Top 5 Best Introductions to Thạch Lam's Short Stories (Literature 10)

When commenting on Thach Lam, writer Nguyen Tuan once wrote: "Thach Lam's prose is full of imagery and exploration, with a serene, simple, and profound style... His writing reflects deep reflections, the essence of a sensitive soul with a lifetime of experience." This is undoubtedly true, as reading Thach Lam's pages always brings a sense of calm and peace to the reader. In his story "Under the Shade of Yellow Jasmine," one feels immersed in a peaceful and familiar atmosphere, where loved ones await your return.

The story revolves around a visit to his grandmother's home by Thanh, a character who works far away in the province. Upon his return, memories flood back as he reconnects with the familiar sights of the house. Under the shade of yellow jasmine, he recalls childhood memories spent with his grandmother. During this visit, he also reunites with Nga, a childhood friend, and the two share a budding romance. After a few days at home, Thanh returns to the province to continue his work. On his departure, he promises to return more often. Notably, the story lacks a conventional plot, yet it captivates the reader with its beautiful, poetic prose. The story underscores the importance of family love, as clearly reflected in Thanh’s emotional experiences.

Thanh's emotions upon returning home reflect the feelings of a child returning to the comfort and warmth of their family. Upon entering his grandmother's garden, he feels "a wave of coolness." The hometown scenery appears so serene and beautiful, with light streaming through the tree branches, dancing with the wind, and the scent of fresh leaves in the air. He leisurely walks along "the low flower wall leading directly to the house." Stepping up the porch, looking inside, he feels "a gentle, cool darkness." Over time, Thanh realizes that everything remains unchanged, just as it was when he left. This sight overwhelms him, and he calls out softly, "Grandmother." This moment reveals the stark contrast between the peaceful garden and the chaotic world outside. Inside the garden, the space represents sweet memories, love, and warmth—things that the hustle and bustle outside can never offer. Feeling this contrast, Thanh finds his soul soothed and comforted, far from the noise and exhaustion of city life.

In the moment of reuniting with his grandmother, Thanh is overcome with emotion, "He was moved and overjoyed, running towards her." Being with his grandmother, he feels small and humble. There is an evident contrast between Thanh's youthful form and his grandmother's hunched back. Yet, this doesn’t create distance; instead, Thanh feels cared for and protected. Every time he returns, he feels at peace, knowing his grandmother is always there waiting for him, "This house and garden are to him like a calm and gentle place, where his grandmother is always ready to welcome him with love." Even as an adult, in his grandmother's eyes, Thanh is still the child he once was. She still "sweeps her fan over the bed" and "adjusts the mat and arranges the pillow." In that moment, the scent of yellow jasmine evokes memories of his childhood, "Thanh closed his eyes to inhale the fragrance and recalled the tree under which he used to play, picking flowers. It had been a long time since this house was built, since his parents were still around. Now, it's just the two of them, grandmother and grandchild, closely bonded." Thinking of the past, Thanh's heart feels light, "as if he had just bathed in a stream."

The emotion intensifies as Thanh experiences his grandmother’s love. Knowing she is about to enter, he pretends to be asleep. She approaches to "gently pull the mosquito net, watch him, and chase away the mosquitoes." Her actions are filled with love. Understanding her affection, Thanh lies still, not daring to move, waiting until she leaves. This boundless love brings him to the point of "being moved almost to tears." The ongoing stream of emotions, intertwining past and present, shows that Thanh is a deeply sensitive and thoughtful person.

Alongside family love, there is also the innocent and pure affection between Thanh and Nga. Their relationship blends childhood memories with the sweetness and subtlety of young love. When he hears Nga’s familiar laugh, he "quietly sits up, leaning on the window, and gazes out towards the pond." The yellow jasmine tree reminds him of Nga as a child. Without hesitation, he "runs down to the side house and joyfully calls out, 'Nga!'" Thanh eats with Nga without any pretense, even mistaking her for his sister at times. Yet, there is also a sense of fulness, as a boy falling in love. As he walks with Nga under the yellow jasmine tree, he "remembers her little feet, covered with sand" and smiles unknowingly. While leading Nga to the garden, Thanh notices the faint scent of jasmine in her hair. Hearing Nga’s words, Thanh doesn’t know how to respond, so he hands her a jasmine branch to find flowers. These moments of shyness blossom into a deep emotional connection. The day before returning to the province, Thanh sees Nga to the gate, holding her hand in his. In that instant, Thanh feels a warm, gentle feeling in his heart.

The most poignant moment of Thanh’s hesitation and longing is when he prepares to leave for the province. He doesn’t leave immediately, but looks back at the yellow jasmine tree and other plants in the garden. He feels both joy and sadness. He knows the house is still there, his grandmother waiting for him, and he believes Nga will still "wait for him and long for him as before."

The recurring image of the yellow jasmine tree in the text carries significant meaning. It can be seen as both the jasmine tree in the garden and a symbol of his hardworking, loving grandmother. Like the yellow jasmine, his grandmother provides shelter and love for both her grandchild and his first love with Nga, the girl next door. The jasmine tree witnesses the growth of the two, just as his grandmother watches him mature under her tender care.

With its delicate language, gentle storytelling, and heartfelt tone, along with the intertwining of past and present, Thach Lam invites readers to return to the beautiful childhood spent with a loving grandmother and the familiar image of home. The work serves as a gentle reminder for children far from home to return and visit their roots.

Thach Lam is one of the leading writers of the "Self-reliant Literary Group". His works encompass various genres such as short stories, novels, essays, and criticism... However, his greatest success lies in short stories. Among his works with a realistic view of life, it can be said that "Two Children" is a typical successful piece. The story doesn't have thrilling or suspenseful events; it revolves around the daily lives of people in a poor district, during a brief period, yet Thach Lam raises important societal issues.

Reading "Two Children", we are immersed in the decaying and desolate life of a poor district. The author captures this at a symbolic moment—the decline of the day: "The autumn drum echoed", "the western sky glowed red like fire", "the clouds appeared like embers ready to extinguish", and "the croaking of frogs and toads echoed from the fields into the town…" This vast space of fields, beautiful yet melancholic, comes vividly to the reader’s mind.

In this desolate landscape, Thach Lam presents the lives of the district's residents vividly: As twilight falls, mother and daughter Tí set up a water stall under a banyan tree. Liên tidies up the grocery store and adds up the bills. Mrs. Thi buys a bottle of liquor from Liên's shop, drinks it down and disappears into the darkness with a hearty laugh. Children gather to play on the stone steps. Mr. Siêu arranges his pho stand by the fire. The Xẩm family sits on a mat, awaiting customers to sing and earn money.

Through Thach Lam's delicate narrative, we witness the life of this impoverished district as a world on the brink of death. In this environment, the two sisters Liên and An, like other residents, anxiously and eagerly wait for the passing train from Hanoi. Every night, as dusk begins to settle, they nervously await its arrival. Then the train arrives, as it always does, captivating them with its strange allure. It is a train full of light, a stark contrast to their surroundings.

The train arrives with the sound of its whistle and the rumble of its wheels. Liên stands up, leading her sister to watch the train rush by, a symbol of light and luxury. The shining windows, the glamorous carriages full of people, glimmering with light. That flash of brightness disappears into the night, leaving behind small embers scattered on the road...

The passing train evokes deep emotions in Liên. It is a nostalgic reminder of a distant Hanoi, a city full of light and excitement. To Liên, the train represents a world far removed from her own—a stark contrast to the dim light of Tí's lantern or the flickering fire in Mr. Siêu's pho stand...

Looking at the entire story, one cannot help but wonder: Why do Liên and An wait so long each night for the train? Why does the train, filled with light, stir such emotions in Liên? In their daily lives in this impoverished town, where joy is absent, the train symbolizes a world beyond, one full of civilization, joy, and happiness.

This brings us to the profound message Thach Lam conveys in the story: the yearning for a better world, the quest for happiness by humble people—this is the deep humanitarian value of the work. In addition to the thematic value, "Two Children" also stands out for its artistic features, especially in Thach Lam's descriptions of characters, scenes, and the internal emotions of the people. One of the most striking techniques in the story is the use of contrasts—light and darkness, stillness and motion. This technique has helped Thach Lam emphasize the story’s central theme.

"Two Children" is a remarkable short story and a quintessential piece of Thach Lam's style. Through this work, we see the author's deep compassion for humanity, especially for the humble people in society. It may be a sorrowful story, but it is a necessary sadness as it has the power to purify the human soul.

Thach Lam's masterful storytelling paints a vivid and heartfelt picture of a mother's struggle, capturing the grim reality of her life as the mother of eleven hungry children. The scene he describes reveals the extreme poverty and dire circumstances, with a mother bearing the brunt of it. She is depicted as a frail, wrinkled woman, her body worn by years of hardship, yet still the resilient mother of a large brood. Despite their suffering, her devotion to her children is unwavering. Her sacrifices reflect a universal truth about motherhood—the lengths a mother will go to, enduring hardship and hunger so her children can survive. Yet, this cycle of poverty persists, and the plight of Mother Le, like many others, shows how difficult life was in those times.

Her image is a symbol of silent endurance—never complaining, but always enduring. Despite the hardships, she manages to maintain her humanity, providing her children with what little she can, hoping they won’t suffer as she has. The power of her love is displayed in the small victories: moments when she finds work, when there's enough food for her children. But when work runs out and winter comes, her struggles are amplified, leaving her children to endure hunger and cold until the next harvest. Through Mother Le's story, we witness the painful reality of a woman who, against all odds, continues to protect and nurture her family.

The image of Mother Le is a reflection of many mothers from that time. In an era where poverty was a constant companion, having many children was seen as a burden, but also a necessity. If Mother Le had fewer children, perhaps her suffering would have been lighter, but her sacrifice was no less profound. Through her character, Thach Lam reminds us of the resilience of the human spirit in the face of hardship, and the importance of compassion for others.