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Selected sample essay: Analyzing the character Sơn in Cold Wind at the Beginning of the Season
I. Outline of Analyzing the Character Sơn in the Story Cold Wind at the Beginning of the Season
1. Introduction:
- Introduce the author Thạch Lam and the story Cold Wind at the Beginning of the Season.
- Introduce the character of the boy Sơn.
2. Body:
* Background of the character Sơn:
- Enjoys a prosperous and comfortable family life:
+ Sơn's house is taken care of by an elderly nanny
+ On chilly days, he wears a crimson woolen coat and sanitary clothing, unlike other children who lack new or warm attire.
+ Sơn's mother lends five hectares of land to Aunt Hiên to make clothes for her son.
- Receives love from everyone in the family:
+ Upon waking up, Sơn, feeling the cold, covers himself with a blanket and calls out to his sister.
+ His mother carefully chooses and dresses Sơn in a warm shirt, smoothing out its edges.
* Personality of the character Sơn:
- Sơn is an affable, friendly boy,
+ Sơn and his sister play intimately, without the arrogance seen in their cousins.
+ Seeing Hiên standing alone, Sơn calls out to play and inquire.
=> Sơn and his sister are compassionate children, caring for others without distinguishing social status or class -> Innocent childhood relationships.
- Sơn is a kind-hearted boy, showing concern for everyone:
+ When listening to his mother and the elderly nanny talk: Sơn remembers his sister, deeply moved and affectionate towards her; Sơn sees his mother shedding tears silently.
+ When recalling the humble life of Hiên's mother and child: Sơn feels compassion, a kind thought suddenly crosses his mind.
+ While bringing an old cotton jacket to Hiên with sister Lan, Sơn feels “warm and happy”
=> Sơn is an emotionally expressive boy, rich in empathy, caring, and loving towards family and friends.
- Sơn is an innocent child with a touch of naivety and purity:
+ He senses the changes in nature, the scenery as winter approaches.
+ Fearing their mother's reprimand, Sơn and sister Lan search for Hiên to reclaim the jacket. Unable to find her, the siblings turn to blame each other -> The children are still very naive and fear their mother's scolding.
3. Conclusion:
- Summarize my thoughts about the character Sơn in the story Cold Wind at the Beginning of the Season.
Sample essay: Analyzing the character Sơn in the short story Cold Wind at the Beginning of the Season by writer Thạch Lam
II. Sample essay: Analyzing the character Sơn in Cold Wind at the Beginning of the Season
Thạch Lam represents a prominent figure in pre-revolutionary modern Vietnamese prose. His literature does not aim to criticize reality but relies on a refined, gentle writing style that delves deep into the world of emotions, evoking profound feelings in readers. 'Cold Wind at the Beginning of the Season' is one of his famous and remarkable short stories. The central character of this tale is Sơn - a kind, humane boy, rich in love for humanity.
'Cold Wind at the Beginning of the Season' is an exceptionally well-crafted romantic short story. With a natural, subtle storytelling style, the author paints a vivid picture of the daily life of a family in the Northern Delta when the winter chill suddenly arrives. Love, empathy, and the spirit of sharing and helping one another stand out amidst that winter gust. The main character in the story is Sơn - a boy living in a relatively well-off family, loved by everyone. Upon waking up and still feeling the cold, Sơn quickly grabs a blanket and calls his sister. His mother instructs his sister Lan to get a warm jacket for Sơn to wear. After wearing it, his mother even 'smooths the edges of the clothing.' During winter, Sơn wears a 'crimson woolen coat and sanitary clothing, with an additional long dark fabric coat,' while other children in the market still wear their usual brown and silver clothes with numerous patches. From these details, we can see that Sơn's family is quite prosperous. Every action and gesture from his mother and sister Lan towards him is filled with love, nurturing, and utmost care.
Unlike some of his cousins who tend to be 'arrogant and disdainful,' Sơn and sister Lan are very friendly, 'intimately playing and frolicking' with the children in the market. Therefore, when the two siblings arrive, everyone 'reveals joy,' gathering around. Their camaraderie with the different children reflects Sơn's extremely friendly and endearing nature. Moreover, in Sơn, there is an intense love for humanity. This is first demonstrated when talking about Sơn's feelings for his deceased sister Duyên - who passed away at the age of four. When the elderly nanny takes Duyên's old cotton jacket, 'flipping and turning, hands skillfully navigating the seams,' he also feels 'missing her, touched, and overwhelmed with affection.' He is also moved when his mother sheds tears while talking about her. When he sees Hiên standing alone in the cold, Sơn calls her to play and inquire. Remembering Hiên and her mother's impoverished life, the boy feels compassion, a kind thought suddenly crossing his mind. Then, he and sister Lan bring Hiên the old cotton jacket. The 'warm and joyful' emotions in the boy symbolize a humane, kind-hearted, and pure nature, capable of empathizing with others' misfortunes. Sơn not only devotes much affection to family and loved ones but also possesses a hidden depth, showing care and love for family and friends.
Thạch Lam has constructed the character Sơn through language, gestures, actions, and thoughts. From this, the image of an innocent, naive yet profound boy emerges vividly. Sơn is the central character contributing to highlighting the theme of human love and sharing, the moral principle of 'treating others as if treating oneself,' especially the carefree and innocent feelings of childhood.
After reading 'Cold Wind at the Beginning of the Season,' surely deep within each of us, there is a resonance with the beautiful life lesson the author conveys. With the familiar character-building style of the author, Sơn truly embodies an innocent angel, pure and bright-hearted.
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Through the sample Analysis of the Character Sơn in Cold Wind at the Beginning of the Season, hopefully, you've gained a deeper understanding of the content and message that Thạch Lam conveys through this work. To explore and analyze more about the piece, you can check out other articles on Mytour such as: Cold Wind at the Beginning of the Season: Genre, Summary, Structure, Content, Artistry; Thoughts on the Short Story Cold Wind at the Beginning of the Season; Reflections on Compassion After Reading 'Cold Wind at the Beginning of the Season' by Thạch Lam; Write a paragraph expressing your feelings about the text Cold Wind at the Beginning of the Season;...
