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Paradise Of The Blind Analysis

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Recommended: Vietnam War and communism

The novel Paradise of the Blind, written by Duong Thu Huong, conveys the story of three Vietnamese women struggling to survive in a society where women are excessively submissive towards men and Communist nepotism ravages every dream. The story is portrayed through the character Hang, a young woman who has grown up among the slums and occasional elegance of Hanoi. As land reform rips apart their village, the tragedy of her family is established. When her Uncle Chinh‘s political loyalties replace family devotion, Hang is torn between her mother‘s terrifying self–sacrifice and the bitterness of her aunt who can avenge but not forgive. In the novel, there are certain characters and locations that represent Capitalism and Communism. The war between …show more content…

While Paradise of the Blind can be seen as a political statement, it also holds true to a powerful story about the pressures of family and culture. By using characters that represent divergent political viewpoints, Huong is successful in creating struggle and conflicts in Hang’s family, along with exemplifying the universal skirmish between Communism and Capitalism that is illustrated by Hang’s family to the readers. Facts like Hang being an exported worker from Vietnam displays these traits, along with it conveying how Soviet Communism has impacted the families and their lifestyles in Vietnam. The fight for power seems to be a very strong theme that overrides these chapters, from characters like Uncle Chinh who are corrupted and abuse leadership, to characters like Aunt Tam and Ton who are almost power hungry, portrayed by Huong in a very meaningful way. Duong Thu Huong writes Paradise of the Blind intending to expose the inadequate system of Communism and demonstrate the adverse effects felt by the people affected. With all these characters, Huong is able to portray the brutal battle between the two opposing ideals and the unfavorable impacts of Vietnam’s relationship with the Soviet Union to criticize and condemn the brutality of the Communist regime in

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