High school graduation essay sample 2025: Analysis of character Mi's mood in the excerpt and humanistic thought of writer To Hoai

I. Introduction

• General introduction about author To Hoai and the work "A Phu's Wife":
  • To Hoai is a typical writer of modern Vietnamese literature, with a forte in writing about reality and customs.
  • "A Phu's Wife" is an outstanding work in the collection "Northwest Stories", depicting the fate of people in the mountains under the feudal regime.
• Leading to the excerpt from "winter nights on the high mountains" to "I'm not afraid":
  • The excerpt shows the turning point in Mi's mood and actions, from resignation to awakening.
  • Through that, To Hoai revealed profound humanitarian thoughts, sympathized with oppressed people and believed in their potential strength.

II. Body

1. Analyze the character Mi's mood in the excerpt

a. Mi's living conditions before the night she saved A Phu

• Mi lived as a daughter-in-law to pay off debt in the house of the chief Pa Tra:
  • Life is miserable, exploited, not equal to buffalo or horse.
  • The image of "hiding like a turtle in a corner of the door" shows resignation and indifference.
• Winter nights in the high mountains:
  • Mi only knows how to warm herself by the fire, living alone, isolated from the outside world.
  • Feeling numb, losing sense of time and life, like a working machine.

b. Mi's awakening when she witnessed A Phu being tied up

• Context: A Phu was tied up because he lost the landlord's cow.
• Mi saw A Phu in a state of pain:
  • A Phu's tears awakened Mi's painful memories (the night she was tied up by A Su).
  • Sympathy arose, Mi realized the similarity between the two oppressed fates.
• Mood changes from indifference to pity:
  • Mi thought about A Phu's death and wondered about the injustice of the feudal system.
  • Compassion arose, prompting her to think about an act of liberation.

c. The act of cutting the rope that tied A Phu

• I decided to cut the rope:
  • This action comes from compassion and a silent protest against injustice.
  • At first, Mi was afraid of the consequences, but her compassion and desire for freedom overcame her fear.
• Meaning:
  • The action marked a turning point in Mi's psychology, from a passive victim to an active person.
  • Expresses latent vitality and desire for freedom despite being buried in suffering.

d. Mi ran away with A Phu

• After cutting the rope, Mi realized she could not stay:
  • Her initial fear disappeared and Mi decided to run away with A Phu.
  • The sentence "Mi also did not feel afraid" shows determination and hope for a free life.
• Mood at this stage:
  • From resignation and indifference, Mi regained her desire to live and her sense of self-worth.
  • Complete awakening, marking the journey from darkness to light.

e. Summary of Mi's mood swings

• Mi's mood changes through the stages:
  • Apathy, resignation → Empathy, compassion → Determination, action → Hope, freedom.
• The art of building mood:
  • To Hoai describes psychology delicately and realistically, from small details such as eyes and tears.
  • Use the unexpected situation (A Phu being tied up) as a catalyst to awaken Mi's soul.

2. Comments on To Hoai's humanitarian ideology

a. Sympathy with the fate of the oppressed

• To Hoai understood and sympathized with the fate of Mi and A Phu:
  • Mi represents mountain women, oppressed by feudalism and backward customs.
  • Through Mi, To Hoai condemns the cruelty of the ruling regime that exploits people.
• The author depicts both physical and mental pain, showing deep empathy.

b. Belief in human potential

• To Hoai believes in the desire to live and the potential power in human beings:
  • Despite being trampled, Mi still retains compassion and a desire for freedom.
  • The act of cutting the rope and running away shows a strong resistance to injustice.
• This idea is inspirational, affirming that people can overcome adversity.

c. Commitment to social justice

• The work calls for the elimination of injustice, towards a fair society:
  • Through the story of Mi and A Phu, To Hoai criticized the feudal regime in the mountains.
  • He supported the revolutionary path, liberating people from oppression, like the journey of Mi and A Phu to the guerrilla zone.

d. Art expressing humanitarian ideas

• Building a typical character: Mi is a typical image of a mountain woman.
• Simple language, close, poetic, full of mountain character.
• The story situation is unique and dramatic, highlighting the character's awakening.

III. Conclusion

• Affirm the value of the excerpt:
  • Shows Mi's change in mood, from resignation to awakening and action for freedom.
  • Highlighting To Hoai's humanitarian thoughts: sympathy, trust in people and calling for justice.
• Meaning of the work:
  • Reflecting the social reality of mountainous areas before the revolution, at the same time conveying a message about the aspiration for freedom and human dignity.
  • Contribute to affirming To Hoai's talent and profound humanitarian thought in Vietnamese literature.

Sample essay suggestions

To Hoai is one of the representative writers of modern Vietnamese literature, outstanding for his ability to portray reality and customs.A Phu's Wife, excerpt from the collectionNorthwest Stories, has realistically recreated the tragic fate of the mountain people under feudal domination.

In particular, the excerpt from "winter nights on the high mountains" to "Mi also feels no fear" clearly shows the transformation of the character Mi's mood, from resignation to awakening, while revealing To Hoai's profound humanitarian ideology through empathy, faith in humanity and commitment to social justice.

Mi, a young and energetic girl, was imprisoned as a daughter-in-law to pay off debt in the house of the village chief Pa Tra. Her life was a series of painful days, exploited for her labor, no different from a buffalo or a horse in the house. To Hoai described Mi as "hiding like a turtle kept in a corner of the door", a vivid image, evoking resignation and indifference to fate.

On winter nights in the high mountains, Mi only knew how to sit by the fire, warming herself in solitude, completely isolated from the outside world. Her mood at this time was emptiness, losing the sense of time and life, like a machine working non-stop. The fire, though warm, only highlighted the coldness in Mi's soul, reflecting the cruelty of the feudal regime in the mountains.

The change in Mi's mood began when she witnessed A Phu being tied up for losing the chief's cow. On cold winter nights, the image of A Phu standing motionless, tears streaming down, awakened Mi's painful memories. She remembered the night she was tied up by A Su, the chief's son, and the pain both physically and mentally. A Phu's tears became a catalyst, awakening compassion in Mi.

From a state of indifference, Mi began to feel sorry for A Phu's fate, realizing the similarities between the two oppressed people. She wondered about the injustice: why did someone like A Phu have to suffer, even face death? Her strong sympathy arose, pushing Mi to think about the act of liberation, marking a turning point in her psychology.

Out of compassion, Mi took a bold action: cutting A Phu's rope. This was a risky decision, because Mi understood the consequences if discovered. At first, she hesitated, afraid of the power of the village chief.

However, compassion and the desire for freedom overcame fear. The act of cutting the rope was not only a liberation for A Phu but also an expression of hidden resistance against the oppressive regime. To Hoai skillfully described Mi's psychology in this moment, from her inner struggle to her determination to act, showing the potential vitality within her. This action marked the transition from a passive victim to an active fighter for justice.

After cutting the rope, Mi realized that she could no longer stay in the chief’s house. Her initial fear quickly disappeared, giving way to her determination to escape with A Phu. The sentence “Mi was not afraid” is the peak of awakening, expressing determination and hope for a life of freedom.

From a resigned girl, living like a shadow, Mi regained her desire to live, her sense of self-worth and the courage to face the future. The journey of escape with A Phu was not only a physical liberation but also a journey to find the light in her soul, marking Mi's revival.

Mi's mood in the excerpt goes through distinct stages: from apathy, resignation to sympathy, pity; from hesitation, fear to determination to act; and finally hope, freedom. To Hoai used the art of subtle psychological description, through details such as eyes, tears, actions, to highlight this transformation. The situation of A Phu being tied up was the catalyst, awakening the potential vitality in Mi, bringing her from the darkness of resignation to the light of the desire for freedom.

To Hoai expressed deep sympathy for oppressed people, especially women and ethnic minorities in the mountains. Through the character Mi, he portrayed the physical and mental pain of a girl imprisoned in a cruel feudal regime.

Mi’s life was no different from “a turtle kept in a corner of the door”, exploited for labor and deprived of freedom. To Hoai not only described reality but also condemned the injustice and brutality of the ruling regime, thereby expressing compassion for the fate of people like Mi and A Phu.

To Hoai's humanitarian thought is also expressed through his belief in the potential strength of human beings. Despite being crushed in suffering, Mi still retains compassion and a desire for freedom. Her act of cutting the ropes that bound A Phu and deciding to run away with him is a testament to her strong vitality and ability to overcome adversity. To Hoai affirms that, even in the most dire circumstances, people can still rise up and fight to regain dignity and happiness.

WorkA Phu's WifeNot only does it describe the fate of individuals, it also carries a message calling for social justice. Through the story of Mi and A Phu, To Hoai criticizes the feudal regime in the mountains, where people are exploited and trampled. The escape journey of the two characters, then finding the guerrilla zone, shows To Hoai's support for the revolutionary path, towards a fair society, where people can live freely and happily.

To Hoai used skillful art to highlight humanitarian ideas. The character Mi was built as a typical image, representing the fate of mountain women. The language of the work is simple, close, imbued with the mountainous character, combined with emotional poetry. The unique and dramatic story situation has highlighted Mi's awakening, thereby conveying a strong humanitarian message.

Excerpts from "winter nights on the high mountains" to "I'm not afraid" inA Phu's Wifeis a vivid picture of Mi's change in mood, from resignation to awakening and action for freedom. Through that, To Hoai expressed profound humanitarian thoughts: sympathizing with the fate of the oppressed, believing in the potential strength of human beings and calling for a just society.

The work not only reflects the social reality of the mountainous region before the revolution but also conveys a message about the aspiration for freedom and human dignity, affirming To Hoai's talent and compassion in Vietnamese literature.