My Reflections on Little Thu in The Ivory Comb

Prompt: My Thoughts on the Character Little Thu in The Ivory Comb by Nguyen Quang Sang

My Thoughts on Little Thu in The Ivory Comb

I. Outline of My Thoughts on Little Thu in The Ivory Comb

1. Introduction

Introducing Nguyen Quang Sang and the short story The Ivory Comb. Introducing the character Little Thu in the work.

2. Main Body

- Little Thu's emotions in the initial days upon meeting her father:
+ Startled, frightened, face turned pale when unexpectedly embraced by Mr. Sau.
+ Swiftly ran into the house seeking mother's refuge.
--> Surprised by the appearance of a stranger, unwilling to accept him as her father because he didn't resemble the picture of her parents taken together.

- Little Thu's emotions during Mr. Sau's stay:
+ Keeping distance, treating Mr. Sau as a stranger.
+ Refusing to address Mr. Sau as father.
+ Talking nonsense when having to ask Mr. Sau for water...(Continued)

>> View Outline My Thoughts on Little Thu in The Ivory Comb in detail here.

II. Sample Essay: My Thoughts on Little Thu in The Ivory Comb

Family affection is the most sacred and cherished emotion. Among them, paternal love is particularly special. Therefore, this is also one of the topics that many authors choose in their works. Nguyen Quang Sang has been extremely successful in expressing that emotion through the work 'The Ivory Comb'.

Little Thu in the story had a deprived fatherly love from an early age. Due to the war situation, she had to be away from her father when he went to fight. However, in her mind, there was always the image of her father with the best things. Thu loved her father very much. It seemed that when meeting her father again after a long time apart, she would run to hug him tightly with long-suppressed emotions. However, Thu surprised readers when she distanced herself from her father and fiercely refused to accept him. During the three days at home, Mr. Sau did not go anywhere far, always wanting to be close to his daughter, but Thu still rejected that affection. Thu only spoke to her father in empty words, even when threatened, she only said 'The rice is cooked!' succinctly. When her mother asked her to watch the rice pot, she couldn't pour water, had to ask for help from adults but stubbornly refused to ask her father for help. She would rather do it herself than ask her father. The climax of the incident was when Mr. Sau put a fish egg into her rice bowl, she immediately spat out the rice, splashing it all over the floor. Mr. Sau couldn't bear her stubbornness, got angry and spanked her on the bottom. She angrily left the meal and went to her grandmother's house.

Through the author's portrayal before realizing that her father was a mischievous child with a strong personality and high personal emotions. Here, we also see the author's subtlety in depicting the extremely distinctive character development, skillful psychology. It was Nguyen Quang Sang's pen that brought readers various emotions about the psychology of a child. Only a person who truly loves and understands children's psychology can depict childhood psychology so vividly. However, Little Thu's actions and thoughts are understandable. Because she is still a little girl, her mind always has the image of a father in a picture taken with her mother without a long scar on his face. Therefore, when seeing the different appearance of Mr. Sau, Little Thu's refusal also clearly demonstrates her absolute love for her father.