Top 7 Essays on Tấm's Revenge Against Cám (Grade 10)

There is an alternative version of the Tấm Cám story with a different ending. In this version, Tấm pours boiling water on Cám, killing her, and sends salted fish to her wicked stepmother. Upon eating the fish, the stepmother finds Cám's skull, realizes the truth, and dies in shock.

This is the original ending. Over time, people (likely from a more modern era) found this ending too gruesome, fearing it would tarnish Tấm's virtuous image. As a result, various alternative endings, including one used in the 10th-grade literature textbook, emerged. But is the 'salted fish' ending truly worth discarding?

We must recall the suffering Tấm endured living under the cruelty of her stepmother and stepsister. After losing her own mother at a young age, Tấm longed for care and comfort. But instead, the stepmother and Cám treated her like a servant in her own home.

When Tấm became queen, Cám and her mother, filled with jealousy, schemed to kill her and replace her with Cám. Can you imagine a more wicked, cruel act? What mother would kill her stepchild, especially on her husband's death anniversary? What sister would go to such lengths to steal her sibling’s happiness?

Although Tấm dies in the tale, folk belief holds that goodness never truly dies. 'Good deeds are rewarded,' so Tấm is reborn in different forms through magic. She transforms into a golden bird, a tree, a loom, and a custard apple tree. Virtue must transform multiple times because evil constantly seeks to destroy it. Cám and her mother killed Tấm once in body, but now their cruelty escalates as they attempt to destroy her soul. They cook the bird, chop down the tree, and burn the loom... They refuse to let Tấm exist in any form, even as a spirit. Clearly, they didn’t just kill Tấm once—they killed her repeatedly. If Tấm were still alive, they would continue tormenting her, trying to snuff out her life. In the struggle to survive, Tấm had no choice but to eliminate them.

In her revenge, Tấm is no longer the weak, tearful figure she once was. She becomes determined, bold, and resolute. She realizes that Cám and her mother are unchanged, still filled with jealousy and hatred. Cám’s greed led to her death. But Tấm acts with wisdom and clarity. She kills Cám, but this act cannot be called barbaric, for 'evil begets evil.' Those who sow destruction must face the consequences. Tấm must avenge herself, for only then can justice be served for all the harm caused by Cám and her mother. Such punishment must be fierce, once and for all—'eliminating the evil completely.'

Cám and the stepmother are heartless, devoid of humanity. Only by executing them as Tấm did can the evil they represent be erased from the world permanently. Would it be too lenient to rely on 'divine' punishment, like what happened to Lí Thông? Would that truly be enough? Why should we depend on higher powers to avenge wrongs, as we see in other folk tales or alternate versions of Tấm Cám? With the 'salted fish' ending, the people demanded direct punishment—swift and decisive, fitting the severity of the crime. The punishment must 'strike terror into the heart of evil.' Cutting them into pieces and turning them into 'salted fish' ensures that evil has no way of returning. Is this truly something to criticize?

The 'salted fish' ending of the original Tấm Cám fairy tale doesn’t just reflect the peak of the people's wrath. It also symbolizes the desire to eradicate evil, beyond ordinary justice, by dealing a harsh punishment. It sends a strong message that evil must not return. This ending heightens the tale's meaning and adds artistic depth, taking the well-known folk tale to a new level.

Historically, there are many forms of execution. In the past, methods like 'flaying' or 'being torn apart by horses' were gruesome. Tấm’s punishment is just a reflection of such historical practices. Should we judge it by modern standards and replace it with a more acceptable ending?

Some believe that Tấm, the heroine of the fairy tale, is an incomplete beauty. Her act of revenge, in which she "poured hot water over Cám to make her scream in agony, then made fish sauce to send to her stepmother," is seen by some as cruel, heartless, and inhumane. However, I feel the situation is more complex than it appears.

Let’s reflect on Tấm’s tragic life. After her mother died early, she needed care and comfort, yet her stepmother and stepsister Cám tormented her relentlessly. Tấm was treated like a servant in her own home, enduring loneliness and sorrow while seeing others live happily. Who showed compassion to her?

Then, after Tấm became Empress, her stepmother and Cám, driven by jealousy, plotted her death. They even swapped places with her to take her position. Could any cruelty be greater than this? Could any mother bear to kill her own child, especially on her father's death anniversary? Could any sister deliberately take away her sibling’s happiness? In reality, Tấm died, but in folklore, goodness never dies. Tấm reincarnated as a golden bird, a xoan tree, a loom, and a persimmon tree. However, evil always lurked, seeking to destroy.

Her stepmother and Cám not only killed her once but continually sought to destroy her spirit even after her death. They killed the bird, chopped down the xoan tree, and burned the loom, eradicating all traces of her existence. Their cruelty knew no bounds. Surely, if Tấm were alive, they would have continued their torment. In such a fight for survival, Tấm had no choice but to retaliate.

In her act of revenge, Tấm shows a different side of herself—strong, determined, and unyielding. She realized that Cám and her mother would always be full of envy and hatred. Cám, driven by vanity and greed, met her demise as a result. Meanwhile, Tấm's actions were logical and deliberate. She didn’t act out of blind rage, but rather as an intelligent response to years of injustice. Her revenge wasn’t cruel, but justified. After all, if evil faces evil, the wicked must be punished, and Tấm’s retaliation was fitting for the crimes her stepmother and Cám committed against her. Their cruelty deserved swift and decisive justice.

Had Tấm shown mercy, evil would likely rise again to torment others. Was a lightning strike to kill Lí Thông in another story too lenient? Would a gentler fate guarantee that evil would stay vanquished? In this story, the people wanted to punish wrongdoers directly and justly, aligning the punishment with the severity of their crimes. Is it wrong to demand such retribution?

History shows that there were many gruesome methods of execution in the past, such as disembowelment or being torn apart by horses. Tấm’s punishment is merely an echo of those times. To apply today’s standards of humanitarianism to judge her actions might be anachronistic. Therefore, I support Tấm’s bold justice, even if others label it as cruel.

The image of Tấm remains beautiful in my eyes. In many northern regions of Vietnam, Tấm is worshipped as a goddess, and her legacy is revered. Does this mean that the people are misguided for overlooking her violent vengeance?

Fairy tales often conclude with the virtuous protagonists finding happiness, while the antagonists are justly punished for their wrongdoings. In the case of the story of Tấm and Cám, the tale ends with Tấm exacting punishment on Cám and her mother, reclaiming her happiness alongside the king.

The ending of Tấm Cám has sparked various opinions regarding Tấm’s act of revenge against her stepmother and stepsister. However, when viewed holistically, Tấm’s act of vengeance serves as the most fitting conclusion to the intense, uncompromising battle between good and evil.

The story begins with escalating tension between Tấm and her stepmother and stepsister, representing the unresolvable conflict between good and evil in society. Time and again, Cám and her mother plot against Tấm, determined to eliminate her through ruthless means.

After numerous trials and her resurrection from the persimmon, Tấm is left with only two options: either she survives and Cám and her mother must perish, or she dies, for with their malevolent nature, Cám and her mother would surely seek her destruction again. The conflict between Tấm and Cám is no longer a mere family dispute between stepmother and stepdaughter, but rather an uncompromising battle between good and evil, between right and wrong in society.

Good and evil cannot coexist peacefully, and one side must ultimately be eradicated. Driven by a desire for justice and a belief in the triumph of good, the defeat of evil is inevitable. The death of Cám and her mother is a direct consequence of their evil actions, and as the saying goes, 'Evil will be repaid with evil' and 'Those who do good will find good.'

Tấm’s act of revenge symbolizes her strength, resilience, and her determination to fight for her happiness. It is not merely an act of vengeance but also an assertion of survival: ‘To exist, one must fight.’

5. Essay on Tấm's Revenge Against Cám – Part 1

The ending of the 'Tấm Cám' story has sparked much debate among society. How can someone as virtuous as Tấm carry out such brutal and cruel revenge? Is her act of vengeance justified, or does it suggest that after enduring so much hardship, she has become selfish and ruthless? Does this change your perception of the once-kind Tấm?

Tấm is depicted as a kind, beautiful, hardworking, and talented girl who lives with her stepmother and stepsister, Cám. Her life is filled with bitter days of neglect, exploitation, and verbal abuse. Despite all the injustices, she remains silent, patient, and submissive, enduring the cruelty of her stepmother, who seems to take pleasure in tormenting her. Tấm is treated like an outsider in her own family, reduced to a servant for Cám and her mother. Does this life align with the character of someone as good and diligent as Tấm? Does society condemn the actions of Cám and her mother, who represent the unfairness of the feudal society where the powerful win and the weak are forever oppressed?

However, Tấm's life takes a dramatic turn when she escapes with the intention of going to a festival and meets the king, who marries her. She is finally living a life of wealth and comfort. Yet, her heart remains pure and kind, even towards her stepmother and Cám. On the other hand, Cám and her mother are consumed by jealousy and resentment, devising schemes to harm Tấm. During a memorial for her father, they plot to kill Tấm.

Even on the day meant to honor her father, they show no mercy, proving that they have lost all sense of humanity. They resort to every possible means to strip Tấm of everything she has. The trusting and virtuous Tấm is killed by them and transformed into a golden bird. Meanwhile, Cám and her mother are overjoyed, entering the palace, with Cám replacing Tấm as the king's wife. They cruelly steal Tấm’s happiness, her life, in the most unjust manner.

After multiple reincarnations as a golden bird, a tree, a loom, and a fruit, Tấm is relentlessly pursued by Cám and her mother, who try every method to destroy her, whether she is alive or dead. Is there any action more malicious than this?

Thus, we can conclude that Tấm’s revenge is a natural consequence of the evil actions that Cám and her mother inflicted upon her earlier in the story.

Evil, by its very nature, is far more terrifying and dangerous. The rage that Tấm feels is channeled into her revenge, which, when examined, is not excessive at all. They pushed Tấm to the point where she had no choice but to act in this way. Her actions are entirely justified.

6. Essay on Tấm's Revenge Against Cám – Part 2

All fairy tales end with the villain being punished, and the story of Tam and Cam is no different. However, there is a unique twist – the villain in this tale is punished not by some supernatural force or through self-inflicted misfortune, but by Tam herself, the heroine. Tam seeks revenge in a relentless and fierce manner. This punishment is a result of Tam's transformation after enduring continuous mistreatment and cruelty.

The actions of Tam reflect the aspirations and ideals of the working people. Evil must be eradicated and permanently removed from human life. True happiness can only exist when evil is destroyed, and it is only through the tireless fight of good against evil that true peace and happiness can be achieved. Furthermore, the tale serves as a warning about the eventual fury of the hardworking, honest people who simply desire a peaceful life.

The conflict in Tam and Cam represents the common family conflicts in the working-class households, particularly the issues between stepmothers and their stepchildren or half-siblings. These conflicts revolve around material and emotional interests in everyday life.

On a broader scale, the story highlights social conflicts between good and evil, labor and exploitation, honesty and deceit. Tam stands for the hardworking and honest individuals, representing goodness, while Cam and her mother represent the dishonorable, embodying evil.

The story presents an initial conflict between good and evil. Cam and her mother repeatedly harm Tam, determined to destroy her. As a result, Tam has only two choices: either she survives (and Cam must die), or she dies. This conflict is no longer just a family dispute but a societal one, a battle between good and evil, between the oppressors and the oppressed.

Thus, reconciliation between good and evil is impossible. There must be a victor, in line with the old saying, 'Good deeds are rewarded,' and 'Evil will be repaid with evil.' Therefore, Tam's fight for happiness is in accordance with this rule. Moreover, since Cam and her mother have repeatedly harmed Tam, her revenge is not only an act of retaliation but also an act of survival – to exist, one must fight.