Reflection on the character little Thu in 'The Ivory Comb' by Nguyễn Quang Sáng

Prompt: Reflection on the character little Thu in 'The Ivory Comb' by Nguyễn Quang Sáng

5 exemplary essays Reflecting on the character little Thu in 'The Ivory Comb' by Nguyễn Quang Sáng

I. Outline Reflection on the character little Thu in 'The Ivory Comb'

1. Introduction

Introducing the short story 'The Ivory Comb' and the character little Thu:
- 'The Ivory Comb' is a poignant short story about family bonds depicted in a painting.

2. Body of the essay

* Story situation:
- After 8 years apart, Mr. Sáu returns to visit his family and hometown.
- Mr. Sáu is eager and hopeful to meet his little daughter, but Thu refuses to acknowledge him.
- The day Thu understands everything and accepts her father is also the day Mr. Sáu has to leave.

* Character little Thu
- Stubborn, unwilling to acknowledge Mr. Sáu as her father...(Continued)

>> See details of the Outline Reflection on the character little Thu in 'The Ivory Comb' here.
 

II. Sample Essay Reflection on the character little Thu in 'The Ivory Comb'
 

1. Reflection on the character little Thu in 'The Ivory Comb' by Nguyễn Quang Sáng, Sample 1:

'The Ivory Comb' is an outstanding short story by the writer Nguyễn Quang Sáng. Inspired by the theme of father-daughter love and the pain of war, the story leaves readers deeply moved. Particularly, the psychological development and emotional personality of little Thu during the final meeting with her father, Mr. Sáu, who returns home, are highlighted.

Through the storytelling art with a Southern style and unexpected situations, the author has employed a character to narrate the main character's story, making the narrative more objective and trustworthy. This is the technique of storytelling within a story, revealing the psychological developments of the character little Thu.

Little Thu is a girl with a strong and unique personality. Due to the long separation from her father and a scar that made her not recognize him, when she finally does, she must forever be apart from him. The love, pain, and resentment help Little Thu later become a brave and resilient teacher.

Her father went away to fight, far from home. It wasn't until Thu turned eight that father and daughter reunited. The joyful reunion, however, turned ironic as Thu, despite recognizing her father, showed suspicion and avoidance. Startled, pale, and shouting, she refused to acknowledge him. During the three days with her father, Thu didn't recognize him. Stubborn and defiant, she refused to let her father pour water into the rice pot, even knocking away the egg he offered. This stubbornness is understandable, given the impact of war. War caused losses and pain, and a child like Thu was too young to understand the harsh realities even adults couldn't prepare for. Because of a scar on her father's face and a photograph, she didn't recognize him. The war wound became a deep emotional wound between father and daughter.

Reflecting on the character Little Thu in 'The Ivory Comb,' a selected essay

On the last day, before Mr. Sáu departed, the sacred affection of Little Thu for her father ignited. Her demeanor changed suddenly. When looking directly at her father, 'her eyes suddenly became restless.' Behind those expressive eyes, countless thoughts and emotions stirred. For the first time, she called out 'Dad... Dad,' and her cries, like tearing fabric, accompanied gestures of embracing everywhere: kissing hair, neck, even the long scar on her father's face. The psychological doubt, stemming from the scar, was finally released. In the moment of parting with her father, the love and longing suppressed for years became powerful, accompanied by remorse. The poignant scene unfolded, and when Mr. Sáu said, 'Dad is leaving,' Little Thu screamed 'no.' Clinging tightly to her father, she shook with small shoulders trembling. Perhaps the little girl cried, cried for her regret in not recognizing her father, cried for the father's pain due to war that kept him away from the family. Because of enemy bombs, her father bore a scar on his face—a painful truth. However, Little Thu, who didn't understand, not only failed to recognize her father but also avoided him, causing further pain. Guided by her grandmother, Little Thu understood later. But by the time she understood, it might have been too late. Her father had to return to the battlefield, enduring the hardships of bombs and bullets. Hence, Little Thu squeezed her father's neck, holding onto him as if wanting to compensate for her mistakes.

2. Impressions of the character little Thu in The Ivory Comb by Nguyen Quang Sang, model number 2:

There are passages that bring tears to the readers' eyes as they witness the torn, painful, and tearful moments. Some characters, though only portrayed through the author's pen strokes, possess haunting charisma. The character of little Thu in the short story 'The Ivory Comb' by Nguyen Quang Sang is an image that never fails to deeply move readers as they flip through the author's pages.

'The Ivory Comb' was crafted in 1966, amidst the intense, bitter backdrop of the ongoing resistance war. Mr. Sau headed to the battlefield when Thu was not even a year old. Upon his return to visit his child, she had grown, adamant in refusing her father. The anguish, torn emotions, tears, resentment, and internal conflicts in a child pushed the plot to its climax. Three days beside her father, but little Thu adamantly refused to accept him, only embracing him tightly when her grandmother recounted the scars on her father's face. The father-daughter relationship erupted, and the emotions within the reader's heart melted away.

Despite being only 8 years old, Thu is vividly portrayed with a strong and defiant personality. In Thu's mind, there's only one image of her father, taken with her mother on their wedding day. That's all she has to preserve and await his return. When Mr. Sau determinedly called out, 'Thu! Dad's here, my child,' she stubbornly refused, flatly rejecting him. Mr. Sau always bestowed sincere and profound affection upon little Thu, but what he received in return was coldness and distance. All because of the scar on his face, only due to the war and its cruel consequences. The strong personality of an 8-year-old girl is vividly and boldly portrayed by Nguyen Quang Sang, helping the reader envision the determination and steadfastness in the heart of a person from the Southern region.

Essay on Perceiving the Character little Thu in The Ivory Comb - a selective approach

The defiance and aloofness of little Thu towards Mr. Sau are also evident in her gestures and words. When her mother tells her to call her father for dinner, she nonchalantly says, 'call him for dinner.' Particularly, in the detail of straining water from the rice pot, Thu couldn't strain it properly but adamantly refuses to let Mr. Sau do it. Her obstinacy, aloofness, and indifference deeply hurt Mr. Sau. The climax of Thu's personality is demonstrated during a meal when Mr. Sau serves her a fish egg; she spills the rice bowl. Mr. Sau raises his hand, and everyone expects Thu to jump up and leave, but no, 'But no, she sits still, bows her head. Thinking, she takes the chopsticks, picks up the fish egg to put in the bowl, then quietly stands up, walks away from the table.'

Thoughts turned into compelling actions, rejecting all the emotions and affection her father has for her. For Thu, that's not her father. Perhaps, it is precisely this vibrant and rebellious nature that compelled her to become a resilient liaison officer in the later resistance war.

Nguyen Quang Sang doesn't just stop at describing the psychological state of an almost 8-year-old child but uses that character to depict how deep and intense the fatherly love is. For three days beside her father, little Thu adamantly refuses to accept him, only breaking down when she hears her grandmother recount the war-induced scars on her father's face. Her face, melancholic and contemplative, when Mr. Sau departs for battle, she doesn't dare to approach, fearing a repeat of the previous tantrum. She only says, 'Go, listen to me, Dad,' a heavy, painful, tormenting expression of a father but unable to persuade his daughter.

In that moment, a poignant scene unfolded. It cried out 'dad,' the sound bursting forth like an emotional eruption from deep within the heart that it had suppressed for so many years. That 'dad' seemed to choke the readers' throats, conveying enduring and profound love. Little Thu's cry felt like 'a tearing sound, ripping through the silent air, tearing the hearts of everyone, sounding truly heartbreaking.' For so many years, Thu has yearned to meet her father, to hear the word 'dad.' Her emotions are entirely opposite to the days when Mr. Sau was still present. It is the longing, the intense love for her father.

The defiance, stubbornness, and fervent love for her father are the qualities converging to define Thu's future path, following in her father's footsteps, chasing away invading enemies.

Thus, constructing the character of little Thu with these traits and emotional sentiments has made readers more deeply moved about the essence of womanhood, the most sacred love. Through this, the author also wants to condemn and denounce the war that has left many families in the plight of losing their homes.

3. Impressions of the character little Thu in The Ivory Comb by Nguyen Quang Sang, model number 3:

Family affection is a significant theme in Vietnamese literature during the resistance war against the United States to save the country. Exploring this theme, Nguyen Quang Sang created outstanding works such as 'The Ivory Comb' and 'The Crystal Flower.' Among them, 'The Ivory Comb' leaves a more lasting impression. One of the factors contributing to the success of the work is the author's successful construction of the main character - the character of little Thu - a spirited, adorable girl with a profound love for her father.

'The Ivory Comb' was born in 1966 and later included in the collection of stories of the same name by Nguyen Quang Sang. The story is built on a misunderstanding that creates many unexpectedly touching moments: Anh Sau went to fight against the French when his only child was not yet a year old. Since then, the father and daughter had not met again until the end of the war when he returned, and the eight-year-old daughter refused to accept him. During three days at home, despite all efforts, the little girl still refused to call him 'dad.' It was only when he had to leave for a new mission that little Thu finally called him 'dad.' Quite surprising. It turns out she refused to acknowledge him because the scar on his face made him not look like in the wedding photo. The little girl only called him 'dad' when her grandmother explained this to her. The moment he heard the long-awaited call was also the time the father and daughter parted ways. Anh Sau promised to bring her a comb as a gift. During the days of fighting in the jungle, Anh Sau diligently made an ivory comb for his daughter. The comb was completed, but before he could give it to his daughter, he sacrificed himself.

The best impressions of expressing little Thu's character in The Ivory Comb by Nguyen Quang Sang

The character, an eight-year-old girl named Thu, is spirited, bold, and very individualistic. In the innocent soul of little Thu, there is only one image of a father that she knows through a photo taken with her mother on their wedding day. She steadfastly refuses to acknowledge Mr. Sau as her father, even though the whole family - including her grandmother - admits it. They welcome him with all the sincere love of the people of the South. Not only that, he is also deeply moved when he meets her. However, overlooking all of this, Thu still screams in fear when Mr. Sau approaches her and awkwardly calls out, 'Thu! Dad's here, my child...' It's just that Thu sees her father in the photo without a scar on his face, and now, with a long scar, people ask her to call him dad, forcing her to do so now, and it has a scar.

Not only that, through many details describing the actions of little Thu, Nguyen Quang Sang not only reveals the distinctive personality of the girl but also demonstrates a deep understanding of the psychology of childhood. When her mother asks to 'invite dad to dinner,' Thu says 'empty' 'come for dinner.' When the rice cooker is boiling, unable to strain it herself, the girl stubbornly refuses to call her dad for help. She tries every way to strain the water without seeking assistance. Especially, Thu's spirited and defiant childish nature is vividly portrayed when she spills the entire bowl of rice when Mr. Sau serves her a fish egg. Expecting her to cry, throw a tantrum, knock over the whole meal, or run away, but no, she sits quietly, bows her head. Without hesitation, she takes the chopsticks, picks up the fish egg, puts it in the bowl, then silently stands up and steps away from the table.

However, if it stops there, Thu and 'The Ivory Comb' will be mixed in with countless other works written for children. What takes the character and the work further in the reader's heart is that little Thu has a profound and passionate love for her father.

The girl does not acknowledge her father because she misunderstands the scar on his face. She thought the 'person' brought her a 'fake dad'! Therefore, the more vehemently she opposes the 'fake dad,' the more she expresses her love for her real father. That love is profound: it is only one, cannot be shared with anyone else, even if it's someone everyone acknowledges as her father, someone who loves and cares for her sincerely.

Upon learning that Mr. Sau is her real father, and the scar on his face is caused by the Americans, on the last morning of her father's leave, 'The girl seemed abandoned, sometimes standing in a corner, sometimes leaning against a pole and just looking at everyone surrounding her father. Her face had something different, no longer stubborn or wrinkled in disapproval, but rather, a sad appearance, the sadness on the innocent face of the girl looks very cute. With long, curved eyelashes, as if never blinking, her eyes seem larger, her gaze is not bewildered, not strange, she looks with a deep thoughtful expression.' Not understanding what the girl is 'deeply thinking' about, we only know that when Mr. Sau sadly turns back to look at her - not daring to approach for fear that she will run away like before - saying, 'Listen to me, my child,' then she suddenly rushes forward and shouts: Dad...d...dad! Then she hugs him tightly, crying, 'I won't let you go.' At this point, the reader realizes how much Thu longs to be called dad. 'Her cry is like a tearing sound, tearing the silence and tearing everyone's heart apart, sounding so heartbreaking. It's the 'dad' she has been suppressing for so many years, the 'dad' that bursts out from the bottom of her heart, she calls while running to him, as fast as a squirrel, she runs up and hugs her father's neck.' Little Thu is an emotionally rich child. Her attitude toward her father now contrasts with the early days when Mr. Sau returned home. However, it is a consistent contradiction. Because of her overwhelming love for her father, her intense desire to have her father, she categorically refuses to accept that he is not her father, absolutely refuses to call him 'dad' for a single word. Therefore, when that tearing call comes up, we feel it is extremely sacred. That call becomes more and more sacred, precious because waiting for it is a beautiful, boundless love for her child from the father.

In depicting the emotional development of the character Thu, there is a crucial detail: the scar. This scar is the cause of misunderstandings in the father-daughter relationship that Thu has. The scar is the wound inflicted by the American enemy on Thu's father. The family separation is not only limited to Thu's family but extends to millions of Vietnamese families caused by the Americans. Deeply understanding this, later on, Thu becomes a courageous and brave female liaison. She is determined to follow the path her father has taken to chase away the enemies of her family, the enemies of the nation.

Constructing the character of Thu - a spirited, individualistic girl with a touching love for her father - Nguyen Quang Sang has shown a profound understanding of the psychology of childhood. Therefore, the author has created a truly lively childhood character that evokes deep emotions in the reader. Besides, the work has created a unique misunderstanding situation, with the most important detail being the scar. This detail is as valuable as a 'shadow' in 'The Tale of Nam Xuong's Daughter' by Nguyen Du or the 'last leaf' in the short story of the same name by O. Henry.

The character of Thu in 'The Ivory Comb' by Nguyen Quang Sang has left deep impressions on readers with a distinctly unique personality that is hard to overlook. This character has contributed to creating profound humanistic values for the work. Therefore, alongside the work, the character Thu has earned a special place in the hearts of Vietnamese short story lovers.

4. Impression of the character Thu in 'The Ivory Comb' by Nguyen Quang Sang, sample 4:

A writer once said: 'No fairytale is as beautiful as life writes.' The tales of our nation's resistance war against the Americans have become legends recorded by writers like modern fairytales. Among them, Nguyen Quang Sang's 'The Ivory Comb' must be mentioned. The character Thu in the story has left deep impressions on readers about the fierce paternal love and strong personality.

Born in 1966, during the most difficult and painful years for the people of the South in 30 years of war, 'The Ivory Comb' is narrated through the witness of Uncle Ba, a comrade of Mr. Sau. He silently followed the moving story of Sau and Thu from beginning to end. Through the keen and profound observation of Uncle Ba, we deeply feel the pain of the people in the South during the war and the power of sacred and immortal father-child love.

Thu in the story, like many other Southern girls, lacks paternal love from childhood due to the war. When Sau leaves, she is less than a year old, and for eight years, father and daughter only know each other through two photos. Sau's three-day furlough is a rare opportunity for father and daughter to meet and express their filial affection. However, the writer puts Thu in a tricky situation: due to a child's misunderstanding, Thu refuses to acknowledge Sau as her father. By the time she realizes it, it's the moment her father leaves for deployment. And that meeting is the first, only, and last meeting of father and daughter.

However, from that tricky situation in the story, readers still recognize the distinctive features and unique personality of the character Thu: an eight-year-old girl who is spirited, adorable, and especially has a deep, intense love for her father. This love is expressed in two contrasting situations, before and after realizing who her father is.

Perception of the character Thu in 'The Ivory Comb' by Nguyen Quang Sang

Before acknowledging Sau as her father, Thu was a young, rebellious girl, so much so that it pained Sau with her rejection of the fatherly love. In the first minutes of their meeting, contrary to the longing, nervousness, and thoughts of Sau, Thu runs away, a face full of fear yelling 'mom, mom,' leaving Sau alone, 'looking after her, the pain making his face darken and his arms hang down as if broken.' During Sau's three days at home, he doesn't dare go anywhere because he wants to be with his daughter, nurture, care, and compensate for the loss of the past 8 years. However, Thu appears stubborn, refusing to acknowledge Sau, not even calling him 'dad' once. The writer has crafted various details to describe the very childish, determined attitude of Thu. When her mother tells her to call her father for dinner, threatening to spank her if she doesn't, Thu insists on saying blankly 'come eat, the rice is cooked,' 'I called, but no one listened.' The two words 'someone' that Thu utters make Sau's heart ache to the point 'he couldn't cry, just shook his head and smiled slightly.' Even when her mother puts her in a difficult situation to force Thu to call Sau 'dad' by straining water from a boiling rice pot, Thu still says blankly 'the rice is cooked, strain the water.'

The silence of Sau and the suggestions of Uncle Ba cannot make the little girl utter the simple, plain word 'dad.' The call that every child remembers and stammers for the first time in their life. The climax of Sau's firm rejection of Thu's affection is the detail of the fish egg in the family meal. Out of pity for his child, Sau picks the best fish egg into Thu's bowl, but she unexpectedly throws it out of the bowl. The pain suppressed for three days erupts, Sau hits her, Thu doesn't cry, calmly puts the fish egg back into the bowl, and moves it to her grandmother's house, deliberately waving the rope for attention. These delicate, ordinary details show that the writer truly understands the psychology of children. Children are inherently innocent but also stubborn, especially when they misunderstand; they stubbornly reject others' affection without hesitation, especially for a spirited, rebellious girl like Thu. Readers sometimes feel angry with her, sympathy for Sau. But in reality, she is still an adorable girl. Thu's obstinacy is not entirely blameworthy. In the context of war-induced separation and hardships, she is too young to understand the extraordinary situations and adults have not prepared her to accept these abnormal possibilities. Ironically, Thu's defiant and determined attitude might be the seed of her strong and courageous character that later defines her stance.

Thu's doubt is dispelled when she hears her grandmother explain why her father has a long scar on his face. Listening to those things, 'she lay still, rolled over, and occasionally sighed like an adult.' Therefore, the love for her father in Thu surged strongly in the most unexpected moment, the moment Mr. Sau set off. The word 'dad' that Sau had long awaited suddenly rang out, 'But strangely, at that moment, the father-daughter relationship suddenly surged within her, when no one expected it, it suddenly screamed: - Dad...d...d...dad! Her cry sounded like a scream, tearing through the silence, tearing through everyone's gut, sounding really pitiful. It was the 'dad' she had been trying to suppress for so many years, as if bursting from the depths of her heart.' That endearing call is familiar to every child, but for Thu and her father, it is the yearning of 8 years of separation and longing. It is the call of the heart, the love within the eight-year-old girl eagerly awaiting the moment to meet her father. She not only called but also ran to him, as fast as a squirrel, running up and hugging his neck while saying in a crying voice: - Dad! Don't leave anymore! Stay at home with me!

The connection between the child and the father is expressed intensely, passionately, desperately, and with a tinge of regret. It's emotions long bottled up suddenly bursting forth: 'He lifted her up. She kissed him all over. She kissed his hair, his neck, his shoulders, and even the long scar on his cheek.' Both the audience and the storyteller, like readers, can't contain their emotions, as if someone is tightly gripping their hearts because of the heartbreaking father-child bond portrayed. The moment father and daughter reunite is also the moment the father must leave. The child's clinginess emphasizes the tragedy of war: 'The little one screamed, her hands squeezing his neck, probably thinking her hands couldn't hold her father, she kicked both legs and clung to her father, her small shoulders trembling.' Thu's efforts couldn't keep her father. Mr. Sau still had to leave, even though the moment of father and child reuniting was so brief! Pity for Thu because she doesn't understand that this first meeting is also the last. Her father sacrificed in a battle. Witnessing these expressions of affection in the separation of Mr. Sau and his child, some couldn't hold back tears, and the storyteller felt as if someone's hand was holding onto their heart.

Throughout the excerpt, in two completely different situations and behaviors, it's essentially the same steadfast love of Thu's iron-hearted father—a girl just eight years old. However, Thu is still an innocent girl; she agrees to let her father go to buy a comb, a small gift that any little girl would dream of. Starting from this detail, the ivory comb enters the story, becoming a silent witness to the sacred, immortal father-child love.

The excerpt concludes with Sau's earnest gaze before sacrificing himself, entrusting the ivory comb to Thu through Uncle Ba. For Thu, the small comb with the loving inscription 'Love, remember to give it to Thu, your daughter' is a keepsake filled with love, memories, the image of her father, and his heart. The ivory comb encouraged her to stand strong in the battle. When Uncle Ba coincidentally meets Thu and hands her the comb, the once spirited and willful girl has become a brave liaison officer. And the added source of strength for Thu is the love of her father, the love for her country.

Nguyen Quang Sang has been highly successful in building the character of Thu—a resilient, strong, decisive child (to the point where, at first glance, one might think of her as obstinate, rebellious, and hard to please... but she is also incredibly innocent, adorable, obedient, and deeply loving towards her father. Noteworthy are the surprising situations, the understanding of the psychology and character of children, and the selection of 'valuable' artistic details (such as the detail of Thu not calling her father, the detail of Thu struggling to strain rice water, throwing the fish egg that her father picked for her, the detail of the comb that Thu asks her father for before he leaves, and so on...). Thanks to these artistic successes, the character Thu leaves a profound impression on readers about human relationships—parent-child relationships in the years of war, separation, and pain; leaving an impression of a lovely, endearing girl from the South during the war with a lovable personality.

5. Perceiving the Character of Little Thu in Nguyen Quang Sang's The Ivory Comb, pattern 5:

Nguyen Quang Sang, both a writer and a soldier, deeply understands the intricate emotions of soldiers, reflected in his works about the people of the South. His works like 'The Golden Bird,' 'Homeland People,' 'The Ivory Comb,'... have left indelible marks on readers. Among them, my favorite is 'The Ivory Comb' (1966). The story moves us with the profound father-daughter bond of little Thu and her father Sau amid the fierce war.

Little Thu is a stubborn and feisty girl. From a young age, she never met her father Sau, only knowing him through the wedding photo of her parents. In her heart, Sau is a handsome and loving hero. When Thu turned seven, he finally had time to visit home for a few days. One would think Thu would warmly welcome him; however, she kept her distance and refused to call him 'Dad.' The first time meeting him, she just 'stared with round eyes,' 'bewildered, strange,' and later 'ran away and screamed.' In Sau's heart, there was always a longing for a call from his daughter. However, Thu adamantly refused to call him even once. She even resisted him with her actions. When her mother asked her to call her father for dinner, Thu responded with nonchalant phrases like 'Just call him,' 'Come to eat,' 'The rice is ready.' Even when facing a difficult situation requiring Sau's help, Thu refused to call him and insisted on doing the work alone. Even in moments when Sau lovingly cared for her, Thu didn't accept it. She threw the fish egg that Sau picked for her. In a fit of anger, he spanked her, but Thu remained silent and later went to her grandmother's house, 'a meter away,' and cried there. In this situation, many would blame little Thu. However, at this point, we understand why Thu refused to call Sau 'Dad.'

Perceiving the character of little Thu in The Ivory Comb to see the emotional developments of Thu.

In addition to the acquired knowledge, students should prepare for upcoming lessons, focusing on the Character Analysis of young Thu in the excerpt from the short story 'The Ivory Comb' to master their Grade 9 Literature skills.

Through the above article, students have gained some insights into the essential details for the upcoming study material. Next, delve into Retelling the story of 'The Girl from Nam Xương' to enhance your literature proficiency.