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Prompt: Please present your impressions on the aesthetic beauty of artistic language through the Exchange of Charm excerpt
Sample essay presenting impressions on the aesthetic allure of artistic language through the Exchange of Charm excerpt
Sample Piece: Presenting Impressions on the Aesthetic Beauty of Artistic Language through the Exchange of Charm Excerpt
When mentioning Nguyễn Du, one inevitably recalls The Tale of Kieu, a masterpiece that established Nguyễn Du's reputation individually and contributed significantly to the national literature. Regarded as a benchmark of language, The Tale of Kieu has left a profound impression on readers with the character of Thuy Kieu, a woman of beauty and talent whose life is marked by unfortunate twists and turns. The excerpt 'Exchange of Charm' stands as a prominent testimony to the author's skillful and eloquent use of language, offering multifaceted perspectives on information, descriptive elements, and character portrayal through language.
The language employed in a literary work always remains a primary concern, determining its position on the literary map. From the inception, artists must carefully select the linguistic style, ensuring both content and form adhere to artistic standards while maintaining individuality. A poem necessitates the application of various artistic elements of language, demanding precise and concise language rich in layered meanings, stimulating profound thoughts in readers. Artistic language is the language of literature, requiring evocative, meticulously arranged words to convey the writer's content and ideas.
In the excerpt Exchange of Charm, artistic language manifests in three aspects: informational accuracy, narrative coherence, vivid imagery, and emotional expression. Endowed with innate talent and profound understanding, Nguyễn Du harmoniously combines these elements, creating a concise yet unique whole that evokes both sensuality and depth.
The beauty of artistic language in 'Exchange of Charm' is primarily revealed through its informational function. Every literary work requires content to be conveyed to readers through language. Thuy Kieu's life unfolds with numerous tragic episodes, family upheavals, tranquil days suddenly turning into chaos, and she is forced to sell herself to save her father, leaving behind her passionate love for Kim Trong. In that desperate situation, she agrees to pass on her love to her sister Thuy Van, hoping she will fulfill the promise made to Kim Trong. What's captivating is that the author doesn't narrate these events in a straightforward storyteller's voice but through Kieu's words, the informative nature of the language delicately and smoothly brings readers closer to the story's essence. The agony tormenting Thuy Kieu's emotions, the heart-wrenching cries for the unfortunate fate and the tragic love, seem as if the author has placed himself into the character, borrowing the character's words to express the character's misfortunes. The informational function of artistic language excellently fulfills its task, guiding readers through the story's situations objectively and vividly, allowing readers to imagine the emotional knots and story situations through the character's candid expressions.
The beauty of language in the excerpt is portrayed through its imagery, evoking images that make characters and events seem real. Imagery brings persuasion and evokes empathy and sympathy from the audience towards the artist as well as the characters in the work. Two lines:
Rely on you, will you heed my plea
Kneel for me, then you'll hear me say
Thuy Kieu, despite being the elder sister at home, finds herself having to rely on her younger sister, seeking her opinion through 'heeding.' She knows that what she urgently asks of her is hard to accept, but Thuy Van will have no way to refuse. 'Kneel' and 'listen,' Nguyen Du allows Thuy Kieu to recount her own tragic love story from the perspective of someone beneath, desperately hoping for help from others. The valuable words not only depict Thuy Kieu's dire circumstances but also reveal her anticipation and earnestness, her hope that her younger sister will accept her plea.
Cutting straight to the point, Thuy Kieu confides in Thuy Van about her intense love affair with Kim Trong. 'Folding fans,' 'oath cups,' objects symbolizing the secret pact between Kim and Kieu. That night, with earth, sky, moon, stars, and unwavering hearts, the two exchanged the betrothal fan and vowed over the bridal wine. There were also 'the hairpin with a piece of cloud,' 'the guitar with a scent of nostalgia,' the tokens of love that Thuy Kieu solemnly cherished, now passed on to her younger sister with the hope that she will take her place, continuing the love story with her lover. However, even in moments of agonizing separation, Kieu still wants to cling to some remnants of the couple's affection:
This bond shall remain, this possession is shared
The regret of cherished memories weighs heavily on Kieu, tormenting her spirit, rendering her unable to think clearly. Clearly, the bond has been passed on, yet she still wants 'this shared possession,' still wants to preserve the cherished memories between her and her lover. It's understandable for a young girl, experiencing love for the first time, unable to wholeheartedly sever the ties of love, only hoping to preserve a small semblance of it for herself. Thuy Kieu's genuine emotions evoke sympathy and understanding in readers, understanding her inner turmoil, understanding why she wants to hold onto their shared possession in this way. When love burns so passionately, it's impossible to willingly bring it to an end.
A precious detail illustrating the imagery of the beauty of artistic language is when Kieu contemplates death. A young girl in the full bloom of life, yet faced with separation, her mind only dwells on the tragic end, death.
The soul still burdened by oaths sworn
A shattered body under willow and plum
'Willow,' 'plum' are familiar symbolic images in poetry, conveying fragility, delicacy, and femininity. For Thuy Kieu, it's not just about physical weakness, but also a lament for a missed destiny, a fragile fate she must bear. Departing without hope of return, before her lies a dark, uncertain future, eternal death, trampled, torn until death. It's heartbreaking for a young woman, still in love, still passionate, to choose such imminent death for herself. The author doesn't speak of suffering, doesn't directly address Thuy Kieu and Kim Trong's intense love, but the final lines of the poem, Kieu's cry, vividly depict the tragedies she faces:
Oh Kim Lang! O Kim Lang!
Enough, enough, I've failed you from here on
Kieu refers to Kim Trong as 'Lang,' the way ancient women called their husbands. For Kieu, Kim is not just a lover, but a husband, the man she entrusts her destiny to. Kim Trong's position in her heart is truly significant. But now, she has to accept parting, accept giving up the still burning love for him, for filial duty, for selling herself to bring happiness to her family. She betrays Kim's trust, only able to utter a sentence full of remorse. The tragic breakup of love, two hearts still yearning for each other torn apart. Artistic language encompasses the full emotions of the character Kieu, readers seemingly able to empathize with her emotional turmoil, from resignation to regret and then to extreme pain but still facing harsh reality. The author touches the hearts and hidden feelings of the readers to resonate, to share the pain with the character.
The beauty of artistic language in 'Exchange of Charm' is also demonstrated in individualization, thereby, Thuy Kieu reveals her unique, unblended personality. Every word in the work focuses on depicting the pitiful fate of Kieu, a beautiful but ill-fated woman, every verse is a tearful page for the unfortunate woman. Thuy Kieu portrayed by Nguyen Du is a knowledgeable, thoughtful, filial daughter, willing to sacrifice her own happiness but also extremely clever, proactively passing on her fate to her sister to keep her promise. Particularly, Kieu's character is shown in the act of passing on fate to Thuy Van but she still mentions retaining a few mementos between her and Kim Trong, revealing the character of a strong, intelligent girl. 'Exchange of Charm' is essentially Thuy Kieu's candid confession of mixed emotions, torn apart. Although painful, regrettable, standing amidst happy memories and tragic futures, the subtlety, and sophistication of her inner thoughts are still cleverly expressed. Through the excerpt, we also see the high humanitarian artistic style of Nguyen Du, loving humanity, valuing and sympathizing with the destitute, the unfortunate.
