Top 7 Best Essays Analyzing the Character of Thi Kinh in the Opera 'Quan Am Thi Kinh' for Grade 7

Quan Am Thi Kinh is a famous traditional opera of the Vietnamese theater. The play is divided into three parts. Part 1 is the murder accusation: Thiện Sĩ, son of the wealthy family of Sùng ông and Sùng bà, marries Thị Kính, the daughter of a poor farmer. One day, while his wife is sewing and he is reading, he dozes off. When Thị Kính notices a stray hair growing under his chin, she picks up a needle to trim it. Thiện Sĩ wakes up startled, crying out in alarm. Sùng bà accuses Thị Kính of attempting to kill her husband and scolds her harshly, sending her back to her parents' house. Part 2 is the false pregnancy accusation: Unable to explain her innocence, Thị Kính disguises herself as a man and takes the Buddhist name Kính Tâm at the Vân Tự temple. Thị Mầu, the daughter of a wealthy man, falls in love with Kính Tâm, but unable to seduce him, she sleeps with the servant boy, Nô, and becomes pregnant. In desperation, Thị Mầu accuses Kính Tâm, who is wrongfully expelled from the temple. Thị Mầu leaves her child with Kính Tâm. Part 3 is the resolution of the unjust accusations: After three years, Kính Tâm earns a living by begging for milk to feed Thị Mầu's child. Eventually, she dies and ascends to the Lotus Throne, becoming the Bodhisattva Quan Am. Before her death, she leaves a letter for the child, revealing her true identity as a woman and the deep compassion and endurance she possessed.

The central events of the opera are the accusations of murdering her husband and the false pregnancy charge. Through these events, the folk playwright reflects the tragic fate of women in the feudal society. Although these two events come from different periods of Thị Kính’s life, they are closely connected. Each situation is painful and filled with sorrow, yet each has its own unique characteristics. Together, they form a complete tragedy of a woman’s life. In addition to its plot, the opera highlights the noble qualities of women and condemns the evils of feudal society.

The opening section, which centers on the false murder accusation, involves five characters who contribute to the dramatic conflict and help reveal Thị Kính's virtuous nature. Thiện Sĩ and Sùng ông are weak and indecisive characters, serving only to highlight the cunning and cruelty of Sùng bà. The core conflict of the opera is presented through the tension between Sùng bà and Thị Kính (the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law). Sùng bà is an evil character, representing the feudal landowner class with traits such as arrogance, pride in her noble lineage, and an unwavering belief that she is the standard by which others should be judged. Thị Kính, the main female character, represents a poor working woman. She is a kind and gentle daughter-in-law who is wrongfully accused of attempting to kill her husband. The in-laws of Thị Kính bring multiple false charges against her, resulting in her shattered happiness, banishment from her husband’s house, and the deep sorrow of witnessing her beloved father being humiliated.

The conflict between Sùng bà and Thị Kính, outwardly a simple dispute between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, is fundamentally a deep-seated struggle between the oppressor and the oppressed. This marks the first turning point in the play, where the low status and position of poor women within feudal marriage and family dynamics are revealed.

The play opens with a warm domestic scene (the wife sewing, the husband reading), which, though not as commonly depicted in folk songs about farming, still conveys the laboring people’s desire for family happiness.

The image of the wife’s care for her husband stands out. Thị Kính’s actions toward Thiện Sĩ are tender and gentle. When her husband falls asleep after studying late into the night, she carefully arranges his belongings and fans him. Seeing a hair growing out of place on his chin, she becomes worried, sensing a bad omen. Thị Kính wants to improve her husband’s appearance: 'First for his beauty, then for mine... Heartfelt love for my husband, my mind is at ease.' Her concern reflects the deep affection a wife has for her husband.

Before she can act on her kind intention, Thiện Sĩ wakes up startled, grabbing a knife and shouting for help: 'Oh my God! Oh my mother! Oh my village!' The whole house wakes up, and without asking for clarification, Sùng bà accuses Thị Kính of attempting to murder her husband: 'You wicked girl, do you intend to kill my son?'

Sùng bà’s response is harsh and brutal. When Thị Kính cries out for an explanation, Sùng bà pushes her to the ground and forces her to listen to further insults without allowing her to defend herself. Sùng bà’s words are full of scorn and humiliation. Every word she speaks adds another charge against Thị Kính, even without understanding the situation. She accuses Thị Kính of being an immoral woman, coming from a lower-class family unworthy of joining her noble household.

The harsh words and actions of Sùng bà expose the cruelty and injustice of the feudal system. Her speech is filled with classist distinctions, mocking Thị Kính’s background and comparing it unfavorably with her own noble lineage.

Thị Kính’s response to the accusations is one of patient endurance, calling out for justice in vain. Her repeated cries for justice are directed at her husband and mother-in-law, but they go unanswered. The husband, Thiện Sĩ, is a weak and passive character who abandons his wife in her time of need. His inaction only exacerbates the suffering of Thị Kính. In the end, she seeks solace from her father, Mãng ông, but even he can only offer helpless sympathy.

The final tragic outcome of the accusation is the dissolution of Thị Kính’s marriage. Before sending her away, Sùng bà and Sùng ông set up a cruel deception, bringing Mãng ông under false pretenses and forcing him to accept Thị Kính back. Their cruel scheme further degrades Thị Kính and her father.

The final scene portrays Thị Kính leaving her husband’s house, holding on to the last remnants of her domestic life. The items she picks up—her sewing tools and the half-finished garments—are symbols of her dedication and love, now turned into evidence of her supposed disloyalty. This reversal of her intentions causes great emotional pain for Thị Kính, who is left in despair, questioning where she can go and what her future holds.

In the face of her heartbreaking loss, Thị Kính’s character remains true to her virtuous nature, embodying patience and gentleness. The audience’s sympathy for her grows, and the condemnation of the cruel Sùng bà intensifies.

The opera concludes with Thị Kính’s decision to leave her life behind and seek refuge in the Buddhist temple, hoping to find spiritual peace. This resolution reflects both positive and negative aspects: while she seeks a way to preserve her integrity, she also accepts her fate as a result of destiny’s cruelty. Thị Kính’s acceptance of suffering reflects the hopelessness that many women in feudal society faced, unable to challenge the injustices imposed upon them. Yet her character’s inner purity and devotion continue to resonate, elevating her story as one of profound moral strength.

Quan Am Thi Kinh, in both its full play and in this excerpt from the opening scene, is a powerful representation of the tragic lives of many women in the past, while also celebrating the virtuous qualities of poor women in feudal society.

The lives of those from humble backgrounds in society are often marked by great suffering, evoking sympathy and compassion. The character Thi Kính in the Cheo play "Quan Âm Thị Kính" embodies such a life, with the beauty of her inner soul and her tragic fate simultaneously drawing admiration for her character and sorrow for the unfortunate life of a woman in a feudal society filled with injustice.

Thi Kính was born into a poor family but was a virtuous woman. Initially, she was a wife who devoted herself to her husband and her in-laws. This virtue is evident in a small act where she notices her husband’s beard growing in the wrong direction and wants to trim it to improve his appearance. This simple gesture reflects her deep love for him. There is nothing wrong with this action, on the contrary, it is a loving act. However, her husband, instead of understanding her, misunderstood her intentions as an attempt to harm him. It is tragic when two people who live together fail to understand each other's hearts.

Born into a poor family and married into a family of a different social status, Thi Kính’s fate took a turn for the worse. This mirrors the plight of many women in feudal society, where harsh traditions and societal constraints become the root of misfortune, leading to greater suffering. Her position in society, where she had no voice, made her vulnerable to being wrongly accused. When she was accused, her gentle nature did not lead her to fight back against the harsh words of her in-laws. Instead, she simply begged for understanding and compassion.

Only her father showed some empathy, but he lacked the influence to clear her name. Facing the injustice of society and the unexplainable injustice she faced, Thi Kính called upon the divine, seeking confirmation of her pure heart. Eventually, she decided to disguise herself as a young monk, taking refuge in Buddhism so that someone might understand her pain. This decision reflected her filial piety, as she feared the gossip of neighbors and wanted to protect her family’s reputation.

Through her actions, we see how a woman of virtue and grace could suffer such injustice. At the outset, Thi Kính did nothing wrong; everything stemmed from her good intentions, yet because of distrust, it led to disaster. Her life was never marked by wrongdoings or harm to others, yet she continuously bore the heavy burden of an unjust fate. This tragedy is compounded by the fact that she had no recourse, as those with power controlled the narrative, and she, a powerless woman, could do nothing to defend herself.

In the end, we feel deep sympathy for her and for other women who, despite their beauty and virtue, are doomed to suffer. Thi Kính’s story remains a poignant reminder of the unfairness faced by the humble, but it also highlights the admiration and respect for a woman of integrity and grace.

In ancient society, women were often subjected to injustices and hardships they couldn't express to anyone. The play "Quan Âm Thị Kính", particularly the excerpt "Nỗi oan hại chồng" (The Misfortune of Killing the Husband), vividly portrays this suffering and the many tragedies of a woman's life, criticizing the old social system. Thị Kính was born into a poor family and was married off to Sùng Thiện Sĩ, a well-off scholar.

One night, as Thiện Sĩ, her husband, slept due to exhaustion from his studies, Thị Kính was fanning him and noticed a reversed hair under his chin. She used a knife to trim it. Startled, Thiện Sĩ awoke, misinterpreting Thị Kính’s action as an attempt to kill him, and screamed. His family, unable to discern the truth, falsely accused Thị Kính of attempting to murder her husband and forced her to return to her father’s house, ignoring her desperate explanations.

Thị Kính, along with her father, journeyed home but soon decided to part ways with him and disguised herself as a man to enter the monastic life. Despite coming from a humble background, Thị Kính was a modest, kind, and loving woman who deeply cared for her husband. Her situation reflected the common plight of women in the old society, who, like the saying "thân em vừa trắng lại vừa tròn, Bảy nổi ba chìm với nước non", were often swept by the tides of fate. However, despite her virtuous nature, Thị Kính was falsely accused of killing her husband and could not clear her name. In a society that did not value women, she was abandoned and ignored by the very man she had married, facing injustice and oppression without recourse.

Despite the harsh treatment, Thị Kính pleaded for forgiveness: "Oan cho con lắm mẹ ơi" and "Mẹ xét tình con, oan cho con lắm mẹ ơi". She longed for understanding, but the response was cruelty and harsh reproaches. This depicts the tragic fate of women in the old society, vulnerable and easily trampled upon. Even her mother-in-law, a woman herself, showed no compassion for Thị Kính, insisting that she be sent back to her family. For Thị Kính, this was the ultimate despair.

The only person who understood her plight was Mãn Ông, her father, but he too was powerless in the old social system. In his sorrow, he lamented: "Con ơi/ Dù oan con nhẫn chẳng oan/ xa xôi cha biết nỗi con thế nào?" Despite being misunderstood by society, Thị Kính continued to seek solace through spiritual means: "Nhật nguyệt rang soi" and prayed to her parents, resolving to live as a man and pursue the monastic path.

This act reflects Thị Kính's overwhelming sorrow and hopelessness, a reflection of the hopelessness faced by many women in ancient society. It is a powerful critique of the decayed social system, and an expression of the desire for a better life, found in the refuge of religion.

Through Thị Kính’s character, we witness the tragic fate of women in the past, who suffered from numerous injustices. At the same time, the play reflects deep humanism, emphasizing compassion for those who face misfortune.

Vietnam boasts a rich variety of famous art forms that have preserved their traditions over time, such as Tuong, traditional theater, water puppetry, and more. One of the most distinguished forms of art is Cheo, a traditional folk opera that combines singing, dancing, and storytelling. It is greatly loved and widely enjoyed by the people. The Cheo play 'Quan Am Thi Kinh' is one of the most iconic and outstanding examples of this art form. In the 7th-grade literature curriculum, students are often tasked with reflecting on the character of Thi Kinh. Thi Kinh represents the women of the feudal society, who endured hardship, suffering, and unjust accusations, ultimately seeking refuge with Buddha. She is a woman who showed resilience, cared for her husband, and managed the household, but still faced numerous setbacks. She also embodies the ideal that the people aspire to: 'good deeds bring good fortune.' Below is a model essay that students can refer to for their studies. Wishing you success.

In 'Quan Am Thi Kinh,' the scene 'The False Accusation of Killing Her Husband' is essential in understanding the distinctive features of the work, especially in terms of its literary script. This is the first tragedy in Thi Kinh’s life, the main character of the play.

Thi Kinh was born into a poor farming family, and she was married to Sung Thien Si, a handsome scholar known for his love of studying. One day, after a long reading session, Thien Si fell asleep. While watching her husband’s handsome face, Thi Kinh noticed an odd hair growing on his chin. With a pair of scissors from her sewing kit, she decided to trim it. However, Thien Si suddenly woke up, saw his wife holding a knife near his neck, and mistakenly thought she was attempting to kill him. This led to Thi Kinh being falsely accused, abandoned by her husband, and condemned by society. Her rash action caused the tragic 'false accusation of killing her husband.'

In this scene, Thi Kinh cries and pleads six times, with four of those times she begging the matriarch: 'Oh mother, I am so wronged... Please, mother, understand my innocence...' The more she cried, the harsher the woman scolded her. To Thi Kinh, her only recourse was to cry out to the heavens. She was wrongly accused of murder, a crime deemed unforgivable, and her mother-in-law refused to listen to her explanations, casting her out of the house. The humiliation and suffering that Thi Kinh endured reflect the plight of poor women in feudal society.

Born into a poor family, Thi Kinh hoped that her marriage into a wealthier household would ease her suffering. She thought that marrying a learned husband would lead to a happy and peaceful family life, but instead, the rich family looked down on her, treating her as insignificant. Her husband was weak and indifferent. Even her own father was disrespected by Sung's family, despite the connection through marriage. Father and daughter cried together, a pain deeper than any other. Thi Kinh turned to Thien Si for sympathy, but he remained unmoved. Only her father, Mang Ong, expressed empathy and shared her pain. Upon hearing his daughter’s cries, Mang Ong lamented:

'My dear!

Whether right or wrong, I do not know,

But far away, I can feel your sorrow.'

Trying to comfort his daughter, Mang Ong urged her to return home, 'Come back with me, my child.'

At the end of this excerpt, 'The False Accusation of Killing Her Husband,' Thi Kinh laments her fate. She is tormented by the scorn and mockery she faces. She curses her destiny and the actions of both her parents-in-law: 'The hand that was once gentle now tears apart the golden thread.' She wishes for 'the sun and the moon to shine upon her injustice,' and she prays for her parents’ understanding. Her resolve to disguise herself as a man and enter the monastery to seek refuge with Buddha reflects her despair and the depth of her suffering. The image of Thi Kinh quietly leaving her in-laws’ home signifies a belief deeply rooted in the people’s consciousness: the path to enlightenment through Buddha is the only way to salvation.

This narrative illustrates the hopelessness not only of Thi Kinh but of an entire class of people, trapped in a society that offered no escape from their injustices. Their voices reflect a strong condemnation of a corrupt society, and their hopes for a better world are akin to the peacefulness of a monastic life. Thi Kinh embodies the plight of women in an unjust society, and through her, we see the deep humanitarian values of the play, both in this excerpt and the work as a whole.

In the Cheo play 'Quan Am Thi Kinh,' we encounter not only the cruel and heartless character of Sung Ba but also the image of Thi Kinh, a gentle and virtuous woman who suffers deeply from injustice and misfortune. Her qualities and fate are most vividly expressed in the excerpt 'The False Accusation of Killing Her Husband.'

Thi Kinh is a beautiful and modest girl from a poor family. Thien Si is drawn to her beauty and virtue, and they marry, leading to a peaceful and happy married life. One day, while Thi Kinh is sewing and her husband is reading, Thien Si becomes drowsy and falls into a light sleep. Thi Kinh fans him, and notices an odd hair growing on his chin, so she attempts to trim it. Startled, Thien Si wakes up, screams, and his parents-in-law accuse her of attempting to kill him.

First and foremost, Thi Kinh is a dutiful and loving wife, caring for her husband: 'The bond of marriage is eternal/ Beautiful face of the husband reflects on the wife. How could a single strand of hair grow askew?/ Beneath the chin, a twisted growth appears/ While my husband sleeps, I act with care/ A sharp blade trims the unruly hair.' These words reveal that she is a diligent woman, sewing and taking care of her husband’s needs, even ensuring he sleeps soundly (fanning him). She is committed to making her husband proud, as she believes his appearance reflects her own. Her intent to trim the hair was an act of love and care, but it unwittingly leads to the tragedy of a false accusation.

Although she is beautiful and virtuous, Thi Kinh’s fate is cruel. Despite the harsh actions of her mother-in-law—insults, abuse, and being pushed to the ground—Thi Kinh remains polite and respectful. She pleads her innocence five times: three times with her mother-in-law, once with her husband, and once with her father. Unfortunately, all her pleas are in vain. Sung Ba, having already condemned her as guilty, dismisses her words as mere excuses. Her explanations only add fuel to the fire. She seeks sympathy from her husband, but Thien Si, weak and indecisive, does not defend her, contributing to her unjust fate. Only her father, Mang Ong, understands her suffering, though he, too, is powerless to help.

Thi Kinh is mercilessly cast out of the house, and her father is shoved aside. This marks the dramatic climax of the story. Thi Kinh suffers not only from the breakdown of her marriage but also from the humiliation of seeing her father mistreated. This drives her to leave. Before departing from what was once her home, she gazes at the familiar objects—her sewing kit, the chest, the books—once symbols of happiness now turned into reminders of her wrongful accusation. Her gaze is filled with both nostalgia and deep sorrow.

She chooses to shave her head and seek refuge in a monastery. This decision is inevitable: she cannot stay at her husband’s house, where both her in-laws and her husband despise her, blaming her for the alleged murder. She cannot return home either, as it would bring shame to her parents. In the feudal society, being cast out of her husband’s house would be a great disgrace to her family. The only escape left is to disguise herself as a man and enter the monastery. She hopes that in the temple, she will find peace and that Buddha will witness her innocence. Her decision reflects her passive response to her circumstances, revealing the hopeless fate of women in the old society. It condemns a callous society that victimizes the virtuous.

Through exceptional dramatic techniques, the play portrays Thi Kinh as both a beautiful and tragic figure. The folk authors not only celebrate the admirable qualities of women in feudal society but also voice compassion for their unfortunate fates at the hands of societal evil.

In the rich treasure of folk art, Cheo is a unique form of art, a theatrical genre that is deeply rooted in Vietnamese culture. It combines various elements such as acting, dance, singing, and storytelling. Throughout the turbulent changes in history and the evolution of art, Cheo has maintained its significant role, contributing to the emotional and spiritual nourishment of the Vietnamese people. Among the many remarkable Cheo plays, the performance 'Quan Am Thi Kinh' stands out as a perfect example. This play, particularly the excerpt 'The Wrongful Grief of the Husband,' illustrates the admirable qualities and tragic fate of the character Thi Kinh.

First and foremost, Thi Kinh is portrayed as a woman with many virtuous qualities—gentle, graceful, always attentive to her family, and deeply in love with her husband. Thi Kinh is the daughter of a poor peasant family, but she is beautiful in both appearance and character. It is likely because of her beauty and moral virtues that Thien Si decided to marry her. After their wedding, Thi Kinh continued to be a virtuous woman who cared deeply for her husband.

'The bond of marriage is eternal,

First, it is to honor the husband, then to honor oneself.'

'How could one single whisker rise?'

'The beard grows strangely beneath the chin.'

'When the husband wakes, what should be done?'

'Now, in the midst of a hazy dream,

The wife feels pity, but how can her heart rest?'

'With the sharp knife, I cut the beard carefully.'

These words and actions show that Thi Kinh was a diligent, hardworking woman who spent her days sewing and mending clothes. At the same time, they also demonstrate her caring nature, as she sewed and fanned her husband to sleep. However, these actions also reflect her deep love and concern for him. She believes that by enhancing her husband's appearance, she is enhancing her own as well, and she feels a strong responsibility to take care of his beauty. This love for her husband led her to make the decision to cut his beard. Unfortunately, this simple act became the catalyst for her unjust suffering.

As a woman of many virtues, Thi Kinh should have enjoyed a peaceful and happy life. However, fate dealt her a cruel hand. When she attempted to cut her husband's beard, Thien Si woke up and, not understanding the situation, mistakenly accused her of trying to harm him. In response, Thien Si's mother, Sung Ba, used cruel words to insult and humiliate Thi Kinh, even pushing her to the ground. Despite the harsh treatment from her mother-in-law, Thi Kinh remained composed and tried repeatedly to explain her actions, but her words fell on deaf ears.

For Sung Ba, Thi Kinh's pleas only seemed to add fuel to the fire. She had already decided that Thi Kinh was guilty, cruel, and heartless. Helpless and desperate, Thi Kinh turned to her husband, hoping that he would understand and help her clear her name. However, contrary to her expectations, Thien Si could do nothing to help her, as he was weak-willed and, more importantly, did not understand the situation. In the end, Thi Kinh's efforts to explain herself were in vain. She was left to endure the injustice alone, with no one to stand by her side.

Thi Kinh was cast out of her home, with no way to explain the wrongful accusations against her. Her father was also humiliated, and she witnessed the shame he endured. There is no greater sorrow than what Thi Kinh felt at that moment—her marriage and family were shattered, her trust in those closest to her was broken, and she had to witness her father's disgrace. In the face of such overwhelming pain and helplessness, Thi Kinh had no choice but to leave. Before leaving, she glanced back at the basket of sewing materials, the wooden stool, and other household items—symbols of a time when she was happy and at peace, but also now reminders of the unjust suffering she had endured.

With a heavy heart and sorrowful eyes, Thi Kinh turned her back on her past. She decided to seek refuge in the temple. This choice seemed inevitable for her, as she had been rejected by her husband's family and could not return to her own parents, as the customs of the time did not allow it. She disguised herself as a man and took refuge in Buddhism, hoping for a peaceful life where she could prove her innocence. However, this decision also reflected her sense of helplessness, as it was a passive response to the harsh and unjust circumstances she faced. It highlighted the fate of women in the old society, who were often pushed into such corners by the unforgiving norms of the time.

In conclusion, the play 'Quan Am Thi Kinh' and the excerpt 'The Sorrow of Myself' vividly depict the intense dramatic conflict and the fascinating portrayal of the character Thi Kinh—a woman of many admirable qualities who is forced to endure a tragic, unjust fate. Thi Kinh represents the plight of women in ancient society, where virtue and innocence were often overshadowed by misfortune and oppression.

Among literary and artistic works, Cheo may be one of the oldest genres. The vitality of Cheo has lasted through time, carrying many values that resonate with us all. Among the Cheo plays I know, 'Quan Am Thi Kinh' is perhaps my favorite due to the meaningful details and lessons it imparts. Through this play, we learn much about what we need to strive for in life. The play begins with the excerpt 'The Wrongful Grief of the Husband,' which marks the beginning of the sorrow and misunderstanding faced by Thi Kinh in her in-laws' house.

As for Thi Kinh, she is portrayed as a modest and virtuous woman, always caring for her husband's family and managing the household with great attention. One day, while sewing clothes by her husband's side as he slept, she noticed a beard growing in an unusual direction. After a moment's thought, she decided that by cutting it, not only would her husband look better, but it would also bring good luck. Little did she know, this simple decision would lead to great misunderstandings. As her husband awoke from his sleep and saw her holding a pair of scissors near his throat, Thien Si, her husband, became suspicious and frightened. His first reaction was to shout, and this suspicion set off a series of unfortunate events that would make Thi Kinh's life much harder.

When Thien Si called out, Sùng Ông and Sùng Bà rushed in. Sùng Bà, known for her harsh and sharp tongue, immediately accused her daughter-in-law of attempting to harm her son, without seeking to understand the situation. In the old society, such accusations were among the most severe, and Thi Kinh found herself unable to defend herself. Every time she tried to explain, her mother-in-law scolded and dismissed her. It wasn't until the fourth time that her father, Sùng Ông, finally spoke in her defense, but even then, it was out of helplessness, as he was too submissive to his wife. In the old feudal society, women were often considered inferior to men, and in the household of Sùng Ông and Sùng Bà, both men lacked the courage to stand up for themselves.

But the deepest sorrow for Thi Kinh came from her husband, Thien Si. While her in-laws' ignorance was understandable, her husband's inability to protect her from such misunderstandings was a heavy burden. Despite being the one closest to her, he failed to act as a husband should, leaving her vulnerable. This is the tragedy of many women in the old society: having a husband by their side, yet being left unprotected when misfortune strikes. Had Thien Si intervened with just a few words or taken the time to investigate the matter, things might have turned out differently. This is one of the great sufferings of women during that time. Thi Kinh's pain grew as her mother-in-law and husband turned their backs on her, leaving her helpless. What began as an innocent act—a good intention—spiraled into a whirlwind of hardship. The excerpt uses many contrasting pairs of words, such as 'for so long—suddenly,' 'sharp scissors—solitary bed,' emphasizing the deep sorrow of Thi Kinh. The once loving marriage was shattered by a trivial misunderstanding.

This is perhaps the most tragic aspect for any wife, and at times, we may even find ourselves blaming Thien Si. He was a scholar and should have been the most knowledgeable person in the household, capable of resolving important matters. But he did nothing. He merely stood by and watched as his wife was scolded by his mother, failing to take any action that a man should. This reflects the plight of women in that era.

In conclusion, this excerpt is one of the most dramatic parts of the play, and through its characters, we gain a deeper understanding of the suffering women in that society had to endure—sufferings that they could not share with anyone, but had to bear alone.