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Topic: Portrayal of Vietnamese Women in Traditional Society through 'Tự Tình II' and 'Thương Vợ'
Portrayal of Vietnamese Women in Traditional Society through 'Tự Tình II' and 'Thương Vợ'
Article Contents:
1. Portrayal of Women through 'Tự Tình' and 'Thương Vợ', Example 1
2. Portrayal of Women through 'Tự Tình' and 'Thương Vợ', Example 2
3. Portrayal of Women through 'Tự Tình' and 'Thương Vợ', Example 3
1. Portrayal of Vietnamese Women in Traditional Society through 'Tự Tình II' and 'Thương Vợ', Example 1:
The portrayal of Vietnamese women in the poems 'Thương Vợ' by Tú Xương and 'Tự Tình II' by Hồ Xuân Hương showcases their enduring beauty alongside their tales of hardship and sorrow.
Written Assignment:
'My body's like a bitter melon
Outside's black, inside's white
Only after tasting, you'll know
That I am both sweet and bitter.'
Throughout history, Vietnamese women have been depicted in various folk verses, embodying different images of beauty and tradition. These images, refined over thousands of years, are vividly captured in the poems 'Tự Tình II' by Hồ Xuân Hương and 'Thương Vợ' by Trần Tế Xương.
The initial portrayal of Vietnamese women in these poems depicts them enduring immense suffering and toil in their lives. Take, for example, the character of Tú, who struggles tirelessly to make ends meet, trading along the riverbank year-round. This imagery of a hardworking woman enduring the dangers of the riverbank is reminiscent of the pitiful image of a stork in folk verses, as used by Tú Xương.
Read the full article HERE.
2. Portrayal of Vietnamese Women in Traditional Society through 'Tự Tình II' and 'Thương Vợ', Example 2:
Both poems 'Thương Vợ' and 'Tự Tình II' aim to affirm the beauty of women in ancient society, depicting them as talented, compassionate, hardworking, and rich in sacrifice.
Written Assignment:
During the years from the seventeenth century to the end of the nineteenth century, under the decline of the feudal regime, the fate of women was almost buried in the misery caused by the rigid feudal ethics of 'prizing men and demeaning women.' They were forced to endure in a male-dominated, polygamous society... along with the imposition of feudal ethics: 'Three obediences and four virtues' (three obediences are: obeying father at home, husband when married, son when widowed; four virtues are: morality, appearance, speech, and needlework). They had almost no right to decide their own lives but had to accept and endure. Therefore, they faced a lot of suffering in life, their love lives were full of twists and turns, and they had to live as concubines for others... Many writers and poets sympathized with the fate of women in the old society, standing up to voice their heartfelt concerns. Among them were Hồ Xuân Hương with 'Tự Tình' and Trần Tế Xương with 'Thương Vợ.'
The above works affirm the beauty of Vietnamese women in the old regime. They were all talented and multicolored individuals, as Hồ Xuân Hương called them 'beautiful women' or tảo tần, loyal, and rich in sacrifice as Tú Xương expressed.
If the Lady of Nom poetry, with her talent and arrogance, dared to challenge the heavens, earth, and nature to express the beauty and talent of women in that society:
'In the dead of night, the drum beats resound,
Yet the delicate beauty remains on the land and water.'
Read the full article HERE.
3. Portrayal of Vietnamese Women in Traditional Society through 'Tự Tình II' and 'Thương Vợ', Example 3:
With profound empathy and deep appreciation for women, Tú Xương and Hồ Xuân Hương vividly portray the image of women with beauty deserving of admiration.
Written Assignment:
From ancient times to the present, from Homer to the Book of Songs, to Vietnamese folk verses, poetry has always been a powerful and expansive force of empathy. It emerged amidst the joys and sorrows of humanity and will befriend humanity until the end of days' (Hoài Thanh). It can be said that this is the eternal survival of literature.
And we see its powerful influence even more when it comes to the compassionate pens of artists in medieval poetry. Prominent in those deeply philosophical writings is the image of women. Through deep empathy, many works are born as the voices of poets speaking for the silent thoughts of women, exemplified by the two poems 'Tự Tình II' by Hồ Xuân Hương and 'Thương Vợ' by Trần Tế Xương.
Reading those verses, readers cannot help but be moved by the precarious situations, ironies, and tragedies they endure. And perhaps it is from there that we further understand one half of humanity.
Each poem is expressed in its own style, but what stands out is the image of women harboring various beauties, talents, and admirable qualities. However, in that crumbling feudal society, all the rights they deserve are stripped away.
It can be affirmed that Vietnamese women in ancient society were beautiful inside and out. They exuded purity, fairness, and gracefulness:
'My body is both fair and round'
(Floating rice ball - Hồ Xuân Hương)
https://Mytour.vn/portrayal-of-vietnamese-women-in-ancient-society-through-tu-tinh-ii-and-thuong-vo-25396n.aspx
Read the full article HERE.
