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Exploring Nguyen Khoa Diem's novel views on thought and expression
Sample essay: Exploring the innovative perspectives on thought and expression in Nguyen Khoa Diem's works
Essay
The homeland serves as an endless wellspring of poetic inspiration, stirring the souls of artists. Since ancient times, we encounter the imagery of the homeland in the white storks on village fields during tranquil countryside evenings. Then we encounter the homeland as depicted by Che Lan Vien, a land with a 'back carrying a sword and gentle hands wielding a pen,' and in the poetry of Nguyen Dinh Thi, a land that 'shakes off mud to stand tall and bright,' the homeland of bygone autumns as well as those of today. And when we read Nguyen Khoa Diem's 'The Thirst for Roads,' we encounter the imagery of a 'homeland of the people, a homeland of folk legends' throughout this epic chapter of national poetry.
The portrayal of the 'homeland of the people, of folk legends' is conveyed by the author through forms of romantic poetry and persuasive discourse. Rich with both intense emotions and profound philosophical content, it not only provides readers with fresh perceptions of the homeland but also fosters a deeper love and affection for one's own country.
According to Nguyen Khoa Diem, the homeland does not belong to anyone individually but rather to the entire populace. Countless nameless individuals from generation to generation have shed sweat and blood to protect and build the homeland.
Countless daughters and sons,
Among the myriad of people our age,
They have lived and died.
Simple and serene,
No one remembers their names,
But they have built the Nation.
Throughout four thousand years of nation-building, our people have fought, labored, shaping the landscape, the national culture, familial and communal ties, ancestral traditions, relationships with nature, history...
And wherever across fields and hillsides,
They bear no distinct figure, aspiration, or way of life, our forefathers
After four thousand years, wherever we go, we see the Nation,
Lives have become our mountains and rivers.
The Nation is not something abstract and distant, but rather concrete, intimately connected with our emotions and daily activities:
Land is where he goes to school,
Water is where she bathes,
The Nation is where we gather and laugh,
The Nation is where she drops her handkerchief amidst silent longing
And exists right within each of us:
In you and me today.
Both possess a part of the Nation,
When the two of us hold hands,
The Nation within us resonates harmoniously.
Nguyen Khoa Diem's perspective on the nation differs from the feudal notion of olden days - the nation belonged to the king.
The Southern mountains and rivers, the Southern king resides.
Naturally destined according to heavenly decrees.
(Lí Thường Kiệt)
Nguyen Khoa Diem's perspective also differs from that of patriots at the beginning of the 20th century - the nation belongs to the heroes who make history:
Owing debts from battles against the Chinese through generations,
Expanding the Southern realm's ambitions under the sky's expanse.
The waves of Đằng River, the legacy of Tran Kings,
Mount Lam emits smoke, clearing the path for the Le dynasty.
Quang Trung, ever since independence,
His bold spirit fills the vast mountains and rivers.
(Phan Boi Chau)
In terms of expression, Nguyen Khoa Diem's poem also brings novelty and creativity. Classical poetry often uses the language of birdsong as a symbol of homesickness:
Yearning for the homeland, the heart aches like a bird's cry
(Ba Huyen Thanh Quan)
Regretting the passing spring, standing still and calling out?
Or is it the homesickness still lingering in dreams?
(Nguyen Khuyen)
Influenced by Western literature in the 1920s, Tan Da used the image of a withered leaf to symbolize the nation:
An ancient letter stands bowed,
Rivers flow, mountains stand, cleverly smiling in their inscriptions
When the August Revolution succeeded, Xuân Diệu wrote 'The National Flag Song' praising the nation:
Vietnam! Vietnam! The red flag with a yellow star!
Breasts holding in 'Independence Day' breaths!
Nguyen Khoa Diem, in particular, utilizes images from folklore, proverbs, and legends of myriad hues, stretching across space, spanning time, resonating within our minds through fascinating associations to symbolize the nation. Firstly, the nation has existed since ancient times, through the Legend of the Betel Nut, the tale of Saint Giong.
The Nation begins with the betel quid now chewed by Grandma,
The Nation grows as our people learn to plant bamboo to fend off invaders.
Through customs reflecting the rich and meaningful river-like way:
Mother's hair combed behind her head,
Parents express love with spicy ginger and salty salt.
Through hardworking lives to provide shelter, to provide food:
The oars, the pillars bear names,
Rice grains crushed by one sun, two dews, grinding, pounding, sifting.
The nation is considered the finest part of the epic 'The Thirst for Roads.' It evokes profound and fervent emotions, resonating within the reader's heart. The poem also erects a monument to the Vietnamese homeland in verse, a monument enduring through time, years, and in the hearts of every Vietnamese who loves their country.
Explore more exemplary essays or works on the topic of the Nation on Mytour
- Analysis of the following poem excerpt from the work 'Land and Nation': 'My dear, but they have made the Nation.'
- Present reflections on the Nation by the poet in the chapter 'Land and Nation.' Discussing the opening 9 sentences of the excerpt.
- Through Part 1 of the 'Land and Nation' excerpt, analyze Nguyen Khoa Diem's inspiration for the nation.
