Appreciating the Oath and Curse Excerpt

Essay Prompt: Please present your appreciation of the Oath and Curse excerpt, excerpted from The Tale of Kieu by Nguyen Du

Appreciating the Oath and Curse Excerpt
 

I. Detailed Outline for Appreciating the Oath and Curse Excerpt

1. Introduction

- Introduce the author, the work, and the Oath and Curse excerpt.

2. Body:

a. Part 1: 'The door outside...close': Kiều's sudden, bold action:
- The oath and curse of Thúy Kiều and Kim Trọng is an unexpected event, characterized by spontaneity. Thúy Kiều is driven partly by fear of inauspicious premonitions leading to a broken love, and partly by her intense love for Kim.

b. Part 2: 'She said...dream': Thúy Kiều's inner turmoil:
- Thúy Kiều is aware that her actions today are abrupt and somewhat hasty, yet she quickly expresses to Kim that it is for the sake of love and protecting the blossoming relationship. She takes the initiative to decide and seeks Kim Trọng.
- Thúy Kiều seems to have deep-seated visions of Dam Tien's prophecy and the cycle of numerous reincarnations, making her feel uneasy.

c. Final part: The oath and curse scene:
- Kim Trọng, wholeheartedly loving Thúy Kiều, swiftly understands her expression of emotions and feelings of insecurity in love. He immediately prepares for the oath and curse ceremony, voluntarily deciding to marry to ensure the solidity of their relationship.
- Though sudden, rushed, and not premeditated, Kim and Kiều's oath ceremony takes place in an extremely sacred and solemn atmosphere. The appearance of the flickering moon seems to be a valuable factor confirming the enduring, loyal love of the couple.
- 'Firmly affirming two mouths with one word/A hundred years to carve a word, bonded to the bone' expresses the voluntary commitment to marriage, mutual understanding, and the shared determination of Thúy Kiều and Kim Trọng.
=> The progressive ideas and beliefs of Nguyễn Du about love openly support free love relationships. He advocates for strong, empowered women pursuing love and happiness, rejecting the old-fashioned idea that women must accept living submissively without the right to choose in traditional marriages.

3. Conclusion:

Present general reflections.

II. Sample essay on Appreciating the excerpt from The Oath and Curse

In the context of medieval Vietnamese literature spanning centuries, numerous prominent themes have emerged, encompassing patriotism, the pain of losing one's country, and the spirit of self-reliance of the Đại Việt nation. However, from the 16th century onward, a theme that has captured the attention of many authors is the fate of women under the harsh, unjust feudal system. One exceptionally successful work that stands as a literary masterpiece of Vietnamese literature is Nguyễn Du's The Tale of Kieu. Alongside highlighting the continuous tragedies in the life of the talented and virtuous Thúy Kiều, the details of her relationship with Kim Trọng are also invaluable. This not only accentuates Thúy Kiều's misfortunes but also unveils fresh perspectives and a more tolerant view of free love between men and women in an era laden with restrictive rituals and conventions. The excerpt from The Oath and Curse is a striking passage depicting the fate between Kiều and Kim Trọng.

'Outside the door, hastily pulling the curtain
Quietly walking the garden path alone at night
Gently picking up a mirror to arrange the hair
The lamp's glow reveals a flickering silhouette
Life seems as if in a dream, unsure whether awake or asleep
The lotus sound will disturb the dream
The moonlight brings the pear blossoms closer'.

The oath and curse of Thúy Kiều and Kim Trọng unfolded unexpectedly, driven by a spontaneous force. Thúy Kiều, partly due to fear of ominous premonitions leading to a broken love and partly due to her intense love for Kim, exhibited strength and determination. To protect her love, she secretly returned to meet Kim after the afternoon encounter. For the lovers, the time spent together was never enough. On a day when her family was away, Kiều stealthily visited Kim Trọng. As she returned home in the dark, encountering her family still absent, a fierce fire ignited within her. Determined to find Kim once more and seal their fate, she sought peace for her beautiful yet troubled love, haunted by the prophecy of Đạm Tiên. The spontaneous actions of Thúy Kiều in the Oath and Curse reveal a bold and swift decision, expressed through terms like 'hastily,' 'quickly,' and 'through the garden path.' These words portray urgency, speed, and a determined heart safeguarding Kiều's delicate love. Thúy Kiều's proactive and courageous approach showcases a new perspective, a forward-thinking ideology in Nguyễn Du's era. The author portrays empathy, praising and endorsing the idea of free love between couples. The narrative encourages the struggle for love, supporting women's rights to pursue their own happiness in defiance of societal norms. Thúy Kiều, beyond her mesmerizing beauty in poetry, is depicted as a courageous girl, willing to think and act boldly, in stark contrast to contemporary women.

In addition to the verses describing Thúy Kiều's demeanor and emotions, the lines depicting the scenery possess their own aesthetic value. In the context of Thúy Kiều secretly visiting Kim Trọng to make their vow, the night scene becomes romantic with the gentle moonlight piercing through each leaf, illuminating Kiều's fragile yet resilient figure. Alongside this, at Kim's place, the dim light on the veranda casts a hazy, dreamlike ambiance, enhancing the natural setting and the love between the young couple, making it more enchanting and ethereal. Thus, when Kim Trọng, fatigued, half-awake, perceives Thúy Kiều's soft footsteps, he feels surreal, partly due to the overwhelming joy of seeing his beloved, and partly because he can't believe Kiều took the initiative to visit him at night. Kim Trọng, somewhat bewildered, experiences a moment of disbelief: 'Still dreaming in the night, in amazement.'

'She said: 'In the empty night of the school
For the sake of flowers, I must find my way to them
Now seeing our faces clearly
Who knows what else is not just a dream anymore''

Thúy Kiều herself was aware that her actions today were indeed abrupt and somewhat hasty. Nevertheless, she quickly expressed to Kim that she acted for the 'flowers,' for love, and to protect the budding relationship. Thus, she had to take control, actively seeking Kim Trọng. Simultaneously, Thúy Kiều seemed haunted by profound visions of Đạm Tiên's prophecies and the complex destiny of a woman with exquisite beauty. Only upon seeing Kim did she find solace, revealing her fears that all the beautiful memories of today might be just a distant dream. At this point, we witness a part of Thúy Kiều's vulnerability and pity. Despite living in a tranquil scene, fate, inherently harsh, subjected her to numerous worries and contemplations.

'Hastily conducting the ritual
The lotus platform connects to the fragrant peach stove
Both pledging to each other
Cloud-like hair divided by a golden knife
The moon hovers in the sky
Firmly pledged, two mouths utter in unison
Fine hair woven tightly, a vow from the heart
A hundred years engraved in a single word to the bone'

Kim Trọng, deeply in love with Thúy Kiều, quickly understood her fears and uncertainties in love. Consequently, he promptly prepared the vow ceremony, willingly committing to marriage to ensure the steadfastness of their love. Although unfolding suddenly and hastily, the vow ceremony of Kim and Kiều took place in an incredibly sacred and solemn atmosphere. It included all the necessary elements: red candles, incense, vows written on iron-clad paper, and symbolic actions bonding the couple, such as cutting hair with a golden knife, intertwining and sealing it in a box. Particularly on the night of the vow, the appearance of the flickering moon seemed to be a precious element, confirming the iron-clad and loyal love of the couple, symbolizing purity, reunion, and the warmth of romance in love. The lines 'Firmly pledged, two mouths utter in unison; Fine hair woven tightly, a vow from the heart; A hundred years engraved in a single word to the bone' express voluntary commitment to shared fate, mutual consent, and the hearts of Thúy Kiều and Kim Trọng aligning. Furthermore, they showcase the exceptional talents and beauty of the couple, breaking through religious rituals and societal prejudices, demonstrating their readiness to use their actions to prove and protect their love, transcending the age-old notion that 'children should abide by their parents' decisions,' deeply ingrained in their consciousness. Here, we can see that although Nguyễn Du belonged to a generation many centuries ago, his progressive thoughts and ideas about love even surpass some individuals in contemporary society, openly supporting free love and the empowerment of women to pursue their happiness, rejecting the old-fashioned belief that women must accept a predetermined fate in marriage.

The Oath and Curse may not be the most prominent excerpt in 'The Tale of Kiều,' but it possesses its own distinct values. Departing from mere sympathy or pity for the fate of women in feudal society, Nguyễn Du focuses on praising and endorsing women's pursuit of love and happiness, advocating for voluntary marriage. Simultaneously, it stands as one of the few romantic verses, depicting the destined love of the talented and beautiful couple, Kim and Kiều, unveiling Nguyễn Du's fresh perspectives on love and marriage.