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Prompt: Through the characters Chiến and Việt in the work 'Sons in the Family,' expound on the following statement: Nguyen Thi often writes about heroes. However, it's a type of hero - born of the land and rivers; where heroism blends with simplicity, greatness manifests beneath familiarity, closeness, natural simplicity, and often, heroic qualities reveal themselves through innocent, amusing expressions.
Exploring the characters Chiến and Việt in the literary masterpiece 'Sons in the Family,' elucidate the following assertion:
1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION:
- Nguyễn Thi stands as one of the foremost pens in the liberation literature of the South during the resistance against the American imperialists. He is a writer deeply connected with the people of the South, often hailed as the writer of the Southern people.
- 'Sons in the Family' is Nguyễn Thi's most outstanding short story, penned during the intense days of combat while he worked for the magazine 'Literature of the Liberation Army.' The narrative revolves around the children of a Southern peasant family with a patriotic tradition, harboring resentment towards the enemy and a fervent desire for revolutionary struggle, steel and iron in hand.
2. EXPLAINING OPINIONS:
- Quoting opinions: 'Nguyễn Thi often writes about heroes. However, it's a type of hero - born of the land and rivers; where heroism blends with simplicity, greatness manifests beneath familiarity, closeness, natural simplicity, and often, heroic qualities reveal themselves through innocent, amusing expressions.'
=> Meaning:
+ Affirming the personality traits of the characters Việt and Chiến.
+ The uniqueness in Nguyễn Thi's art of character construction.
3. ANALYSIS, DEMONSTRATION:
3.1. Character Chiến:
- Chiến embodies the appearance of a laborer: two strong, sunburned arms, a robust and sturdy physique...
- Confidence and organization: Chiến's ability to manage and arrange the family is evident: Before joining the military with her brother, she meticulously and thoughtfully organized everything at home, impressing even Uncle Năm. In this regard, Chiến is very similar to her mother; she seamlessly blends in with her. According to Uncle Năm, she is 'no different from her mother.'
=> Deserving to be the eldest child and sister in the family.
- Heroic qualities:
+ She possesses qualities of perseverance and diligence (skipping meals to sit and spell out the family book from noon until dusk).
+ She also inherits from her mother the traits of courage, determination, and the resolve to fight the enemy to the end: On the day of conscription, Chiến told her brother: 'I've already told Uncle Năm. If making my daughter leave means losing, then so be it!'.
- However, in sister Chiến, there are still feminine traits: always carrying a small mirror in her pocket, chewing on a bit of hair for a feminine look, and most importantly, having the opportunity to wield a gun.
=> The character Chiến appears genuinely modest, evoking many emotions in the readers with the distinctive traits of Vietnamese women in general and Southern women in particular - skilled in national affairs and household responsibilities.
3.2. Character Việt:
- Childlike, innocent, and lively personality:
+ Prefers spending time with sister Chiến (participation in the Định Thủy River battle, leaving for the military)
+ Carefree, entrusting household matters to sister Chiến. When sister Chiến discusses household chores, she either 'bursts into laughter' or 'takes a firefly photo' and falls asleep without realizing.
+ Carries a rubber band gun even while in the military.
+ Fears that if sister Chiến's love letters are known to the comrades, she'll lose her.
+ Not afraid of death when injured, but afraid of ghosts...
+ When meeting comrades, Việt is just like the youngest brother at home, 'cries and laughs in turns.'
- But when facing the enemy, Việt is a true hero:
+ Always remembers the family's vendetta: 'The vendetta against the Americans is visible because it weighs heavily on our shoulders.'
+ Determined to fight the enemy, achieves many feats to avenge the parents.
+ In a fierce battle in the rubber forest, Việt successfully disabled an enemy armored vehicle despite severe injuries and losing fellow soldiers.
After delving into the characters of Chi and Viet in the literary work 'Children in the Family,' please elucidate the following perspective: after the events, do they embody the heroism portrayed in 'Through the Snake Forest and Children in the Family'? Alternatively, you can explore the 'Analysis of Similarities and Differences between the two Vietnamese sisters, Viet and Chi, in the story 'Children in the Family'' to reinforce your understanding.
