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Prompt: Analyzing the poem Farewell on Departure
Sample Essay: Analyzing the poem Farewell on Departure
Assignment
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Living amidst the circumstances of French colonial invasion, patriots and young enthusiasts always harbored a fervent determination to find a path to liberate the nation from oppression. Among them stands out the revolutionary Phan Boi Chau. He demonstrated his will, his aspiration to embark on a journey to save his country through the poem 'Farewell upon Departure'.
This poem was composed by him in 1905 with the purpose of bidding farewell, parting with friends, comrades before departing to Japan. Phan Boi Chau was the leader of the Dong Du movement, departing for Japan to provide Vietnamese youth with the opportunity for education and also to await the opportune moment to organize forces to reclaim national sovereignty.
The beginning of the work sees Phan Boi Chau presenting his own perspective on his steadfast determination:
'In the realm of men, weakness is not an option,
With firm resolve, one can navigate the unpredictable.'
(To be resolute amidst life's trials
Can one truly steer fate's course?)
The notion of steadfast determination has been echoed throughout the annals of literary history, from folklore to medieval literature. One cannot overlook the verse by Nguyen Cong Tru:
'Gaining reputation in heaven and earth,
What fame befits the mountains and rivers?'
Or as the folk saying goes:
'To be a true man, worthy of renown,
In Phu Xuan's footsteps, in Dong Nai's past.'
To be a man in life requires determination and courage, to not shy away from difficulties and challenges in order to establish a legacy, to be immortalized in history books. For Phan Boi Chau, he believed that to assert one's masculinity, one must be 'extraordinary', capable of doing things beyond the ordinary, standing out from the crowd. Only then can one create a distinct identity, not to be mixed with anyone else. The 'extraordinary' he mentions here refers to the ability to manipulate fate, to defy nature. It's like a challenge to the universe; he doesn't want men to passively accept the influence of heaven and earth, but rather to actively seize control, to influence circumstances, not allowing 'fate to dictate.' Perhaps this verse implies the French colonial invasion of our country, where men cannot remain indifferent to the destiny of the nation, allowing colonial footsteps to dominate, but must find a new path to lead the country out of darkness, to turn the tide of the times themselves?
A man must bear responsibility for the era he lives in, must affirm his role for the nation:
'In a hundred years, will I still be here,
Initiating change, leaving an indelible mark?'
(In a span of a century, must I be forgotten,
In the ages to come, will there be none?)
Human life is finite, thus in that fleeting hundred years, we must etch our names in history, must mark our existence with actions beneficial to the nation. The great men of the era cannot exist as nameless grains of sand in the desert but must create an impact, contribute their efforts to the path of national salvation. The tone of the verse is somewhat arrogant, but it's the arrogance of a person with direction and determination to fulfill that direction. At the same time, Phan Boi Chau also expresses faith in the future generations; they too will leave their names in the annals of history. Because he believes in the generation of those he sent to Japan during the Dong Du movement will contribute to the nation.
A dynasty that prioritizes the people's livelihood, the nation's future will employ policies to recruit talents through the path of education. This has been the path pursued by men of ambition throughout history. However, when the nation falls into the hands of invaders, the court becomes a puppet, serving the enemy, rendering the path of education obsolete:
'For the land, many sacrificed their lives,
Virtuous sages lament their fate'!
(Land and rivers have perished, yet shame survives,
Where are the virtuous sages, learning in vain!)
With the land and its virtues lost, what significance remains in education and examinations? The most practical action in such circumstances is to find the right path to save the country from the oppression and exploitation of colonialism. Living under the rule of invaders, our people in general, and intellectuals in particular, feel it as a disgrace, even if one succeeds, it's futile, a waste of effort because they are not valued to contribute to the development of the nation.
Therefore, the noble responsibility of the patriots, the men of valor, is to liberate the nation:
'Wishing to cross the Eastern Sea on wings,
Amidst myriad silver waves, farewell to land'.
(Seeking to traverse the Eastern Sea with the wind's embrace,
Through countless silver waves bidding farewell to the shore.)
The imagery of 'trường phong', 'Đông hải', 'thiên trùng bạch lãng' are imbued with romanticism, reflecting Phan Boi Chau's lofty aspirations. He desires to cross the Eastern Sea, soaring amidst thousands of silver waves to fulfill the grand ambition of saving the people and the nation. It's not an easy path to tread but one fraught with obstacles, difficulties, and daring adventures, as Phan Boi Chau was among the first to conceive the idea of seeking a new path to national salvation, relying on foreign aid, specifically Japan. Though that path did not achieve the desired outcome, he lived and fulfilled his duty as a man of valor, embodying his steadfast determination. His aspirations reach for the cosmos, transcending the dark shadows of enslavement to strive towards the light.
