Top 6 Essays Analyzing the Character of 'I' in 'Vừa Nhắm Mắt Vừa Mở Cửa Sổ' (Literature 7)

In today's fast-paced world, people are often caught up with work and the material aspects of life. The short story 'Vừa Nhắm Mắt Vừa Mở Cửa Sổ' takes us to a slower, more contemplative pace of life, bringing us back to the small things that nourish our souls. These are the lessons a father imparts to his child about love and gratitude. The author suggests that if we just listen a little more, pay attention a little more to everything around us, we will realize how precious the world is. These are the lessons I learned from the young boy in the story, from the author Nguyễn Ngọc Thuần, and from the story itself...

The character 'I' is a 10-year-old boy living in the countryside, completely unaware of the encroachment of the internet. What makes the story particularly charming are the naive, pure dialogues that are both humorous and warm. He has a wonderful family where his father teaches him a beautiful lesson. The father takes him to the garden, tells him to close his eyes, and guides him to touch each flower and guess its name. At first, the boy guesses wrong, but his father reassures him, saying that in time, he will get it right. And indeed, day by day, the boy guesses the names of the flowers correctly. The father then teaches him how to estimate the distance to the flowers, and the boy enjoys guessing accurately. His precise guesses even astonish their neighbor, Uncle Hùng, who exclaims, 'I can't believe it, you have a magical eye.'

The boy tells his story in a gentle, joyful tone, filled with excitement from his experiences with his father during their playful moments in the garden. If the father is a wonderful teacher of valuable lessons, the boy is a good listener, absorbing the lessons his father imparts. Through these lessons, the boy learns to appreciate the flowers and understand that every gift is beautiful, and we must be thankful for those who give them. It has been said that 'a person who loves plants and animals carries the seed of compassion within them.' With these priceless lessons from his father, the boy will grow into a good person and lead a life full of goodness.

Through the character 'I,' the author conveys a lesson about gratitude and love in life. Love and compassion make our lives happier each day.

In Nguyễn Ngọc Thuần's 'Vừa Nhắm Mắt Vừa Mở Cửa Sổ', the character 'I' leaves a deep impression with his ability to identify objects, his love for nature, and his affection for family. Surely, the character 'I' has evoked unforgettable emotions in the readers.

Firstly, we see the character's patience and eagerness to learn as he practices 'closing his eyes, touching flowers, and guessing their names'. Although he faced many challenges and made mistakes at first, he did not give up or become discouraged. He eagerly embraced his father's teachings with an open and joyful attitude.

Through these playful moments with his father, readers easily recognize the character 'I's talent for identifying things. Soon, 'I' was able to identify every flower in the garden by touching the petals with his eyes closed. Later, to further challenge him, his father hid candies around the house for 'I' to find. Before long, the boy could also accurately estimate distances based on the sound of footsteps, amazing Uncle Hùng, who exclaimed, 'I can't believe it, you have a magical eye.' This remarkable ability even saved a boy named Tí from drowning, which left everyone in awe. Later, he continued to practice by smelling flowers and guessing their species, and, as expected, 'I' won the game every time.

What stands out most about 'I' is his love for his family and his deep appreciation for 'gifts'. He loved Tí's name, thinking it was the most beautiful name, 'like a melody when spoken'. For him, beside the 'endless gift of the garden', he cherished his father as an immeasurable and invaluable gift. His exclamation, 'Ah! My gift is here! Oh, this gift is huge!' showed the profound affection he had for his father.

Additionally, his love for nature is profoundly embedded in his heart. It is through this sincere love for nature that 'I' could identify the flowers, believing 'the flowers are the guides'. Even with his eyes closed, the fragrance and beauty of the flowers always lead him in the right direction.

By using the first-person perspective of 'I', the author allows the character to express his personal feelings towards his family, loved ones, and even the blooming flowers. The rich language and innocent imagery reflect the character's pure and carefree view of the world. Through 'I', Nguyễn Ngọc Thuần conveys a deep respect and admiration for the fresh, warm qualities of childhood, while also expressing love for family, nature, and life itself.

The short story 'Vừa Nhắm Mắt Vừa Mở Cửa Sổ' by Nguyễn Ngọc Thuần takes us through the slow, ordinary moments of life, reminding us to return to the little things that nourish the soul. It reflects on small lessons a father teaches his child about love and gratitude.

The story is told from the first-person perspective, with the narrator being a curious boy with an uncanny ability to guess the names of various objects. The narrative begins with 'I' introducing the garden his father planted behind their house. The father teaches the boy patience by guiding him to 'close his eyes and touch each flower,' asking him to identify the flowers. At first, the boy makes many mistakes, but he doesn't give up and continues practicing under his father’s encouragement. Soon, 'I' can identify all the flowers in the garden with his eyes closed. This experience reveals 'I’s hidden talent for guessing objects. Beyond flowers, 'I' can even locate objects without opening his eyes, and he can judge distances from the sound of footsteps. Uncle Hùng is astonished and remarks, 'You have the eyes of a seer.' However, this talent is not just for play—it saves a boy named Tí from drowning, earning the admiration and gratitude of everyone.

Moreover, 'I' is a compassionate person who cherishes moments with family and loved ones. He loves Tí’s name so much that he finds it more beautiful than any other name, describing its sound as melodious like a song. While playing a game with his eyes closed, touching and naming gifts, he accidentally touches his father’s hand and humorously exclaims, 'Ah! Here's my gift. Wow, this one is huge!' This shows the deep affection 'I' has for his beloved father.

Notably, 'I' also shares a profound love for nature, as shown in the imaginary conversation at the end of the story. 'I' considers the garden an 'endless gift,' and the flowers are the 'guides.' His ability to identify flowers with his eyes closed comes from his deep emotional connection to and understanding of nature.

If the father is an exemplary figure, imparting valuable lessons, then the boy is a dutiful child who listens and learns these precious teachings. Through his father's lessons, 'I' learns to love flowers, appreciate every gift, and understand the importance of gratitude. As someone once said, 'Those who love plants and animals carry the seed of compassion within them.' With the wisdom imparted by his father, this boy will grow up to be a good person with a beautiful life.

Nguyễn Ngọc Thuần’s 'Vừa Nhắm Mắt Vừa Mở Cửa Sổ' has created a memorable character in 'I,' a boy with a wonderful family, where his father teaches him many valuable lessons. Through 'I,' the author conveys a lesson of love and gratitude, a truly meaningful lesson in life.

Reading the excerpt from "Closing My Eyes and Opening the Window" by Nguyễn Ngọc Thuần, one cannot help but be impressed by the protagonist's ability to guess objects, love for nature, and affection for family. Clearly, the character 'I' has left an indelible impression on readers.

At first, we observe 'I' as a patient and eager learner, practicing by 'closing my eyes and feeling the flowers, then guessing.' Though initially wrong, 'I' refuses to give up or get discouraged. Instead, the character eagerly accepts the lessons taught by his father with an open, cheerful attitude.

Through the playful games with his father, the reader quickly notices 'I's talent for guessing objects. Before long, 'I' could identify every flower in the garden by closing his eyes and touching them. Later, his father increased the challenge by hiding candy around the house for 'I' to find. Soon, 'I' could even estimate distances by the sound of footsteps, astonishing Uncle Hùng, who exclaimed, 'You have the eyes of a seer.' This very gift helped 'I' save Tí from drowning, leaving everyone in awe and gratitude. As time passed, 'I' continued practicing by sniffing and identifying flowers, and unsurprisingly, 'I' excelled at it.

What stands out the most in 'I' is his love for his family and his appreciation for 'gifts.' He admires Tí's name, saying, 'It’s the most beautiful name, its sound like a song.' To 'I,' the garden is 'an endless gift,' but his father is the most precious gift of all. When 'I' exclaims, 'Ah! Here’s my gift, it’s so big!' it reflects the deep and enduring bond 'I' shares with his father.

Moreover, 'I' is deeply in love with nature, which is why he can identify every flower and regard 'the flowers as guides.' His deep affection for nature enables him to find his way even with his eyes closed, led by the fragrance of the flowers.

Through the use of the first-person perspective, the author allows 'I' to reveal his personal thoughts and feelings about family, loved ones, and the beautiful flowers. The evocative language and pure imagery emphasize the character's innocent and carefree worldview.

Through 'I,' Nguyễn Ngọc Thuần expresses a heartfelt admiration for the beauty, warmth, and freshness of childhood, while also showcasing a deep love for family, nature, and life itself.