destined love between Kieu and Kim Trong was progressing smoothly when suddenly disaster struck unexpectedly. Falsely accused by a villain, Vuong Ong and Vuong Quan were arrested and subjected to brutal torture. To save her father and younger brother from the clutches of these villains, Thuy Kieu sold herself for bribery. With their love affair interrupted, Thuy Kieu earnestly wishes for Thuy Van to 'take the leftover thread' to preserve her faithful heart, her loyalty to Kim Trong. 'Leave it to you' allows her sister to decide for herself; she can help or not, but in reality, it coerces her into helping. Thuy Kieu's pain and torment about the unfinished love affair seeped into every persuasive word to Thuy Van. The term 'leave it to you' once again reinforces Thuy Kieu's plea as a plea of coercion, compelling her sister to accept rather than having any other choice. Knowing that Thuy Van will suffer greatly by 'taking the leftover thread,' Thuy Kieu poured her heart out in hopes of her sister's understanding. 'Since encountering Kim' during the Tan Nien festival, between the two, affection arose. For love's sake, Kieu broke societal norms to 'Tread the dark garden path alone' to Kim Trong's house to pledge their love. They exchanged fans to hint at a lifelong commitment, drank to vow eternal fidelity. Just through the images of the 'fan promise' and the 'oath cup,' it's evident how deep and sincere their love is.
Perhaps this couple would have been destined for marriage if not for encountering these 'any' storms and disasters. The relationship between filial piety and love always puts people in difficult situations. They don't know how to handle it to 'Filial love, wisely, both sides complete.' Nguyen Du skillfully mentions filial piety and love, and the strictness of feudal rituals forcing people to choose one or the other. As children, they must live filially with their parents; it's a principle and also a moral precept of Confucianism. Sacrificing personal interests and rights to fulfill filial piety is understandable and commendable.
Desperately hoping for Thuy Van's help, Thuy Kieu mentions youth, 'blood and tears' for Van to accept:
'In spring, days are still long
Pity blood and tears instead of words of country and homeland
Even if my flesh is torn and bones decay
Smiling with nine springs still fragrant'.
Selling herself to Ma Giám Sinh meant Thuy Kieu knew her youthful, free days were over. But Thuy Van was different; she still had youth, still had time. Moreover, Thuy Kieu evoked blood ties to enhance persuasion in her words. Thuy Van could refuse that plea because she felt no affection for Kim Trong, who loved Thuy Kieu. Yet, wouldn't Thuy Van respect sisterly love and take over Thuy Kieu's duty to Kim? The idioms 'flesh torn, bones decay,' 'smiling with nine springs' are familiar phrases in folk culture, indicating Thuy Kieu's joy if Thuy Van accepted her plea. Even if she became a spirit at the nine springs, she wouldn't forget her sister's favor.
Having to return tokens of love and fate, Thuy Kieu couldn't help but feel pain:
'The bangle with the clouded scroll
This fate, hold onto this shared object'
'The bangle' is a 'bracelet, worn ornament,' 'clouded scroll' is a 'paper with decorated cloud patterns containing the oaths between two people, also possibly letters between them.' Thuy Kieu sends them all back to her sister. From now on, these items are the shared mementos of the three. While the tokens are returned, Thuy Kieu and Kim Trong's fate, she requests to keep as her own because deep in her heart, she still harbors feelings for him. How bittersweet it is when what was once personal between two becomes 'shared.' Meeting and falling in love with Kim Trong was fate, but now that love cannot be nurtured further. She regrets her missteps, regrets her fate with Kim, but she cannot change it. Nguyen Du masterfully depicted Kieu's turmoil during the fate exchange for Thuy Van.
