Top 5 Best Essays Analyzing the Character Trang in the Morning After He Got Married

The short story 'The Picked Wife' depicts the tragic situation of Vietnamese peasants during the devastating famine of 1945. Through this, Kim Lan also showcases the inherent goodness and resilience of the people. The character Trang is portrayed with emotional depth, especially in the scene on the morning after he got married.

The protagonist of the story is a poor man who lives with his elderly mother in a remote village. One day, while pulling a cart up a provincial hill, Trang unexpectedly meets Thi. With a casual joke and four bowls of rice pudding, Thi agrees to become his wife and follow him home. Upon arriving, Trang's mother is initially surprised, but she eventually accepts the woman as her daughter-in-law with deep sympathy.

On the morning after his marriage, Trang feels a blissful euphoria, as though emerging from a dream. Kim Lan subtly conveys this sensation with: 'a warm, gentle feeling spreads through Trang’s body, as though a hand is softly stroking his back'. This illustrates how love brings a miraculous strength that transforms a person.

The unexpectedness of his happiness makes Trang feel bewildered. It is entirely understandable, as a man like him, poor and hungry, never imagined having a wife. Who would have thought that such an important life event, marriage, would be determined by a playful remark and four bowls of rice pudding? But through this, Kim Lan vividly illustrates the dire situation of Vietnamese peasants at that time.

Trang is not only surprised by his new wife, but also by how his home has transformed. The arrival of Thi has brought a change to the house. Under the care of his mother and wife, the once shabby home has become a warm sanctuary: 'The house, the yard, everything was swept clean. Torn clothes that had hung in a corner for years were now spread out to dry. The two old water jars were filled to the brim with water. The pile of rubbish in the pathway was cleaned up.' Trang himself feels the change when he notices: 'Everything around me feels different, new, unfamiliar'. It seems that love has made him change.

When he sees his mother tidying the messy weeds and hears the sound of the broom on the floor from his wife, Trang is moved: 'Suddenly, he felt an intense love and attachment to this house'. Now that he has a family, Trang begins thinking of the future: 'He will live here with his wife, have children, and this house will be their home, sheltering them from the storms of life'. This is a completely natural aspiration for any person.

Not only does Trang feel love for his family, but he also begins to feel a sense of responsibility: 'Now, he feels that he has become a man.' This awareness of maturity brings with it the realization of his duties and responsibilities for his family. Trang feels a deep responsibility for his wife and children. His sense of duty is not just in his thoughts, but also in his actions: 'He rushed to the yard, eager to do something to help fix up the house'. This action reflects a significant transformation in his character. The love and harmony of family life have sparked in him hopes for happiness and a renewed faith in life’s future.

Trang notices that his mother's tired face has brightened, a stark contrast to her usual demeanor. Even though the meal that day was meager, the family ate joyfully. When his mother discusses their future, Trang simply responds with 'Yes'. This simple 'Yes' reflects the warmth and harmony of their family. At the end, when his wife mentions the people breaking into the Japanese rice storage, Trang imagines the villagers and the flag of the revolution waving in his mind. This symbolizes hope for a brighter future, symbolized by the search for the light of revolution.

Through this morning scene, Kim Lan reveals Trang’s transformation towards a better future. The story 'The Picked Wife' conveys profound humanitarian messages.

'The Picked Wife' is an outstanding short story by Kim Lan, telling the story of Trang, a humble, kind-hearted peasant who unexpectedly finds happiness despite his difficult circumstances. Kim Lan skillfully portrays the evolution of Trang's emotions, particularly in the scene the morning after his marriage.

In the story, Trang is depicted as a peasant living with his elderly mother in a dilapidated house, surrounded by overgrown weeds. His job is to pull an ox-cart for hire. His physical appearance is far from attractive: 'His eyes are small, squinting into the twilight, with prominent jawbones'. His coarse, rugged face, large frame, and bald head make him appear like a hastily sketched figure, a creation of nature that seems to have been made carelessly. Not only is he unattractive, but he is also somewhat naive, often 'muttering his thoughts aloud' and occasionally 'laughing foolishly to himself.'

For someone like Trang, in his impoverished situation, no one would ever imagine he could find a wife. Yet, against all odds, Trang has gotten married, which has brought about a profound change in him. On the morning after his marriage, Trang is struck by the transformation in his life. He feels happiness as he observes his mother and wife cleaning the house. His mother is weeding the garden, while his wife is sweeping the yard, the sound of the broom echoing rhythmically. Suddenly, Trang feels an unusual attachment to his home. It’s as if he has found his place in the world. From now on, he will have a family, and this house will be a shelter, providing warmth and safety for his future children. A surge of joy fills him. Trang also recognizes his new responsibility as the man of the house, the need to care for his wife. He 'rushes to the yard to help with repairs', a clear sign of his transformation. In just a few short paragraphs, Kim Lan beautifully captures the emotional journey of Trang—from surprise and confusion to a deep sense of happiness and realization that he now has a family.

Particularly memorable is the first meal Trang shares with his wife. Despite the meager food, they enjoy it greatly. When his mother talks about their future, Trang simply replies 'Yes.' His response carries a sense of warmth and harmony, a feeling of familial unity that had never existed before. When his mother brings out a pot of rice porridge, and Thi eats it without a care, Trang takes a spoonful, scrunches his face at the bitter taste. This moment reveals a childlike quality in Trang, showing how new experiences can bring out both maturity and vulnerability. At the end of the scene, when Thi mentions the villagers who are breaking into the Japanese rice storages, Trang imagines the image of villagers and the red flag waving in his mind. This symbolizes his newfound hope for a brighter future and the promise of a better life through revolution.

Thus, in this morning scene, Trang reveals a profound shift in his thoughts and emotions. His 'picked wife' has been the catalyst for these positive changes in his life.

Kim Lan is a prominent writer in modern Vietnamese literature. Despite writing relatively few works, both before and after the August Revolution, he created significant pieces in each period. As someone born into a farming family, Kim Lan wrote with deep empathy and genuine love for rural life and its people. 'The Picked Wife' is one of his finest short stories. Originally conceived as a novel, 'The Commune Settlement', the story deals with the devastating 1945 famine, recounting the tale of a poor young man who unexpectedly finds a wife amidst the hunger and despair. The character Trang in this story affirms Kim Lan's discovery about the working class: despite facing unimaginable hardships, they still yearn for life and happiness. This theme is evident in the passage: 'The morning after, the sun rose like a bamboo pole... repairing the house.' Trang’s transformation the morning after his wife arrives is both a continuation of the story and a manifestation of the author’s deep respect for his character, as well as for the impoverished people who still possess a powerful will to live.

The story is set in a commune at the peak of the 1945 famine, where hunger has completely overwhelmed the settlement. The community has become a graveyard, devoid of life. In such dire circumstances, Trang, a poor young man who pulls an ox-cart to support himself and his elderly mother, takes a wife. This unexpected act of marriage highlights the deep longing for love and happiness that even the most desperate people hold. In such a bleak and desolate situation, as death looms, the Vietnamese working class still clings to hope and a brighter future. This is clearly reflected in Trang's emotions the morning after his marriage.

'The morning after, as the sun rose like a bamboo pole, Trang awoke. His body felt light, like someone just waking from a dream.' There was no anxiety about facing the grim reality before him, no regret for marrying in the midst of such dire hunger. Instead, Trang felt a gentle joy and relief, the happiness of a man who is overwhelmed by newfound love. His happiness is so sudden and immense that he finds it almost unbelievable: 'He still couldn't believe he had a wife.' The house looked clean and well-kept: 'He blinked several times, and suddenly realized that everything around him had changed.'

Trang was even more astonished as he noticed the changes around him. The house was tidy, the yard had been swept clean. The torn clothes that had been left in a corner of the house were now hung outside to dry. The two water jars that had been empty under the guava tree were now full, and the pile of trash that had obstructed the path was cleared. A wave of joy swelled in his heart. All around him were signs of improvement, signals of a brighter tomorrow. If people had no hope of escaping hunger, if they did not long for a better life, they would have let their homes remain neglected and messy.

A simple yet touching scene unfolded before Trang: 'In the garden, his mother was crouching down, pulling weeds. His wife was sweeping the yard, the broom sweeping steadily across the ground.' The two women in his life were diligently cleaning the house. 'The scene was simple and ordinary, but to him, it was deeply moving. Happiness truly comes from the smallest things.' Joy and happiness brought about a miraculous change in Trang’s heart: 'Suddenly, he felt an intense attachment to his home.' A house is not just a physical structure; it is a family, a shelter. From now on, 'He had a family. He would live with his wife, raise children there. The house would be a warm nest, protecting them from the rain and sun—an overwhelming sense of joy and exhilaration flooded his heart.' In a brief passage, Kim Lan masterfully captures Trang’s emotional journey, from shock and confusion to ultimate happiness upon realizing he now has a family. It is a heartwarming joy, blending reality with the dream of a better life. Happiness multiplies, as, in addition to marital bliss, Trang gains the deep joy of having a family. The once clumsy, simple man becomes profoundly reflective. Happiness, indeed, has the power to mature one's emotions.

Happiness also matures one’s understanding of responsibility. Trang begins to realize the duties of a man in a family. He understands that the purpose of life is love, connection, and caring for loved ones. 'Now he felt like he had become a man; he knew he had the responsibility to care for his wife and children in the future. He eagerly ran to the yard, wanting to do something to help fix the house.' This action—running to help with the repairs—marks a crucial turning point, an important change in both Trang’s fate and character: from suffering to happiness, from disillusionment to a love for life, from naivety to awareness. Clearly, the desire for happiness outweighs hunger and death. This is why the story concludes: 'In Trang’s mind, he still saw images of the hungry people and the red flag fluttering in the wind.'

In this excerpt, as well as in the entire work, Trang represents Kim Lan’s discovery of the working class. Despite their dire circumstances, even on the brink of death from hunger, they still yearn for life, for happiness. This desire is stronger than hunger and death itself. This discovery is what gives the story its humanitarian value. Compared to earlier works about the working class, 'The Picked Wife' offers a fresh perspective. The writer not only depicts the suffering and inner beauty of the people but also sees their future and inevitable path forward. Even in the face of death, the Vietnamese workers are full of hope, still believing in a brighter future.

Kim Lan once said: 'When writing about famine, people often focus on misery and tragedy. When writing about people in times of famine, they often think only of those who are consumed by thoughts of death. I wanted to write a story with a different perspective. In dire circumstances, even when death is near, these people don’t think about dying—they continue to hope, to believe in the future. They live, and live fully.'

Kim Lan is one of the most prominent writers in modern Vietnamese literature. One of his standout works is the short story 'The Picked Wife.' In this story, the author has skillfully developed the character of Trang, particularly in the scene the morning after he gains a wife.

In the narrative, Kim Lan portrays Trang as a man living in a rural settlement, orphaned at a young age and living with his elderly mother in a dilapidated house. He works as a cart puller, earning a living by transporting goods to the town. One day, while pulling his cart up a hill, Trang encounters Thi. With a joke and four bowls of rice cakes, Thi agrees to become his wife and accompany him back to his home. Upon their arrival, Trang’s mother is initially shocked but eventually accepts Thi, seeing her as a fellow suffering woman deserving of sympathy.

The morning after their marriage, Trang suddenly feels a profound change within himself. He describes his sensation as 'light and dreamy, like someone just waking up from a dream.' Trang himself can hardly believe he is now a married man. He steps out into the yard, hands clasped behind his back, and notices significant changes around him: 'The house and garden were tidied up, cleaned and neat. The torn clothes, which had been piled in a corner, were now hanging outside to dry. The two water jars under the guava tree, once empty, were now filled to the brim. The pile of trash blocking the path had been swept away.' It was as if the house had been given a new coat. Trang is deeply moved by these simple yet meaningful changes: 'In the garden, his mother was quietly pulling up weeds. His wife was sweeping the yard, the sound of the broom brushing against the earth.' This simple, everyday scene moved Trang deeply. Before having a wife, he was just an unattractive, awkward young man, but after his marriage, he experienced a complete transformation in his awareness. He now recognizes the responsibilities of a husband and feels a strange sense of love for his family. He thinks to himself: 'Now, I have a family. I will live here with my wife, raise children. This house is a warm shelter from the rain and sun. A sudden, overwhelming joy fills my heart. I now feel like a man, understanding my responsibility to care for my wife and children in the future.' Motivated by these thoughts, Trang eagerly runs out into the yard, wanting to contribute to repairing the house. Kim Lan beautifully captures Trang's transformation, not only in his outward appearance but also in his internal recognition and growth.

What stands out even more is the first meal after Trang marries. He now sees his wife in a completely different light. Gone is the sharp, harsh woman; instead, he sees a kind and gentle wife. Trang also notices a surprising change in his mother, who seems brighter and more cheerful than usual. Although the meal is modest, the family enjoys it with a sense of satisfaction. During the meal, when his mother begins discussing the future, Trang simply agrees with her. His response, a simple 'yes,' creates an atmosphere of warmth and unity in the family, something that had never existed before. When Trang’s mother serves the bowl of cornmeal porridge, and Thi calmly eats, his mother smiles and praises it, 'This is delicious.' However, when Trang takes a bite, he winces from the bitterness. This moment still shows a childlike aspect of Trang’s character. At the end, when Thi mentions the people who broke into the Japanese rice storage, Trang’s mind is filled with images of those people and the red flag fluttering in the wind. It symbolizes his hopes for a brighter future, one that will liberate him from his harsh life.

Thus, Thi, the 'picked wife,' has brought about a profound shift in Trang’s perception. 'The Picked Wife' demonstrates the dire circumstances of Vietnamese peasants during the catastrophic 1945 famine while also showcasing the resilience, hope, and enduring humanity of the people.

'The Picked Wife' is one of Kim Lan's most renowned short stories. In this story, he skillfully develops the character of Trang, focusing on his deep psychological changes, particularly in the scene the morning after he acquires a wife.

Trang is a poor man living with his elderly mother in a humble village. One day, while dragging a cart up a hill towards the town, he unexpectedly meets Thi. With a joke and a few bowls of rice cakes, Thi agrees to marry him and accompany him back home. When they arrive, Trang’s mother is initially shocked, but soon embraces the woman with empathy, recognizing her as a fellow soul struggling in life. The following morning, Trang feels like a completely new person.

Kim Lan captures Trang’s transformation the morning after his marriage with great subtlety. He feels 'soft and floating, as if just waking from a dream,' which reveals his disbelief at the reality of having a wife. It is only when he observes the changes around him that he begins to accept his new reality. The house is tidied up, clothes that once lay scattered are now hung out to dry, the water jars are filled, and the trash pile has been cleared. The home, once shabby and neglected, now feels transformed, as though a woman's presence has revitalized it.

The most striking sight appears before Trang: in the garden, his mother is busy pulling up weeds, while his wife is sweeping the yard. This simple scene makes Trang realize that he truly has a wife. From that moment, his perspective on life undergoes a radical shift. He reflects, 'I now have a family. I will live here with my wife, have children. This house is a shelter, a warm home. A wave of joy and excitement fills my heart. I now feel like a real man, with a responsibility to care for my wife and children.' Trang now fully understands his duty as a husband. He quickly rushes into the yard, eager to help fix up the house, signaling his newfound maturity.

This change is also evident during their first meal together. Trang notices the transformation in Thi. She is no longer the sharp-tongued woman he once saw but has become a gentle and composed wife. He also observes that his mother’s face looks brighter, a stark contrast to her usual weary expression. Despite the meager meal, the family enjoys it with genuine satisfaction. When his mother talks about their future, Trang simply replies 'yes.' This simple affirmation reflects the newfound harmony and warmth within the family. Toward the end, when Thi mentions the people who raided the Japanese rice stores, Trang imagines the image of the people and the red flag waving in the wind. This symbolizes his hope for a brighter future and his belief in the promise of revolutionary change.

In conclusion, Kim Lan has masterfully portrayed Trang’s character on the morning after his marriage, illustrating his transformation in a realistic and profound manner. Clearly, the 'picked wife' has caused Trang to change for the better.