Top 8 Best Essays on the Tragedy of the Character Vũ Nương in 'The Story of the Girl from Nam Xương'

Nguyễn Dữ is a key figure in 16th-century Vietnamese literature. His renowned work 'Truyền kì mạn lục' is famous for its depiction of unfortunate women who long for happiness but are forced into tragic and unjust circumstances by the cruel forces of society and rigid feudal codes. A prime example of this is 'The Story of the Girl from Nam Xương,' a tale that vividly illustrates the tragic life of Vũ Nương, a beautiful woman with a tragic fate.

Isn't the fate of these women in the old society just like the lines Nguyễn Du wrote?

How sorrowful is the fate of women

To say that they are doomed is a universal truth

As we read this work, we see that Vũ Nương, too, embodies the tragic life described in the poem.

Vũ Thị Thiết, a beautiful girl from Nam Xương, had such noble qualities, yet she was not spared from her tragic fate. Born into a feudal society, she had no control over her life. She was forced into a marriage with someone she did not love. Though illiterate, coming from a wealthy family, she persuaded her mother to offer a large dowry to marry. Despite the lack of love in the marriage and the disparity in their backgrounds, Vũ Nương still longed for happiness. She adhered to her duties, loving her husband and taking care of his family, hoping to receive love in return. However, she never received it. War separated the young couple across space and time. During the years he fought on the battlefield, Vũ Nương, a delicate woman, had to shoulder the responsibilities of the household on her own. She was deprived of love and constantly worried about her husband's safety. She was left to manage household chores, care for her sick mother-in-law, and raise their young child.

Despite her sacrifices, Trương Sinh never understood. Upon returning, not only did he fail to appreciate his wife's devotion, but he also, based on the innocent words of their child, wrongly accused her of betrayal. The support of family and neighbors could not change his mind. In the end, she reluctantly said: “I relied on you because there was joy in marriage and the stability of being under your protection. Who knew that love would be like leaves, and gossip would be like mountains. Now that the pendulum has fallen, the clouds have cleared, the lotus has wilted, the willow has withered in the wind; like the flower falling off its stem, the swallow fleeing the curtain, the boat far from the shore, I can never go back to the Mountain of the Lonely Woman again.” It seemed that when she spoke those words, she must have been in unimaginable pain. But death did not clear her name. The tragedy of Vũ Nương is also evident in the mystical final moments of the story. Though Linh Phi saves her from death, Vũ Nương, while meeting Phan Lang in the underwater kingdom, expresses her grievances and asks Phan to help convey them to her husband. She only has one chance to appear to him on the banks of Hoàng Giang, but she can only call out, from the middle of the river, with tearful and sorrowful words: “I can never return to the human world.” The yearning to return, yet unable to; the longing for happiness, yet never able to find it—this is perhaps the greatest tragedy of all, the inability to continue living.

Thus, through the tragedies he has constructed for his character, the author conveys profound humanitarian and realistic values. It is the unfortunate fate of women in ancient society, as well as a compassionate acknowledgment of their lives, a condemnation of war and feudal society for stealing happiness from people.

The life of Vũ Nương is akin to the lives of many women in feudal society. Through this, modern readers are encouraged to cherish and appreciate the women around them more.

"The Story of the Girl from Nam Xương" is one of the works that depicts the fate of women in the past society. Through this story, Nguyễn Dữ vividly portrays the tragic fate of the character Vũ Nương.

Vũ Nương was a woman described as "graceful and well-mannered, with a beautiful appearance". One might have expected her life to be filled with happiness, but she faced numerous misfortunes. The first of which was the tragedy of love. Like many women in ancient society, Vũ Nương had no right to choose her own life. Born into a poor family, when she was approached by Trương Sinh, a wealthy man, to marry, she had no feelings for him but was forced by her parents' arrangement. Their marriage, devoid of love, was further strained by the lack of a proper match between their families.

Yet Vũ Nương did not abandon her desire for happiness. She entered the marriage with Trương Sinh wholeheartedly. Aware of her husband's suspicious nature, she always kept a proper demeanor to avoid conflict. It was when the war began that her life was thrust into a tragedy of separation. As Trương Sinh left for the battlefield, she was left to face worries and the possibility of loss and grief. War tore their budding marriage apart, creating further challenges. Throughout the years of her husband's absence, Vũ Nương shouldered the responsibilities of a family head. She raised her child and cared for her sick mother-in-law. When her mother-in-law was ill from missing her son, she comforted her with loving words. After her mother-in-law's death, Vũ Nương showed deep sorrow and treated the funeral with utmost care, as she would for her own parents. For her child, who had to grow up without a father, she even lied to him, telling him that the shadow of the door was his father. War not only tore apart the family but also forced Vũ Nương to carry the burdens usually borne by men.

The tragedy of Vũ Nương did not end there. The climax occurred when Trương Sinh returned home. He had hoped that the day he returned from the battlefield would be a joyous reunion with his family. Vũ Nương dreamed of a simple life of happiness with her husband and child. However, the reality was brutal. Upon hearing of his mother's death, Trương Sinh was devastated and took his child to her grave. When the child started crying, he tried to comfort the child: "Stop crying, don't cry! I am already deeply saddened." The child innocently asked, "Are you also my father? You can speak, unlike my real father who was always silent." Hearing this from his child and already suspicious by nature, Trương Sinh accused his wife of infidelity. Upon returning home, he scolded her severely. Despite Vũ Nương's explanations, he did not believe her. The relatives and neighbors who tried to defend her also could not change his mind. Finally, Vũ Nương, in a moment of despair, said: "I leaned on you because I wanted the joy of a family, to have peace under the shade of a great tree. Who knew that love would fade like leaves, and slander would harm me? Now my hairpin has fallen, the clouds have cleared, the lotus has wilted, and the willow bends in the wind; I am like the broken flower, the winter snow, crying for the fleeting spring, helpless and abandoned." Her words expressed deep sorrow for her own fate. Ultimately, Vũ Nương took her own life to prove her innocence.

Though she died, her injustice remained. One night, Trương Sinh took their child and heard the child cry out: "Father Đản is coming again." He soon learned that, in his absence, Vũ Nương had often pointed to her shadow and told the child that this was his father. Regret came too late. After hearing the explanation from Phan Lang, Trương Sinh performed a ritual to clear his wife's name. Although Vũ Nương was honored with a ritual to clear her name and even returned to visit her family, she could no longer live among the living. What could be more tragic than the yearning for life but being unable to live on?

Through the tragic fate of Vũ Nương, the author condemns the wars and the feudal society that stripped women of their right to live and be happy. He also conveys a deep sympathy for the fate of women in the past.

In the ancient feudal society, the status of women was incredibly insignificant, fragile, and oppressed. They were not only small in status but also faced great injustices and suppression from the prejudices of the feudal society at the time. Writing about this theme, Nguyễn Dữ, in his work "The Story of the Girl from Nam Xương", deeply portrays the tragic and unfortunate fate of women through the character Vũ Nương.

The tragedy of Vũ Nương originates from the unjust feudal wars. Due to the war, children were separated from their fathers, and wives were parted from their husbands. All misunderstandings leading to Vũ Nương's later tragedy stemmed from this. Her life as a wife living with her husband was short-lived: "they had not yet been reunited... and were separated by the outbreak of war." Trương Sinh went to war, and she had to endure the life of a "young wife far from her husband", "whenever she saw the butterflies flying in the garden, the clouds covering the mountains, the sorrow from the farthest corner of the world could not be stopped..."

At home, she not only longed for her husband but also worked tirelessly from dawn to dusk to take care of her child and mother. The burden of the family, with all its hardships and struggles, fell solely on her shoulders. Her elderly mother-in-law grew weak, fell ill, and passed away. Her young child needed care. Vũ Nương had no one to share these burdens with.

In the patriarchal, male-dominant society of feudal times, the oppressive actions of Trương Sinh were allowed to thrive, and he was given the power to accuse his wife without explanation, scold her, beat her, drive her away, and ultimately force her to commit suicide without facing any consequences.

After three years of waiting, Trương Sinh returned, but ironically, his return marked the moment Vũ Nương had to forever leave her home. Even more tragically, the shadow, which symbolized the bond between husband and wife, was meant to ease the child's longing for a father and the wife's yearning for her husband. Yet Trương Sinh, in his ignorance and suspicion, firmly believed it was proof of his wife's infidelity.

Trương Sinh, upon hearing his child speak of the mysterious father "who comes every night", shifted from suspicion to certainty, concluding that his wife had been unfaithful. What could be more painful than being doubted, rejected, and mistreated by the very person you loved? Vũ Nương was accused of being unfaithful without explanation, and she was unable to defend herself.

Trương Sinh grew colder and more cruel toward her: scolding, beating, and driving her away. Her honor was tarnished, her spirit tortured, and her body abused. Ultimately, having no other option, her right to live was stripped away, and she sought death.

Unable to prove her innocence, in despair, Vũ Nương turned to the Hoàng Giang River to cleanse her of her injustices: "The god of the river is sacred, please bear witness to my plea."

The tragedy of Vũ Nương is further highlighted in the magical ending of the story. Although Linh Phi helped save her, and with Phan Lang’s help, she was able to return to meet her husband one last time at the Hoàng Giang River, she could only manifest herself from the middle of the river and call out sorrowfully: "I cannot return to the mortal world anymore." The desire to return but being unable to, the yearning for happiness but never able to attain it — this was perhaps the most tragic aspect of Vũ Nương's life, and the most painful of all human fates.

Thus, Vũ Nương was a woman with many valuable virtues, but her life was filled with suffering and misfortune. Her dignity represents the typical beauty of traditional Vietnamese women. Her tragic life, however, reflects the common fate of women in ancient feudal society. Through this work, Nguyễn Dữ conveys a profound humanitarian spirit, condemning blind jealousy, unjust wars, and the patriarchal system. It calls for the right to live and the right to happiness for all people.

The work "The Story of the Girl from Nam Xương" is a remarkable tale from Nguyễn Dữ's immortal collection "Truyền kì mạn lục". The story is based on a folk tale and reflects a pressing issue in the feudal society of the time: the fate and tragedy of women in the old social system. The oppressive feudal power trampled on the dignity of women, despite their many virtuous and admirable qualities.

The story tells the life and fate of Vũ Nương, a woman of both beauty and virtue. Her husband, Trương Sinh, came from a wealthy family but was uneducated. He married her for her beauty, not out of love, leading to a relationship devoid of harmony and equality. The seed of Vũ Nương's tragic fate was sown from this point. Although her husband was cold, indifferent, and selfish, Vũ Nương remained patient, competent, diligent, and faithful. She longed for a happy family and valued family happiness over wealth and status. When her husband had to go off to war, her simple wish was for his safe return, embodying the devotion typical of a loving wife sending her husband off.

During her husband's absence, Vũ Nương proved to be a dutiful daughter-in-law and a loving mother, caring for her child alone. When her mother-in-law passed away, she handled all the funeral rites with the utmost care. When the war ended and Trương Sinh returned, he naively believed the words of a child and thought his wife had been unfaithful, chasing her away and causing her immense pain and humiliation. Overcome by despair, Vũ Nương chose to end her life by the Hoàng Giang River. The injustice she faced transcended family matters, becoming a symbol of the many injustices that the feudal society imposed on women. The plight of women was brutal and humiliating, pushing them to the brink of despair and forcing them to face the harshest of fates. Even after her death, while her husband performed a ceremony to release her from her wrongful accusation, happiness was forever beyond reach for her.

Her departure from life symbolized a rejection of the earthly world and the unjust society. This was also a form of resistance, a call for justice for women in a decaying feudal society. Although her death was a tragic end, it served as an awakening for the feudal and patriarchal classes. Through the story of Vũ Nương’s tragic life and fate, Nguyễn Dữ condemned the feudal society of his time for undermining the dignity of women and criticized the unjust wars that destroyed family happiness and the bond between husband and wife. Perhaps, in that feudal society, women were always trampled upon, regardless of their talent and virtuous qualities:

Painful indeed is the fate of women

For what is said about their misfortune remains true

The fate of these women is marked by immense pain, misfortune, and shame, as the rigid feudal system binds them in perpetual suffering, pushing them toward death as the only way to protect their dignity.

The work "The Story of the Girl from Nam Xương" offers readers a profound understanding of the plight and tragedy of women in the ancient feudal society, while also highlighting the value of women themselves.

"The Story of the Girl from Nam Xương" is the 16th tale and arguably the most representative one in Nguyễn Dữ’s legendary collection "Truyền kì mạn lục". Nguyễn Dữ achieved great success in creating the character of Vũ Nương. Through the tragic and painful life and fate of Vũ Nương, the author exposed the brutal, inhumane nature of the feudal society of the time, which trampled on the fate of individuals, particularly women.

"The Story of the Girl from Nam Xương" is based on a real story, "Wife of Trương"—a tale passed down through generations. Nguyễn Dữ expanded and embellished the original folk tale with fantastical elements to make it a captivating and unique narrative that is rich in human values.

Vũ Thị Thiết (commonly known as Vũ Nương) came from Nam Xương. She was from a poor family but possessed both beauty and virtue. She married Trương Sinh, who was wealthy but overly suspicious and paranoid. While her husband went off to war, Vũ Nương stayed behind to care for his elderly mother and their young child. When the war ended and Trương Sinh returned, devastated by the news of his mother’s death, he fell victim to the naive words of a child, believing his wife had been unfaithful. This led him to cruelly insult, berate, and even beat Vũ Nương, forcing her to take her own life at the Hoàng Giang River. Moved by Vũ Nương’s unjust fate, Linh Phi rescued her and took her to live in the underwater palace. With the help of Phan Lang, Trương Sinh eventually realized the truth and deeply regretted his actions, but it was too late. He performed a ritual to absolve her of the wrongful accusation, but Vũ Nương appeared only to express her gratitude and then decided not to return.

The story ends, leaving the reader with lingering feelings of sorrow and compassion for the character. Though Vũ Nương was vindicated, the happiness she once had was lost forever. For all eternity, she would remain distant from her husband and child, forever alone at the edge of the world. This is an enormous injustice for a virtuous, graceful woman like her.

Vũ Nương was born into a poor family, and her reputation was nothing remarkable, except for her modesty and beauty. This also reflects Nguyễn Dữ’s progressive outlook. He showed concern for ordinary people, those who were insignificant in the feudal society. No one before or after him demonstrated such empathy.

In Vũ Nương, we see the embodiment of an ideal woman—one who possesses both physical beauty and noble character, exemplifying the high standards of Vietnamese womanhood.

First and foremost, Vũ Nương was a woman of exceptional beauty, complemented by her noble character. Nguyễn Dữ introduces her with these words: “Vũ Thị Thiết… was modest, gentle, and possessed remarkable physical grace.” The harmonious combination of external beauty and inner virtue made her an ideal figure in the feudal society. This is why Trương Sinh fell in love with her and eagerly asked his mother for permission to marry her, offering a dowry of a hundred taels of gold.

As a wife to Trương Sinh, Vũ Nương’s virtuous qualities were put into practice. She understood her husband’s nature and diligently maintained harmony, never allowing discord to arise in their relationship. She always conducted herself with grace and worked tirelessly to maintain the happiness of her family.

When sending her husband off to war, Vũ Nương expressed her heartfelt wish for his safe return, showing no desire for wealth or status: “I do not wish for titles or luxurious clothing, but only for you to return safely.” She wept silently, her heart full of sorrow.

While Trương Sinh was at the front, Vũ Nương remained at home, taking care of his elderly mother and raising their child, all the while longing for her husband. Her mother-in-law, old and frail, passed away before her son’s return, leaving behind a final message of gratitude and a blessing for her devoted daughter-in-law: “The heavens will not forget you as you have not forgotten your mother-in-law.”

It can be said that Vũ Nương fulfilled all her duties as a wife, mother, and daughter-in-law with utmost devotion. Her heart was pure, and her actions were truly admirable. She was loved and respected by all who knew her. She embodied the ideal woman of feudal society. Yet, despite her virtues, her life was filled with great tragedy.

Her personal tragedy began as soon as she became Trương Sinh’s wife. Despite her virtuous actions, Trương Sinh always treated her with unwarranted suspicion. His constant mistrust of her was the first blow to her dignity.

Nevertheless, she always conducted herself with dignity, managing her duties diligently and maintaining peace in her marriage. Although their life seemed peaceful, it was likely filled with underlying tension. Women of that time were often disregarded. Over time, they learned to accept their circumstances and never attempted to assert themselves or compete with their husbands. As a result, although Trương Sinh sometimes harbored resentment, Vũ Nương skillfully defused his anger, ensuring their family remained harmonious.

The war caused a painful separation. The war further intensified Trương Sinh’s suspicions, and his doubts about his wife escalated. Without saying a word, he left for the battlefield. When he returned, a small, vague sign—a child’s innocent words—was enough for him to believe his wife had been unfaithful.

Trương Sinh’s reckless and violent actions forced Vũ Nương into a corner, leading her to take her own life. The moment when Vũ Nương threw herself into the Hoàng Giang River remains one of the most haunting images, symbolizing the tragedy of a woman who was both beautiful and virtuous, but tragically wronged. It represents the destruction of beauty, the cruelty and neglect of a woman’s worth, and serves as a powerful condemnation of the brutal, inhumane feudal society of that time.

According to the narrative structure, the story might have ended there. However, Nguyễn Dữ sought a resolution and an opportunity to clear his character’s name. Like a judge, he revisited Trương Sinh’s actions, cleared Vũ Nương’s name, and celebrated her virtue by continuing her story in the underwater palace, where she lived, and with the ritual of absolution performed on the Hoàng Giang River surrounded by mist.

In the underwater palace, Vũ Nương never stopped thinking about her family. Though she had severed ties with the human world, her heart still ached for her former life. She longed to return, but was hesitant because her wronged reputation had yet to be cleared. It wasn’t until she was vindicated that she decided to stay, though her love for her husband and child remained strong.

Though Trương Sinh came to understand the truth and performed a ritual to clear her name, the bitterness in his heart remained. His doubts, jealousy, cruelty, and selfishness had not been fully purged. The earthly realm was no longer a place for Vũ Nương. No matter when or how, some other tragedy would undoubtedly befall her.

The character of Vũ Nương represents forgiveness and the beauty of a woman. However, her life was filled with endless sorrow and misfortune. Nguyễn Dữ’s writing expresses admiration for this beauty, offering deep sympathy for her suffering and dreams of a brighter life for the ordinary, virtuous people of society. This tale is also a powerful condemnation of the harsh, corrupt feudal system that pushed individuals to the brink of despair without any escape.

“The Story of the Girl from Nam Xương” by Nguyễn Dữ is considered one of the most revered works due to its intertwining of profound humanitarian values and deep-rooted realism. A central figure in the narrative is a virtuous woman who yearns for a life filled with happiness, but the harsh Confucian traditions and, more tragically, the impact of war, prevent that small dream from becoming a reality, plunging her into an inescapable tragedy. This woman, named Vũ Nương, is both beautiful and talented, but her fate is marked by sorrow and despair.

The story opens with the portrayal of Vũ Nương through parallel phrases. The author does not describe her inner thoughts first, but instead highlights her moral character and virtues. Behind these seemingly simple sentences lies a deep respect and admiration. For the first time in Vietnamese literature, Vũ Nương is introduced in her ordinary, modest, and perfect beauty—an exemplary standard of beauty in the Confucian society. Vũ Nương embodies the timeless traditional beauty of Vietnamese women. Through brief yet concise descriptions, the author creates a deep connection for the reader.

Born into a poor family, Vũ Nương radiates noble qualities that transcend her humble origins. Despite being married into a wealthy family, she never becomes materialistic. Her life, before and after her marriage, remains unchanged—she continues to work hard, always trying not to disappoint anyone. Everyone loves her, even her mother-in-law.

Her beauty is not only reflected in her outward appearance but also in her character, conduct, and the devotion she has for her small family.

Not long after her marriage, Vũ Nương hears news that her husband must go to war. This becomes the first challenge the author presents to her. Unlike other women who might hope for their husbands’ success in the military for personal gain, Vũ Nương fears for her husband's safety. The symbolic imagery of “looking at the moon … on the land of beasts” captures her anxious thoughts as she worries about her husband’s well-being. Going to war is a perilous journey, and through this, Vũ Nương's inner beauty shines—a pure soul who cares nothing for fame or fortune, only for her husband, with deep love and concern.

Her devotion is not limited to her husband; she also fulfills her duties as a daughter-in-law, taking care of her mother-in-law with love and respect, never once allowing her to complain. She treats her mother-in-law as her own mother, and when she passes away, Vũ Nương mourns her deeply, performing the rituals as if she were her biological mother. She is an exceptionally dutiful daughter-in-law.

When her husband goes to war and her mother-in-law dies, Vũ Nương is left to manage everything alone in the household. She becomes both father and mother to her child, constantly teaching the child right from wrong.

In another turning point of the story, the author places the character in a tragic situation—the pivotal moment of her life. The detail of the shadow becomes the source of her tragic fate. To ensure her child receives love and doesn’t suffer from the absence of a father, she points to her own shadow on the wall and tells her son, “This is your father.” By doing so, she seeks to provide her child with the comfort of having a father figure, even though her husband is away at war. She does so to ensure both her own happiness and her child’s, trying to create a sense of security. However, when her husband returns and hears the child’s words, it leads to a disastrous misunderstanding. In an effort to prove her innocence, she ends her life.

How can one imagine that a woman who eagerly awaited her husband’s return, hoping to reunite her family in happiness, would end up in such a tragic situation? After all those years, when her husband finally returned, she hoped for a stable life, free from the burden of raising the child alone. But now, what has become of her?

War—war is the root cause that leads to the separation of Vũ Nương and her husband, resulting in this tragic situation. War has caused people to become suspicious and distrustful, causing a father to believe a child’s naive words over the efforts of a devoted wife and the support of neighbors. Vũ Nương, in her desperation, drowns herself in the river.

Her death was a way to prove her innocence, to cleanse her name, and to assert her virtue, an escape from the harsh reality. But what caused this woman, who had always longed for life and happiness, to die? Was it the innocence of the child, the blind jealousy, the rigid Confucian values, or the war itself? Perhaps the actions of her husband, Trương Sinh, were the result of the feudal system’s impact.

Vũ Nương is the soul of the story. Through her portrayal, the writer reveals her pure beauty and moral integrity. The image of Vũ Nương exposes the tragic fate of women in feudal society, an inevitable tragedy caused by the feudal system. The author’s sympathy and sorrow for Vũ Nương’s fate reflect a broader commentary on the plight of women in feudal society.

“Alas, how tragic is the fate of women

The saying that fate is bitter also resonates with all.”

(“The Tale of Kiều” – Nguyễn Du)

Throughout the vast expanse of the literary world, we encounter the image of a woman, no matter how beautiful or virtuous, no matter how talented or perfect, whose fate and happiness are always crushed by the prejudices of a decaying society and the patriarchal customs of ‘favoring men over women’. With his pen, Nguyễn Dữ has made the hearts of readers eternally mourn the tragic fate of Vũ Nương.

Since the 16th century, Vietnam's feudal system had begun to show signs of decline. Nguyễn Dữ, disillusioned and powerless against the times, turned away from the political turmoil and chose to live in seclusion. As Nguyễn Đăng Na noted, “He is the father of Vietnamese short stories,” and was the one who “successfully launched the ship of narrative prose into the realm of literary art.” “The Story of the Girl from Nam Xương” is the 16th tale in “Truyền kì mạn lục.” Starting from a real-life story, Nguyễn Dữ skillfully depicts the pure beauty of Vũ Nương. She truly embodies the perfect woman, beautiful in appearance and character, fulfilling the duties of a wife, mother, and daughter-in-law. Vũ Nương is the ideal model for women, deserving to live a life of happiness. However, “The happiness of Vũ Thị Thiết was so fragile and short-lived, as fleeting as dew and smoke, as brief as the life of a morning-blooming, evening-fading flower.” (Đồng Thị Sáo).

Vũ Nương had to endure both physical and emotional suffering. Amid the wars and chaos, her husband was far away at the borders, leaving her with the weight of the entire household. We can feel her hardships through the traditional folk verse:

Having children means enduring hardship for them

Having a husband means bearing the burden of his family.

She silently gave birth and raised her child alone, showing utmost care and devotion when her mother-in-law fell ill, tending to her with medicine, prayers, and gentle words. When her mother-in-law passed away, she mourned deeply and performed the rituals with as much care as for her own parents. Vũ Nương singlehandedly took on all responsibilities, embodying both mother and daughter-in-law. She managed all matters, big and small, as the sole man in the household. Living in solitude, her heart ached with every passing year, each moment steeped in sorrow. Her longing for her husband, Trương Sinh, consumed her. The image of “butterflies fluttering in the garden” suggests a beautiful yet mysterious scene, much like her sorrow, which could not be suppressed. It reflects her sorrowful heart, as described in the poem “Chinh Phụ Ngâm” by Đoàn Thị Điểm:

“The sky is so distant, it cannot be comprehended

The longing for my husband is endless and unrelenting.”

To ease her child’s longing for their father and to express her own yearning, Vũ Nương invented the shadow game. Every night, she would cast her shadow on the wall and tell her child it was their father. The shadow became a symbol of Vũ Nương’s loneliness. In a sense, she was both mother and father to her child. Her tragic fate was woven by her daily actions, the innocent words of her child, and the cruelty of her husband. She fell into a tragic situation because of her own shadow, and the happiness she had tried so hard to preserve was shattered beyond repair. A woman’s happiness is fragile and brief, constantly threatened by misfortune and paradoxes that drive them to the brink of despair.

Vũ Nương was bound by the strict societal norms, accepting a marriage to Trương Sinh. In the feudal society, a woman had little choice, as the idea of “parents choose, children comply” prevailed. Trương Sinh did not marry her out of love, but merely admiration for her beauty, and their marriage lacked warmth or equality. He asked his mother for a large dowry, thus money overshadowed love, and Vũ Nương lived with a sense of inferiority. She was a simple, virtuous woman who married him without seeking wealth or fame, only the simple desire for a peaceful, harmonious home. Despite living with a cold and overly suspicious husband, Vũ Nương kept her manners, hoping for a happy family life. Yet, the marriage lacked the tenderness of true love and was marred by the invisible wall of class disparity. Trương Sinh treated her harshly, dismissing her virtues because of his wealth and social standing.

When Trương Sinh returned after three years, he thought that the goddess of happiness would visit their family. However, his jealousy and suspicion clouded his judgment. He blindly trusted the innocent words of their child and wrongly labeled Vũ Nương as an unfaithful wife. Ignoring the pleas of others and her own explanations, Trương Sinh cruelly scolded and drove her away. Was this not the result of a feudal society with its oppressive patriarchy, where men were allowed to belittle, dehumanize, and even destroy their wives? Vũ Nương, a virtuous and obedient woman, was unjustly condemned and abandoned. Unlike Thị Kính, who knew the source of her own injustice, Vũ Nương never understood why her husband, with whom she had shared her life, would treat her so cruelly. Her tragic fate was beyond her comprehension, and she had no opportunity to defend herself.

For Vũ Nương, “the joy of family life” was her ideal and purpose. When that foundation was shattered by the bitter accusation of dishonor, her soul withered, symbolized by the imagery of “falling blossoms, dry willows, and a desolate spring.” These images conveyed the total loss and despair that overwhelmed her. Ultimately, Vũ Nương chose to drown herself in the Hoàng Giang River to clear her name and protect her integrity. Her death was a result of her husband’s cruelty, yet Trương Sinh remained unmoved, showing no remorse. In that feudal society, there were few who would protect or stand up for the fate of women like Vũ Nương, whose lives were subject to the whims of men.

Vũ Nương’s tragic fate transcends her family, reflecting the countless injustices faced by women in the feudal society. Her story is not unique; it represents the suffering of countless women who lived and died under the oppressive conditions of that era. Through these tragic lives, Nguyễn Dữ powerfully encapsulated the painful reality of women’s fates. Their lives were crushed, humiliated, and driven to the brink, with death being the only means to preserve their honor. This paints a grim picture of the feudal society that birthed men like Trương Sinh, whose patriarchal attitudes caused the destruction of women’s lives. The tragic fate of Vũ Nương is not just a personal tragedy but a representation of the societal forces that doomed countless women to suffer. And just as Nguyễn Du wrote in “Truyện Kiều”: “Alas, how tragic is the fate of women,” this story endures as a testament to the suffering and injustice faced by women throughout history.

Vũ Nương is also a victim of unjust warfare, “reuniting but never fully sharing the love and warmth of family, separated by the chaos of war.” The ravages of war tore her family apart, leaving them in a state of constant longing and misunderstanding. The war became a test of Trương Sinh’s trust and love for his wife, and he failed miserably, blindly accusing her. This just highlights how war, in addition to its physical destruction, also fuels the tragic fates of those caught in its path.

In the later part of the story, we see Vũ Nương living blissfully in the underwater kingdom. But how can she enjoy happiness when she no longer has the right to be a mother, a wife? Though she lives in a paradise beyond human reach, the longing for her family weighs heavily on her heart. This eternal ache cannot be healed by any material wealth. Moreover, her return on the Hoàng Giang River is fleeting and elusive, like a mirage that vanishes in an instant. The reunion is a mere illusion, and Vũ Nương can never return to the mortal realm, leaving her family with a void that can never be filled. The story ends in an eternal emptiness, showing that once happiness is lost, it can never be restored. Nguyễn Dữ thus imparts a timeless lesson that happiness, once broken, cannot be repaired, much like water spilled from a bowl that can never be returned.

Closing the pages of “The Story of the Girl from Nam Xương,” we cannot help but admire the artistic brilliance of the work. The author crafts an unexpected twist with the innocent words of the child Đản and the shadow, a symbol of Vũ Nương’s fate, pushing her into a tragic downfall. The narrative is not dry and rigid but rather blends storytelling with lyrical elements, along with magical and surreal elements, making it an exceptional storytelling method that leads the reader into the heart of the plot.

“The Story of the Girl from Nam Xương” carries deep humanistic values, highlighting the tragic lives of women in the old society. At the same time, it strongly criticizes the feudal system, the patriarchal attitudes that oppressed women, and the wars that caused untold pain and destruction. The story is a poignant reminder of the profound empathy and artistry of Nguyễn Dữ, who captured the tragic fates of women in a deeply emotional and thought-provoking way.

Truong Sinh – Vu Nuong and a marriage without love. The story begins with the marriage of Vu Thi Thiet, "a girl from Nam Xương, known for her modesty, good manners, and beautiful appearance. In the village, there was a young man, Truong Sinh, who admired her beauty and asked his mother to arrange for a wedding with a hundred taels of gold." The marriage between Vu Nuong and Truong Sinh (like many others in feudal society) did not begin out of love. For Vu Nuong, she was married off by her parents. Do not blame her for desiring wealth, nor for depending on others, because "parents decide where their child sits." She had no say in the matter and certainly had no power to choose her own husband.

This was the first tragedy in Vu Nuong's life, shaped by the Confucian values of the Vietnamese feudal system, which, with its strict hierarchy, deprived women of the right to choose their husbands.

Although their marriage was not based on love, her husband Truong Sinh, though "uneducated" and "suspicious," was a gentle and modest man. Vu Nuong understood her duty as a wife and daughter-in-law, and thus adhered to the proper conduct, ensuring peace in their relationship.

Women of the past lived according to their duties. Vu Nuong did her best to fulfill these duties. Her primary duty as a daughter (and daughter-in-law) was filial piety. Circumstances tested and proved her devotion. While her husband was away at war, Vu Nuong, despite raising a young child alone, took great care in advising, nursing, and tending to her mother-in-law during her illness. When her mother-in-law passed away, Vu Nuong mourned her deeply and performed the funeral rites as if for her own parents. Her mother-in-law witnessed this, and heaven itself bore witness to her filial piety. This was enough to make her a model of filial devotion.

The primary duty of a wife is loyalty and chastity. Circumstances also tested and proved her loyalty and chastity. Her husband was away for nearly three years. Vu Nuong, in the prime of her youth, had not yet fully enjoyed the joys of married life. When Truong Sinh left, she was pregnant, soon to give birth. The days without her husband were undoubtedly filled with longing, yet she preserved her virtue, "keeping her chastity," and "the willow gate never bore the touch of another's foot."

Not only did she fulfill her duties, but she also truly loved her husband. On the day he left, even though he had not yet gone far, she spoke with such love and longing that it brought tears to the eyes of all who heard her. During the nights apart from her husband, her life with her child was lonely, and her yearning burned in her heart. "She often played with her child, pointing to her shadow on the wall and telling him it was his father, Dan." This was a response to her child’s innocent question, a way to ease her own sorrow. This practice, known as "shadow play," was common in the past, especially before electricity was introduced.

She could not have foreseen the tragic consequences of this playful act that would lead to her demise and the destruction of her small family. Only we, the readers of her story, know that this simple act indirectly led to her death.

Vu Nuong's untimely death involved many people: Truong Sinh, little Dan, or the unjust patriarchal feudal system? No, if there were a trial, Truong Sinh would be innocent, little Dan even more so, and the system itself could not be blamed, for it had no tangible form.

We all know she chose to end her own life; it was the first and perhaps only time in her brief life that she had the power to choose. Granted, her death may have evoked sympathy (the people built a shrine in her honor, and the poet-king Le Thanh Tong, upon passing through, composed a poem in her memory), but some criticized her for being selfish and indifferent.

Unlike the fairy tale "The Wife of Truong," where the wife runs to the riverbank after being scolded and beaten by her husband and throws herself into the water to end her life, in "The Story of the Girl from Nam Xương," Nguyen Du allowed her to speak a few sorrowful farewell words before bathing and purifying herself, then going to the riverbank. This suggests that her decision to die was not an impulsive act of rage but a carefully thought-out choice after much reflection.

For Vu Nuong had no other choice. She pleaded with Truong Sinh with heartfelt words, but he refused to believe her. "Relatives and neighbors defended her, but it made no difference." Her mother-in-law, who understood and appreciated her, had already passed. Her son, in his innocent honesty, was the source of the jealousy that any husband returning after a long absence could feel, not just Truong Sinh. Unfortunately, "when she asked who had spoken, Truong Sinh concealed what his son had said, choosing only to accuse her based on vague suspicions."

She had depended on Truong Sinh, as she had said when they parted, not for wealth or fame, but simply for the comfort of a family life. She valued Truong Sinh as a person and wished him well, even advising him to avoid danger, not expecting honors or titles, but only the peace of being together. Yet now, on the first day of his return, she saw their marriage, which she had worked so hard to preserve, was beyond saving.

Her husband had scolded and beaten her, and cast her out. Where could she go? In the past, a daughter whose husband had driven her away would bring shame to her family if she returned. She was accused of dishonoring her marriage, the greatest crime for a woman and wife. Her reputation was ruined. Vu Nuong had no choice but to end her life to prove her innocence, to show that she had always been pure and faithful.

The instinct of every human is to desire life. Vu Nuong, at her youthful age, must have had a strong desire to live. She didn’t want to die. But when faced with the choice of living in suspicion and disgrace, she chose to sacrifice her life for her honor and integrity. She gave up life, which only comes once, for the sake of her dignity.

The fairy tale "The Wife of Truong" ends when her life ends. But in "The Story of the Girl from Nam Xương," Nguyen Du extended the tale. In line with the curse, Vu Nuong, after throwing herself into the Hoang River, was not devoured by fish but was saved by Linh Phi, the wife of the King of the Southern Sea, and became a servant in his palace.

This fantastical twist not only adds intrigue to the story but also conveys the author's message of a "happy ending." In the end, she was exonerated, and not only Truong Sinh understood her innocence, but everyone did, as evidenced by his three-day ritual at the riverbank to honor her spirit.

In fact, this was an important reason for her to continue "living" in the undersea palace. Her grievance had not yet been resolved; she had not truly "died". When she met Phan Lang, she sent a message to Truong Sinh, urging him to perform the ritual to clear her name. Only then, when her injustice was righted, could she finally rest in peace.

Vu Nuong's tragic death, caused by jealousy and family drama, is a recurring theme throughout history. Yet, through "The Story of the Girl from Nam Xương" and another story in the "Truyền kỳ mạn lục," about Nhị Khanh, who was also driven to suicide by an abusive marriage, Nguyen Du raised a warning about the plight of women, especially in his time, who suffered under unjust systems and the harshness of fate.