Reflecting on the character portrayal of Bá Kiến in the short story Chí Phèo

Prompt: Reflecting on the character portrayal of Bá Kiến in the short story Chí Phèo

5 sample essays Reflecting on the character portrayal of Bá Kiến in the short story Chí Phèo

I. Outline of Reflections on the Character Portrayal of Bá Kiến in the Short Story Chí Phèo

1. Outline 1:

a. Introduction

- Nam Cao is an outstanding realistic literary author during the period of 1930-1945. He mainly delves into the themes of intellectual stagnation and impoverished peasants.
- His work, Chí Phèo (1941), is a indictment of the painful life of peasants under the oppression of the ruling class. In it, Bá Kiến epitomizes the cruelty.

b. BODY OF THE ESSAY

* Character Background

The lineage of Bá Kiến spans four generations of leadership. His son serves as the chief. Himself rising from chief to executive, in the countryside, he ascended to the pinnacle of fame; Village patriarch of Vũ Đại, chairman of the prestigious council, delegate of the North, his faction strong, constantly opposing the bullies in the village.

* The Essence of Bá Kiến

- Cunning heroism

Manipulating people's tactics: if it's not beneficial, use it up. Using them as tools, if there aren't any idiots, then who to control? Flexibility with principles: firstly afraid of heroes, secondly afraid of desperate people: That's the cunning hero who maneuvers through life.

- Sneaky attacks

+ Bá Kiến dominates other factions by exploiting those who fear neither death nor imprisonment. Deceitful, cunning, and treacherous: Quietly push someone into the river, then pull them out to make them indebted. Slamming tables and chairs, demanding five dong, but then returning five hao with pity!
+ Therefore, recognizing the true face of Bá Kiến is not easy.

-  Ruthless and brutal
+ Bá Kiến has pushed many righteous individuals to their limits: Năm Thọ, Binh Chức, Chí Phèo. For a trivial suspicion, he sent Chí Phèo to prison for seven, eight years just to ensure all the young men went to prison.
+ He turned Chí Phèo into a demon, and when necessary, was willing to sacrifice Chí Phèo (falsely claiming money from Đội Tảo).
+ Lives on the sweat, bones, and blood of the poor.

- Debauched, depraved

Despite having four wives, Bá Kiến didn't miss the opportunity to travel to the province with Binh Chức's wife.

*  The Art of Character Construction

- Representative character
+ Bá Kiến embodies the common traits of the greedy, ruthless ruling class, employing any means to exploit the poor.
+ Bá Kiến possesses the distinct features of a cunning, villainous tyrant.

- Nam Cao's Unique Artistry in the Short Story 'Chí Phèo'
+ Unlike other writers who focus on describing the appearance of the ruling class (Nghị Quế by Ngô Tất Tố, Nghị Lại by Nguyễn Công Hoan), Nam Cao pays less attention to Bá Kiến's physical appearance. He portrays the character's psyche as primary: 'The old man smiles faintly but quite crisply' ... 'he often yells to test other people's nerves'. That 'Cao Cao's laughter' is the psyche of a cunning villain. Through this, we see Nam Cao's astute perspective.

c. Conclusion
- Bá Kiến is the epitome of the ruling class of the time. He embodies the cruelty, cunning, and deceit of the exploiters.
- The short story Chí Phèo depicts the relentless struggle between the peasants and the feudal oppressors.

2. Outline 2:

a. Introduction:

 Introduction to the author Nam Cao and the short story Chí Phèo

b. Body of the essay

- Nam Cao vividly depicts the portrait of the exploiting class more fully than contemporary writers. Bá Kiến is placed in a prominent position in society, as the author outlines the lineage of an elderly figure in the trade of exploitation: a family of four generations serving as the headmaster, Bá Kiến himself once held the position of principal and chief executive; a lineage of passing down deceitful tactics. Bá Kiến's authority extends beyond the confines of a village, as 'Old Bá' is 'the patriarch, village leader, council chief, district hero, representative of the people of North Kì' - embodying an entire apparatus of colonial ruling. A character like this cannot be merely a buffoon or as ruthless and greedy as Nghị Quêt ('Turning Off the Light' - Ngô Tất Tố) or Nghị Lai ('The Last Road' - Nguyễn Công Hoan).

- Nam Cao portrays the essence of Bá Kiến with unforgettable details from the outside to the inside:
+ Old Bá has a sharp 'yell' to 'nurture others' nerves', a Tào Tháo-style laughter that is 'crisply' and 'the old man himself is also proud of that sound'.
+ Beneath the elegance lies a demonic debauchee, with four wives and even snatching the wife of others - as a principal, he did not miss the opportunity to flirt with Binh Chức's wife.
+ But the most dangerous aspect of Bá Kiến is the crimes he has elevated to an art of ruling others: 'soften and release', 'use the fool to control the fool', 'grab the one with hair', especially the very sinister tactics: 'Push someone into the river and then rescue them to demand repayment, demand five dong but then return five hào because 'feeling sorry for being too poor'.
+ With all these manipulative methods, Bá Kiến is indeed a 'cunning fox' who has destroyed countless families, shattered the happiness of many. Most terrifying is that Bá Kiến's victims are turned into effective tools of evil: Năm Thọ, Binh Chức - with a roguish nature, and climaxing with Chí Phèo - becoming the demon of Vũ Đại village.

- As Chí Phèo arrives at Bá Kiến's house just as the 'old Bá' is envious of the young men because 'Mrs. Tư is plump and attractive, her cheeks are rosy...' and the old man intends to 'imprison all the young men', this passage may make us laugh at the jealousy of a sixty-year-old man, but we suddenly startle at the evidence of this ridiculous jealousy: a madman, a drunkard, a devil of Vũ Đại village, ready to harm anyone - he used to be a young man too...

c. Conclusion

The inevitable situation meticulously prepared by Nam Cao for his character. When the cunning and cruelty are exposed, when the resounding laughter and authoritative tones of Old Bá no longer intimidate as they used to, it's also a moment of awakening for a human being. Chí Phèo, in his drunken stupor, commits truly regrettable actions. But there's one thing, the echoing voice is that of a completely sober person, of a Chí demanding back the right to be 'a righteous human being' snatched away by the bullies like Bá Kiến. The truth spoken makes Bá Kiến tremble, 'softens' to evade. The mask falls off, revealing Bá Kiến's true nature as a cunning, cowardly, and vile demon attempting to escape the punishment of awakened consciousness. Nam Cao allows Chí in that moment to voice the pain: 'Who will give me righteousness? How can I erase the scars on this face?'. It's the agony of someone blocked from returning to the familiar world of Humanity by the strict prejudices of society. To return, Chí has 'only one way' - to kill the demon within himself. The moment Chí raises the knife to end Bá Kiến's life is an inevitable action, after which he must commit suicide, is Nam Cao's clear answer explaining the true cause of the tragedy of the poor farmers in the old village - the stagnation, the entanglement still weighing heavily on their lives.

II. Sample Essay: Reflection on the Character of Bá Kiến in the Short Story Chí Phèo

1. Reflection on the Character of Bá Kiến in the Short Story Chí Phèo, Sample 1:

While Ngô Tất Tố succeeded with a realistic depiction of the plight of Vietnamese peasants before the Revolution, Nam Cao instead evokes memories when writing about the theme of human roguery in a dark era. In 1941, the short story Chí Phèo (originally titled Perfect Match) emerged as a wake-up call to humanity about the brutal reality of semi-feudal colonial society. It's a cruel society with many rogues, deceivers, and deep-seated malice. They are ready to crush or harm others. They are also willing to deprive others of the right to live. The character of Bá Kiến is a profound epitome of such individuals.

If the character Nghị Quế stands out for his dirty, stingy, and rude nature, and Nghị Hách for his lewd behavior, then Bá Kiến embodies all the vices and ugliness in the world. It can be said that he possesses every kind of depravity. He also has the courage of an old fox, a notorious villain. He is the ultimate representative of a society that is brutal, unjust, and devoid of humanity. It's a society 'of fish devouring fish,' full of horror. There, the strong bully the weak, each person losing their inherent goodness just for survival.

Bá Kiến is a typical antagonist. Through Bá Kiến, all the filth of that corrupt society is exposed vividly, authentically, and poignantly.

It can be said that Bá Kiến's cunning and greed are hereditary. He comes from a family that has been in power for four generations. He himself has been a village chief and then a district chief. His lineage has endowed him with all the tricks of life. Through cunning and clever tactics, he has successively risen to the pinnacle of fame. From being a village elder in Vũ Đại, he rose to become a landlord, then a district leader, and eventually even a representative of the people of Bắc Kì. He was notorious even among the neighboring districts. Not only did the common people fear the authority of Old Bá, but even the rogues and rebels respected and feared him. In Vũ Đại village, Bá Kiến's power was no different from that of a landlord.

Although not emphasized like other characters, Bá Kiến stands out in the work. With just a few descriptions from Nam Cao, this character is etched deeply in the reader's memory. Bá Kiến, though a stereotypical character, possesses unique traits that make him memorable and unforgettable.

First and foremost, Bá Kiến epitomizes the cunning and ruthless landlord. Greedy and merciless, he's notorious for exploiting and oppressing the peasants. But Bá Kiến's brand of greed is exceptionally rare.

Bá Kiến's ruthless nature is deeply evident in how he governs and in his treatment of Chí Phèo, a gentle farmer, whom he unjustly sends to prison and later subdues upon his release.

The writer introduces Bá Kiến to the readers at the precise moment when Chí Phèo is drunk, causing a scene outside his house. Seeing Chí Phèo lying there motionless, Bá Kiến immediately senses trouble. He understands Chí Phèo's intentions behind this act. With the cunning of an experienced villain, Bá Kiến is well aware of the consequences of this unruly crowd. As the landlord, with authority and power, he cannot allow Chí Phèo to cause embarrassment. Bá Kiến quickly devises an effective plan to deal with the situation.

Firstly, he disperses the crowd. He knows that the noise of the crowd will only agitate the beast further. Chí Phèo is also using the crowd to make trouble for him. Bá Kiến scolds the people, merely as a delaying tactic, to buy time for Chí Phèo to sober up. To him, obstinate individuals like Chí Phèo are nothing new. He has plenty of experience dealing with stubborn fools like him.

On the other hand, facing the crowd, he couldn't use sweet words to coax Chí Phèo. Coaxing requires compromise. How could a landlord, roaring with fury, present a bland scene to the common folk with a stubborn fellow?

For his relatives, he scolded and chased them into the house. For the villagers, he clearly delineated their unrelated roles to send them home: 'All of you, including the ladies, go home! Why gather like this?' Despite their curiosity and eagerness to know what would happen, they gradually dispersed out of fear and respect for the authority of old Bá.

When only Chí Phèo remained, Bá Kiến's deceptive tactics became evident. Initially, he adopted a honeyed tone, coaxing and sweet-talking Chí Phèo. He humbly addressed Chí as 'brother' and warmly invited him inside for a drink.

The cunning maneuver of the old fox caused Chí Phèo's ferocity to subside by half. Although surprised, Chí followed along to see what was happening. Bá Kiến won the battle right from the start. If Chí Phèo followed him in this matter, he would surely follow in others as well.

Without giving Chí Phèo a chance to realize the trick, the old man immediately moved on to another sinister step. He claimed to have connections with Chí Phèo's family. Of course, Chí Phèo couldn't discern the truth. But he sensed a change in treatment and no longer felt angry inside.

The moment Chí Phèo sat down, Bá Kiến knew he had won. To completely subdue the demon, Bá Kiến ordered someone to slaughter a chicken and bought wine to treat Chí Phèo as if he were an honored guest. Accepting the wine meant accepting Bá Kiến's 'kindness,' which implied no further trouble. At the end of the feast, Bá Kiến even gave Chí Phèo a few coins to soothe the wandering soul.

Bá Kiến seemed to delve into others' thoughts, understanding everything and accurately predicting every action. That old man, truly cunning and terrifying.

In particular, Nam Cao allowed the character of Bá Kiến to have inner monologues to reveal his sober yet sinister thoughts. They were the wise and effective principles and tactics for dominating the peasants that Bá Kiến had gleaned from four generations of leadership.

For those stubborn ones like Chí Phèo whom he couldn't handle, the old man had a trick up his sleeve. His tactic was to 'use the stubborn ones to deal with the stubborn ones.' It was not only sinister and malicious but also downright thuggish. To him, life shouldn't be forced. If you can't win, let it go; why bother fighting a losing battle and inviting trouble upon oneself? He always believed in 'hanging onto someone with hair rather than someone bald.' With the philosophy of 'fearing heroes first and then those who dare to risk their lives,' being flexible yet firm was extremely adaptable, cunning, and reasonable.

Thanks to 'knowing when to be soft, when to be tough, and how to use those who fear neither death nor prison' worked wonders in dealing with 'the adverse effects of anyone who doesn't listen to him.' Bá Kiến had gathered a faction, a gang around him. Power and strength were constantly enhanced, overshadowing everything, making the opposing strongmen in the village fear and defer.

His cunning was fully revealed in his schemes to harm others. If he disliked someone, he quietly pushed them into the river, sent them to prison, or brought them to ruin. But then he would pull them up by the hand to make them grateful. He was willing to use any means to demand the money he wanted, only to throw it back with a false pretense of sympathy for the poor and needy. He acted as if it were real. Therefore, revealing the true face of the old fox Bá Kiến was not an easy task.

All those rogue, thuggish, and deceitful habits were honed solely for exploiting others. Bá Kiến was more famous for his title 'experienced in the craft of digging into pockets.' To squeeze out more money, he employed all his cunning fingers, sparing none. For the kind-hearted but impoverished peasants, he squeezed them dry in tax collections. If one way didn't work, there was another; the peasants had to struggle to pay their taxes. If not, he lent them money. But borrowing meant repaying fivefold or tenfold.

For the 'thugs and ruffians,' he constantly recruited them to help him collect debts or create disturbances on his behalf. He always used the right person for the right job. Therefore, there was no debt he couldn't collect, no enemy he couldn't cripple, ruining families and properties. Chí Phèo was like a sacrificial lamb to him. With money, he bought Chí's compliance, turning enmity into friendship. His 'special' friends were always lurking around the village, ready to do his bidding.

Nam Cao also vividly depicted the despicable and contemptible character of that shameless old fox, Bá Kiến. Bá Kiến was not only cunning but also a shameless, debauched old man. Even with four wives, he was often unfaithful. But at over fifty years old, he still felt jealous. His resentment towards 'young lads' led him to heartlessly push many innocent people into prison. He was extremely lascivious and enjoyed reveling in debauchery and decadence more than anyone else. He secretly consorted with Binh Chức's wife. Everyone in the province knew about his debauchery.

The portrayal of the character Bá Kiến is one of Nam Cao's artistic successes in the short story Chí Phèo. Characters like Bá Kiến in society are not uncommon. The true strength lies in Nam Cao's vivid and utterly contemptuous depiction. Coupled with rich and realistic language, it's like a cleansing agent peeling away the layers of ugliness, despicableness, and debauchery of Bá Kiến.

The character Bá Kiến embodies the common characteristics of the landlord class's tyranny, yet has vivid distinct features unlike any other landlord in literature. That's why he's always mentioned when referring to someone powerful, ruthless, and sinister. He is the cause not only of the tragic fate of Chí Phèo but also of many other righteous individuals.

The readers chuckled at the sight of Bá Kiến writhing in his own pool of blood. But they also immediately felt anxious and contemplative. This Bá Kiến may be dead, but society still harbors countless others like him. His long-standing adversaries eagerly await his death to continue oppressing and exploiting the peasants. The cycle of misery and lamentation never ends.

The work Chí Phèo carries profound humanitarian values, reflecting Nam Cao's deep love and respect for the suffering people, while also serving as a stern indictment of the feudal-colonial society that pushes people into extreme tragedies, stagnation, and despair. The character Bá Kiến is indeed an unintended success of the author. Nam Cao's portrayal of the antagonist character, the typification of characters, and the deep exploration of inner lives perhaps make him the most successful writer.

2. Reflection on the character portrayal of Bá Kiến in the short story Chí Phèo, model 2:

A. PORTRAIT OF THE CHARACTER BÁ KIẾN IN THE SHORT STORY CHÍ PHÈO BY NAM CAO

Bá Kiến stands out as one of the outstandingly crafted, emblematic characters in general literature and specifically in Nam Cao's works.

1. In the novel Tắt đèn, while portraying the landlord character Nghị Quế as stingy and crude, Ngô Tất Tố vividly described his surroundings, actions, and gestures. However, with Bá Kiến, Nam Cao didn't focus on physical appearance but rather on his smooth-talking voice, authoritative tone, and arrogant laugh. Through subtle details, the author created unique traits for Bá Kiến, making him unforgettable. Yet, this character's vividness mainly stems from the author's skillful depiction of his inner thoughts.

2. Bá Kiến makes his first appearance when Chí Phèo is drunk, mocking at his gate. The scene is chaotic and bustling. At a glance, Bá Kiến understands the situation and quickly devises the most suitable plan. With his experience, he knows the consequences of the gathering crowd. His family would lose face if the villagers witness Chí's rude behavior. Bá Kiến also understands the psychology of troublemakers like Chí Phèo: the crowd is their support, provoking them to be more aggressive. It's necessary to give Chí time to sober up. Moreover, with a crowd present, Bá Kiến can't successfully bribe or lure Chí. To seduce someone, one must be accommodating. How can a dignified landlord let the villagers witness such a scene? Therefore, Bá Kiến's first step is to disperse the crowd. Firstly, he scolds his wives and drives them inside. Then, turning to the villagers, he speaks more softly, saying: 'All of you, go home now! Why gather like this?' At this point, no one speaks up, they gradually leave. Even if they are curious, want to know the truth, they still respect and fear Bá Kiến. Even his wife must go inside... When only Chí Phèo remains, Bá begins to sweet-talk, calling his former servant - now turned pitiful creature - 'sir,' inviting Chí into his house for a drink. Furthermore, Bá claims to be related to this miserable man, buys chickens, wine for him to drink, and even offers some coins for medicine.

3. This behavior shows that Bá Kiến's cunning nature has infiltrated Chí Phèo's mind: both flattering and seeking immediate gain. Ultimately, Bá Kiến turns the tables, achieving both objectives: temporarily quelling the fire of resentment in Chí's heart and preparing to turn Chí into a useful pawn. Thus, through just one situation, one act of mocking at the gate by Chí Phèo, the shrewdness, and essence of the landlord Bá Kiến are vividly and impressively displayed.

B. CHARACTER TRAITS OF THE CHARACTER BÁ KIẾN IN THE SHORT STORY CHÍ PHÈO BY NAM CAO

1. A seasoned manipulator, exploiting the peasants at every turn, Bá Kiến has amassed a wealth of experience in his role as an authority figure. He knows when to be gentle and when to be firm. He quietly pushes people into the river, then rescues them to earn their gratitude. He demands five dong fiercely, then throws it away, claiming 'for the sake of the needy.' When conventional methods fail, Bá Kiến resorts to using 'cattle' because who else can control such 'cattle' but their own kind?

This character's chilling cunning is further demonstrated by his tendency to instigate conflicts among his subordinates or village residents, inciting violence and chaos for his benefit, providing him with opportunities to exploit!

2. Alongside vividly depicting the shrewd and villainous nature of Bá Kiến, Nam Cao also exposes the despicable character of the village elder in Vũ Đại in his works

The discreet relationship. When it comes to describing the despicable and excessively lascivious nature of this tycoon, the author has overlooked many specific and rich details of the prototype, Lí Bính, in Đại Hoàng village, his hometown. Even the sordid affair of Lí with a widowed woman, who is wealthy, and his jealous blood, was merely skimmed over. The author only hints at the thoughts of the old man about his fourth young and beautiful wife, brimming with vitality (Looks good but tastes sour. Like chewing tough beef when almost all teeth are gone). Just a few details, but thanks to the selection, it still manages to deeply carve into the reader's perception of a despicable character.

Thus, Bá Kiến embodies both the common characteristics of the powerful landlord class and vivid individual traits unlike any other landlord character in contemporary literature. This explains why he is always referenced when indicating someone with power, authority, cunning, and ruthlessness. This character epitomizes Nam Cao's mastery in constructing exemplary characters.

3. Reflection on the character portrayal of Bá Kiến in the short story Chí Phèo, model 3:

Author Nam Cao somewhat relied on real people and real events in his hometown to construct the short story Chí Phèo. Representing the ruling class in Vũ Đại village is Bá Kiến. Through this character, the dark and brutal nature of the tyrants, landlords are vividly exposed.

Unlike some landlord characters in Nam Cao's other works, in Chí Phèo, Bá Kiến appears as a fully developed typical character. When portraying the miserly and rude landlord Quế, Ngô Tất Tố described his surroundings and actions meticulously in Tắt đèn. But for Bá Kiến, Nam Cao did not describe his appearance, only mentioning his 'very dignified' tone and 'Tào Tháo-like smile' that he was more proud of than his life. With just a few simple details, he created a unique appearance for Bá Kiến, making it hard for readers to forget. However, the vitality of this character is primarily due to the author's skillful and realistic portrayal of his inner thoughts.

Nam Cao introduced Bá Kiến to readers for the first time when Chí Phèo was drunk, lying at his gate, begging. The scene was chaotic and uproarious. Just by glancing at Chí Phèo 'lying motionless, groaning softly as if near death', 'he quickly understood the situation'; he quickly found the most suitable plan to deal with it. With experience, he knew the harm of this crowd. He and his family would lose face if the villagers witnessed Chí Phèo's crude actions. He also understood the mentality of the 'fools'; that crowd was the backing that made him even more aggressive. And, it takes some time for Chí Phèo to sober up, less impudent. Furthermore, in front of the crowd, Bá Kiến could hardly successfully execute bribery or persuasion. To persuade, one must compromise. As a dignified elder, why would he let the crowd witness a scene of sweetness and bitterness with a fellow countryman? Therefore, the first thing Bá Kiến did was to disperse the crowd. First, he 'shouted at the wives', and chased them into the house. Surely those who 'rushed to see' understood this 'very dignified' voice: Bá wanted to leave cleverly. Next, 'turned to the villagers,' Bá Kiến softened his tone a bit, 'all of you, go home! What's the fuss about?' Here, 'no one said anything, people gradually left.' Even though they were curious and amused, they still respected, still feared Bá. Furthermore, even Bá's wife had to speak in a sweet tone, calling her old servant, who had now turned into a despicable creature, 'sir,' inviting Chí Phèo 'into the house for water'. Not enough, 'the village patriarch of Vũ Đại,' 'a famous figure in the district,' even claimed to be related to this 'fellow villager' and 'bought chicken, bought wine for him to drink, then gave him more silver to buy medicine.' Just as soon as Chí Phèo stood up, Bá Kiến knew he had won. However, he still scolded Lí Cường, after 'winking at him.'

With his behavior, it shows that Bá Kiến has entered Chí Phèo's heart: flattering, seeking immediate benefits... In the end, Bá Kiến 'cleverly overcame life' had achieved both purposes: temporarily extinguished the flames of hatred in Chí Phèo's heart, and prepared to turn Chí Phèo into a formidable pawn. In every situation, this tycoon's cunning and core nature are clearly demonstrated, vividly. Old and experienced, dominating the farmers, Bá has learned many rich experiences in the 'official business'. Must know 'how to be flexible and firm'. Secretly push someone into the river, but then pull them out for them to be grateful. Must bang the table, demand five coins, but when received, throw them back five hào, 'because I pity you!' He has quite a few cunning methods 'if the treatment is not effective.' 'He thought to himself: there must be fools, right? Without fools, who would treat fools?'. The horrible cunning of this character lies in trying to make his younger brothers, or the villagers 'create trouble' - meaning to burn, kill each other, so that he 'has a chance to eat!'

Bá Kiến applied those experiences thoroughly to turn Chí Phèo - a naive, dignified, and healthy young man into 'the demon of Vũ Đại village', ready to follow his orders to go kill, then have to end his life in a gruesome way. Clearly, Chí Phèo's tragedy has contributed significantly to perfecting Bá Kiến's heroic portrait.

In addition to contemplating the character portrayal of Ba Kien in the short story Chi Pheo, students should further explore other aspects such as analyzing the emotional development of the character Chi Pheo from the morning after meeting Thi No until the end of his life to truly understand the tragedy of this character, or analyzing the character of Chi Pheo to highlight the tragedy of being denied the right to be human in Nam Cao's short story of the same name. This aims to reinforce their knowledge.