| “ | Chí Phèo: I want to be good. Bá Kiến: Oh, that's great! Everyone would be better off if you do. Chí Phèo: But I can't! Who the hell lets me? |
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| ~ Chí Phèo to Bá Kiến - his most famous quote. |
Chí, more commonly known as Chí Phèo, is the titular main protagonist of Nam Cao's short story Chí Phèo and the tritagonist of the film Once Upon a Time in Vũ Đại Village, a composite adaptation of Nam Cao's stories. He is a tragic man who was once framed by Village Mayor Kiến and wrongfully imprisoned, and upon being released he becomes a much worse person.
In Once Upon a Time in Vũ Đại Village, he was portrayed by the late Bùi Cường.
Appearance[]
In his younger years, Chí was considered very good-looking, so much that Bá Kiến's third wife attempted to seduce him. His prison time has altered his physical appearance so much, as he now has multiple scars on his face and looks much more thuggish, spotting tattoos on his chest and arms, and wearing raggy clothes.
Personality[]
The representation of oppressed farmers in Vietnam at the time, Chí was once a good person who was very polite and wanted nothing more than a peaceful life in which he would go to farming while his wife would stay home to weave every day. However, upon returning from prison, he becomes much more bitter, being constantly drunk, loving to throw tantrums and drag others into trouble. Those traits of Chí allow Bá Kiến to manipulate him into becoming a monster that terrorizes the Vũ Đại village and eliminating Kiến's rivals, despite Chí's initial desire to have his revenge towards Kiến right after being released. It has gotten so bad that Chí actually thinks that being in prison is better than staying in the village, and even telling Bá Kiến that maybe Chí should kill a few people so that Kiến can have him arrested again. Despite this, deep down Chí is still a good man who just wants a peaceful life, and even his bad traits are just his ways to yearn for a companion.
When Thị Nở nurses him back to health, Chí is so grateful and emotionally moved that he stops drinking and starts realizing the beauty of life around him and how far he has come, as well as remembering his old, simple wish. He contemplates marrying Thị Nở, reconciling with the villagers and becoming a good person. Upon being rejected by Thị Nở, Chí Phèo feels that there's nothing left in his life anymore and attempts to kill her aunt for forcing her to do so. But deep down, Chí knows that it's Bá Kiến who has been the monster that has ruined his life. As a result, Chí goes to Bá Kiến's house instead and kill the latter before committing suicide, knowing that the villagers will never accept him again.
In Once Upon a Time in Vũ Đại Village, Chí is also shown to be a good friend with the Teacher Thứ and Old Man Hạc, further proving that he's not beyond redemption.
Biography[]
Chí Phèo[]
Chí was born and abandoned in a brick kiln, and was adopted by several people of the Vũ Đại village throughout his childhood. When he grew up, he worked for the Village Mayor, Kiến. However one day, Kiến's third wife tried to seduce him, and the Village Mayor returned in time to see it. The wife then accused Chí of trying to rape her, and Kiến, out of jealousy, framed Chí and had the latter imprisoned.
A couple of years later, Chí was released. However, by then he has completely changed in both appearance and personality thanks to his time in prison: His face now spots several scars, he likes to drink wine, swear and cause troubles. Chí then throws tantrums at Kiến's yard, much to the latter's son and the new village mayor Cường's dismay. Kiến, now the canton chief, has just returned in time and bribes Chí into silence. Ever since, Kiến manipulates Chí into eliminating his rivals, effectively turns Chí into his enforcer.
One night, after getting drunk, Chí gets sick and is nurtured by Thị Nở, who is considered very ugly by the villagers. Thị Nở feeds Chí and he starts to become healthier. The two then sleep together and fall in love, and Chí plans to marry Nở and live a peaceful life. However, when asking her aunt, Thị Nở is forced by her to reject Chí Phèo due to his bad reputation in the village. As such, Thị Nở rejects Chí, who in his sorrow attempts to kill her aunt, but due to being drunk and habit he goes to Bá Kiến's house instead. As Chí enters and tells Kiến that he wants to be a good person, Kiến laughs and tells him that it will benefit everyone. However, Chí says that no one allows him to be a good person and stabs Kiến to death, before committing suicide.
Thị Nở then discovers that she's pregnant with Chí Phèo's child, implying that his tragedy is repeating itself again.
Once Upon a Time in Vũ Đại Village[]
Chí's role largely remains the same as in the short story, however in here it's added that he's a good friend of the Teacher Thứ and Old Man Hạc. He's also given the role of Binh Tư, a thief in Nam Cao's other short story, Old Man Hạc, in that he gives Hạc dog baits in the belief that the old man is trying to kill a dog to make money. However, upon learning that Hạc actually uses the baits to commit suicide as he can't live with the guilt of selling his beloved dog, Vàng, Chí is shocked. Combined with being rejected by Thị Nở, Chí goes to Bá Kiến's house, tells Kiến that he wants to be a good person but no one allows him to be, before stabbing Kiến to death and committing suicide.
Thị Nở then gives birth to Chí Phèo's child and is forced to leave them in the same brick kiln that Chí was abandoned in as a child, repeating Chí's tragedy all over again.
Relationships[]
Family[]
- Unnamed parents
- Several people of the Vũ Đại Village (adoptive parents)
- Unnamed child
Allies[]
- Teacher Thứ
- Old Man Hạc †
- Bá Kiến † (boss; formerly)
- Thị Nở (love interest)
Enemies[]
- Bá Kiến † (arch-nemesis, victim)
- Village Mayor Cường
- Other thugs of the Vũ Đại Village
- Everyone else in the Vũ Đại Village (formerly)
Victims[]
- Many people in the Vũ Đại Village - Killed by Chí Phèo on Bá Kiến's orders.
- Bá Kiến - Stabbed to death.
- Himself - Stabbed to death.
Gallery[]
Images[]
Videos[]
Trivia[]
- Chí Phèo is considered to be Bùi Cường's most iconic role. Due to this, Bùi Cường intended to make a movie named The Last Meal of Old Man Hạc to express his gratefulness to Nam Cao, but died before he could finish the script. The script would then be renamed into Cậu Vàng - after Hạc's pet dog - and made into a movie by Bùi Cường's son-in-law, Trần Vũ Thủy, premiered in January 8, 2021. The film is dedicated to Bùi Cường.
- Chí Phèo is considered to be one of the most iconic figures in Vietnamese literature and fiction in general. His final exchange with Bá Kiến has become a defined quote for a tragic villain.