The message and significance of the train wait scene in Two Children

Task: The message and significance of the train wait scene in Two Children

Part 1: Outline The message and significance of the train wait scene in Two Children

Part 2: Exemplary Essay on the Message and Significance of the Train-Waiting Scene in Two Children

Essay:

A certain literary figure once believed: 'For me, literature is not merely a means to provide readers with escapism or forgetfulness; on the contrary, it is a powerful and eloquent medium that allows us to both denounce and transform a world of deceit and cruelty, while enriching and cleansing the human heart.' This figure is none other than Thach Lam. Mentioning Thach Lam often brings to mind his unique style of writing short stories. His narratives don't conform to conventional plot structures or story situations; instead, they are stories without a fixed plot, much like a film where actors improvise without a script. Each of his works, each short story, resembles a melancholic love poem, poetic sentiments lingering in every word, every observation of the changes in time and objects. He delves deep into understanding the inner world of characters with vague, delicate emotions. And this distinctive writing style is vividly evident in the work Two Children, especially through the scene of the two children waiting for the late-night train. Here, we also find beautiful messages and profound, humane meanings that Nguyen Minh Chau wishes to convey to the readers.

The breakthrough of poetic essence throughout the entire work lies in the scene where siblings Lien and the district's residents sit, awaiting the late-night train. It's a vibrant spectacle in stark contrast to the dark, melancholic hues of this provincial neighborhood. The locals anticipate something brighter, revealing why 'Sister Tí may not earn much, but every evening she sets up her stall from dusk till night,' and why Mr. Siêu can't seem to sell anything, yet every evening he carries his pho stand here. The Xam couple, rare singers, still bring a worn-out mat every evening to wait, eventually dozing off. It turns out, they wait not just for survival but also for a night train, 'in the shadows, people yearn for something bright for their impoverished daily lives.'

The image of the train's arrival, awaited with eager anticipation by the district's residents, is so profound that even a slight signal from the train makes them joyfully ecstatic. Mr. Siêu cranes his neck towards the station, saying, 'The signal light is on.' Liên's focused gaze on the railway sees a 'blue flame, hovering close to the ground like a drifting ghost,' accompanied by the sound of the prolonged train whistle before entering the station. The thunderous train arrives, with its gleaming carriages and sparkling windows, echoing the noisy chatter of people. The train ventures into the night, leaving behind 'red sparks flying on the tracks,' while Liên keeps staring at the fading green dots disappearing into the darkness. The image of the night train vividly reflects the emotions of the district's residents. This is because, as the writer Thạch Lam once said, 'the train is like bringing a piece of another world.' For the people in the district, that train holds immense significance, bringing a different light compared to the dim glow of oil lamps, fireflies, or the gloomy evenings in the provincial neighborhood. It's a bright light from the bustling, lively capital, Hanoi. Although they know that the light only comes for a brief moment before fading away, leaving behind a more haunting darkness, they patiently wait from dusk till late at night, waiting until their tired eyes become drowsy. Yet, they still yearn and hope because the lively train brings a lively breath, a gift of life amidst the struggles of poverty. The radiant light that the train brings symbolizes the longing and hope of these people. Comparatively, in many other literary works, light is often symbolized as the intense desire and hope of humans amidst life's darkness and helplessness. For instance, in Nam Cao's Chí Phèo, the scene where Chí Phèo wakes up to see the faint light entering his damp and low tent reflects his yearning to return to a virtuous life, and the light on the stove that Mị often ignites in A Phủ's Husband and Wife signifies the intense desires within Mị's soul. In Wife Collecting, Tràng buying two oil lamps to light up his home on the wedding night also reflects the intense longing and hope for a better life.

The emotions of the two children are filled with excitement; An, being younger, awaits the train with a restless and eager anticipation. The journey for An is like a gift, intriguing, evoking rich imaginations in the young soul. This train replaces, fills the gaps of An's impoverished childhood since he couldn't have beautiful toys or visits to amusement parks. He could only linger around small stalls in the dimly lit provincial town. For Liên, the train journey holds a different significance, offering the young girl delicate emotions. 'Liên Liên's soul is entirely calm, with emotions that are vague and hard to understand.' The train also reminds Liên of a bygone era when her family was well-off. Liên reminisces about enjoying delicious snacks, going out, and everywhere being illuminated by bright, shimmering lights. Those days are distant, and perhaps Liên's life will always be confined to this poor and dark town. The train journey helps Liên understand more about the stagnant, impoverished present of the people here. Thạch Lam's main message here is that even in difficult, challenging, and stagnant lives, human beings never cease to dream, to yearn for a better and brighter life. These hopes and desires always lie within every individual, whether young or old, nurtured by an optimistic, life-loving soul and bound by love and empathy, connecting people with each other. Even amidst scenes of decay, market ruins, or the decline of human lives, there are still youthful souls, resilient spirits like sisters Liên and people like Mr. Siêu, Sister Tí, and the blind couple who are not vanquished. They still live, labor, and strive every day, persisting in hope and dreams of escaping the dark, sad life in the provincial town, symbolized by the train from Hanoi returning with its radiant, joyful light.

With a slow, romantic storytelling style, a story without a fixed plot, Thạch Lam has delivered an incredibly subtle work, with a melodious tone and a gentle poetic quality. He vividly portrays the Vietnamese countryside before the revolution, encapsulating the sorrows and hardships, expressing deep empathy for the lives of people entangled in stagnation. Simultaneously, he cherishes their fragile hopes for a better, brighter life through the waiting scene of sisters Liên and conveys messages about the optimistic spirit of human beings. This is Thạch Lam's humane writing technique in his works.