Week 9 Analysis: A Close Reading

Nguyen Du, “The Tale of Kieu” (546-586)

            One passage that sticks out to me is “Treat not our love as just a game-please stay away from me and let me speak. What is a mere peach blossom that one should fence off the garden, thwart the bluebird’s quest? But you’ve named me your bride-to serve her man, she must place chastity above all else” (561). I chose this quote because of the importance of chastity to this woman and her moral values. I also chose it because of the Irony behind these words, for she is forced to prostitute herself. I also chose this quote because of the sacrifice behind her actions.

            These words convey a meaning of loyalty and love in this character sticking to her morals and planning to keep her chastity. This loyal love can be seen behind the words “Treat not our love as just a game” because she wants a true love, not one of simply just lust.  Plus, her sticking to her morals and keeping her chastity can be seen behind the words “she must place chastity above all else”. In sticking to her chastity and strictly telling him to not treat her love as a game, it seems that this is a way for her to see this love as one as true love instead of lust. Moving on, I want to talk about the use of Irony behind these words because at the end of the story, she has thrown away most of her chastity. For example, “What little chastity I may have saved, am I to fling it under trampling feet” (584). Going back to the quote I first chose, this passage explaining the importance of chastity in this society shows the serious sacrifice this women had to make when she went into prostitution, or at least foreshadows it (could be considered introduction to it).  As one can see, this passage also somehow foreshadows the rest of the story and in which, concludes into covering sacrifice, lust, loyalty, chastity, sacrifice and love. Therefore, this passages helps lead into the true meanings behind this story.