"The Farewell of the Dolls" by Khanh Hoai leaves a deep, emotional impression on readers. As we read this work, we can never forget the image of Thanh and Thuy, two poor and pitiful children who must part ways due to the conflicts of adults.
Illustration Image"Children are like buds on the branches, knowing how to eat, sleep, and study are what make them good." These are the words that Uncle Ho spoke about children. Yet, in real life, many children still live without the warmth of love due to unfortunate circumstances. The image of these unfortunate children is somewhat captured by the author Khanh Hoai in his work "The Farewell of the Dolls," through the characters Thanh and Thuy.
Illustration ImageI have read many literary works that feature images of children, such as the two sisters Lien in "Two Children" by Thach Lam, and the little Ti in "Lights Out" by Ngo Tat To. However, the image that left the deepest impression on me is that of the siblings Thanh and Thuy in the short story "The Farewell of the Dolls" by Khanh Hoai.
Thuy, like her brother, is a kind and loving child. She has always been with her brother and their family. She deeply loves Thanh and has taken care of him since they were young. She once brought a needle and thread to the playground to fix his shirt so he wouldn’t be scolded by their mother. When she heard she would have to leave her brother and live with their mother, Thuy was devastated, trembling in shock and sorrow. She cried through the night, unable to stop. What made it even more painful was that she would no longer go to school, but instead would have to sit at the market selling fruit. Thuy’s heartbreaking fate represents the many children who are forced into adult situations far too early due to family breakdowns. Khanh Hoai's story deeply explores the pain of children when their homes are torn apart and underscores the vital importance of a happy, loving family for children."The Farewell of the Dolls" by Khanh Hoai is a touching and meaningful work. It moves me not only because of the innocent and endearing relationship between the siblings Thanh and Thuy but also because of the sudden separation between them, two sensitive and pure souls. People often say that dolls don't cry. They are inanimate objects, incapable of emotion. But human beings, with flesh and blood, are different. They can feel joy, sadness, anger, and sorrow when faced with life's challenges or losses. Thanh and Thuy are just like that. Not only do they love each other deeply, but they also hope their parents will not separate, so their hearts won’t experience the pain of separation. Thanh is a devoted older brother, always caring for his younger sister. Despite their few toys, he gives them all to Thuy. Thuy, though young and childish, takes care of her brother by preparing her doll, Vệ Sĩ, to guard him from nightmares. When Thanh divides their dolls between them, including Vệ Sĩ and Em Nhỏ, Thuy is heartbroken to realize that they will soon be separated. It is not their decision; the divorce of their parents forces them apart, tearing away their happy memories. The story highlights the painful truth that children, too, suffer when their homes fall apart. I wish for one thing: that their small, happy family would remain whole, and the smiles would return to these innocent children’s faces.
When Thuy’s friends learned about her separation from her brother, they were heartbroken, especially upon hearing that she would no longer be able to go to school. It’s a harsh reality. All Thuy wants is for her family to stay intact, for the smiles to return to her and Thanh. Adults never understand what children go through when they witness the breakup of their parents and have to say goodbye to the people they love the most. The dolls, too, must witness this heart-wrenching scene. I wonder if they would cry if they had to part after spending so much time together, playing with such lovable and kind souls. Perhaps they wouldn’t cry because dolls don’t have tears. But the separation left an indelible wound in Thanh and Thuy’s hearts, a wound that cannot be healed. Even so, life goes on. "People still go about their daily lives, and the sun still shines brightly on the landscape." The siblings may be separated, but I believe they will always remember each other and the childhood they shared, never to forget. My heart aches at the moment of their farewell when Thuy makes Thanh promise that the dolls will never sit apart, just like the two souls will always watch over each other throughout their lives.This story serves as a lesson about sibling love, leaving a lasting impression on the reader. What did the dolls do wrong to deserve parting? They, too, long for happiness in the arms of loving parents. The painful and emotional farewell between the two children reminds us that family holds an important place in everyone’s heart. To protect and preserve family happiness, we must prevent separations like this, so that children do not suffer irreversible losses.
In life, any kind of separation brings sorrow and heartache. It's the inevitable parting of love or family due to various reasons, and the separation seems to be the most reasonable solution. Among the most painful of these is the scenario where parents unknowingly cause their children, the innocent young ones who don’t understand the meaning of separation, to endure great pain, a profound shock. This is reflected in the short story ‘The Separation of the Dolls,’ where the character Thành feels that this event is nothing short of a ‘disaster.’
The story unfolds in a deeply sad setting where the parents of two children, Thành and Thủy, get a divorce. The mother gets custody of the younger child, Thủy, while Thành, being older, stays with the father. The children, who have no say in their lives, are forced to be torn apart in tears. The title ‘The Separation of the Dolls’ serves as a metaphor for the separation of these two children, as the dolls represent them—innocent and faultless, yet they too must part. The blame lies with the adults, but the disaster falls on the children. The dolls are inanimate, but because Thành and Thủy must separate, the dolls too must be separated. This establishes a chain of interconnected events. The title not only leaves a lasting impression but also prompts deep reflection on the actions of the adults, whose decisions indirectly cause such suffering for their children.
The story features two main characters: Thành, the older brother, and Thủy, the younger sister. The entire narrative and the emotional development of the characters are presented from the perspective of Thành, through the first-person narrative. This perspective is entirely fitting as Thành is older and more mature, and through his observations, we understand Thủy’s internal struggles. Thủy is a kind, skilled little girl who loves her brother dearly. She is too young to fully grasp the concept of divorce, let alone understand that she will soon be separated from her brother and father. She expresses all her emotions outwardly, sobbing in distress until her eyes are swollen. She can’t accept the sorrow of this family breakup, as everything seemed so perfect before.
The separation hits like a nightmare, leaving Thủy quiet and changed, emotionally distant. It’s as though she’s growing up too fast, coping with the pain by shutting down. Even the thought of giving up her toys, which children hold dear, no longer matters to her. Thủy gives everything to Thành, as she knows that family is more important than toys. But when Thành tries to divide their favorite dolls, ‘Vệ Sĩ’ and ‘Em Nhỏ,’ Thủy immediately reacts with anger, shouting, ‘You’re splitting up the Vệ Sĩ from the Em Nhỏ? How can you be so cruel?’ This may seem like childish behavior, but it’s more than that. Thủy has been holding in her emotions since yesterday’s cry, and Thành’s actions have shattered her facade. The dolls symbolize the bond between the two siblings, and Thủy cannot bear to see them separated. She sees this as an extension of her parents’ divorce, asking why they must separate even the dolls when they’ve already torn her family apart.
However, Thủy’s compassion still shows through when she tells Thành, ‘If your shirt ever tears, come to me, and I’ll sew it for you.’ This demonstrates the deep affection and care she holds for her brother. As the story concludes, Thủy reluctantly accepts that the dolls must part, but she insists that Thành promise not to separate the dolls, as they are a symbol of their lasting bond. Even though they are going to be separated, they will always remember each other.
In the story, Thành’s inner world is not explored as deeply as Thủy’s, as Thành serves as the narrator and observer. However, through his actions and words, we see that he is a mature and thoughtful child. He suppresses his emotions, holding back tears by biting his lip to avoid crying aloud. Although his heart aches, he expresses this through his dry smile, which reflects the bitterness of the situation. Thành compares the divorce and the separation of the siblings to a ‘disaster,’ hoping it was all just a bad dream. His love for his sister is evident in the way he shares his toys with her, even when he himself is in pain. Throughout the story, Thành watches over Thủy with a mix of love, sadness, and regret, aware that the distance between them will only grow. He treasures the time left with her and strives to commit every moment to memory.
At the end of the story, Thành’s strength finally crumbles, and he weeps, making a promise not to separate the dolls. The heartbreaking farewell with his mother and sister signifies the emotional depth and complexity of their relationship. ‘The Separation of the Dolls’ is a poignant story about sibling love, the pain of separation, and the long-lasting impact of parental actions. It teaches readers the value of cherishing family and understanding the consequences of one’s choices on the lives of others, particularly children, who bear the weight of adult decisions.
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The short story “The Farewell of the Dolls” by Khánh Hoài is a poignant and meaningful work. It moves the reader not only through the innocent and warm affection between the siblings Thành and Thủy, but also through the sudden and heart-wrenching separation between the two, and their innocent and tragic hearts.
Dolls, usually lifeless objects, do not express emotions, but humans are different. People experience a wide range of emotions: joy, sadness, and the inevitable change in feelings driven by circumstances. For Thành and Thủy, they are siblings who deeply love each other and hope their parents don’t divorce to prevent their family from falling apart.
Thành is a kind, loving older brother who dotes on his younger sister, even though he has few toys, he always wants to share them with her. As for Thủy, although she is still a little girl, her actions stem from sincere love. When Thành accidentally tears his shirt while playing football, Thủy takes a needle and thread to the field to fix it, fearing that he might be scolded by their mother. She loves him dearly and is also very skillful. Her thoughtfulness extends to placing a toy soldier, “the Protector,” by his bed to guard him from nightmares, which showcases her genuine affection.
Thủy shows how unbearable it is for her when she sees Thành dividing their dolls. Her heart breaks at the thought of being separated from her brother, and she cries for an entire night, her eyes swollen from the tears. The two siblings, Thành and Thủy, are far too young to endure such an experience. Like dolls, they too have emotions, yet they are not the ones deciding their fate. It is the parents who cause the separation, leading to a broken family, and the joyful memories that once filled their days fade away.
When Thủy faces the even harsher reality that she will no longer be able to go to school, both Thủy and Thành wish for this to be a bad dream, wishing their home wasn’t falling apart. The difference in the way adults and children experience such partings is vast. Saying goodbye to those they love the most is an incredibly painful and sorrowful moment. This separation has caused a deep wound in the hearts of the two children that nothing can heal.
Despite the separation, Thành and Thủy will always remember each other, and the beautiful memories they shared. Thủy makes Thành promise never to let their dolls be apart, symbolizing that no matter where they are, the bond between them will remain unbroken. This story teaches us a profound lesson about the sincerity of sibling love, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of those who read it.
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