Top 10 Best Analytical Passages on the Artistic Elements in 'The Last Words of a Prisoner'

Not only was Nguyễn Tuân a writer who dedicated his life to the pursuit of beauty, but he also crafted the beauty of words in his work "The Prisoner’s Letter". The use of language and contrasting situations are key elements contributing to the success of this piece. To recreate the ancient and majestic atmosphere, Nguyễn Tuân used many Sino-Vietnamese words such as: golden age, precious flowers, plaster slabs, lifetime, heartfield, central path, power, and freedom... Additionally, Nguyễn Tuân’s skillful use of rich and evocative language highlighted the cinematic quality in the scene of calligraphy. The distinctive language art enabled the writer to vividly depict Huấn Cao, a master artist of unparalleled beauty. This also reflects the writer’s deep respect for the traditional beauty of our nation and the noble qualities of artists throughout the ages.

An outstanding artistic element in the short story "The Prisoner’s Letter" is its setting. The story takes place in a prison, a place filled with evil and darkness. The damp, filthy room, swarming with rats and flies... Yet, in this environment, the light from a torch illuminates the night, awakening the prison guard. Despite Huấn Cao’s pitiful appearance as he writes the calligraphy, his dignity and valor shine through, commanding admiration. Humans can live with evil, but they cannot let it corrupt them. The scene of the calligraphy serves as a proof that beauty cannot coexist with evil. One must preserve goodness no matter the circumstances.

An exceptional artistic element in the short story "The Prisoner’s Letter" is the construction of the story’s situation, which helps express the themes and ideas of the work. The plot revolves around the strange, somewhat ironic meeting between two extraordinary individuals: Huấn Cao and the prison guard. They meet in a colonial prison, rife with crimes and darkness, at the end of Huấn Cao’s legendary life. Both Huấn Cao and the prison guard are unique characters. They share a love for art, particularly traditional calligraphy, and hold it in high esteem. Despite their good nature, their destinies intertwine in the darkness of the prison. This is perhaps why their social positions are opposites. Huấn Cao, a condemned criminal of the feudal government, is brought to the prison to await execution. He is a talented man, skilled in both martial and literary arts, and renowned for his beautiful calligraphy. The prison guard, a representative of the brutal feudal government, admires talent and values traditional art, especially calligraphy. Socially, they are adversaries, with Huấn Cao’s life in the hands of the guard. Artistically, they are kindred spirits, one creating beauty, the other cherishing and nurturing it. The writer’s art of constructing this unique situation has made the characters stand out with their admirable qualities. Huấn Cao, an artist who loves beauty, stands strong and unyielding even at the moment of death. The prison guard, who values talent and respects traditional art. Through this, the author’s perspective on art is clearly revealed: Beauty can emerge from evil, but it cannot coexist with it, as the beauty’s immortality and its power to transform are undeniable. Nguyễn Tuân successfully created a unique story situation, blending romantic techniques with the use of Sino-Vietnamese words, and choosing meaningful images and details.

The scene of calligraphy in Nguyễn Tuân’s short story "The Prisoner’s Letter" is considered an unprecedented sight. First, the situation is unique: it occurs at night, just before Huấn Cao faces execution. He writes calligraphy for the prison guard in the foul, filthy prison cell. Beauty is created in the midst of filth and decay, and virtue shines through in a place dominated by darkness and evil. Huấn Cao, a prisoner bound in shackles and chains, writes with poised, unyielding grace. The prison guard, representing the ruling power, bows humbly and respectfully to receive the calligraphy. Although their circumstances are opposites, they find harmony between a talented individual who creates beauty and a recipient who deeply appreciates it. Through this, the author conveys the message: beauty always shines through any circumstance, and it has the power to transform and triumph over evil and darkness.

One of Nguyễn Tuân's greatest achievements is his creation of the character Huấn Cao, the central figure in the story. Huấn Cao's character is based on Cao Bá Quát, a 19th-century scholar renowned for his beautiful handwriting and heroic spirit. Cao Bá Quát once led a rebellion against the Tự Đức dynasty. The character of Huấn Cao embodies two qualities: the patriot and the artist. Nguyễn Tuân fully explores this duality in his construction of Huấn Cao, transforming him into an artistic metaphor that conveys the author's philosophy: the reverence for beauty as a sacred treasure, transcending the mundane world. Huấn Cao is a person whose talent, heroism, and virtue are harmoniously combined. His extraordinary talent is most evident in his beautiful calligraphy, an art form elevated to a revered tradition. Nguyễn Tuân highlights Huấn Cao as a larger-than-life figure, both ideologically and physically. Ideologically, Huấn Cao is a man who gives up fame and fortune to fight for a greater cause, becoming a rebel against the throne. His character combines the idealism of the artist with the valor of a hero. Even when captured and sentenced to death, Huấn Cao maintains his dignified, unshaken posture. His powerful image is a testament to Nguyễn Tuân’s artistic vision, a never-ending ode to the timeless beauty of life. Huấn Cao is not only an artist but also a hero challenging societal injustices.

In 'The Prisoner’s Calligraphy', the author Nguyen Tuan masterfully creates the contrast and similarities between the two main characters: Huấn Cao, a prisoner representing the oppressed class, and the prison warden, who symbolizes the ruling class. This contrast is further highlighted through the relationship between the creator of beauty and the admirer of it – one being a calligrapher and the other a man eager to receive his writing. Unlike other works, such as 'The Peasant Chi', where the characters are completely opposed, in this story, both figures share a deep appreciation for beauty. For Huấn Cao's character, Nguyen Tuan uses romanticism and idealism, inspired by the historical figure Cao Bá Quát, to portray a man of perfect qualities: a talented, noble, and heroic spirit. Through this depiction, the author emphasizes the inherent goodness and strength of his character, even though he is condemned as a rebel. Huấn Cao’s beauty shines brightly even in the dark prison, a symbolic triumph of beauty, light, and virtue over evil, darkness, and crime.