Top 9 Detailed Essays Analyzing Chí Phèo's Encounter with Bá Kiến at His House in the Work 'Chí Phèo' by Nam Cao

In the work 'Chí Phèo', Nam Cao portrays the protagonist's three visits to Bá Kiến's house, each with distinct purposes and meanings.

The central conflict in 'Chí Phèo' revolves around two opposing characters: Bá Kiến and Chí Phèo. Bá Kiến represents the ruling class of the time, while Chí Phèo embodies the alienated, degenerate peasantry. Chí's moral corruption is not innate, but is the result of societal decay. Once an innocent man, Chí worked as a field laborer for Bá Kiến's family, until he was pushed into a life of crime. His years of imprisonment transformed him from a simple, honest man into a reckless, vilified figure—the notorious 'devil' of Vu Dai village. His desire for revenge grew stronger with each passing year. After being released from prison, he visited Bá Kiến three times, each time under different circumstances.

The first visit occurred immediately after Chí was freed from prison. He was drunk and, in a fit of rage, went to Bá Kiến's house to curse him. This impulsive act, driven by the hatred nurtured during his years of incarceration, showed Chí's deep-seated need for revenge. Despite his drunken state, Chí's desire to confront Bá Kiến was clear. However, Bá Kiến, ever cunning, easily outsmarted him, offering sweet words and money to dismiss Chí, turning him from accuser to servant without Chí realizing it.

The second visit occurred while Chí was again intoxicated, but this time he sought Bá Kiến's help to return to prison, believing that prison was a better place than his current life. This absurd request reflected Chí's tragic situation—unable to survive in the outside world, with no means of livelihood, he found himself once again trapped in the system that had already broken him. His plea for imprisonment echoed the helplessness of a man abandoned by society. Bá Kiến took advantage of Chí's plight and manipulated him once more.

The third and final visit marked a turning point for Chí. After being rejected by Thị Nở, he felt utterly hopeless but resolved to change his life. His true desire was to return to a virtuous life, but society had no place for him. Chí's recognition of his enemy—Bá Kiến—was clear. In this final confrontation, Chí declared, 'I want to be a good person.' It was a statement of defiance, the culmination of his struggle for redemption. Despite his best efforts, Chí's life was beyond saving, and he ultimately ended Bá Kiến's life before tragically ending his own.

'Chí Phèo' leaves a lasting impression, highlighting the harsh realities of rural Vietnam before the Revolution (1930 - 1945) and the devastating effects of societal decay on its people.

Once a helpless child abandoned in a rundown brick kiln, with no parents, Chí Phèo was a laborer for Lý Kiến. After seven or eight years in prison, he returned to his native village of Vũ Đại, only to become one of the village's two infamous criminals. Ultimately, "they killed each other, no one else needed to intervene." This was a life marked by blood and tears, a path paved with violent acts and vendettas. Initially a decent farmer, Chí Phèo was pushed by the feudal colonial society into a life of crime.

Chí Phèo was imprisoned at the age of twenty. He returned to the village around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, and died in his forties. Perhaps it was during the time he worked as "Bá Kiến's servant" for over ten years that he visited Bá Kiến’s house numerous times to carry out tasks like stabbings, plots, and mischief. Yet Nam Cao only recounts three specific instances of Chí Phèo’s visits to Bá Kiến’s house.

The first occurred the day after Chí Phèo returned to his village. Drunk and full from eating dog meat at the market, he headed straight to Bá Kiến’s house, cursing and causing a scene. He came to seek revenge, to confront Bá Kiến over the betrayal that had landed him in prison. After a brief altercation with Lý Cường, Chí Phèo smashed a bottle against the gate post, slashed his face, and made a scene. But the crafty Bá Kiến, instead of retaliating, invited him inside, offering him wine and chicken. Chí Phèo left satisfied, boasting of his new connection to Lý Cường and his reward of silver coins.

Four days later, broke, Chí Phèo bought a bottle of liquor on credit, grabbed some green bananas and a pinch of salt from a shop, and retreated to a shrine by the river to drink. After getting drunk, he grabbed a knife and set off for Bá Kiến’s house, declaring to anyone he met, "I’m going to Bá Kiến’s to collect a debt!" He demanded that Bá Kiến send him back to prison, since "life in prison was far too comfortable." If this request was denied, he threatened to kill a few people, which would force Bá Kiến to intervene. Bá Kiến, with a sly smile, cleverly dispatched Chí Phèo to collect a fifty-dollar debt from Đội Tảo, one of his rivals. No bloodshed was necessary, and the debt was paid. Bá Kiến rewarded him with five silver coins and a small plot of land by the river. Chí Phèo, pleased, left feeling even more powerful, thinking, "There’s no one in this village more heroic than me!" He had become Bá Kiến’s loyal "hands-on servant," the feared demon of Vũ Đại.

The third visit occurred when Chí Phèo, now in his forties, arrived at Bá Kiến’s house. His face, scarred with deep gashes, looked like that of a strange animal, "yellowish... a color of decay." After five days of blissful moments with Thị Nở, savoring her simple soup, Chí Phèo wanted to turn his life around. He longed to return to a life of decency and make amends with everyone. However, his aunt would not let Thị Nở marry him. Furious, Chí Phèo drunkenly stormed to Thị Nở’s house but stopped at Bá Kiến’s house on the way. He declared boldly, "I want to be a good person!" But then he lamented, "Who will make me a good person? I can no longer be decent..." With those words, Chí Phèo, in a fit of rage, attacked Bá Kiến with a knife. As he continued to slash at Bá Kiến, he shouted loudly for the village to hear. He then turned the knife on himself, ending his life. "His eyes were wide open, his mouth gaped as if to speak but no words came." His body lay in a pool of blood.

After each encounter with Bá Kiến, Chí Phèo was manipulated and corrupted, his once-innocent nature shifting. From an honest farmer to a criminal, Chí Phèo was pushed further into a life of violence, becoming the village's villain. Nam Cao masterfully depicted his descent into villainy, portraying Chí Phèo as a symbolic figure. If "Chí Phèo" is regarded as an outstanding work in both its realistic and humanitarian aspects on the theme of rural life, then the sections involving his visits to Bá Kiến are central to its value.

The short story "Chí Phèo" has left a lasting impression on readers. It forever serves as a cry for help, an urgent call to protect the right to live with dignity, especially for laborers. The true source of evil lies within, as only by eradicating the roots of darkness can the righteous live in peace.

"Chí Phèo" is one of the brilliant short stories by Nam Cao, depicting the life of a peasant before the Revolution. One unforgettable scene that readers often recall is the three visits of Chí Phèo to Bá Kiến's house.

The characters of Chí Phèo and Bá Kiến are placed in a stark contrast. Chí Phèo is initially a humble and honest peasant, while Bá Kiến, a corrupt and cruel local tyrant representing the ruling class, sends Chí to prison over an unfounded jealousy. After his release from prison, the first place Chí Phèo seeks is Bá Kiến's house. This visit is inevitable, as Chí desires to seek revenge on the man who pushed his life onto a path of criminality and degeneration. The act of revenge is marked by Chí’s shouts and self-inflicted wounds as a form of protest. His curses strike Bá Kiến like a slap in the face, a slap that is met with secret satisfaction from many villagers. Years in prison have transformed the once gentle peasant into a "demon" of the village. However, Chí's curses fall on deaf ears, as Bá Kiến is not home.

Left with no other recourse, Chí continues to slash his face, cry out in pain, and plead: "- Oh village, save me... Oh village, oh! The father of Bá Kiến's son has killed me! Lý Cường has killed me, village!" Just when it seemed the conflict could not escalate further, Bá Kiến returns and quickly turns the situation around. Not only does Bá Kiến divert Chí from his thirst for vengeance, but he also manipulates Chí into becoming his ally. From that moment, Chí Phèo is trapped in a life of crime with no escape, descending deeper into a tragic path.

The second time Chí Phèo visits Bá Kiến, thoughts of revenge are gone. Instead, he seeks money for liquor. This time, Chí is courteous, calling him "sir" and referring to himself as "son", showing how completely he has become Bá Kiến's pawn, losing all his humanity. He casually says: - Sir, ever since you sent me to prison, I've come to enjoy being there, I swear. Prison life has its perks; at least there’s food to eat. Back home, there's no land, no work, nothing to sustain me. Sir, I have come again to ask if you can send me back to prison.” This drunken statement, while absurd, forces readers to reflect.

The paradox of "going to prison" to get food seems illogical, yet it mirrors Chí's life at that point – a man with no family, no work, and no place to call home. At this moment, Chí has completely lost his humanity, willing to do anything to fulfill his desires. His path to Bá Kiến's house has become all too familiar. It's clear that Chí will not visit Bá Kiến just once for money, just as he will not work for him just once. By the second visit, Chí has fully lost his "human" side, becoming a "bloodthirsty demon".

The most striking visit, however, is the third and final one. In a fit of anger after being rejected by Thị Nở, Chí seeks to kill Thị and her aunt, but his steps lead him to Bá Kiến’s house. This time, Chí's goal is entirely different from the past: he demands the right to be an honest man. Bá Kiến, though, quickly dismisses him by offering him a small sum of money, further mocking him: "Chí Phèo, huh? Enough of the nonsense, I’m not a bank".

He throws the money at Chí and orders him to leave: "Take this and get out. Go work for a living instead of always bothering others." Chí, with eyes blazing, points at him: "I didn’t come here to beg for five cents." Seeing Chí's fury, Bá Kiến softens: "Fine, take it. I have no more." Chí, puffing out his chest, declares arrogantly: "I told you, I don’t want your money." - "Good! Today I finally see you not asking for money. So what do you want?" Chí, with full conviction, responds: "I want to be an honest man!"

But tragically, Chí can never return to being an honest man. He has been completely destroyed both physically and mentally. His anguished cry, "Who will give me the chance to be honest? How can I get rid of the scars on my face?" reveals his despair. The subsequent act of killing Bá Kiến and committing suicide seems inevitable. Bá Kiến’s death is a consequence of his actions: "Those who sow the wind shall reap the whirlwind." Chí Phèo’s death represents the ultimate liberation for a peasant's doomed fate before the Revolution.

Thus, Chí Phèo’s three visits to Bá Kiến carry different meanings, and Nam Cao’s "Chí Phèo" remains a powerful story full of deep human values.

Nam Cao is a renowned realist writer in Vietnamese literature. His short story 'Chí Phèo' is a remarkable work about the life of a peasant before the Revolution. In this story, Nam Cao has Chí Phèo visit Bá Kiến's house three times, each visit carrying different meanings.

Initially, Chí Phèo was a strong laborer working for Bá Kiến's family, a servant to Bá Kiến. It was Bá Kiến himself who had Chí Phèo sent to prison. For Chí Phèo, the road to Bá Kiến's house was well-trodden, and after being released from prison, it was to Bá Kiến's house that he first turned. Bá Kiến was the one who secretly sent him to prison, tainting him with crimes, abandoning him to colonial atrocities, and turning him into a corrupted thug. The drive for revenge is Chí Phèo's inevitable motivation. He stakes his life on a challenge against the head of Vũ Đại village. His years in prison, shaped by a corrupt and vengeful nature, made him bold and reckless. His revenge unfolds in two scenes: cursing and slashing his face to feign injury.

Chí's curses, sharp and bitter, strike directly at Bá Kiến's face. He is fearless when confronting the village leader. His hatred, amplified by alcohol, gives him the audacity of a god. But the cursing is ineffective, as Bá Kiến is away, leaving only three fierce dogs and a drunken man to confront. Thus, Chí resorts to slashing his face for sympathy. He tortures himself to provoke Bá Kiến. Just when it seems the conflict reaches its peak, Bá Kiến's presence and authority calm the situation, resolving the conflict smoothly. Bá Kiến turns the situation around swiftly with his cunning and sharp mind, using laughter and commands. This resolution of the conflict adds an unexpected twist to the plot, making it unique and thrilling.

Nam Cao shows a sharp, insightful vision as a master writer. He raises the conflict to its peak, only to bring it down into increasingly subtle and intense tensions. Nam Cao has Bá Kiến bestow on Chí Phèo a false family name, calming the conflict in a seemingly peaceful way. However, this fake connection cannot hide Chí Phèo's murky past, only adding to his taint. Chí Phèo's first visit to Bá Kiến to seek revenge ends with the unexpected result. He is given a false family connection, treated with kindness, and given money for alcohol. This surprises him beyond imagination. The immediate rewards cloud his vision, and he fails to recognize his true enemy, obediently listening to Bá Kiến and leaving with pride and self-importance.

Chí Phèo's first visit sets the stage for the inevitable second visit. This time, he comes with an entirely different motive: to seek imprisonment. Life in Vũ Đại village has become harsher than his time in prison. 'Being in prison means food; here, I can't even get a meal.' Chí Phèo's drunken words evoke much contemplation. In a corrupt and unjust society, human life seems fragile and insignificant. In this feudal, semi-colonial society of Vũ Đại, the lives of decent people are suffocated. They are pushed to the brink of moral decay. The paradox of Chí Phèo's desire to return to prison seems absurd, yet it rings true in his life.

This time, Chí Phèo visits Bá Kiến with a completely different tone. His use of 'son' and calling him 'sir' is strikingly sweet. He is beginning to fall into corruption, becoming a servant of Bá Kiến. Bá Kiến, with his cunning, quickly turns Chí Phèo to his side. The cunning of the ruling elite is fully displayed. Chí Phèo, with the ignorance of a peasant, fails to recognize Bá Kiến's tricks and blindly follows his orders. The result of this second visit is a victorious celebration over the Tảo faction, a powerful group in the village. Chí Phèo boasts, 'No hero in this village can compare to me.' But his triumph marks the deepest point in his moral decay, leading him further down a path with no escape. This second visit completes Chí Phèo's descent into corruption, making him a loyal servant of Bá Kiến. His life ends, trapped and hopeless.

The third visit to Bá Kiến's house marks a crucial turning point in the story. This time, Chí Phèo comes not to seek favors but to demand his humanity. Still, following the familiar path, his steps now lead him to Bá Kiến in a moment of awakening. He finally realizes that Bá Kiến is his greatest enemy. His motivation for this third visit is entirely different from the previous ones. This time, he comes to claim his right to live with dignity. His yearning for a virtuous life, the tragedy of being denied basic human rights, brings him to Bá Kiến. With a knife drawn, his hatred flares, driving him to confront his enemy: 'There is only one way... do you understand! The only way is... this!' The result of this final visit is the death of both Chí Phèo and Bá Kiến. Nam Cao leads the conflict from subtle tensions to the ultimate climax of these two deaths. These deaths are inevitable. Bá Kiến's death represents the punishment of evil; it is poetic justice. Bá Kiến's death marks the strength of the peasant in their struggle against the ruling class. Chí Phèo's death signifies the end of a tragic cycle, the conclusion of the peasant's miserable and hopeless fate. His death also embodies Nam Cao's faith in humanity, a triumph of humanistic thought. Although the peasants seemed subjugated by the ruling class, these two deaths completely negate that notion.

Thus, Chí Phèo's three visits to Bá Kiến's house are not merely a simple narrative device. Through these visits, the writer conveys deeper meanings.

Chí Phèo represents a significant portrayal of the rural peasant before the Revolution in Nam Cao's work. In 'Chí Phèo,' for the first time, the right to live and the pursuit of happiness are elevated to great significance through Nam Cao's compassionate pen. Chí Phèo embodies the formation of class conflicts, especially between the ruling and the oppressed classes, which thread throughout the work, forming its central narrative. Chí Phèo's three visits to Bá Kiến's house showcase Nam Cao's masterful crafting of conflicts, reflecting the author's deep empathy for the degraded and corrupted peasants in such a society - a writer who held a great love for the common people.

The primary conflict unfolds between two characters, Chí Phèo and Bá Kiến. This conflict runs subtly and persistently beneath the surface. For a long time, the relationship between Chí Phèo and Bá Kiến has been one of dependence and closeness. From Chí Phèo's days as a robust field laborer working for Bá Kiến's family, he was a servant with kinship ties to Bá Kiến. This bond paved the way for Chí Phèo's first visit to Bá Kiến's house, a familiar route that had been ingrained in his memory since childhood, symbolizing his dependency.

After his release from prison, the first place Chí Phèo naturally turns to is Bá Kiến's house—the man who secretly drove him to prison, smeared his reputation, and abandoned him to the brutalities of colonial crimes, transforming him into a vagrant. Revenge becomes the inevitable motivation for Chí Phèo. He stakes his life against fate, challenging the head of Vũ Đại village. Years of imprisonment and his transformation into a bitter, vengeful man had hardened him, making him reckless. His revenge unfolds in two acts: cursing and slashing his face as a form of protest. The curses he hurls are venomous and direct, showing no fear when confronting the head of Vũ Đại village. The wine-fueled anger gives him the audacity to challenge Bá Kiến, yet the confrontation is futile, as Bá Kiến is absent, leaving only three vicious dogs and a drunkard. Thus, Chí Phèo resorts to slashing his face and pretending to suffer. His cries of distress echo throughout the village: 'Oh, my village! Help me! The son of Bá Kiến stabbed me!' The reader might think the conflict reaches its peak, but the arrival and dominance of Bá Kiến calm the situation, resolving the conflict swiftly with his cunning and sharp wit. The clever manipulation of Bá Kiến adds unexpected twists and intrigue to the plot.

Nam Cao's sharp and profound insight as a master storyteller is evident. He escalates the conflict to its climax, then pulls it back into subtle, intensifying undercurrents. Bá Kiến, in his manipulative way, offers Chí Phèo a false family connection, diffusing the tension, but this recognition only deepens Chí Phèo’s tarnished identity. In Chí Phèo's first visit to Bá Kiến, he seeks revenge, yet the outcome is paradoxical. He gains a false familial title, is warmly received, and even receives money for alcohol, which is an overwhelming surprise. These immediate rewards cloud his judgment, blinding him to the true enemy in his life, as he obediently follows Bá Kiến's commands, leaving with a sense of pride and satisfaction.

Chí Phèo's second visit to Bá Kiến is entirely different. This time, his motive is to seek prison again. The harsh life in Vũ Đại village feels even more unbearable than his prison years. 'In prison, at least there's food, but now in the village, there’s nothing, no work to do, just starving.' Chí Phèo's drunken lament raises deep reflections in the reader's mind. Observing the corrupt and decaying society, one sees how fragile and insignificant human life is. In the feudal, semi-colonial Vũ Đại village, the lives of decent people are stifled, pushed to the brink of degradation. Chí Phèo’s contradictory desire to return to prison seems irrational, yet it perfectly mirrors his life.

This time, Chí Phèo approaches Bá Kiến with a completely different tone. The way he addresses Bá Kiến with affectionate titles shows his descent into further degradation, gradually becoming Bá Kiến’s pawn. With his crafty strategies, Bá Kiến quickly turns Chí Phèo against his opposition. The old man applies his typical divide-and-conquer methods, making others destroy each other while he profits. Bá Kiến’s character reveals the ruthless, conniving nature of the feudal elite. Yet, Chí Phèo, in his ignorance, fails to see through Bá Kiến’s manipulations and obediently follows his lead. The outcome of this second visit is Chí Phèo’s triumph over a powerful local faction, a moment of pride as he declares himself 'the hero of this village,' only to realize that this is his deepest fall into moral decay. This marks the full transformation of Chí Phèo into Bá Kiến’s loyal henchman. His life, corrupted and hopeless, is now completely in Bá Kiến’s hands.

The third visit to Bá Kiến represents the climax of Chí Phèo’s journey. Now, Chí Phèo’s motive is rejection. He walks the familiar path again, but this time with a sense of awakening. He recognizes that Bá Kiến is his true enemy. This visit is no longer driven by revenge but by the desire for a moral life. The thirst for human dignity and his struggle against the denial of his humanity lead him back to Bá Kiến. With a knife in hand, Chí Phèo declares, 'There’s only one way… do you know! …The only way is… this!' The result of this third visit is death for both Chí Phèo and Bá Kiến. Nam Cao leads the conflict from subtle tension to its peak: two inevitable deaths.

These deaths are inevitable. Bá Kiến’s death represents the punishment of evil, a just retribution. Bá Kiến’s death signifies the strength of the peasants in their fight against the ruling class. Chí Phèo’s death, however, marks the end of his tragic life, a closure to his suffering, but it also demonstrates Nam Cao's belief in the potential of humanity. These two deaths prove that while peasants may seem subjugated by the ruling class, their ultimate fate is not predetermined.

Through his expert manipulation of conflict, Nam Cao portrays the struggle between the ruling and oppressed classes, building to a powerful climax. The three visits of Chí Phèo to Bá Kiến’s house showcase the author's remarkable talent and affection for the people.

Prominent in the work Chí Phèo are two opposing characters: Bá Kiến and Chí Phèo. This represents the conflict between Bá Kiến, who stands for the ruling class of the time, and Chí Phèo, who symbolizes the peasant class degraded in terms of character. It is important to note that Chí's degradation was not inherent but arose from his experiences within a corrupt, inhuman society. Once, Chí was an honest man who worked as a farmhand for Bá Kiến, but he was later pushed into the criminal system by Bá Kiến. His years of imprisonment transformed him from an innocent, simple man into a reckless person—a demon of Vũ Đại village, corrupted in character. He carried a grudge that could never be erased. If we take the moment Chí was released from prison as a marker, we can say that Chí sought Bá Kiến three times, each time under different circumstances and motives.

The first time was when Chí had just returned from prison: "He came back the day before and the next day was already seen drinking in the market." In his drunken stupor, he grabbed an empty bottle and shouted curses at Bá Kiến's house. This reckless act was driven by Chí's subconscious, fueled by the resentment that had festered during his years of imprisonment. His hatred for the man who had wronged him and led him to suffering pushed him to Bá Kiến's house, even while intoxicated. Chí's actions were entirely impulsive and spontaneous.

Moreover, deep down, Chí was an honest peasant, almost naïve, so it was obvious he would fail in this first confrontation. How could he overcome a cunning and scheming man like Bá Kiến? Bá Kiến, with his sharp wits and many tricks, easily understood Chí's intentions. Chí was quickly deceived by Bá Kiến's sweet words and a few coins, losing sight of his purpose. In a flash, the tables turned: the guilty party, Bá Kiến, appeared as a benefactor, while Chí, the one seeking justice, became the servant without realizing it.

The second time, also in a drunken state, Chí staggered to Bá Kiến's house, asking to be sent back to prison. It was a ridiculous request—who had ever asked to return to prison? But this reflected Chí's dire situation. He had no food, no clothes, and no land to call his own. Chí’s plight mirrored the societal reality of the time, where those who fell into crime could never escape. After serving his sentence, Chí returned to a life with no prospects, no support, and was once again pushed to the brink. His words to Bá Kiến were heartbreaking: "Prison was so good, there was food to eat. Now I return to the village, but there’s not even a plot of land to call home..." This tragic truth exposes the despair of Chí’s existence. Can prison truly be a place of rehabilitation? No, for those like Chí Phèo, it only nourishes their corruption. As Victor Hugo rightly said, "Before prison, you were a fresh branch, after prison, you are dry wood." Once again, Chí was deceived by Bá Kiến's cunning, falling victim to a scheme he didn’t even recognize.

The third and final time, Chí approached Bá Kiến not as an enraged man, but with a different purpose. After being rejected by Thị Nở, Chí had fallen into despair. He wanted to make amends, to live a righteous life like others. However, society, in its cruelty, had already closed its doors to him. His chance for redemption was gone. This time, Chí had awakened to the truth. He recognized Bá Kiến as his true enemy, the man responsible for his misery. Though he had intended to go to Thị Nở’s house, deep down, he was drawn to Bá Kiến’s house, signaling the shift in his character.

In this final confrontation, Chí completely transformed. His sudden change took Bá Kiến by surprise. Overconfident, Bá Kiến underestimated Chí and paid a heavy price for it. With newfound resolve, Chí pointed at Bá Kiến and declared loudly, "I want to be a good person." This was a side of Chí no one had ever seen. In the past, he had always bowed and obeyed. This was his self-assertion, his philosophical clarity: "Who will make me a good person? I cannot be a good person." His final words were filled with bitterness. Chí had been pushed to the edge, with no other choices left but to end Bá Kiến's life and then his own. The tragedy ended in blood and tears.

The work Chí Phèo leaves readers in deep thought, pondering the moral dilemmas and contradictions of rural Vietnamese life during the 1930s-1940s. It portrays the harsh conflict between the evil feudal lords and the downtrodden peasants, exemplified by Bá Kiến and Chí Phèo. These internal conflicts expose the decay and corruption of society at that time. The depiction of rural Vietnam is bleak and desolate, filled with corrupt, opportunistic individuals and rampant social vices like drinking, gambling, and theft.

This society is not only characterized by poverty but also by moral degradation. The author successfully creates the image of a new type of peasant: Chí Phèo, a vivid and unique literary figure representing moral corruption. Through Chí’s story, the author conveys a deep humanitarian message, showing empathy and respect for those rejected by society. Despite being considered vile, these characters still possess a glimmer of humanity, fighting against an inhumane society. The work radiates a longing for happiness, for human dignity, and for compassion.

Especially poignant is Chí Phèo's cry just before his death. It is a deeply moving plea for help: "Who will make me a good person? I want to be a good person." This cry resonates deeply, forcing readers to reflect on the issue of human fate. It calls for a compassionate response to the plight of the downtrodden, urging us to protect human dignity and uphold the truth that "people should live to love one another."

The work indirectly condemns a filthy, inhumane society, a society that breeds individuals like Chí Phèo. In this society, humans are trapped in a hopeless cycle. When one Chí Phèo dies, another will take their place. The final scene, with Thị Nở walking by an abandoned brick kiln after Chí’s death, subtly suggests that another Chí Phèo may soon emerge.

Some consider this a pessimistic ending, but perhaps Nam Cao is calling on us to save the next generation of Chí Phèo, to destroy the old, corrupt systems, and let humanity live in a more honest, noble way.

Nam Cao is an outstanding realist writer in Vietnamese literature. One of his most famous works is the short story "Chí Phèo." Through this story, the writer depicts a social phenomenon in rural Vietnam before the revolution—the honest peasant being driven into a path of moral corruption.

After returning from prison one day, Chí Phèo went to the market, drinking alcohol and eating dog meat from noon until the evening, becoming "intoxicated" and staggering aggressively. He grabbed a bottle and went to Bá Kiến's house, repeatedly calling out and cursing. Bá Kiến was not home, but his son, Lý Cường, known for his arrogant behavior, came out and fought with Chí Phèo. Chí Phèo, while cutting his own face and pretending to be injured, screamed to the villagers as though his throat had been slashed, saying: "Oh, the village! Help me! ... Oh, the village! The Lý family killed me... village, oh!" At that moment, Bá Kiến arrived. He asked calmly, "What’s all this commotion?" But when he saw Chí Phèo lying motionless, moaning faintly as if near death, Bá Kiến immediately understood the situation. He gently told the onlookers to return to their homes and, at the same time, tenderly comforted Chí Phèo. In the end, Chí Phèo followed Bá Kiến into the house, where he was offered food, wine, and chicken. When leaving, he was given a silver coin for medicine to treat his wounds. Chí Phèo was "immensely satisfied." Thus, Chí Phèo came to Bá Kiến's house this time with the intention of feigning injury and possibly seeking revenge. Through this, Nam Cao reveals much to the reader.

On the victim's side, through this first "meeting," the corrupt, thug-like nature of Chí Phèo is fully revealed to the villagers of Vũ Đại. He is no longer the healthy, honest peasant he once was. After seven or eight years of absence, Chí Phèo has returned, no longer the mild-mannered person he once was, but a gangster, brutal, ready to kill or maim, cutting his own face and pretending to be injured. Looking at Chí Phèo cutting his face and crying out to the village, we can truly feel one reality: the colonial prison system has severely corrupted and dehumanized the laboring man.

From the perspective of the rulers, the culprit, embodied by Bá Kiến, is shown in this scene, marking his first appearance to the readers. Observing Bá Kiến's behavior towards Chí Phèo, we see that Bá Kiến is revealed to be a landlord, a cunning, manipulative person full of schemes and deceit. His sweet words and subtle demeanor calmed Chí Phèo's anger, making him "soften." Chí Phèo, who had aggressively gone to Bá Kiến's house to declare a deathly confrontation, left "content" and became a mere servant for Bá Kiến.

This situation is also a bitter and ironic reality that existed in the old society. Many oppressed laborers, having turned into thugs, could only react blindly and recklessly, easily being exploited and manipulated by the ruling class. Exposing this shows how rich Nam Cao's realism is.

After running out of money for alcohol, Chí Phèo went to Bá Kiến's house, claiming he had come to "collect a debt from Bá Kiến." When he met Bá Kiến, with an almost harmless demeanor, Chí Phèo asked Bá Kiến, "Please let me go to prison," and if not, "I will have to kill a few people to go to prison." Bá Kiến advised Chí Phèo to go to Đội Tảo’s house to collect a debt of 50 coins for Bá Kiến. Chí Phèo accepted immediately. Fortunately, "Đội Tảo was bedridden," and his wives secretly sent Chí Phèo away. Chí Phèo left "feeling even more important." He thought to himself, "I am the hero of this village, no one is as great as me." Bá Kiến gave him five coins and a newly taxed banana garden from a villager. From now on, Chí Phèo would become Bá Kiến’s loyal tool.

In this second meeting, we see Chí Phèo’s personality undergo a significant change. He becomes further entrenched in his life of crime, serving as a useful tool for Bá Kiến’s evil schemes. However, in Chí Phèo’s request: "Please let me go to prison... in prison, there’s food, but back in the village, I have no land to dig, nothing to eat," we can still see the deep sorrow in his heart for his fate. This moment also highlights the desperate, trapped situation of the poor peasants. Returning from prison, with no family or land, the circumstances have driven him to a life of crime.

In this second encounter, Bá Kiến’s insidious, cunning nature is even more exposed. When he learned that Chí Phèo came to ask to go to prison, and if denied, would kill a few people, the old fox devised a clever plan. With a few gentle taunts, Bá Kiến pushed Chí Phèo into a trap: using Đội Tảo’s hands to kill Chí Phèo and vice versa. This was a highly devious maneuver.

In this encounter, Chí Phèo came to Bá Kiến with a very different mindset. After being rejected by Thị Nở, he drank more and grabbed a knife to leave. He no longer went to Thị Nở’s house as planned but went directly to Bá Kiến’s. At this moment, Chí Phèo’s steps were not merely those of a drunken man, but of someone both drunk and sober. He was sober because his sense of human dignity had returned. The simple and sincere love of Thị Nở awakened the good in Chí Phèo: "He longed for goodness. He wanted to reconcile with everyone so much!" Thị Nở’s answer would decide his fate: would he be recognized as human, or would he remain forever trapped in his animalistic life? Chí Phèo hoped anxiously. But the door of hope was quickly slammed shut, as Thị Nở’s aunt prevented her from helping a man rejected by society. The villagers had long recognized Chí Phèo as the village demon. Today, Chí Phèo’s soul had returned, but no one recognized it. Thus, Chí Phèo fell into a tragic spiritual crisis: longing for goodness, but rejected coldly by society.

In agony and despair, Chí Phèo realized the full extent of the crime Bá Kiến had committed in stealing his humanity. This time, Chí Phèo left with hatred and determination to reclaim the face and soul that society had stolen. Before Bá Kiến, Chí Phèo now stood with a dignified and resolute posture, speaking firmly and confidently. Bá Kiến was shocked: "Take it, I have no more." Chí Phèo lifted his head proudly and said arrogantly, "I told you I didn’t want money." Bá Kiến, mocking him, asked, "What do you need then?" Chí Phèo boldly declared, "I want to be a decent person." Bá Kiến sarcastically responded, "Oh, that’s all? I only need you to be decent for the world’s sake."

"I can’t be decent anymore. Do you know that? There’s only one way..." Only one way, and that was for Chí Phèo to "rush in and swing the knife... slashing wildly while calling out to the village loudly." After killing Bá Kiến, he went on to end his own life, "struggling amidst the pool of fresh blood."

The act of killing Bá Kiến was not just a criminal act by a thug Chí Phèo, but an act of vengeance by a peasant who had awakened to the right to live. Nam Cao’s keen humanitarian insight is evident here. After killing Bá Kiến, Chí Phèo took his life, for his sense of dignity had returned, and he could no longer accept an animalistic existence. Chí Phèo did not take responsibility for his own death, as ultimately the true culprit was Bá Kiến, and the entire colonial-feudal society that was cruel, unjust, and inhumane. Chí Phèo’s death was a deep condemnation of a society that had murdered life, stifling its vitality. Chí Phèo’s violent reaction shows that, even behind the seemingly peaceful rural landscape, there is a bitter, enduring class conflict.

"Leisurely, the world rests from its work in the fields.

The rice is soft like velvet.

The garden is full of fallen grapefruit and orange blossoms,

Buzzing bees fly in circles."

(Nguyễn Bính)

The class struggle between peasants and landlords always lurks beneath the surface. This conflict cannot be reconciled; the more it is suppressed, the more violently it erupts. Nam Cao’s sharp realist pen has uncovered this bitter truth.

After Chí Phèo's death, the phenomenon of Chí Phèo may not have ended. The story’s ending is quite meaningful: when Thị Nở heard the news of Chí Phèo's death, she looked quickly at her belly and saw the old brick kiln, abandoned, far from the house, and no longer crowded. It’s possible that from this kiln, a new, more rebellious Chí Phèo would emerge to continue his legacy. This isn’t guaranteed, but what is certain is that as long as landlords remain in the countryside, the Chí Phèo phenomenon will continue. Nam Cao’s writing reflects this cruel and inescapable rule of reality.

In conclusion, the three "meetings" between Chí Phèo and Bá Kiến represent intense clashes between the rulers and the oppressed, who have been dehumanized to the point of losing their identity. The work reflects an important, urgent issue in rural life at the time—a feudal-colonial society that corrupted and dehumanized people. And when human dignity returned, it was coldly rejected by society, forcing people to destroy their own lives. Nam Cao reveals the horrific crimes of this system and calls for the protection of human dignity, urging the destruction of inhuman circumstances. Nam Cao empathizes with the suffering victims and shows that beneath the seemingly barren souls, a spark of dignity and a burning desire for a decent life still exists.

The short story "Chí Phèo" by Nam Cao portrays the fate of Vietnamese peasants before the Revolution. The depiction of Chí Phèo and his three visits to Bá Kiến's house illustrates the transformation of a gentle and naive farmer into a monstrous figure in the village of Vũ Đại.

Each of Chí Phèo's three visits to Bá Kiến's house serves a different purpose. Bá Kiến, as the head of the village, represents the ruling class in the feudal society. On the other hand, Chí Phèo, an orphan without any family, grows up to become a strong peasant, yet is subjected to the life of a servant. The relationship between Bá Kiến and Chí Phèo reflects the master-servant dynamic, symbolizing the oppressed peasants and the oppressive ruling class. Even from a young age, Chí Phèo's path to Bá Kiến's house seemed destined.

Nam Cao provides a detailed account of the three visits. The first visit occurs after Chí Phèo's release from prison, with a thirst for revenge. The first place he visits is none other than Bá Kiến's house, where he confronts Bá Kiến aggressively, using vulgar language. His outburst frightens Bá Kiến's family: “Bà cả, bà hai, bà ba—none of them dared to speak with him.” This response from Bá Kiến's family reflects how society viewed Chí Phèo as nothing more than a beast, his curses likened to the barking of dogs. His anger is aimless: “He curses heaven, life, the whole village of Vũ Đại, and everyone who doesn't fight with him.” Chí Phèo’s words seem to lack any real meaning.

The curses become familiar; for Chí Phèo, it is his way of communicating with society. When Bá Kiến returns, he manipulates Chí Phèo with his deceitful tactics, offering him a small bribe, and Chí Phèo leaves content, drunk, and with three pennies to buy medicine. Nam Cao uses this scene to criticize the maliciousness of the ruling class, with Bá Kiến representing this cruelty. He can twist the truth and turn someone seeking revenge into a grateful subject. This manipulation highlights the author's sympathy for the ignorant peasants, easily swayed by the feudal forces. By this point, Chí Phèo is already on the path to moral corruption.

In the second visit, Chí Phèo's purpose is now clear: he seeks money for alcohol. This time, his approach is more cunning. He claims he wishes to return to prison, where life seems less harsh than in the village, where he is shunned by everyone. Chí Phèo expresses his request politely, referring to Bá Kiến as “bẩm cụ” (respectful address) and himself as “con.” At this point, Chí Phèo is fully immersed in his moral decay.

He then threatens Bá Kiến with a knife, saying, “If not, I’ll kill a few people.” This behavior reveals his descent into lawlessness. This second visit marks the lowest point in Chí Phèo’s corruption, where he has lost both his humanity and his dignity. His ignorance as a peasant leads him to fail in his battle against the evil forces around him. This second visit marks Chí Phèo's most significant defeat in his attempt to regain his innocence.

The third visit is not planned, but his journey along the familiar road leads him to Bá Kiến’s house once again. His original aim was to kill Thị Nở and her aunt, but perhaps subconsciously, Chí Phèo recognizes that Bá Kiến is the true enemy of his life. This time, his visit is different from the others; he is determined to regain his humanity, as seen in his harsh language and actions. As he storms into Bá Kiến’s house, shouting and threatening, his behavior signifies a moment of awakening. However, the outcome is tragic—both Bá Kiến and Chí Phèo perish.

This tragic end reveals the deep humanitarian spirit of Nam Cao. Chí Phèo's death is inevitable, as his life was filled with meaninglessness. His awakening symbolizes the rise of the peasant class, but it also highlights the tragic reality that moral awakening does not always lead to victory. Sometimes, it requires a heavy price, such as death—the inevitable price of righteousness. Bá Kiến’s death, on the other hand, represents the triumph of justice. The saying, “You reap what you sow,” is evident in Bá Kiến’s demise, which affirms the spirit of struggle of the peasants.

Clearly, Chí Phèo’s three visits to Bá Kiến each serve different purposes and lead to different outcomes. His awakening reflects Nam Cao's deep humanitarian philosophy and his victory of humanistic spirit. Through this, Nam Cao's literary talent is further solidified.