The Tale of Kieu

The Tale of Kieu is full of characters, producing long-lasting impressions upon the reader and Dam Tien is one of them, even despite the fact that its role is only supplementary. Dam Tien is an apparition or a ghost that tells the fortune of other people; it represents itself in the form of a young woman.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Tale of Kieu specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Nguyá »â€¦n Du first mentions this character when Kieu finds her grave. This ghost appears to her and makes a prophecy about the course of major character’s life. In particular, she says that Kieu will have to undergo a great number of hardships and miseries before she eventually finds happiness and love. It should be noted that the author provided us with biographical details about this character. In the past, she was a singer, â€Å"renowned for looks and gifts† (Nguyá »â€¦n Huá » ³nh, p 35, line 63). The writer also tells us that Dam Tien enjoyed considerable success among man who virtually â€Å"jostled at her door† (Nguyá »â€¦n Huá » ³nh, p 35, line 64). We also know that this character died in the prime of her life and to some extent, she became a symbol of youth and beauty and ,most importantly, their brevity. Kieu learned about her life from the story told by Vuong Quan. In this respect, Dam Tien is very reminiscent to Kieu; they are both beautiful and well-educated but their lives are tied with misfortunes (Teo, 352). We do not know whether Dam Tien is sympathetic of the main character or not. She manifests itself only to mark important moments of Kieu’s life but she does not act a guide. However, she appears at those times, when the main heroine needs some consolation (Stickney, 206). We should also mention that in the past Dam Tien was a songwriter and she is able to appreciate poetry and lyrics. So, when she reads Dam Tien’s lyrics, she praised them and in a way this is also consolation. By praising Kieu’s lyrics this ghost indicated to the main character that she is not alone in her sufferings and that there might be some other people who may understand her or at least try to do it. This is one of its major contributions to the Tale of Kieu. This character plays an important part in the development of the plot, since the memories of Dam Tien’s prophecy drive Kieu into the depth of despair and she attempts suicide, yet she was saved by Giac Duyen. This ghost becomes the only creature to whom the main character can tell about her misfortunes and grieves. Yet, one should regard this ghost only as an ill omen since in later parts of the poem Dam Tien finally tells Kieu that she will eventually find her love. She says â€Å"with many days ahead, you shall fulfill/your great past love, reap future happiness† (Nguyá »â€¦n Huá » ³nh, line 141).Advertising Looking for essay on literature languages? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Again, one has to emphasize the idea that this ghost is observed only by Kieu; other characters do no notice it. Thus, one can argue that it might be a figment of Kieu’s imagination. As it has been said before, Dam Tien is a secondary character but it does help the reader to better understand the inner world of Kieu and her feelings. This is one of the reasons why it is so important for this poem. Works Cited Nguyá »â€¦n Du and Sanh Thà ´ng Huá » ³nh. The tale of Kieu. Randon House, 1973. Print. Stickney Mary. River of Pearls. iUniverse, 2004. Print Teo Hsu-Ming. Behind the Moon. Soho Press 2007. Print. This essay on The Tale of Kieu was written and submitted by user Izaiah Burch to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here. The Tale of Kieu â€Å"The Tale of Kieu† is a Vietnamese epic poem written by, Nguyá »â€¦n Du  (1766–1820). It is one of the most important pieces of Vietnamese literature. It is a moving story about a young Vietnamese girl named Kieu who attempts to undo the wrongs of her past life, by enduring hardships.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Tale of Kieu specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Through the story, we are drawn into the world of Vietnamese culture and way of life. The writer depicts injustice within the feudal system, after the dethroning of the Le Dynasty, and the status of women then. Even though the story is about 200 years old, it still holds true, as the plight of many young Vietnamese women is almost the same in today’s world. One of the main issues and controversies surrounding the story of the protagonist is morality. Many people consider this an immoral story, as it depicts the life of a pr ostitute. On the contrary, this story lends a voice to millions of women across the globe that human trafficking is a horrendous crime that exists even in this sophisticated world. â€Å"The Tale of Kieu† is a moral work as it depicts the hardship of a woman, who is forced into prostitution, to save her family from poverty, and betrayed by the men she loved. It exemplifies the plight of many young women who are trapped in slavery. The main protagonist Kieu is sold into prostitution and is constantly deceived by the men in her life. Despite this, she tries to maintain her dignity, and face her problems with determination. The author of the story focuses on the good as well as the bad aspects in the life of the protagonist. On many occasions in the story, we can see that Kieu is not an innocent character. But, this may be because of the fact that she has been wronged so many times in life, that she did what she thought right for her. She realized from her early day that she can not trust anyone in her life and that she has to look after herself for her survival. Many of her acts reveal that originally she is not a morally degraded woman. One cannot deny the moral act, when she refused Kim’s lustful designs on her, when they first met. As they were not married yet, she found it wrong to sleep with him, as maintaining chastity till marriage was the right, moral action for any woman. They were deeply in love with and initially when each other, kim professes his love for her, she replies, â€Å"ll etch your word, our troth, in stone and bronze† (Du). But, at the same time, she goes back on her vows, as she bends to the circumstance of her life rather than upholding her vows. Even though she fails to keep her promise to her true love, she is dutiful to her father, and she sacrifices herself to save her family from poverty and prison. Her sacrifice to save her family from hardship and poverty is nerve wrecking. Throughout her ordeals, she is used a nd abused by men. Yet she remains duty found, and responsible to her family. When she is visited by a ghost who reminds her about her bad â€Å"karma† and when she foresees her doom, she says,Advertising Looking for essay on literature languages? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More â€Å"How sorrowful is woman’s lot! How sternly fate will deal with all of us!† (Du par. 2). We can see that her fall is not her doing. It is the pressure of circumstances that make her immoral. Many people could relate this to their surroundings, as there are many in the same circumstance as Kieu. Through Kieu’s story the author reveals the hard realities of life. Life has its own course as it is already scripted. Kieu represents those who are born to sacrifice everything in life, for their family. Even though, the protagonist tries to be virtuous, her circumstances in life do not allow her to be the person she wants to be. Fate has other things in store for her. Kieu is not an immoral woman, but just a victim of her fate. Works Cited Du, Nguyen. The Tale of Kieu. Paper Masters. A Division of E World Publishing, Inc. Web. This essay on The Tale of Kieu was written and submitted by user Kyan Knox to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.