Buzz
Prompt: Reflections on the Character Mã Giám Sinh in the Excerpt where Mã Giám Sinh buys Kiều
I. Detailed Outline
1. Introduction
2. Body
3. Conclusion
II. Sample Essay
Reflections on the Character Mã Giám Sinh in the Excerpt where Mã Giám Sinh buys Kiều
I. Structuring Thoughts: Reflecting on Mã Giám Sinh in the Excerpt where Mã Giám Sinh buys Kiều (Standard)
1. Introduction
- Introduce the excerpt from 'Mã Giám Sinh buys Kiều.'
2. Body
a. Context:
- Thúy Kiều's family faces adversity, and she agrees to marry Mã Giám Sinh to save her father.
b. Character Mã Giám Sinh:
- 'Close to the region...close-knit': Details on Mã Giám Sinh's background, reputation with suspicions, concise and brusque responses reveal a coarse and cunning nature. Deliberately crafting a positive image to deceive Thúy Kiều.
- 'Despite his age...elegance': Describing Mã Giám Sinh's appearance, despite his age, he dresses meticulously, embodying a smooth, untrustworthy charm.
3. Conclusion
Present reflections.
II. Sample Essay Reflections on the Character Mã Giám Sinh in the Excerpt where Mã Giám Sinh buys Kiều (Standard)
In Nguyễn Du's 'The Tale of Kiều,' the character Thúy Kiều, epitome of beauty and talent, experiences a series of layered tragedies during her 15 years of exile. Despite her virtuous qualities, she repeatedly encounters deceitful and malicious individuals, plunging her into the dire circumstances of a courtesan twice. One of the pivotal characters orchestrating Thúy Kiều's tragedy is Mã Giám Sinh. Through the excerpt where Mã Giám Sinh purchases Kiều, Nguyễn Du skillfully portrays the character's vile nature through descriptions of appearance, gestures, and dialogue. This adept depiction reveals Mã Giám Sinh as a character with a sinister and despicable essence.
After the arrest of her father and brother, the family faced confiscation of their entire estate, leaving only Thúy Kiều, her parents, and mounting pressure from officials demanding wealth in exchange for sparing Vương ông and Vương Quan. With no alternatives, Thúy Kiều reluctantly sought to sell herself into marriage to raise funds for her imprisoned family, relinquishing her engagement to Kim Trọng and transferring it to Thúy Vân with heartache and sorrow. The matchmaker led her to a man who called himself Mã Giám Sinh, someone who had long been aware of Thúy Kiều's beauty and talent, expressing an interest in buying her as a concubine. The pivotal scene unfolds in the excerpt where Mã Giám Sinh purchases Kiều.
Firstly, Nguyễn Du depicted this character through information about his background and lineage:
'Nearby, there's a matchmaker
Guiding distant travelers to inquire about the betrothal'
These opening lines convey formality, with 'distant travelers' referring to suitors from afar seeking to inquire about marriage. The subsequent lines consist of Mã Giám Sinh's self-introduction to the girl's family:
'Asking his name, he says: Mã Giám Sinh'
Asking his hometown, he states: 'Lâm Thanh district, quite nearby'
Thus, Mã Giám Sinh introduced himself as a student from the National Academy, mentioning his hometown in Lâm Thanh district and emphasizing the proximity. It appears he is attempting to present an impressive background and a promising future to easily gain Thúy Kiều's consent for marriage. However, if one pays attention, the initial lines describe him as a 'distant traveler,' yet the subsequent lines state 'Lâm Thanh district, quite nearby,' seemingly revealing inconsistencies and hinting at a vague identity. Additionally, his brief and evasive responses suggest a character not resembling an educated person but rather a cunning merchant.
The author continues to portray this character through physical appearance and gestures, exposing his essence with these verses:
'Beyond middle age with youthful attire
Smooth beard and polished clothes, exuding elegance
Before the master, behind the servant, bustling about
The matchmaker escorts the girl into the decorated chamber
Sitting above, he appears poised and dignified
Inside the chamber, the matchmaker urges the girl to hurry out'
From these verses, it's evident that Mã Giám Sinh is a man beyond his forties, meticulously groomed with 'smooth beard and polished clothes,' displaying arrogance not fitting a middle-aged man. Moreover, instead of settling down and focusing on a career, typical for his age, Mã is intentionally interested in Thúy Kiều's beauty, attempting to use money to buy her as a concubine. This exposes his superficial nature and lack of stability. The phrase 'Before the master, behind the servant, bustling about' highlights impatience and lack of seriousness in 'vấn danh' - asking for Thúy Kiều's hand. His display of impatience and flattery reveals a character that is noisy and flattering, more akin to a street merchant than a respectable suitor.
Mã Giám Sinh's mercantile nature is further emphasized in these two lines:
'Weighing looks, weighing wealth
Forcing the moon-shaped harp, testing the poem on the fan'
Everyone understands that poetry and music require refined taste and emotion. However, someone as uncultured as Mã Giám Sinh cannot comprehend these elegant pursuits. Thus, the scene of him 'forcing' Thúy Kiều to play the harp and 'testing' her poetic talent by making her compose verses on a fan clearly indicates his intention to assess, measure, and weigh a commodity rather than respecting Thúy Kiều's feelings.
Despite Mã Giám Sinh's crude and uncouth actions, his spoken words appear cultured and refined:
'Say: 'Buying a gem like Lam Kiều
Willing to pay how much for this precious wall?'
However, this cannot conceal the greed and sordid nature within him. Immediately in the next line, he reveals the merchant's mentality, asking how much is needed for the dowry, and in the afternoon, he's ready to accept any offer beyond four hundred. He sees Thúy Kiều as an item, bargaining for the best price, showing he doesn't truly value her as he claims. This also indicates Mã Giám Sinh is a miser, not wealthy despite his flashy appearance.
In conclusion, the excerpt of Mã Giám Sinh buying Kiều is quite remarkable, showcasing Nguyễn Du's talent in portraying character through speech, language, gestures, and actions, revealing the villainous nature of Mã Giám Sinh. It deeply reflects a corrupt society where people sacrifice their humanity for money, ready to trample on unfortunate fates, engaging in heinous acts of trading flesh like soulless commodities.
