Work in Translation
Paradise of the Blind by Duong Thu Huong
Final Draft
Name: Chung Yee, Lee
Candidate number: 003072-225
Year 11
QASMT
Teacher: Ms Jennifer Russel
Word Count: 1477
Work in Translation
Paradise of the Blind by Duong Thu Huong
In the novel, Paradise of the Blind, written by Duong Thu Huong originally in Vietnamese and translated into English by Phan Huy Duong and Nina Mcpherson, the author constructs characters Aunt Tam and Uncle Chinh as analogs of conflicting political ideologies of 20th century Vietnam in order to display her opinions on its effectiveness in attaining proclaimed paradise. The characters are constructed to differently express the author’s voice towards extremist ideologies, Uncle Chinh
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The author has used the juxtaposition to represent the disillusioned result of a successful employment of communism, heaven, to the reality of communism, tragedy, the result of failure in the employment of communism.
Duong also provides her opinion about the capitalist ideologies through the characterisation of Aunt Tam. In contrast to Uncle Chinh, Aunt Tam was constructed as a character with protagonist nature. “Aunt Tam was beautiful. Few women could boast such fine features.” (Hang, page 250) Aunt Tam was conveyed by the author as a metaphor of beauty and was represented by the author to be an example in the successes in achieving the capitalistic goal of wealth. The emphasis on the word “few” could be placed as the idea that success in capitalism belonged with a minority and suggests impracticality of the capitalistic ideals.
The disregard for capitalist ideals by 20th century Vietnam however has been constructed by the author throughout the novel. The effect on the peasantry had been constructed by Duong in relation to the character Que. Within the book, the close paternal relationship of Que and Hang had deteriorated since the beginning of her relationship with Aunt Tam. “Because Aunt Tam had taken me under her protection…a kind of indifference had slipped into our relationship.” (Hang, page 136). The author has inserted tragic tone of voice used to express the strain in Hang and Que’s as Hang’s relationship
In the novel A Daughter of Han by Ida Pruitt, the readers are taken through a journey of one woman through her life’s highs and lows. Through the eyes of Ning Lao T'ai-t'ai, readers can truly understand the life of a working woman during this time period. Although life may not have been easy at times, Ning Lao shows the determination and passion she had for her family and for their lives to be better. The life of a working woman is never an easy life but adding in the social rules and opium addiction that effected each part of Ning Lao’s life made it much more difficult.
Throughout the book she has flashbacks of her childhood. When Hangs mother was young her parents died leaving the mother and uncle as orphans. Hangs uncle was taken in and was put into the army. When the mother's brother returned back he found out that the mother had married the neighbor and they moved into their parents house and his brother in law inherited all of the land including the house. The husband is very fortunate to have this , his family is not wealthy. When Chich, hangs uncle returned as a general he “redistributes” the land out to peasants. He ends up kick Hangs father, Tan and his family out of the house, he gave all of the land away and is determined to have his sister become unmarried. Tan leaves the village.
Your analysis of Paradise of the blind reminds me of the literature of the great Gatsby that commonly reveal actions and brings out logic related to cause and effect, characters, and critical analysis of the story. Reading literature like Paradise of the blind and the great Gatsby is important to focus on the community level, to develop the significance of wealth, social class, as a reflection of the standpoint to understand the life of the characters. In Paradise of the blind, I see suffering of women under chaos beliefs. Unfortunately, the biases against women in different countries around the world still relevant today. In some places like those in the Middle East, males are able to go to school and learn how to read and write, but females
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In the story, characters such as Que signifies the principles of the traditional Vietnamese culture prior to the Communist occupation, and Tam characterizes the Western values of capitalism and equalityIn the story, characters such as Que signifies the principles of the traditional Vietnamese culture prior to the Communist occupation, and Tam characterizes the Western values of capitalism and equalityIn the story, characters such as Que signifies the principles of the traditional Vietnamese culture prior to the Communist occupation, and Tam characterizes the Western values of capitalism and
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