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Paradise Of The Blind By Duong Thu Huong: An Analysis

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The bildungsroman novel, Paradise of the Blind, by Duong Thu Huong, strikingly highlights how the political bleeds into the personal and its opposite, the personal bleeds into the political are true. Huong presents a sensual reflection of Vietnam during the height of Communist revolution where human dignity and personal lives are dictated by the Communist political system and the social environment created out of politics had unnatural negative effects resulting in an overwhelming feeling of loneliness and a loss of youth. The conflict between the opposing demands of traditional Vietnamese culture and Communist state ideology creates an ideological struggle and exposes how the political ultimately influences and defines rites of passage, relationships, and intrinsic human response. Both tradition and political reform limit a person’s ability to truly live.

Tradition and history ties many of the characters and leaves them unable to detach themselves to live as they would like to. …show more content…

Paradise of the Blind showcases the dangers of allowing the traditions and political ideology dictate life. It ultimately leaves people leading unfulfilled lives although paradoxically, fulfilled in a way that tradition and politics demands. Que is left heartbroken, lonely, and deprived of her youth and freedom because she allowed her traditional Vietnamese cultural duties to guide her life; Chinh, on the other hand, is left to be corrupt and dishonest as he struggles with ideology. These two characters champion what it means to be degraded by tradition and political beliefs instead of leading honest and dignified lives. Que and Chinh both manifest the conflict between tradition and ideology while oppressing inherent human desire and ultimately renders them unable to truly

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