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Essay Prompt: The Portrayal of Vietnamese Women in Folk Verses
Sample Essay:
Sample Essay 1:
From ancient times until today, folk verses seem to have become a cultural beauty that reigns in the soul of every Vietnamese. The verses, with their sweet lullabies from mothers and grandmothers, depict the white storks flying gracefully, the green bamboo clusters in the village, the lush buffalo fields, the fragrant lotus flowers in the pond, and the honest hardworking people. All of these have followed the gentle lullabies, taking flight into the hearts of each individual since infancy, as 'Though the child doesn't know about storks, in the mother's song, there are flying storks.' These simple, rustic folk verses carry valuable emotions such as the enduring love between husband and wife, the heartfelt bond of family, and the sacred motherly love. They showcase the beauty of the homeland and its people, the beauty of genuine labor. Throughout the treasure trove of Vietnamese folk verses, the image of women stands out with countless appreciable qualities, alongside the bitter fate and hardships they endure.
In feudal society, women had no standing, no voice; they had to endure the destiny decided by others, often leading them into painful and difficult situations. The verses below partially reveal the pain of their fate at that time:
- 'Her body is like a silk cloth
Fluttering in the market, who knows whose hands it will fall into'
- 'Her body is like raindrops
Drops onto the court, drops onto the plowed fields'
- 'Her body is like a broom in early summer
Sheltering from rain and wind, going home to sweep the floor
Sweeping and then throwing it in the yard
Calling the neighbors with legs to come and sweep'
They liken themselves to silk cloth, beautiful and soft, but endure the fate of oscillation, no different from ordinary goods in the market, anyone can easily buy and sell. Then the fate of a woman is like raindrops, if lucky, into the luxurious mansion (indicating a happy and prosperous life), if unfortunate, they have to endure the suffering, hardships (here referring to the fate of a single wife or a life of poverty). Sometimes even more degrading when facing the fate of a 'broom in early summer,' a tool for men to trample on, with no chance of self-esteem. Reviewing the source of all the misfortunes that befall that woman is the conservatism and backwardness of the feudal system, where men are gods, the ideology of male superiority is prevalent in people's minds, including women. They are forced to live and endure the situation of living with a husband, adhering to strict rules, 'industry, appearance, speech, and virtue,' a lifetime only seeing the word sacrifice, enduring without knowing what happiness, love, and appreciation are.
The women of the past perhaps the most accurate term to describe their unhappy life is 'humiliation.' Indeed, not only do they endure humiliations, but they also live with bitterness and resentment, all because of being a woman. Even when still under the care of parents, the girls don't have much say, as the old notion that girls, once married, are like water thrown away prevails. Therefore, they have to endure injustices from a young age:
'The girl cuts grass in the field
Tending buffaloes to fatten, enriching her father
When rich, they distribute and divide
What is the fate of the girl, no one cares'
When married, the girl experiences the sadness of being away from her family, sometimes far from her homeland. That pain permeates through the verses of folk songs:
- 'In the evening, standing in the back alley
Looking towards the birthplace, the adopted homeland hurts in the late afternoon'
The scene of the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, traditionally different in temperament, the woman with the role of a daughter-in-law must endure bitterness to please the husband's family, especially agonizing if faced with a harsh mother-in-law, life couldn't be more challenging.
'Blame the father, blame your mother's family
Hold the scales, don't know if it's gold or tin
Real gold is not tin
Don't test the fire and hurt the golden heart'
Not only the physical suffering that has made women struggle, but the mental pain in married life also makes one even more heartbroken. The resentment and jealousy among women, that bitterness is even more fierce than many other sorrows. They endure the lack of emotional connection with their husbands, the sorrows when the husband goes to someone else's bed, who can understand such pain?
'Marriage is such a miserable fate
Go farming, work hard, my efforts are worthless
In the evening, I keep losing my husband
I provide a soft mat, lying without a stable bed
Hoping my husband won't come down
When he finally comes down, the rooster crows incessantly
Killing the rooster there, why are you crowing in such a hurry?
Letting me lose my mind over the husband and son'
Amidst the injustices full of pain, women still harbor their own desires, the desire to overcome fate, step beyond the society's prejudices, and bring happiness into their lives, such as:
-'Hungry heart, eat the leaves of the mulberry
Marry once, choose a husband, don't choose a shared husband'
- 'Husband and son are debts
Better to stay and nurture a prosperous life'.
However, desires remain just desires. Under the harsh feudal system, do any women dare to truly stand up and fight? Or is it mockery, gossip that erodes their confidence in life? Yet, no matter how oppressive life may be, squeezing women to the extreme, the beauty emanating from their souls persists through time.
It is the steadfast loyalty, mutual love, a united husband and wife, sharing joys and sorrows, full of warmth and affection, never looking elsewhere, standing by each other through thick and thin.
- 'My husband's clothes are ragged, but I love him
Your husband wears silk, fragrant as the river, I envy you'
- 'Shrimp's beard cooked with pumpkin's belly
Husband and wife share, nodding in praise of its deliciousness'
They live with love and meaning. In their love, women value loyalty, patience, kindness, honesty, simplicity, endurance, and selflessness over material wealth.
- 'The full moon only lasts one Mid-Autumn night
Fate only promises once and that's it'
- 'Salt for three years, salt remains salty
Ginger for nine months, ginger still spicy
Stick to principles, never change or replace
Even if it makes fame or faces hardship, we'll stay together'
Sometimes, we see women in ancient proverbs with a truly innocent and pure beauty, free from trivialities. They express their emotions and feelings comfortably in these folk verses.
- 'Why is the wind refreshing behind
Why is the heart remembering someone far away like this'
- 'Remembering someone nostalgically
Like standing by the fire or sitting by the coal pile'
- 'Wishing the river were one gang wide
North bridge, a strip of yếm for you to cross'
Sometimes, we observe truly subtle, gentle, and refined beauty in the souls of young girls.
'On the morning I went to pick strawberries
Met those two guys sitting fishing by the stone table'
The two stood up inquiringly
Asking where she hurriedly went
She replied she was off to pick strawberries
They opened a bag and offered betel nut to share
She explained my parents advised
As a girl, avoid eating someone else's betel nut'
Through ancient Vietnamese folk verses, the image of women emerges with a myriad of emotions, from injustice and hardship due to their role in a society that venerates men and belittles women. Despite the countless hardships and misfortunes, the inner beauty of women from the past never ceased to shine. It's adorned with virtues such as unwavering loyalty, a compassionate heart, resilience, empathy, and refined sensitivity.
Sample 2:
In the world of folk verses, portraying the myriad colors of emotions and sentiments, those dedicated to the theme of women hold a significant position with abundant diversity. As these verses resonate, they paint a comprehensive portrait of women, capturing the ebb and flow of their destinies and the inherent beauty and strength they possess.
Ancient feudal society, steeped in harsh prejudices, led to inevitable consequences of a system that favored men and demeaned women. Confucian beliefs such as 'serve the husband at home, follow the husband when married, follow the son when widowed' became an invisible tether: 'Like a swan at the courtyard's edge, longing to fly but unable to take off'.
In the constraints, women aspire to soar high but find themselves unable to break free. Hence, they turn to folk verses to express their thoughts and sorrows in moments of misery. Women are conscious of the contradiction, the opposition between beauty and destiny. They console themselves through lamenting folk verses, revealing their circumstances:
“My body is like a peach blossom silk
Fluttering in the market, whose hands will it land upon?”
Or like:
“My body is like raindrops
Falling on the palace, falling on the plowed field”
Folk verses expressing rich and diverse emotions reveal the myriad facets of women's lives—whether it be the struggles of mud-covered peasant women or the lamentations of those unfortunate. In the canvas of humble destinies, women articulate their feelings using the familiar motif 'My body,' conveying specific meanings. Women are likened to beautiful objects like 'peach blossom silk' and 'raindrops,' yet they remain unappreciated. In the ancient feudal society, their worth is disregarded, and they are unable to control their own destiny. Stringent prejudices result in women's fate being tossed in the waves of uncertainty, as seen in: “Fluttering in the market, whose hands will it land upon?” and being subject to chance: “Falling on the palace, falling on the plowed field.” They become victims of male dominance, where men may have 'five wives and seven concubines,' but women are 'devoted to only one husband.' The bitter truth is reflected in:
“Marriage is a source of constant suffering
Planting and plowing, my efforts go unnoticed”
Living in a shared fate, women endure material hardships and spiritual struggles. Renowned female poet Hồ Xuân Hương expressed her disdain: “Striking down the root of shared married life,” speaking out against the fate of being devoted. Thus, in ancient feudal society, the common archetype for women is one of uncertainty and lack of control over their destiny.
Despite enduring the injustices of a male-centric society: “He's like a rented flagpole/ I'm like mint growing by the edge of the well,” and being caught in the whirlpool of uncertainty, women still uphold admirable qualities. Primarily, the beauty of steadfast loyalty, always fulfilling their duties:
“When husband's upset, wife reconciles
Smiling, she asks, 'Why are you angry?'”
“If you're upset, my dear husband
If you want a younger wife, I'll find one for you”
In the folk verses, the wife emerges as a paragon of grace in her behavior. The woman showcases remarkable wit, delicately jesting to appease her husband's anger. Regardless of the circumstances, they maintain unwavering loyalty: “My husband's coat is tattered, but I adore him/ Your husband's coat is warm, but you wear it for him.”
Thus, within the rich and diverse world of folk verses, we witness the tumultuous fate of women amidst the swirl of uncertainty and injustice. Despite living in any circumstance, they continue to shine with admirable qualities.
Alongside the article on the portrayal of Vietnamese women in folk verses, students and educators can explore other exemplary essays such as Reflecting on the fate of women in the old society through some folk verses, The role of women in the old society through selected folk verses, Analyzing some folk verses to highlight the fate of women in ancient feudal society, My sentiments on the destiny of women through various folk verses, expressing love, compassion, and camaraderie. These sample essays, along with specific writing guidelines, are expected to assist students in achieving the highest results in essay writing.
