Top 7 Best Essays Analyzing Ha Du's Character in Lu Xun's "Medicine" (Grade 12)

Lu Xun's short story "Medicine," written in May 1919, carries a profound message. The work addresses the conflicts of the nation and the era, raising concerns about the nation's suffering. It strikes at the deep-seated spiritual illness of the people. "Medicine" reflects the paralysis and ignorance of the masses, along with the tragic fate of the pioneering revolutionaries in early 20th-century China.

Although Ha Du does not appear directly in the narrative, his role is crucial as he is the catalyst for the entire conflict, influencing the events that unfold. Ha Du is the son of the Fourth Uncle, a well-known figure in his village. When Ha Du is arrested and imprisoned, just before his execution, he boldly attempts to spread revolutionary ideas to Lao Yi, a conservative character, urging him to join the revolutionary cause. This defiant act leads to him being slapped by Lao Yi. Revolutionary figures like Ha Du were committed to fighting against the feudal Qing dynasty, willing to sacrifice their lives for the greater good of the revolution and national liberation. Yet, among the ignorant masses, they fought alone and were misunderstood. To the common people, Ha Du was seen as a demon, a troublemaker, a villain.

For some, such as Ba Khang, Ha Du was a pitiable figure; for Lao Hua, he was simply mad, and for Nhan Go, he was a genuine lunatic. Ha Du's death benefited a few opportunistic individuals. Lao Hoa was able to buy the medicine (a steamed bun soaked in Ha Du's blood) to treat tuberculosis, while Ba introduced his grandson to authorities to claim a reward. Even Ha Du's own mother could not comprehend her son's actions. She lamented, calling him a victim, and cursed those who had caused his death, saying, "Heaven has eyes. They will be punished." The masses, unable to understand the sacrifices of revolutionaries like Ha Du, abandoned him. This lack of support made the revolutionaries' struggle isolated and without solidarity, which diminished their collective strength.

Ha Du's grave was placed in the executioners' cemetery, beside a small dirt path. This imagery symbolizes the career and sacrifices of revolutionaries like Ha Du during that time. He had understood the revolution early, yet was not recognized by the masses due to their ignorance and spiritual stagnation. The nation needed a metaphorical medicine to cure the people’s spiritual illness. At his grave, Ha Du's elderly mother was surprised to find a simple wreath of white and pink flowers, unadorned but neatly arranged. This symbolic gesture signifies that even in a time of widespread apathy, there were still individuals who understood and remembered Ha Du's sacrifice. The people would eventually awaken, and the revolution would find its way forward.

In conclusion, Ha Du was a pioneering revolutionary fighter, willing to sacrifice everything for the cause of overthrowing the feudal system. Even as a condemned prisoner, he continued to advocate for the revolution, embodying the ideals and struggles of those fighting for national liberation.

Lu Xun is a prominent figure in Chinese literature. He is one of the few writers who truly understood the function of literature and courageously pursued his calling as a writer. He believed that "Literature transforms the national character" and argued that the Chinese people at the time were suffering from ignorance, "sleeping in an iron box with no windows." These concerns of his are reflected in the character Ha Du in his work, "Medicine."

Though Ha Du is only indirectly portrayed through the reflections of other characters and the attitude of the narrator, he holds a special place as the central figure of the story. He is first and foremost depicted as a patriot and a pioneering revolutionary, courageously sacrificing himself for a greater cause. Through Ha Du, Lu Xun expresses deep respect and sympathy for the revolutionary fighters of the 1911 Revolution. Lu Xun himself stated that Ha Du was inspired by Thu Can (both Ha and Thu are part of the jade family, symbolizing nobility and purity). In the atmosphere of terror during the revolution, this name was used as a way to avoid censorship. Thu Can was a pioneering female revolutionary who studied in Japan, participated in the revolution, was exiled, and founded the first Chinese women's newspaper advocating gender equality and fighting feudalism. She was eventually arrested and executed at the age of thirty-two (1875–1907). Her execution site, in Shaoxing, is subtly referenced in Lu Xun's work.

Lu Xun often mentioned Thu Can, and her tragic fate left a deep impression on him. However, Thu Can also symbolized the generation of youth who had awakened early in that era. In the story, Ha Du is emblematic of the youth with clear revolutionary ideals: to overthrow the throne, expel foreign invaders, and gain independence. Ha Du is portrayed as brave and fearless, even spreading revolutionary ideas to the prison guards as he awaited his execution.

Yet Ha Du is also a solitary figure, misunderstood by everyone, even by his own mother. He sheds his blood for the people, but they use his blood to cure tuberculosis. He is called a demon, a fool, a wretch, and even a madman. People gloat about how he was slapped by the prison guard for spreading revolutionary ideas. They even fight over his clothes and his blood. His blood, dripping drop by drop, is exchanged for money, turning his noble death into a tragic, bloody spectacle. Even after his death, his mother visits his grave with shame and confusion, unable to comprehend his cause. The graves of revolutionaries like Ha Du are relegated to the right side of the cemetery, where criminals and executed prisoners are buried. A well-worn path separates the two sections, symbolizing the divide. This path represents the separation and misunderstanding that Ha Du faced, even in death, due to the ignorance of the masses and the alienation of the revolutionaries from the people.

Ha Du can be seen as a symbol of the 1911 Revolution, a movement that sought to overthrow the feudal Qing Dynasty but ultimately failed due to its detachment from the masses. "Medicine" serves as a cry for support for the revolutionaries lost in isolation, as well as a heartfelt expression of a writer’s optimism: "For my part, I still believe that I am not someone who has something to complain about, but perhaps because I have not fully forgotten the loneliness and pain of my past, I sometimes cannot help but cry out to encourage those brave souls struggling in isolation, hoping that they will be stronger at the execution grounds…" (Lu Xun, Preface to Cry, 1922).

"Medicine" is written concisely, with rich imagery and symbolism. The construction of characters is unique, with the revolutionary figure placed in the background, behind the crowd, in order to highlight the theme of awakening the masses. The narrative is mostly in the third person, but many passages shift perspective to the characters themselves, adding dynamism to the story.

"Medicine" remains one of Lu Xun’s brilliant artistic creations. Through this work, Lu Xun revealed his deep concerns and reflections about China and its people. The value of "Medicine" extends beyond its era, resonating with audiences even today.

Lỗ Tấn là một trong những nhà văn xuất sắc nhất của văn học Trung Quốc. Ông chủ trương lấy tác phẩm của mình để chữa trị căn bệnh tinh thần cho người dân Trung Hoa lúc bấy giờ. Thuốc là một trong những tác phẩm tiêu biểu nhất của ông, được sáng tác năm 1919 khi cuộc vận động Ngũ Tứ bùng nổ. Trong truyện ngắn này, bên cạnh hình ảnh chiếc bánh bao tẩm máu đầy ám ảnh, ta còn ấn tượng sâu sắc với nhân vật Hạ Du, người cách mạng nhưng lại chịu cái án xử tử đầy bi thảm.

Ở tác phẩm trước hết là sự xuất hiện của nhân vật đám đông, họ xuất hiện lần đầu tiên vào buổi sáng sớm, ở pháp trường, khung cảnh diễn ra vô cùng náo loạn. Trong họ mang niềm phấn khích tột cùng, háo hức đến xem cảnh hành hình người chiến sĩ cách mạng Hạ Du. Lần thứ hai đám đông được tác giả khắc họa khi trời đã sáng hẳn, lúc này không gian có sự thay đổi, từ pháp trường dịch chuyển về quán trà của lão Hoa, họ bàn tán, bình luận về người tử tù, về cái chết của tử tù, về những việc Hạ Du đã làm.

Nhân vật Hạ Du không được trực tiếp xuất hiện trong đoạn trích này mà chỉ được xuất hiện trong những lời bàn tán của những người khách bên quán trà của nhà ông Hoa. Nhân vật này có vai trò rất quan trọng trong việc hình thành ý nghĩa tư tưởng của đoạn trích, bởi nó là mắt xích chi phối toàn bộ sự việc trong tác phẩm. Nhân vật Hạ Du là nhân vật biểu hiện cho lí tưởng cách mạng, là người chiến sĩ giác ngộ cách mạng rất sớm khi nhận ra dân tộc mình đang sống trong bóng tối của sự u mê. Thậm chí có người còn nói anh là điên, là khùng, dở hơi đi làm những chuyện đó.

Hạ Du dành cả cuộc đời, tuổi xuân của mình để hoạt động cách mạng, thậm chí khi bị giam giữ trong trại giam đợi ngày tử hình thì Hạ Du vẫn hiên ngang tuyên truyền lí tưởng cách mạng. Tuy nhiên, mọi nỗ lực của anh lại không được đền đáp, đấu tranh, dâng hiến cả sự sống cho sự nghiệp đấu tranh của nước nhà nhưng điều Hạ Du nhận lại chỉ là sự miệt thị, coi thường của quần chúng. Ngay cả mẹ của anh cũng không thể hiểu được những điều anh đang làm và từng có lúc xấu hổ vì có người con là kẻ phản tặc, chú ruột của anh vì cái lợi trước mắt mà bán đứng anh cho chính quyền.

Bộ mặt tàn bạo của xã hội phong kiến Trung Quốc, họ không thấy được cái giá trị, việc làm của Hạ Du. Tác giả phê phán, vạch rõ sự u mê, mù quáng, lạc hậu của quần chúng, những kẻ không có tinh thần dân tộc, tư tưởng mất gốc, lạc hậu về chính trị. Qua dư luận của quần chúng, nhà văn Lỗ Tấn cho ta hiểu nhiều điều gì về các chiễn sĩ cách mạng ở Trung Quốc lúc bấy giờ. Qua biểu hiện của dư luận và sự ghẻ lạnh của quần chúng cho thấy sự thoát li quần chúng của nhân vật Hạ Du. Hoạt động cách mạng của hạ Du quá đơn độc theo chủ nghĩa anh hùng cá nhân. Điều đó thức tỉnh con người rằng nếu các chiến sĩ cách mạng không giác ngộ quần chúng để khi chết không ai hiểu gì về ý nghĩa về việc làm của mình thì mọi lý tưởng cao đẹp cũng trở thành vô nghĩa lí.

Qua hình ảnh nhân vật Hạ Du, tác giả bày tỏ sự kính trọng, cảm phục nhân cách, lòng yêu nước của người chiến sĩ cách mạng Hạ Du, đồng thời bộc lộ lòng thương cảm sâu xa đến những chiến sĩ tiên phong của cách mạng Tân Hợi. Ở cuối truyện, hình ảnh vòng hoa trên mộ Hạ Du chính là niềm lạc quan của tác giả về con người và tương lai của dân tộc. Mẹ Hạ Du thăm mộ vào tiết Thanh minh và phát hiện có vòng hoa trên mộ, bất giác bà giật mình. Rõ ràng có một vòng hoa, rồi bà ngạc nhiên đến sững sờ. Vòng hoa không có nhiều hoa nhưng được đặt rất chỉnh tề, trang trọng. Với hình ảnh vòng hoa trên mộ thể hiện một niềm mơ ước, nguồn an ủi, niềm tin của tác giả vào sự hi sinh của người chiến sĩ cách mạng, không phải mọi người đều hững hờ.

Qua hình tượng nhân vật Hạ Du, truyện ngắn Thuốc là tiếng nói phê phán quyết liệt sự lạc hậu của quần chúng nhân dân và mong ước nhân dân sẽ tiến bộ hơn, có cái nhìn đúng đắn hơn về người chiến sĩ cách mạng.

Lu Xun is a towering figure in Chinese literature, often credited with laying the foundational stones for the nation's revolutionary literary movement. As Quach Mac Nhuoc once remarked, "Before Lu Xun, there was no Lu Xun; after Lu Xun, there were countless Lu Xuns." Through his extraordinary talent and dedication, Lu Xun directed his writing to shed light on the harsh realities of society, believing that literature could serve as a mental remedy for the people of China—"healing the spirit is even more important than healing the body."

The short story 'Medicine' was written with these humanitarian ideals in mind. It not only reflects the ignorance and backwardness of the Chinese populace at the time, but it also portrays the tragedy of a revolutionary whose efforts are unrecognized and unsupported by the very people he seeks to liberate, exemplified by the character of Ha Du. Ha Du is never described directly but instead emerges indirectly through the stories and reflections of other characters, yet his role is crucial in conveying the story's core ideological message.

Ha Du is based on the real-life figure of Thu Cun, as Lu Xun himself confessed, "Writing about Ha Du was to commemorate Thu Cun, a revolutionary soldier from the Guangfu Society." Thu Cun, a pioneer of Chinese women's rights, contributed significantly to the revolution but died young at the age of 36. She was executed for her involvement in the movement.

Ha Du is a character deeply committed to revolutionary ideals, with a clear and noble goal: to overthrow the imperial throne, expel foreign invaders, and secure freedom and independence for the people. Yet, in the eyes of the local tea shop owners, the couple, and much of society, Ha Du is seen as a "devil" or a "madman." To those around him, the revolutionary is misunderstood.

In the tea shop, the customers find it amusing when they hear that Ha Du was slapped twice by a prison warden for declaring that "the Qing dynasty belongs to us." To them, his execution was just, with no sympathy to be had. Even after his death, his blood spilled on the execution ground becomes a commodity, sold as a miraculous cure for the ill son of the tea shop owners, Mr. and Mrs. Hoa.

The greatest tragedy in Ha Du's revolutionary journey is the misunderstanding and betrayal he faces from the very people he sought to help. Even his own mother, ashamed of his actions, distances herself from him. His uncle is the one who betrays him, reporting his activities in exchange for a few coins.

When Ha Du dies, his grave is placed in the cemetery's section for executed prisoners, a symbolic separation from the people he fought for. The narrow path leading to his grave reflects the social divide between the revolutionary and the masses, highlighting the ignorance and disconnection between the people and politics, partly due to the revolutionary leaders' own isolation from the common folk.

The image of the pink and white wreath on Ha Du's grave at the end of the story conveys Lu Xun's deep respect for the martyr's sacrifice. The wreath not only moves Ha Du's mother, who begins to understand her son's actions, but also symbolizes a hopeful belief in the future of the revolution.

Lu Xun is one of the most distinguished writers in Chinese literature. His work aimed to cure the mental illness that plagued the Chinese people at the time. 'Medicine' is one of his most representative works, written in 1919 during the May Fourth Movement. In this short story, beyond the haunting image of a blood-soaked bun, the character Ha Du stands out—a revolutionary who faces a tragic death sentence.

Initially, the story introduces the crowd, who first appear early in the morning at the execution ground, where the scene is chaotic. Filled with excitement, they eagerly gather to witness the execution of Ha Du, the revolutionary fighter. Later, the crowd reappears as the narrative shifts from the execution ground to the tea shop of Mr. Hoa, where they gossip about the condemned man, his death, and his revolutionary deeds.

Ha Du does not appear directly in this excerpt; instead, he is discussed by the customers at Hoa’s tea shop. The character plays a pivotal role in shaping the ideological meaning of the passage, serving as the central link that drives the entire narrative. Ha Du represents the revolutionary ideal, a fighter who became politically conscious early on, realizing that his nation was in the darkness of ignorance. Some even called him mad for pursuing such actions.

Ha Du dedicated his entire life and youth to the revolution, even continuing to spread revolutionary ideas in prison, awaiting his execution. Yet, his efforts go unrecognized. Despite fighting and sacrificing his life for his country's struggle, Ha Du is met only with ridicule and contempt from the people. Even his mother failed to understand his actions and was once ashamed to have a son branded as a traitor, while his uncle betrayed him for a small gain.

The brutal reality of feudal Chinese society is depicted, where the value of Ha Du’s actions is ignored. Lu Xun critiques and exposes the ignorance, backwardness, and lack of national spirit among the masses, who are politically disconnected and ideologically lost. Through the public’s opinion, the author reveals much about the revolutionary fighters in China at that time. The cold reception and alienation from the people show Ha Du's separation from the masses. His revolutionary actions were too isolated, marked by an individualistic heroism. This serves as a wake-up call, showing that if revolutionaries do not awaken the people to the meaning of their struggle, even the most noble ideals will be rendered meaningless.

Through Ha Du, the author expresses respect and admiration for the revolutionary soldier’s character and patriotism, while also conveying deep sympathy for the pioneers of the 1911 revolution.

At the end of the story, the image of a wreath on Ha Du’s grave symbolizes the author’s optimism about both the individual and the future of the nation. Ha Du's mother, visiting his grave during the Qingming Festival, is startled to find a wreath on it. The simplicity and respectful arrangement of the wreath convey a sense of hope, comfort, and faith in the sacrifices made by the revolutionary, signaling that not everyone remains indifferent to his death.

Lu Xun successfully crafted the character of Ha Du, a figure whose silence speaks volumes, significantly impacting other characters and the plot's progression. Ha Du never directly appears in the story; instead, he is introduced through the perspectives of other characters and the narrator’s attitude towards him.

Ha Du is a patriot and a courageous revolutionary who sacrificed himself for a greater cause. Driven by the dream of "transforming human life," he traveled to Japan to learn about the Meiji Restoration and later joined a revolutionary organization. Upon returning to China, Ha Du began spreading revolutionary ideals and faced persecution, even being murdered. His character represents the idealistic, brave revolutionaries who fought for the nation’s independence, yet he also remains profoundly lonely, misunderstood by nearly everyone, including his mother, who mourns his unjust death.

The fate of Ha Du mirrors that of other revolutionaries of his time, such as Tu Zi Lin and Thu Cun, whose struggles and tragic deaths are symbolic of the plight of patriotic reformers. Specifically, Thu Cun, a pioneering female revolutionary, was executed at the age of 32—an event that left a deep impression on Lu Xun. Her tragic fate became a symbol of the early awakening youth in that era.

Despite Ha Du's tireless fight for his country, he is seen as a traitor by the ignorant masses. They eagerly anticipate selling his blood as a supposed cure. Even Khang, the executioner, seeks to profit from his death by stealing his clothes. Ha Du’s own uncle betrays him for a mere 25 ounces of silver, while the youth call him a “demon” or “madman.” These reactions highlight the brutal, backward nature of the feudal society in which Ha Du lived. The author criticizes the blind ignorance of the masses, who fail to see Ha Du's noble actions, revealing their lack of national spirit and outdated political views.

Through public opinion, Lu Xun conveys much about the revolutionaries in China at the time. The cold indifference of the masses reflects Ha Du's isolation from the people. His revolutionary actions were marked by individual heroism, yet his failure to awaken the masses made his noble ideals meaningless. Lu Xun uses this to remind us that without the people's understanding and support, even the most virtuous cause can be in vain.

Ha Du symbolizes the ideals of the Xinhai Revolution, a movement that aimed to overthrow China’s feudal monarchy but ultimately failed due to its detachment from the people. Through Ha Du's character, Lu Xun expresses his admiration for the revolution while critiquing the ignorance of the masses. The story of Ha Du is a call for the awakening of the people, urging them to see revolutionaries not as enemies but as heroes who fought for their future.