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1. Reference Essay 4
What could be more painful and heartbreaking than existing within a community only to be cast aside, abandoned by it? This is the most tragic of all human fates – the tragedy of being denied one's right to humanity. With the sharp pen of a writer who deeply understands both life and people, Nam Cao powerfully portrays the heartbreaking tragedy of Chí Phèo in his eponymous story.
At the beginning, we don't see any characters, only the sound of cursing echoing throughout the work. Why does this person curse? Why are the curses so harsh, filled with anger and frustration? These are the curses of Chí Phèo after returning drunk from drinking, cursing the heavens, life, the village of Vũ Đại, and even those who do not engage with him. He doesn't hesitate to curse even the woman who gave birth to him. But Chí is alone in his monologue, with no one to respond, except perhaps the thought that no one dares to engage with him. As a result, his cursing merges with the barking of dogs and the rantings of a drunken man. From the very start, the author exposes Chí’s tragedy. Then, the narrative delves into his past, uncovering the successive tragedies that marked his life – with each new tragedy more painful than the last.
Chí Phèo was born in an abandoned old brick kiln, rescued by a man who took him in and raised him. From the moment of his birth, Chí was denied the right to live, to be human. Though he was saved, Chí was forced to live as a wanderer, moving from one house to another. His life was homeless, without a father or mother, without relatives, and without a place to call home (Nguyễn Hoàng Khung). From birth, Chí's life was a tragedy.
As he grew, Chí became a strong farmhand and worked for the family of Bá Kiến. Chí was as gentle as the earth, yet he was constantly summoned by Bá Kiến’s wife to massage her feet, which humiliated him. People dislike what they look down on. But Chí’s life took a darker turn when the lecherous Bá Kiến caught him and, in his jealousy, sent him to a colonial prison. This was the second tragedy in Chí’s life. The brutal and cruel treatment in the colonial prison transformed Chí completely. From an innocent man, he became a thug: his teeth became unnaturally white, his eyes cold and menacing, instilling fear in everyone. He drank heavily, went to Bá Kiến’s house to slit his own face and beg for sympathy, and eventually became Bá Kiến’s henchman. He did whatever Bá Kiến ordered, destroying families and causing pain and tears to many innocent people. Chí Phèo sank deeper into drunkenness, losing his humanity and appearance. No one could recognize the once gentle Chí Phèo. His life was consumed by alcohol, with one drunken episode following another. From then on, he was always drunk. His bouts of drunkenness spilled over into each other, and when he awoke, he was still intoxicated, hitting his head, slashing his face, yelling, and threatening people. He was never sober. Perhaps he didn’t even know he had become the monster that terrorized the villagers of Vũ Đại. Chí Phèo’s life continued to spiral downward in this quagmire. Had Chí continued to drink, to keep slashing his face and begging for sympathy, he might have eventually forgotten his own tragedy. But he didn’t. He met the one person who would bring light into his life – Thị Nở, who made Chí realize the tragedy he had long ignored or forgotten due to his drunken stupor.
Before meeting Thị Nở, Chí Phèo wasn’t aware of his own tragedy. But after meeting Thị Nở, experiencing her care and simple kindness, the goodness within Chí Phèo was awakened. The morning after meeting Thị Nở, for the first time in many years, Chí heard the familiar sounds of life: birds singing, people going to market. These sounds were so warm and familiar, reminding him of simpler times when he was a normal person with simple hopes and dreams. Chí was shaken back into the present, realizing that his future was lonely and full of hunger. He trembled with fear. Especially when Thị Nở brought him a bowl of porridge with green onions, in the most natural and caring manner, Chí was truly moved. His eyes welled up with tears. This love and care helped resurrect the humanity he thought he had lost, making him realize his yearning to reconcile with society and be a good person. With his unique psychological insight, Nam Cao masterfully illustrates how, despite the brutal oppression of the peasantry, the best qualities of the people will never be entirely destroyed.
But what could be more painful than when Chí, ready to return to the path of normalcy and become an upright man, is met with cruel prejudice that slams the door on his hopes? Chí is denied his humanity in the most painful and brutal way. The words of the old woman epitomize this prejudice, pushing Chí into despair: 'Are all the men dead, that we must marry a man with no father, no mother, who only knows how to slit his face and beg for sympathy?' The fragile happiness that had just begun to bloom was brutally crushed by an authoritarian society. This final tragedy is even more painful and agonizing because Chí is fully aware of his own plight. He realizes that even when he is ready to change and reintegrate into society, they still reject him. Therefore, Chí’s only option is to kill the man who caused his tragedy and end his own life. He dies, killing the distorted version of himself, in order to preserve the humanity that has been awakened within him.
The tragedy of Chí’s life is the result of the colonial prison, the oppressive society with its outdated prejudices, and Chí himself. Through the tragedy of being denied his humanity, Nam Cao deepens the pain of the peasant, driven to the brink of despair. At the same time, he demonstrates his belief in the potential for redemption and the inherent goodness in every human being. This also showcases Nam Cao’s exceptional artistic talent.
2. Reference Essay 5
Nam Cao was a major realist writer in Vietnamese literature before the revolution. After the revolution, he eagerly joined in the anti-colonial press. He made significant contributions to the development of Vietnamese short story and novel styles in the first half of the 20th century. 'Chí Phèo' is one of the most outstanding works of pre-revolutionary Vietnamese realism. Through his sharp writing and skillful character development, Nam Cao highlighted the tragic denial of humanity experienced by the protagonist, Chí Phèo. Through this character, the author effectively explores why an innocent farmer transforms into a cruel, inhuman figure.
Chí Phèo's process of degeneration occurs in two stages. Each phase represents a profound shift in his character's vitality. First, as a gentle farmer, he is unjustly imprisoned. With no crime, he is thrust into a criminal life and deprived of his right to live. After being released from prison, Chí Phèo becomes a 'monster'—a brutal and violent figure. The second stage comes when Thị Nở awakens his desire for a virtuous life, but despite his renewed gentleness, social barriers prevent him from reintegrating into society. His hope fades as he is once again rejected by Thị Nở, and the door to redemption slams shut. His tragedy reaches its peak.
Nam Cao’s portrayal of Chí Phèo’s tragedy is both solid and resilient. For the first time in literature, a character who is physically disfigured stumbles through life in a drunken stupor. The brutal and horrifying destruction of his humanity is rendered powerfully. Chí Phèo loses his human essence, living entirely by animalistic instincts, wallowing in endless intoxication. He commits any vile act without hesitation. Nam Cao courageously confronts this harsh reality, knowing it may evoke pain and fear in the reader. He doesn't shy away from this cruelty but presents it with raw honesty.
Nam Cao does not let his characters descend into vulgarity. Beneath Chí Phèo’s madness lies a suppressed yearning for goodness, an urge to rise and reclaim his humanity. However, faced with the overwhelming forces of colonial society, this instinct is tragically thwarted. His desperate resistance bears no positive results, leading him into ultimate despair.
Previously, Chí Phèo was a kind-hearted, respectable farmer, but because of Bá Kiến's jealousy, he was unjustly imprisoned. After enduring years of suffering and mingling with society's underclass, Chí Phèo's soul darkens. From a simple, moral man, he is transformed into a monstrous, hateful figure. His humanity is entirely eroded. His appearance is grotesque: a shaved head, sharp, glaring teeth, and a dark, menacing face.
In this cruel society, the more one submits, the more one is trampled. To survive, Chí Phèo resorts to robbery, extortion, and violence. He turns to alcohol as an escape, living perpetually drunk, doing whatever others command him to. Over time, he loses the ability to recognize himself or recall his identity. Everyone sees him as an animal, not a human anymore.
Endless days of drunkenness, senseless curses, and reckless actions are the desperate struggles of a man who seeks to return to virtue but cannot. In light of his insanity and grotesque appearance, we feel more sympathy than anger. For it is the colonial prison, the brutal oppression of the ruling class, and the disdainful attitudes of those around him that pushed Chí Phèo to this path. The good-hearted Chí Phèo was born to a tragic, forsaken mother who secretly abandoned him at a brick kiln. Meanwhile, the wicked Chí Phèo—the one who has lost all humanity—was shaped by the cruel colonial feudal society full of injustice.
If in 'Tắt đèn' by Ngô Tất Tố, the character Chị Dậu sells her children and milk, yet remains human, Chí Phèo, on the other hand, must sell his very identity and soul to become the demon of Vũ Đại village. He does this simply to exist. However, even in his desolate soul, some goodness still lurks, untouched by the cruel circumstances of society. Nam Cao does not abandon his character. He observes Chí Phèo with deep empathy, watching him in his drunken stupor, his sleep, his every move, understanding him with a profound sense of compassion. Even within Chí Phèo’s wretched body, Nam Cao finds a flicker of humanity, a yearning for virtue that still stirs but cannot be acted upon.
The meeting between Chí Phèo and Thị Nở after the drunken night at Tư Lãng's house seems like a twist of fate. The gentle care from Thị Nở, symbolized by the warm bowl of porridge, awakens Chí Phèo's old dreams and desires for a family, for happiness. It acts like a miracle that soothes his pain and heals his wounds. After that night, Chí Phèo feels a strange, euphoric sensation, an unfamiliar feeling—happiness. He feels joy because he has someone by his side who is kind and loving, the first person who isn’t afraid of him. For the first time, someone feeds him a decent meal, something he had previously had to steal or extort. These small acts, seemingly insignificant to others, are to Chí Phèo a profound blessing. The warmth of Thị Nở’s simple affection rekindles his dormant conscience, reviving the goodness in his soul. The once monstrous 'demon' becomes the only source of light in his dark existence. The awakening of his humanity is ignited by Thị Nở’s love, despite her coarse, unattractive appearance. It proves the miraculous power of love.
Nam Cao’s brilliance in 'Chí Phèo' lies in his depiction of the good qualities still present in Chí, even as he has degenerated into madness. Even when Chí Phèo behaves like an animal, seemingly beyond redemption, someone—Thị Nở—still shows him compassion. In the village of Vũ Đại, Thị Nở is the only one who understands Chí Phèo, who empathizes with his suffering. Thị herself is an outcast, having endured much scorn, which makes her more sensitive to the pain inside Chí Phèo, a lonely man abandoned by society.
The bowl of porridge from Thị Nở moves Chí Phèo to tears, helping him realize that the greatest pain in life is not hunger or poverty but the absence of love. The porridge serves as a divine remedy, awakening feelings long dormant in his heart, reigniting his desire to live better.
The encounter with Thị Nở awakens Chí Phèo’s long-lost dreams of a peaceful, modest life—working hard as a laborer, saving money to buy a pig. He hopes Thị Nở will be the bridge that connects him back to society. After the brief meeting with Thị Nở, Chí Phèo’s outlook changes. He starts to hear the sounds of life that once eluded him—the birds chirping, the fishermen's paddles in the water, the chatter of women returning from the market. These familiar sounds of life now fill him with a renewed sense of vitality. His heart, once as cold as stone, begins to stir. The human part of Chí Phèo is slowly revived as he craves righteousness and desires reconciliation with others. From a 'demon,' Thị Nở’s love transforms him back to his human self. This shows the extraordinary power of compassion.
But tragically, Thị Nở’s love is not enough to save Chí Phèo. Outside of Thị Nở, there is no one else to help him. His path back to virtue is abruptly shut. The little happiness that appeared is cruelly denied. As his human nature resurges, Chí Phèo realizes that he can never return to a virtuous life. Society has taken his humanity from him and will never restore it. The scars on his face—symbols of his violent past—are obstacles he cannot overcome. The society around him rejects him, not allowing him to embrace hope. His fleeting chance at redemption is extinguished by the cold water of reality. Once again, Chí Phèo is rejected and abandoned. Thị Nở, the one person he thought could be his bridge to salvation, turns away from him. Despite her affection, she is bound by her aunt's judgment and the prejudices of society, which prevent her from marrying Chí Phèo. Chí Phèo grasps for her hand in despair, but she pulls away, and he is left hopelessly lost.
Once more, Chí Phèo turns to alcohol. But this time, the more he drinks, the clearer his pain becomes. As he sobers up, he fully grasps the depth of his tragedy. In his anguish and rage, Chí Phèo decides to seek vengeance. He goes to Bá Kiến’s house to demand justice. In his bitter cry, Chí Phèo laments: 'I want to be a decent person, who will let me be decent? How can I erase the scars on my face? I can never be decent again. You know, there’s only one way.' Consumed by hatred and with no other option, Chí Phèo kills Bá Kiến and then takes his own life, using his self-destruction as a final, futile escape from his unrelenting fate.
Through the short story 'Chí Phèo,' Nam Cao exposes a social phenomenon in rural Vietnam before 1945, where a portion of hard-working, decent farmers was driven to a life of degradation and criminality. The author condemns the brutal society that destroyed both the body and soul of these farmers, while also asserting their inherent goodness, even when their appearance and character have been completely corrupted. Chí Phèo’s story is a desperate cry from the oppressed, a voice advocating for the right to be human, for the right to live with dignity, and for the hope of a life free from the dark forces of society that have trapped them in misery and despair.
3. Reference work number 6
Chí Phèo: "Stumbling out of the pages of Nam Cao, one immediately recognizes the full embodiment of the utmost suffering and humiliation of a peasant in a colonial country, torn apart, destroyed from humanity to physical form. Chi Dậu sells her child, her dog, and her milk, yet she remains human. Chí Phèo, on the other hand, must sell his face and soul to become a demon." (Nguyễn Đăng Mạnh). Among the countless agonies Chí has endured, one must pay attention to the tragedy of being denied his humanity. This central theme forms the core of the humane and realistic values of the work Chí Phèo.
"Tragedy is a painful, hopeless situation with no way out that a person must endure." Understanding this, Chí Phèo's fate is a long string of tragedies, each one more painful than the previous. Many argue that Chí's character is first introduced with a curse, and that is true! But perhaps it's not enough. Nam Cao often introduces his readers to the most pivotal moments in a character's life. When reading the opening lines of the work, readers encounter a nameless character, seemingly engaging only in a monologue. Through the use of artistic techniques such as short sentences and a choppy rhythm that makes the text feel fragmented and torn, the reader can vividly sense Chí’s torment in his denial of humanity. Chí curses the heavens (the supreme being of all life), Chí curses the village, "the close, sacred community of humans." But no one speaks up. They remain silent because they do not consider Chí human. No one in the village of Vũ Đại understands Chí, and had there been someone to curse alongside him, perhaps Chí would have suffered less. Because, even if one lives to curse, one cannot curse alone. Chí is left to curse the one who gave birth to him. Cursing the one who brought him into this world is also cursing himself. Chí’s curses reflect his deep anguish, even if unconscious, in search of the roots of his suffering. But sadly, Chí grows ever more trapped.
If only there had been someone in Vũ Đại village who spoke up, or later, if Thị Nở "Not only gave, but knew how to keep." If only, if only. Just one moment, if only one person among the thousands in Vũ Đại had recognized Chí as human, perhaps the tragic course of Chí's life would have been prevented. But what happened, happened. Nam Cao takes the reader back through time, guiding them through the process of Chí's gradual denial of his humanity, from low to high, and pointing to the root causes of his downfall.
Chí is described as "an abandoned child", "a man found naked and pale beside an abandoned kiln, taken in by a widow." The five words "one" in this long sentence seem to foreshadow Chí's solitary life. From the moment he first cried, Chí was denied his humanity by his mother and by society. Chí became an orphan. Perhaps because he grew up among working people, Chí became a strong farmhand with a sense of self-respect, "knowing not to like the things others despise." He longed for "a small family, with a husband working the land, and a wife weaving cloth." But life did not offer Chí what he could reach out for.
A trivial jealousy from Bá Kiến pushed Chí into prison. The feudal power, allied with the colonial prison system, stripped Chí of his freedom for seven or eight years. This was the second time Chí was denied his humanity. Prison transformed Chí into a different person. "He looked completely different when he returned." His human form was denied as prison took a part of his physical appearance. After prison, he appeared like a "stone soldier" (a prison guard), with a shaved head, overly white teeth, and a face completely devoid of humanity. He wore black pants and a yellow shirt, with his chest displaying carved phoenixes and a grotesque general holding a mace. This was the appearance of a thug, an aggressive person only capable of fighting, stabbing, and cutting. Upon returning to the village, Chí drunkenly sought revenge on Bá Kiến, acting out violently and cursing blindly. If revenge were a common right (an eye for an eye), Bá Kiến cleverly stripped Chí of even that right. Unable to avenge himself, Chí was forced to become a lackey for his enemy, a blind instrument in Bá Kiến’s service. He became a tool to cut faces, extort money, and stab anyone not aligned with his master. From then on, he sank into drunkenness, eating, sleeping, and fighting in a stupor. "He destroyed many families, shattered the happiness of many people, and caused the suffering of countless innocent people." Thus, his life spiraled downward. Looking at his face, no one could tell his age. His life was like a lost cause, his physical form was destroyed, and his humanity was eroded. The entire village of Vũ Đại avoided him whenever he passed by. Even he had forgotten that he existed in this world. It can be said that before meeting Thị Nở, Chí had been denied his humanity to the highest degree. But perhaps he did not recognize this, or he did so unconsciously, unable to find a way out. Chí had no choice but to throw himself into a life of drunkenness, empty curses, extortion, and hired violence.
One suffers less if they don’t know they are suffering. One experiences less pain when deprived of their humanity without even realizing it. Before meeting Thị Nở, Chí Phèo had no awareness of the tragedy of his life. Chí did not know that the way he was born was the gradual stripping of his human rights. Just as Chí reached the lowest point of his corruption, just when it seemed he would remain a demon forever, Nam Cao discovered a small spark deep within Chí’s spiritual depths. Chí longed to become a good person.
Thị Nở plays a crucial role in the work. A woman "silly and unattractive, yet the only light in the dark world of Chí in Vũ Đại village". Her female body did not stir any base instincts in him. Her compassion awakened the humanity that Chí had long since lost. After their brief affair, Chí began to hear the sounds of life that he had long ignored. After all these years, he could finally hear the birds sing, the happy chatter of people at the market, the sounds of fishing boats paddling to catch fish. These sounds reminded Chí of dreams he had when he was younger. For the first time, Chí felt sadness and began to "fear old age, hunger, illness, and loneliness – loneliness more frightening than hunger or illness". The bowl of porridge from Thị Nở stirred good feelings in Chí. Eating the porridge, he felt his eyes well up with tears. Just one act of love – even from a silly woman, a woman past her prime, with a lineage from a cursed family – was enough to awaken the human nature that had died in him. The transformative power of love is boundless. Nam Cao truly immersed himself in the character to empathize, sharing Chí's brief moments of human happiness. After more than twenty years of being denied his humanity, Chí Phèo finally found a path back to being human. He built a bridge to reconcile with the human world. This bridge was Thị Nở. If she could live with him, then the village of Vũ Đại could accept him. But tragically for Chí, Thị Nở could not stay with him. As her aunt said, "Are all the men dead? Why must she marry a man with no father or mother who only knows how to cut faces and extort money?"
Thus, the small happiness Chí had gained once again was taken away by society's consciousness. Thị Nở was like a rainbow after a storm, and Chí painfully realized that no bridge could return him to human life. Society, with its cruel values, had denied him the highest right – to live, to be human. No one would allow Chí to be a good person, not even when he demanded it. Chí could not erase the scars on his face, and he sorrowfully realized: "It’s no use anymore; only this is left." The only way was to die from the inside out, rather than live in misery. Chí’s final words, "I want to be a good person" to Bá Kiến, were also his way of speaking to himself. His act of killing Bá Kiến and committing suicide showed the reader that Chí had avenged himself at last. But the price he paid was too high. Chí’s death was a powerful condemnation of an inhuman society, a desperate cry for the right to be human.
Chí died, gasping for air in a pool of blood, but he did not die in vain. The vitality and enduring value of this character are immeasurable. Chí not only represents the suffering of peasants during a time of colonial subjugation but also embodies the madness and darkness that can arise in anyone, should they lose self-control or be nurtured by evil forces.
The tragedy of Chí Phèo's denial of humanity has many roots. Some come from society, while others stem from within Chí himself. When human rights are trampled upon, the tragedy of Chí Phèo becomes a pain for all of humanity.
4. Reference Paper No. 7
Some have argued that if Nam Cao had not written: "Chí Phèo", Vietnamese literature would have faced a significant gap. "Chí Phèo" is Nam Cao's debut work, which, from the moment of its release, became a milestone, a masterpiece of the realist literary movement. This work is a quintessential depiction of the Vietnamese peasant's life, showing the ultimate suffering of peasants under feudal society. In the works of other realist writers like Ngô Tất Tố or Nguyễn Công Hoan, the image of the peasant often reflects oppression and injustice, yet they retain their humanity. However, Nam Cao introduces a new perspective, revealing not only the tragedy of impoverishment but also the tragedy of moral degradation, the denial of their basic human rights.
In the opening scene, Nam Cao presents Chí Phèo with a striking and vivid image: Chí Phèo stumbles through the village, cursing loudly. His curses immediately make the reader sense something abnormal. Why would someone curse like that? Why is no one responding? But the curses are not random; they are deeply purposeful. Initially, Chí curses the heavens and the world, then the entire village of Vũ Đại. His target is vague until he curses his own existence, lamenting the fate that has led him to this misery. At this moment, his target is clear. Chí Phèo’s curses are a way of coming to terms with his tragic fate. But as he realizes the futility of his cries, he feels the deep pain of his condition. His desire for someone to respond, to acknowledge his humanity, is rejected. No one will curse him back, meaning they no longer see him as human. Chí Phèo curses the whole village, hoping for a response, but all he gets is eerie silence. He is left alone in a desert of isolation, surrounded only by three dogs and a drunken man.
Through this unique opening, Nam Cao not only introduces the story but also begins to reveal the dire situation of the character—how the peasant has been destroyed by society, stripped of his humanity, and rejected by the world. Chí Phèo’s initial suffering is the epitome of nothingness: no home, no family, no relatives, no land. But this is just the beginning. The greatest pain Chí Phèo faces is being abandoned by society, losing his soul, and being pushed to live a life comparable to that of an animal. From his past to the present, from his true nature to his outward appearance, Chí Phèo undergoes a profound transformation. Once a kind-hearted man, he fell into a life of crime after being manipulated and imprisoned by Bá Kiến. After years in prison, he emerged as a soulless, degenerate man, whose actions were only driven by alcohol: hired to kill, rob, and assault. His crimes accumulate in the eyes of the villagers.
It seemed as though Chí Phèo’s life would eternally spiral downward into the abyss of criminality and despair. Yet, the arrival of Thị Nở marks a turning point, lifting him from the depths of his miserable existence. This moment is pivotal—a turning point that brings Chí Phèo back to his humanity. The appearance of Thị Nở and the bowl of porridge she offers symbolizes compassion and human kindness. Despite being considered unattractive by the villagers, Thị Nở is the only one in the village who sees the humanity in him. The warmth of the porridge represents the warmth of human empathy, which awakens the long-buried goodness in Chí Phèo.
Once the humane side of Chí Phèo is revived, he begins to reflect on simple, forgotten joys—dreaming of a modest life with a small family, where he and his wife work hard, raise pigs, and slowly build a better life. He realizes that, under different circumstances, he too could have led an ordinary, peaceful life. But now, awakening to his age and loneliness, he sees himself as a wretched outsider, separated from the world. At this moment, he longs more than ever to be human, to converse and connect.
However, the brief period of happiness between Chí Phèo and Thị Nở is short-lived. Their brief happiness fades as society’s prejudice, represented by Thị Nở’s aunt, cruelly rejects them. When Chí Phèo wakes up to reality, he comes to a painful realization: he has been permanently excluded from society and can never truly become a good person in the eyes of others.
With his desire to be human fully awakened, Chí Phèo yearns for a life of integrity, but his dream is shattered. Like a rainbow fading after a storm, like a tiny flame extinguished before it can burn brightly, Chí’s desire to regain his humanity is rejected. He is left alone, suffering in his isolation, fully aware that there is no way back. "Who will grant me humanity? How can I erase the scars on my face?" This profound self-awareness is the epitome of Chí Phèo’s tragic fate. The scars on his face represent the indelible marks of his past crimes, a permanent reminder of his infernal existence. These scars are burned into the collective memory of the villagers, turning him into a horrifying figure. To them, Chí Phèo is the embodiment of evil, a monstrous figure, and this image cannot be erased. Prejudice has barred his path back to humanity.
Thị Nở is the one who revives Chí Phèo’s sense of compassion and kindness, but she is also the one who pushes him to the brink of death. Thị Nở is both the means and the victim of societal prejudice.
At this point, Chí Phèo faces the tragic choice between life and morality. Ultimately, he chooses death to assert his integrity. Chí Phèo kills Bá Kiến, the man who ruined his life, and then takes his own life. It is a cruel choice, but it is the only way for the virtuous side of Chí to survive, to preserve his human dignity.
Chí Phèo’s suicide is the final and most intense battle between his kind-hearted nature and his demonic persona. In this battle, Chí Phèo dies, but his integrity triumphs. It is the inevitable victory of good over evil, and it reflects Nam Cao’s deep commitment to humanist values and his belief in the spirit of compassion and humanity.
5. Reference Example No. 1
6. Reference Example 2
Delving into the tragic life of the character Chí Phèo from the short story of the same name by the writer Nam Cao, we encounter a dark and grim picture, painted with the brush of tragedy. It can be said that the number zero encapsulates the fate of Chí Phèo’s life. The tragedy of Chí’s existence runs throughout the entire work, and had Nam Cao chosen another title, it might well have been 'Tragedy'. The apex of Chí Phèo’s tragedy is his rejection of the right to be human.
First, we need to understand what tragedy is. Tragedy represents the conflict between the present and the desire. The present is unable to fulfill the individual’s desire, thereby pushing them into a desperate situation. Chí Phèo yearns to be a good person, but after his release from prison, he is cast out of a smooth life. Worse still, the life he longs for is one where people who had once helped him now reject him. The name 'Chí Phèo' carries with it scorn and disdain. In the fearful eyes of the villagers of Vũ Đại, Chí Phèo is a monstrous being, disconnected from humanity, no longer a person. In the opening curse of the story, the target of the curse gradually becomes more focused. Thus, it is clear that this drunkard is acutely aware of his solitude. He longs to be cursed, as being cursed at least means someone still recognizes him as a human. One can imagine a lonely, miserable person who walks through life just to be cursed, just to shout out, just to be acknowledged. But life remains silent to him. This silence is terrifying because it signifies abandonment and rejection. Yet, the tragedy of being denied one’s humanity reaches its peak when Thị Nở also rejects Chí.
One could argue that the cause of this rejection lies with his aunt. She represents the prevailing prejudice. The smooth life Chí seeks to return to is fraught with prejudice, and these prejudices block his path back. Through her scornful words towards Thị Nở, his aunt denies Chí Phèo’s desire for redemption. Thus, if evil had pushed Chí Phèo into a life of debauchery, prejudice now plunges him into the second tragedy of his life.
If we are to understand the tragedy of rejection, we must look into Thị Nở. Thị is ugly, poor, unattractive, and even has a bad reputation. Many have noted that Nam Cao constructed a metaphorical barbed wire fence around her character. Nam Cao refers to Thị Nở as 'a very repulsive creature'. Yet, this very creature also rejects Chí. This is the tragedy. Many have argued that Nam Cao went too far in depicting Thị Nở as so unattractive. However, the more repulsive Thị Nở is, the more tragic the situation becomes. Nam Cao created Thị Nở not to mock her, but to evoke sympathy.
When Chí Phèo grasps what Thị Nở is saying, he stands stunned, feeling dazed. The sensation of someone flying high in the happiness of love, only to be suddenly plunged into the depths of despair, overwhelms him. This renders Chí numb to all his feelings. Through this, we can perceive Nam Cao’s deep understanding of character psychology. When Thị Nở leaves, Chí Phèo chases after her, calling out, even holding her hand. This evokes a deep sorrow in the reader. Chí Phèo realizes he is like someone about to drown in the river of despair. He has always yearned to return to a smooth life. And for Chí, Thị Nở represents a lifeline, a bridge, a door that could lead him back to the community—a place he once departed from. But the lifeline is snatched away, the bridge is pulled back, and the door slams shut before him. Everything seems to end with a period. Chí Phèo drinks, but the more he drinks, the clearer his mind becomes, the more the pain intensifies, and the more the smell of onion porridge surfaces. The smell of the onion porridge represents love, and it lingers in Chí’s heart as a never-ending regret. It’s as if something unbearably painful happens when the author describes a man, once known as a monster, now abandoned, lonely on the river of despair, holding his face and weeping bitterly.
From despair, Chí takes a knife and kills Bá Kiến because he knows neither his aunt nor Thị Nở is at fault. We remember that Nam Cao once said: 'Art may be just the cry of suffering that comes from a life of hardship.' So, could this 'cry of suffering' be the very question 'Who will grant me goodness?' that Chí Phèo asks? This question is of its time, planting sorrow, pain, regret, and endless haunting in the hearts of those who hear it. Chí Phèo’s death is a tragic one. Chí Phèo was born with no joy, and when he dies, no one mourns him. This is the tragedy. And the tragedy deepens when Chí Phèo dies on the cusp of becoming a decent person. This is the greatest tragedy of his life. Through the tragedy of Chí Phèo’s rejection of humanity, Nam Cao criticizes a cruel and unjust society that not only takes from him what he has but also what he longs for. Alongside this, we can also sense the author’s hope that the people will rise up in struggle and his belief in the innate goodness of humanity.
With all of this, even after closing the book, the reader is unable to quell the sorrow and regret for a wretched soul who was denied the right to be human. Through his talent, Nam Cao has created a masterpiece not only in the 1930 - 1945 period of critical realism but also a masterpiece of modern Vietnamese literature.
7. Reference Paper Number 3
During the period of Vietnamese literature from 1930 to 1945, most authors focused on the lives of peasants, but each writer had their own unique approach to exploring these characters. Nam Cao, however, sought to delve into the suffering of the honest, hardworking peasants. Born into a peasant family in the village of Dai Hoang, Nam Cao's life was filled with hardships and struggles. He was a man of great compassion, especially towards the poor, oppressed peasants. In 1951, Nam Cao passed away, but he is revered as a writer and a soldier, regarded as a towering figure in Vietnamese literature. His work 'Chí Phèo' underwent three title changes: initially called 'The Old Brick Kiln,' it was later renamed 'A Perfect Match' by the publisher before Nam Cao settled on 'Chí Phèo,' a title that would become a masterpiece of his career.
To truly understand the tragedy of Chí Phèo's rejection of his humanity, it is essential to first understand what tragedy means. Tragedy is often a deep sorrow, derived from intense internal or external conflicts, and typically ends with the death of the main character. In the short story 'Chí Phèo,' the author does not only explore class conflict but also the internal struggles of the character. Chí Phèo was born a normal human being with the typical qualities of an ordinary person—dreams, aspirations, and a sense of morality, distinguishing right from wrong. However, Chí was pushed into a life of misery, degradation, and alienation, losing his humanity and becoming excluded from society. In the end, when he sought to return to a life of goodness, he was cruelly rejected and ultimately died on the verge of reintegrating into society.
From the moment of his birth, Chí was abandoned, left by a man who had thrown him away like a piece of trash in an abandoned brick kiln early one morning. He came into the world alone and forsaken. Fortunately, the villagers of Vu Dai took him in, and he grew up to become a kind, decent, and self-respecting peasant. Yet, through a series of misunderstandings and false accusations, particularly jealousy, Li Kiến had him imprisoned, and the colonial prison system turned him into a mere tool. Afterward, Bá Kiến exploited him, turning Chí into a hired thug. Chí Phèo was used, becoming a man who sold his soul to the devil for a few coins. As a result, he transformed into a real monster: 'His face looked ageless, yellow and grim, covered with scars, with many crosshatch lines, and he was always drunk. Whenever he was drunk, he would curse.' In his drunken rants, there was a sense of deep loneliness, a desperate desire for connection, even if it was through insults, but no one responded to him. No one accepted him because 'he had destroyed so many lives and shattered countless joys, causing blood and tears to flow from so many good people.' His malicious actions stemmed from his constant drunkenness. While Nam Cao also writes about peasants' suffering, he does not rely on the usual themes of heavy taxes or poverty. Instead, he explores the psychological and emotional pain of being stripped of one's humanity and cast out from society.
Chí's life would have continued in this tragic manner if not for the appearance of Thị Nở. Thị Nở brought him a sense of love, enabling him to feel for the first time what it was like to love and be loved. For the first time, he felt that a woman had given him affection. He loved her, wanting to be pampered by her as if she were a mother, and in this moment, he became completely sober. His human soul returned, thanks to Thị Nở. 'Oh how much he wished to reconcile with everyone!' He reasoned, hoping that Thị would be the bridge that allowed him to return to a life of honesty and goodness. 'If Thị Nở could live peacefully with him, why couldn't others? People would see that he meant no harm and would gradually accept him back into society.' He held onto the hope of a happy family with Thị Nở. But this hope was fleeting. Thị Nở suddenly remembered that she had an aunt at home and needed to consult her. When she returned to her aunt's house, the aunt refused to accept Chí, thinking him to be a bastard who had no parents, someone who begged for food and worked as a thug. The bridge that had been built between him and society was broken, and the door to a life of dignity was slammed shut in his face. Here, Nam Cao skillfully weaves the tragedy of being denied one’s humanity with the tragedy of being rejected in love. Before, Chí suffered but was at least drunk, not fully aware of his plight. Now, however, he was sober, and his pain grew into an unbearable sorrow. No one would welcome him back into life.
The author uses masterful techniques to depict the character's inner turmoil. He even gives the pen to the character so that Chí himself can express his sorrow. When he hears Thị Nở's anger and frustration, Chí becomes 'dumbfounded,' overwhelmed with a sense of loss. He catches a fleeting smell of porridge, the scent of love, before Thị leaves him. He tries to hold onto her hand, clinging to the last strand of hope for his salvation, but she coldly rejects him. He is plunged into despair and cries in agony. He turns to alcohol, but the more he drinks, the more sober he becomes, and the pain intensifies. Finally, he takes a knife and heads to Thị Nở's house, intending to kill her aunt. But instead, he goes to Bá Kiến's house, perhaps realizing that it was Bá Kiến who had pushed him to this point. Before the cunning Bá Kiến, Chí speaks with full clarity, declaring 'I want to be a good person.' This statement expresses his deep desire to return to a life of integrity and rejoin humanity. But it is in this moment that Chí fully understands the tragedy of his life—that he will never be able to return to a life of goodness. 'Who will grant me goodness? Who will help me become a good person?' In his rage and sorrow, Chí draws his knife and 'slashes away at Bá Kiến.' He then ends his life, dying just as he stood at the threshold of returning to a life of dignity.
It can be said that Nam Cao succeeded in capturing the emotional and psychological pain of the peasant people, both their physical suffering and spiritual anguish. His artful portrayal of the characters' inner thoughts, combined with simple yet vivid language, showcases his immense talent. Through this work, the author conveys deep empathy for the character's tragedy, as well as a belief in the enduring goodness of humanity. Furthermore, the story serves as a cry for the right to be human, for the right to live, and for the right to experience love and happiness in life.
