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Topic: Emotional progression of the young man in the poem Longing
Part 1: Outline of the emotional progression of the young man in the poem Longing
Part 2: Exemplary Essay On the Emotional Evolution of a Young Man in 'Longing'
Sample Essay:
According to Hoai Thanh, within every individual's soul lies an inherent rustic essence, forged through millennia of toil and only recently touched by civilization's hand. Most people endeavor to conceal this 'rustic charm,' yet there exists a poet who defies convention—Nguyen Binh. His poetry perpetually seeks the authentic rural values, evoking the 'rural essence' latent within each person's subconscious. From depictions of simple villages, betel nut leaves, banana groves, to the sentiments of young love... the poetry exudes a rustic simplicity, reminiscent of folk songs, which Hoai Thanh refers to as the 'ancient soul of the nation.' Among Nguyen Binh's most quintessential works embodying this rustic style is the poem 'Longing,' portraying the unrequited love of a young man from Doai village for a girl from Dong village.
The longing of the young man in the poem is not merely a sentiment of nostalgia and fantasy but rather a blend of intertwined emotions, overlapping and transitioning back and forth, generating a rich and authentic array of feelings that align with the complex psychology of love.
'Doai village pines for Dong village
One yearning for nine, longing for one
Wind and rain may ail the heavens
Longing is my affliction, loving her.'
With the initial verses, the emotion is purely reminiscence and lofty thoughts of the young man for the girl he loves. This feeling of nostalgia is magnified, transforming into Doai village pining for Dong village, clearly depicting both vast spaces yearning for each other, echoing Nguyễn Du's phrase 'How could joy ever accompany a sorrowful heart?' but in this case, it's longing rather than sorrow. In summary, the young man's longing seems to extend beyond his heart to encompass landscapes and spaces. The longing even forms a rhythmic pattern like folk verses, 'one yearning for nine, longing for one,' stretching and prolonging the yearning. Then the rustic, straightforward young man tries to explain his longing, saying 'Wind and rain may ail the heavens, Longing is my affliction, loving her,' which is both innocent and somewhat audacious, daring to compare himself to the heavens to interpret his 'affliction' of longing.
'Two villages share one town
Why then doesn't she come from there to here?'
Oh my, amidst the nostalgia and longing, the young man finds himself perplexed, irritated, and resentful, wondering why the girl never visits despite being from the same village. It is at this moment that one realizes the oddity—traditionally, as a man, he should take the initiative to visit, rather than sitting idly by in longing and then becoming upset with the girl. This is the dilemma, but in poetic expression to fully reveal the melancholy longing, the passive stance of the young man is more fitting.
'Day after day, passing by
The green leaves have turned to golden'
Growing weary of waiting and frustration, the young man transitions into a state of sighs and lamentation. The passage of time from one day to another, one season to the next, from spring's green leaves to autumn's golden hues, further illustrates the weariness of waiting and the poignant longing of the young man. Perhaps he yearns for the girl to understand his feelings deeply, hence meticulously counting the steps of time in such a manner.
'They say the ferry's path is blocked
Not crossing means there's no crossing at all
Yet here, with just one end of the dock
How distant it feels, yet how distant is love
Longing keeps vigil for nights on end
For whom to give, whom to ask, who knows?'
The agony of longing is understood only by those who have experienced it firsthand. Yet, even more agonizing than unrequited love is harboring feelings for someone indifferent. The more one loves, the heavier the heart becomes. Wanting to confess is difficult, yet remaining silent is equally challenging. And pondering whether the other person knows or cares about these feelings only adds to the turmoil. Thus, overwhelmed by frustration, the young man vents all his grievances and frustrations, feeling as if he's 'running from the sun without finding shade,' twisting and turning to find solace.
Despite his rustic demeanor, the young man's emotional intelligence is no less than anyone else's, a realm known only to him. He laments that it's as difficult as the distance between riverbanks and ferries, yet even with both ends in sight, the girl remains indifferent. If not her, then who should he blame? He then returns to expressing his longing, stating 'Longing keeps vigil for nights on end, For whom to give, whom to ask, who knows?' Clearly, longing is a perpetual loop without resolution unless one actively confronts it. The young man's plight is indeed pitiable, with his timid and hesitant longing.
Though unrequited love often remains one-sided, the young man maintains unwavering faith in his future and his love, manifesting as dreams and desires to meet.
'When will the shore meet the ferry?
The phoenixes and butterflies of the riverbank may meet someday'
Though 'whenever' remains uncertain, the young man is always in an anxious state, waiting, even trembling with anticipation as his mind constantly wanders to the scene of meeting the girl, where both their feelings will merge, and she will understand his emotions.
'Your house has a rich vineyard
My house boasts a line of betel nut trees
Doai village longs for Dong village
Doai's betel nut longs for Dong's vineyard'
It's natural to assume that the dream of meeting will effortlessly bridge the gap to distant desires. The young man, ever confident, feels as secure as a bolt fixed in place, eagerly anticipating the betrothal. The vine is ready, and so is the betel nut tree, awaiting the day of the feast, everything seems prepared. The implied longing in the young man's statement is that perhaps, after all this time, the betel nut doesn't long for the Dong village's vineyard? Upon reflection, it may be the young man's underlying fear, fearing that his unrequited love may not materialize, thus his betel nut may need to find solace elsewhere. It's truly a love filled with emotions, and it's heartbreaking for the young man to harbor it for so long without daring to confess.
Often, when reading the poem, I find myself blaming the young man, wishing he would just confess his feelings already. But upon reflection, if he didn't long so deeply, where would poems like 'Longing' come from? Ultimately, it's all about the desire for companionship stemming from the innate nature of every human being, everyone wants to love and be loved, regardless of gender. It seems that in love, experiencing feelings of longing, frustration, and dreams of togetherness have become natural, and for those in unrequited love, it's even more intense and agonizing, as there's only one person, like a chopstick with no counterpart. A fascinating aspect is Nguyen Binh's view of couple love, which is always associated with marriage, family rather than just love, reflecting the rustic, traditional essence unique to the author in the new poetry system from 1932-1941.
