Character analysis of Cai Lệ in the excerpt 'The Overflowing Water'

Prompt: Analysis of the character Cai Lệ in the excerpt 'The Overflowing Water' by Ngô Tất Tố

Character analysis of Cai Lệ in the excerpt 'The Overflowing Water'
 

In the previous lesson, we delved into the details of the story 'The Overflowing Water' through the article 'Analysis of the excerpt from The Overflowing Water.' We explored the pitiful situation of ancient farmers in the piece 'Analysis of the character Mrs. Dậu in the excerpt from The Overflowing Water.' In today's lesson, we will examine the character Cai Lệ, considered the enforcer of the ruling class, those who bring tragedy to the farmers.

I. Outline for Analyzing Cai Lệ in the excerpt from 'The Overflowing Water'

1. Introduction

- Introduction of the author, the work, and the character Cai Lệ.

2. Main content

a. Cai Lệ and General Values:
- Cai Lệ holds the lowest position in the feudal society of that time, leading a small group specialized in assisting the aristocracy.
- Essentially, this character is a genuine henchman, a tool of the state, striking wherever ordered, the most influential iron-clad voice in tax collection.
- Despite being labeled as a state official, working for the law, people never feared him for his legal procedures. Fundamentally, people feared being beaten and bound to death by him.
=> People feared the cruelty of the regime, not the strict adherence to the law; that was an irony in the feudal society of that time.

b. Character Image Analysis:
- As the lowest-ranking character among the officials, he is not given a specific name by the author but is still an important character with many highlights throughout the work 'Turn Off the Lights.'
- Cai Lệ symbolizes the cruelty and ruthlessness of the regime.
- He appears with a fierce demeanor, harsh language, a menacing posture, and a terrifying presence, easily evoking thoughts of a devilish figure. He comes and goes quickly, rushing and displaying cruelty.
- Yesterday, after beating Mr. Dậu and causing him to fall into a fever, thinking he was dead, he quickly panicked for the person who expelled Mr. Dậu to bring him back to save Mrs. Dậu. However, today, after investigating and realizing that Mr. Dậu is still alive, he hurriedly ran to the tax collection without allowing people a moment of rest, preparing.
=> In the dark night, immersed in the obsession of capturing, the cruelty and rigidity have made him only think of tying and pressing, overflowing in his mind.

- Cruel actions and gestures:
+ Appears like a demonic force with insane actions, the gestures of a wild beast, a professional henchman who beats and ties, 'advancing with whips, hands, and ropes'.
+ Challenges and threatens by 'smashing the whip on the ground,' 'shouting with the hoarse voice of a seasoned addict.'
+ The tone is harsh and dreadful, 'Hey, you thought you died last night, still alive, huh? Pay up quickly!'.
=> For the life or death of Mr. Dậu, this person doesn't care. He is only concerned with tax collection; if that fails, he arrests people. It has become an 'iron' principle in Cai Lệ's work.
+ When dealing with Sister Dậu, he always shows a harsh and cruel face. Seeing her plead and beg only makes him more delighted and arrogant. He focuses on Sister Dậu's face and then 'rolls his eyes back, shouts,' in a threatening tone.
+ Orders to tie up Mr. Dậu, who is unconscious, and personally 'snatches the rope,' 'rushes to Mr. Dậu' to perform the task, making people even more scared and disgusted by his 'professionalism.'
+ Punches a weak, petite woman in the chest, even slaps Sister Dậu's face without respect.
+ Refers to her as 'you-old-man,' showing a lack of culture, ethical deficiency, a disdainful and contemptuous attitude towards the poor farmers.

- When facing the resistance of Sister Dậu:
+ Appears weak and fails quickly.
+ 'Vigorous strength' could not resist the strong peasant woman, being grabbed by Sister Dậu, pressed out the door, and thrown down 'helplessly' in front of the door like a useless and humiliating character.
+ Can't forget his cruelty, screaming for the people below to tie up Sister Dậu's entire family. Of course, even the person from the village chief's family is no better off, with a stick in hand but still being caught by Sister Dậu, grabbing the hair, and 'pulling for a fall on the doorstep.
=> The weakness and helplessness, but cruelty, of Cai Lệ are also the common characteristics of the feudal system at that time.

3. Conclusion

Express impressions.

II. Sample essay Analyzing the character Cai Lệ in the excerpt of 'The Outburst of Broken Dam'

Ngô Tất Tố stands as one of the most successful realist writers in pre-revolution modern literature, alongside other prominent figures such as Nguyễn Công Hoan, Nam Cao, Vũ Trọng Phụng, Kim Lân, etc. He is a scholar deeply attached to the traditional values of the nation, notably the cultural essence of rural villages. Simultaneously, his keen insight acknowledges that the conservative feudal regime has become obsolete and turned into a hindrance, imposing heavily on the lives of the people, subjecting them to shared misery. If 'Lều Chõng' reflects the disorder, rigidity, and emptiness of the old examination system that bound the talent and creativity of individuals, then in 'Tắt Đèn,' the cruel and inhumane social order is exposed through harsh tax collection, squeezing individuals onto the path of destitution, confronting various miseries. In the excerpt 'The Outburst of Broken Dam,' the character Cai Lệ epitomizes the outdated, harsh, dictatorial feudal system.

Cai Lệ holds the lowest position in the feudal society of that time, leading a small group specialized in assisting the nobility. Essentially, this character is a genuine henchman, no different, living off the state's wealth, striking wherever ordered. He is the most influential iron tool in tax collection cases. When someone with outstanding debts refuses to pay, officials send Cai Lệ to capture and bring them to the magistrate. Of course, Cai Lệ not only arrests but also fulfills the duty of corporal and bodily punishment against those who defy authority or resist. He also conducts 'interrogations' on poor, stubborn farmers, hoping to seize their wives and children to earn the money needed for tax payment. Despite Cai Lệ's status as a representative of the state, working in accordance with the law, people have never feared him as a legal executor. Essentially, people fear being beaten and bound by him. In the end, people fear the cruelty of the regime, not the strictness of the law, which is an irony in the feudal society of that time. Social management through speaking iron tools, through cruel henchmen who only understand 'beating and binding,' instills fear rather than respect.

In the excerpt 'The Water Breaks the Dam,' Cai Le emerges as a top-tier character among the officials. The author doesn't assign him a specific name, yet he holds significant importance, making multiple impactful appearances throughout the work 'Turn off the Lights.' While other officials represent deception, corruption, greed, and lust, Cai Le symbolizes the cruelty and ruthlessness of the regime. Each time Cai Le appears, he exudes a menacing aura, with harsh words and a fierce demeanor that easily invokes thoughts of a tyrant. During his second appearance at Mrs. Dau's house, Cai Le continues his relentless pursuit, always appearing hasty. At the slightest sound of a barking dog outside the village, before Mr. Dau could even finish a bite of his meal, Cai Le menacingly threatens and seeks to capture people. Ngô Tất Tố's descriptions portray him not as a government official earning an honest living but rather as a ruthless and brutal thug, akin to a gangster or a cruel robber. Ironically, despite the urgency displayed in his actions, Cai Le appears diligent and dedicated to his job. However, this only underscores his cruelty and lack of humanity. Yesterday, after beating Mr. Dau and causing him to fall ill, Cai Le hastily ordered his eviction, showing concern for Mrs. Dau. Yet today, after discovering that Mr. Dau is still alive, he rushes to collect taxes without allowing any respite, displaying a lack of consideration for the person's well-being. Clearly, Cai Le is a sinister character, consumed by the obsession of collecting taxes; his malicious and inflexible nature only allows him to think about capturing and imposing, without giving others time to prepare money for him. This stupidity is not unique to Cai Le but is a flaw in the entire system. He appears as a dark deity with his insane actions, behaving like a professional thug with whipping, tying, and issuing challenges, threatening with a hoarse voice. His harsh and intimidating tone adds to the terror as he demands payment, showing no concern for Mr. Dau's life or death, solely focused on collecting taxes or capturing people. This has become an ironclad principle in Cai Le's actions. When dealing with Mrs. Dau, he always presents a ruthless and cruel demeanor. Seeing Mrs. Dau plead and beg only seems to amuse him, making derogatory remarks and threatening Mrs. Dau's entire family. Clearly, he lacks any trace of emotion or minimal compassion; on the contrary, his weakness reveals a savage and oppressive nature, pressing his cruelty to the extreme. Therefore, he himself caused a 'water-breaks-the-dam' situation for Mrs. Dau. His gruesome actions, such as ordering the binding of an unconscious Mr. Dau, personally jerking the rope, and rushing to Mr. Dau's location to fulfill his task, further intensify the repulsion for his 'professionalism.' He acts more like a wild beast, ready to punch a weak woman, and even slap Mrs. Dau's face without hesitation. Not only are his actions cruel and repulsive, but his words are also venomous and aggressive. His use of derogatory terms and lack of culture and ethics in addressing others, especially his contempt for poor peasants, reveals his disdain and hatred. However, do they deserve to be treated as criminals just for falling short on tax payments, rather than being thieves or embezzlers of the state?

In stark contrast to their initially arrogant and brutal actions, when Mrs. Dau resisted with violence, Cai Le and the group of local officials quickly revealed their weakness and failure. Cai Le, a man with a hoarse voice and a seemingly formidable presence, couldn't stand up to the strong rural woman, the fiery Mrs. Dau. The comical image unfolds as she grabs him, presses him against the door, resembling a shrimp scurrying futilely, tripping and falling 'head over heels' right in front of the door, appearing useless, humorous, and utterly humiliated. The humiliation and anger stick with him as he cruelly orders the binding of Mrs. Dau's entire family. Of course, the local official with a stick in hand doesn't fare any better. Despite his club, Mrs. Dau catches him by the hair and 'gently pushes,' causing him to fall onto the porch. One can hardly imagine the scene where a group of people, boasting and appearing fearsome with all their gear, are defeated by a woman in an instant, full of disgrace and worthlessness. Thus, the vulnerability and ineffectiveness collapsing under Mrs. Dau's resistance reveal another facet of the government machinery at that time.

While Cai Le may only be a supporting character in the entire work, his rotten, filthy, and cruel nature has been vividly depicted through Ngô Tất Tố's realistic and sharp pen. He not only represents the class of ruthless, inhumane ruling lackeys but also embodies the essence of a vivid illustration of the logic and social order of that era. Those in power have the right to kill and be wicked, especially towards those of lower status. As Mr. Dau puts it, 'When people hit us, it's fine, but if we hit them, we go to jail, we commit a crime.'