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Essay prompt: Analyzing the father-child bond between Mr. Six and little Thu. What lesson can be drawn from this story?
Sample essay on Analyzing the father-child bond between Mr. Six and little Thu. What lesson can be drawn from this story?
Model Essay: Analyzing the father-child bond between Mr. Six and little Thu. What lesson can be drawn from this story?
'The Ivory Comb' by Nguyen Quang Sang is a poignant short story revolving around the theme of fatherhood. Reading the piece, what strikes the reader most is the heartfelt connection between Mr. Six and little Thu. The narrative of profound familial love amidst the backdrop of wartime resonates deeply, leaving lingering thoughts and invaluable lessons.
Published in 1966, set against the backdrop of the resistance against American forces in Southern Vietnam, the story beautifully portrays the depth of family bonds amidst the chaos of war. Despite the country being torn apart, the family ties remain strong, evoking profound emotions.
Mr. Six, while fighting in the war, had a young daughter who was barely a year old. During those tumultuous years, due to her tender age, his wife didn't bring her along when visiting him. Thus, Mr. Six could only see his child through small photographs. Now, upon returning, the fatherly affection resurfaces, overwhelming him. As soon as he sees a child about seven or eight, with hair reaching her shoulders, Mr. Six knows it's his daughter. Without waiting for the boat to dock, he leaps ashore, eagerly taking long strides and calling out, 'Thu! My child!' It's a natural outpouring of paternal love, too emotional for words. It's as if at this moment, the heart of the unfortunate father bursts with joy upon seeing his daughter's face after eight long years, and he also hopes for his daughter's reciprocation. But the little girl, bewildered and unfamiliar, doesn't recognize him. Mr. Six, still overcome with emotion, repeats, 'It's me, your father!' This is the pinnacle of paternal love, too overwhelming to articulate. The sight of Thu running away in fear strikes Mr. Six like a sudden, icy shock to his warm heart. He stands frozen, bewildered, and speechless.
In the days that followed, Mr. Six continued his efforts for his daughter to recognize him as her father. He stayed close to her all day, never venturing far, constantly caring for her. However, the more he tried to care for her, the more she pushed him away. All he wished for was to hear her call him 'dad' just once. Just one 'dad'! But all his daughter showed was indifference, coldness, and even resentment. Every action of Mr. Six, whether helping or comforting her, was met with resistance. Only the profound love of a father enabled him to persevere through it all. Then one meal, when he placed a large fish egg into her bowl, unexpectedly, she flung it away, the rice scattering, and without a second thought, he slapped her on the buttocks. Mr. Six must have deeply regretted that moment of anger.
During the brief three-day vacation, he stayed with his daughter, yet she did not acknowledge him. Now, as the day to bid farewell to the villagers approached, he intended to carry that sadness with him. But unexpectedly, a voice tore at his heart: 'D...a...d... dad.' That 'dad' was eight years of suppressed emotions bursting forth from deep within Thu's heart. For her, that 'dad' was a longing greater than any other child's because from a young age, she had been deprived of a father's love. Now, the 'dad' sounded so natural, so bewildering in the final moments of father and daughter parting ways. And now, she wanted her father, she cried tears of joy, she kissed his hair, his neck, and the scar running down his cheek. It turns out, the reason she didn't recognize him was because of that cruel scar - a scar inflicted by the enemies of her family, of this wounded nation. But as soon as she realized, it was time to say goodbye. Joy and emotion overwhelmed him as he embraced her and bid farewell, but the daughter did not want her father to leave. It wasn't until he promised to make her a comb that she let him go.
In the battlefield, amidst the brutality of war, Mr. Six painstakingly crafted the ivory comb. As he worked, he felt a childlike joy, as if receiving a gift. He worked meticulously, as if he were a silversmith. When the comb was finished, he felt immense satisfaction, as if he had fulfilled part of his promise. Afterwards, he engraved on the back of the comb, 'Love, remember to give to Thu from her father.' Every night, missing his daughter, he would take out the comb, admire it, and brush it to make it shine. In the final moments, though weakened, the father-daughter bond still lived and thrived within him. He handed the comb to Ba - a close comrade, and looked at Ba for a long time, as if entrusting, trusting, and imparting his soul through that gaze. The sacred, noble bond of father and daughter arose even amidst facing life and death. Only when Ba accepted did he close his eyes.
Later, Ba met Thu - now a brave liaison woman, and Ba entrusted that keepsake to Thu.
The depth of Mr. Six's affection for his daughter matches the fervor of Thu's love for her father.
The reason why the girl didn't recognize her father was due to a misunderstanding about the scar on his face. The image of her father, etched into her mind for so long, showed no scar like Mr. Six - the man who claimed to be her father! And so, the more vehemently she rejected that person, the more she demonstrated her love for her father. That love is profound: it's singular, incapable of being shared with anyone else, even if that person is universally recognized as her father, someone who loves and cares for her deeply.
In turn, Thu responded to her father's affection in a touching manner. Upon learning that Mr. Six was her real father, and the scar on his face was inflicted by the Americans, on the last morning of his leave, 'The girl looked lost, standing in a corner, leaning against the door, watching everyone crowding around her father. There was something different about her expression; she wasn't petulant or frowning anymore, her face was solemn, filled with sadness, the sadness on the innocent face of the girl looked very adorable. With her long, curved lashes, eyes seemingly never blinking, her eyes appeared larger, her gaze not bewildered, not strange, but contemplative.' It's unclear what deep thoughts the girl was having, only that when Mr. Six, feeling dejected, turned to her - not daring to approach, afraid she'd run away again - saying, 'Listen to me, dear,' she suddenly rushed forward, shouting, 'Dad...dy...daddy!' Then she hugged him tightly, crying, 'Don't leave, Dad.' It's at this moment that the reader truly understands how much Thu yearned to call him 'dad.' That call is like a tear, tearing through the silence and tearing through everyone's heart, sounding truly poignant. It's the 'dad' she's been suppressing for so many years, a 'dad' bursting forth from her heart, as she runs forward, as fast as a squirrel, leaping and embracing his neck tightly.
Later, deeply understanding the cause of the scar on her father's face, Thu became a courageous, determined liaison woman. She resolved to follow the path her father had taken to chase away the enemies of her family, the enemies of the nation.
Nguyen Quang Sang has masterfully crafted the father-daughter bond between Mr. Six and little Thu. Reading the story, readers must have shed tears of emotion. And it's also because they see glimpses of themselves, of their beloved father. That filial love is one of the most sacred emotions in life. Therefore, reading 'The Ivory Comb' helps us cherish our loved ones even more, appreciate the deep feelings we receive. And above all, reading this short story teaches us to love, to share, and to live up to the parents who gave us life.
Not only evoking pure and noble emotions, 'The Ivory Comb' also offers readers valuable life lessons full of humanity. Therefore, this is truly a great story in the arsenal of young Vietnamese people!
Above is the section Analysis of the father-daughter bond between Mr. Six and little Thu. From the story, what lesson can you draw for yourself?. In addition, you can explore other articles and content such as Summary of 'The Ivory Comb' and along with the section Compose 'The Ivory Comb' to study Vietnamese Literature in grade 9 better.
