Comparing the conclusions of two literary works: Chí Phèo and The Wife Collector.

Task: Compare the conclusions of Chí Phèo and The Wife Collector.

Comparing the conclusions of two works: Chí Phèo and The Wife Picker.

I. Outline: Comparing the Conclusions of Chí Phèo and The Wife Picker
 

1. Introduction

- Brief overview of Vietnamese literature before the revolution.
- The stylistic differences in the conclusions of Chí Phèo and The Wife Picker by Nam Cao and Kim Lân.
 

2. The Conclusion of Chí Phèo:

a. Wrap-up of Chí Phèo:

- Key points about Chí Phèo's life and tragedies.
- Chí Phèo kills Bá Kiến then commits suicide, ending his days of darkness and despair, marking the awakening of humanity within him, revealing a longing to be a virtuous person, to the extent of embracing death to prove it.

b. Conclusion of The Wife's Collection:

- The closing detail 'In Tràng's mind still sees starving people and the red flag fluttering...' is a valuable detail, firstly evoking the scene of the severe famine in 1944-45, then suggesting the presence of the revolution returning to the suffering peasants.
- Within Tràng and his family, there is a growing awareness, enlightenment about the revolution. They understand that perhaps only with the revolution can peasants escape the dire situation, resist the famine caused by the cruel fascists.
- It demonstrates appreciation for the desire to live, the desire to change life nearing the brink, an undying belief in a bright future. Instead of being trapped in the tragedy of poverty and hunger, they liberate themselves, Tràng himself considers breaking into the rice storage, considering revolutionary actions, turning towards the red flag with a yellow star.
=> The inevitable movement of human society towards positive trends.

c. Discussion:

- In general, the common point of the two main works is the deep realism in reflecting very clearly the life and fate full of misfortunes of peasants in the old society.
- Difference: Kim Lân focuses more on humanistic values, humanism by constructing reasonable ways out for characters, the author describes reality to emphasize the humanistic value he wants to convey. While Nam Cao focuses on realism, denounces society and depicts the tragic fate of individuals, takes the humanistic value, human emotions in the work to emphasize and clarify the characters' tragedies.
 

3. Conclusion

- Share personal reflections.
 

II. Sample Essay Comparing the Conclusions of Two Works: Chí Phèo and The Wife's Collection

Vietnamese literature before the revolution highlighted many prominent names in realistic literature with valuable works bearing the imprint of an unforgettable era. Among them, the most prominent figure in this critical realism literary era is the presence of excellent writers such as Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngô Tất Tố, Vũ Trọng Phụng, Nguyễn Hồng,... And in the realm of writing about peasants, it would be a great omission to miss out on two names: Kim Lân and Nam Cao with The Wife's Collection and Chí Phèo, both painfully realistic, poignant portrayals of human suffering, yet deeply humane. Even amidst hunger and poverty, human dignity remains intact, awakening hope for a better life. While both depict peasants, Nam Cao seems to focus on the harsh reality and the details of noble humanity to elevate the characters' tragedies, to depict the cruelty of the old regime. Conversely, Kim Lân's pen carries more emotion, with a gentle and profoundly humanistic tone, aiming towards a brighter future for the characters. This difference is clearly shown in the conclusions of the two works Chí Phèo by Nam Cao and The Wife's Collection by Kim Lân.

In the short story Chí Phèo by Nam Cao, the character Chí Phèo epitomizes the tragic fate of hardship. Chí's life from birth has been unfortunate, abandoned and living as an orphan for 20 years. As he matures, he carries a kind heart into the world, yet his wishes are unfulfilled. His life is nearly concluded by the adultery of his stepmother and the jealousy of Bá Kiến, leading him into prison. The wretched prison of the feudal colonial regime turns him from a virtuous person into a rogue. Chí Phèo descends into a path of crime, becoming an accomplice to those who ruined his life, forsaking his humanity for a few coins to survive, amidst endless drunkenness and unreturned curses. Chí Phèo becomes the village's demon, his curses equaled to the barks of the fierce dogs guarding Bá Kiến's gate, agonizing and pitiful to the extreme. Then, when he has crossed to the other side of life's hill, Thị Nở comes to him like a gift from nature yet another tragedy for Chí. It seems that Chí's tragedy, being corrupted by villainy, has not been enough, so another tragedy is drawn for him, a tragedy of being denied the right to be a person. 'All men are dead or what that you go marry a fatherless one. Who would marry someone with only one job of slashing faces for alms,' the bitter words of Thị Nở's aunt awaken Chí from his beautiful dream. That is the voice of the society outside, completely blocking Chí Phèo's dream of starting life anew, his dream of being a virtuous person. Finally, the humanity in Chí's young brother awakens after over 20 years of oppression, of being buried in villainy. Chí Phèo kills Bá Kiến and then commits suicide, ending his string of dark and desolate days, marking the awakening of humanity within Chí, revealing the desire to be a virtuous person to the point of enduring pain to prove it. Furthermore, Chí Phèo's death is also a humane detail, showing the strong resistance of the people to the cruel feudal colonial regime, pushing people into the abyss. Although violence may be negative, in that situation, peasants only have the option to rise up and fight, even if it means shedding blood. Moreover, the humanistic significance of the work lies in denouncing the rotten and brutal feudal colonial regime, making many people suffer, fall into tragedy, and the epitome of that is the character Chí Phèo. At the end of the story, Nam Cao leaves a sentence hanging: 'Suddenly she sees a glimpse of an abandoned old brick kiln, far from home and deserted...'. Thị Nở looks at her belly and thinks of the lover who just died yesterday, her heart not knowing what to think, she pities Chí, pities herself, then perhaps thinks of the future if another Chí Phèo were born. The old brick kiln is where Chí Phèo was abandoned, Thị Nở thinks of it as the future of another child who might also be abandoned there. Thus, it turns out that going through a circle, one might think that Nam Cao gives us an open ending but it's actually a loop, a loop of eternal torment of Chí Phèo's fate? Perhaps that Chí Phèo is dead, but his tragedy still lingers, still clinging to the people who are living and will live in the future. That is the dark and hopeless fate of peasants in the old regime, Nam Cao leaves us with a dangling question, people must do something to escape this endless loop, but what to do, he does not say. Such an ending easily opens up many thoughts and associations for readers, especially leaving a profound impression not only about the tragic fate of the character but also making readers deeply sympathize with them.