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Assignment: Presenting the beauty of Thúy Vân, Thúy Kiều, and Kim Trọng
Part 1: Outline presenting the beauty of Thúy Vân, Thúy Kiều, and Kim Trọng
Part 2: Sample essay Illustrating the charm of Thuy Van, Thuy Kieu, and Kim Trong
Essay:
Nguyen Du's 'The Tale of Kieu' is considered a precious gem in the treasury of Vietnamese literature, and indeed, world literature. The artistic and thematic achievements of the work have ensured its enduring significance. Nguyen Du notably exhibits his talent in character construction. The world of characters in 'The Tale of Kieu' is depicted with exemplary beauty, representing archetypal characters of an era. Among them, the most prominent are the three main characters of the work: Thuy Kieu, Thuy Van, and Kim Trong.
In the opening part of 'The Tale of Kieu,' Nguyen Du vividly portrays the beauty of the sisters Thuy Kieu and Thuy Van:
'At first glance, they appear like twins,
Thuy Kieu the elder, Thuy Van the younger,
Though different in demeanor, alike in grace,
Each perfect in her own distinctive way.'
This is a magnificent portrait of two young women. With the beauty of plum blossoms and snow, symbolizing inner beauty and purity, the author captures the innocence and nobility of the sisters. Following this is a detailed description of Thuy Van's beauty:
'Van, dignified and poised,
Her face akin to a full moon's glow,
Her smile akin to precious pearls,
Her hair, fairer than clouds, her skin, fairer than snow.'
To depict Thuy Van's beauty, the author employs symbolic and allegorical techniques to portray a delicate beauty true to the essence of ancient feudal women. It's a full, radiant face, with a smile as gentle as a noblewoman's. A beauty so abundant, so gracious, that it outshines the clouds and snow. This beauty also heralds a serene destiny, a tranquil life for Thuy Van.
Thuy Kieu is described with a sophisticated beauty:
'Kieu, with her captivating allure,
Her beauty surpasses mere physicality,
Her grace rivals the elegance of spring,
Even flowers envy her rosy hue.
With just a tilt, she conquers hearts and realms,
Her beauty demands unity, her talent commands duality.'
In just a few lines of verse, we glimpse a portrait of an extraordinary beauty. Her eyes deep as autumn waters, her eyebrows arching like spring mountains. Such beauty provokes envy even in nature's creations. Her beauty 'tilts hearts and realms.' Kieu's perfection, both in appearance and talent, leaves readers in awe:
'Naturally gifted with intelligence,
She blends poetry and painting with the essence of lyrical grace.
Her craft outshines the harp's melody,
Each stroke of her brush surpasses a chapter of music.
Her verses, handpicked with care,
Reflect a fortune as precious as silver.'
In music, chess, poetry, and painting, Thuy Kieu excels in all. Her talent and beauty provoke envy in others. Thuy Kieu is regarded as a once-in-a-century talented beauty. Her beauty alone evokes dreams of a tumultuous life for readers.
In addition to their beauty and talent, Nguyen Du also successfully depicts the character of Kim Trong. Kim Trong appears as a scholar from feudal times:
'A scholar in appearance,
Leisurely strolling with hands clasped behind,
Carrying the moon's breeze in his bag,
Following behind a few straggling children.'
Through a few verses, we see Kim Trong exuding a noble, handsome, refined, and dignified beauty:
'Snow outlines the horse's sleekness,
With a touch of color dyeing the sky's skin.'
This is the noble, handsome beauty of Kim, portrayed through the beauty of both the individual and the green attire, a beauty that radiates the refinement of a gentleman. Moreover, he is exceptionally intelligent, with a love for literature and the arts. Truly, Kim Trong and Thuy Kieu are like a match made in heaven, perfectly paired.
Each character is depicted by Nguyen Du with different yet representative beauties, embodying a social class. They are individuals of talent, beauty, and noble character. Through classical artistic techniques, Nguyen Du successfully constructs a multidimensional yet emblematic character world. Even today, when these characters are mentioned, readers can envision what Nguyen Du intended to convey.
