YMMV / The Tale of Kiều

• Adaptation Displacement: Kim Vân Kiều truyện (Jin Yun Qiao), the original Chinese dime novel, is never brought up in literary discussions except when it's being mentioned as the source material. The bulk of literary attention is on the Vietnamese adaptation.
• Critical Dissonance: Upon its publication, the poem was extremely divisive - "utterly worshipped and utterly degraded". Moral Guardians condemned it as a worthless book of sins and a corrupting influence. Neutral opinions deemed it a good work of literature, but should be kept away from girls and women lest it harm their purity. The poem's portrayal of Kiều as a still-sympathetic sex worker, as well as Từ Hải as a heroic figure for being anti-establishment, did not sit well with most critics and intelligentsia. In modern times, it has been Vindicated by History and venerated as one of the classics of Vietnamese literature. Prior to the work reaching its Hype Backlash status, it was so beloved that one could find illiterate peasants being able to recite long stretches of the poem. Poets imitated the style and came up with a specific name for this homage ("lẩy Kiều"); the book was used to tell fortunes ("bói Kiều"), etc.
• They Wasted a Perfectly Good Character:
  • Despite being a character with much tragedy potential, Thúy Vân was never given any lines or notable scenes. What does she think about her family situation? What exactly happened between her and Kim? Did they got engaged? Did they break up? Sex for Solace? What does she think about her sister being a forced prostitute, a rebel lover, attempting suicide and reentering her life?
  • In the same vein, Kiều's brother also disappear from the narrative after his arrest.
• Too Bleak, Stopped Caring: It's a real risk, what with the constant barrage of trauma Kiều endures. Conversely, the darkness resonated with the Vietnamese readers who either identify with the relentless misfortunes on a personal basis, see Kiều as a metaphor for Vietnam's history (which has a long chain of invasions and thousands of years of domination by foreign forces), or both.
• Values Resonance: Nguyễn Du was remarkably prescient and more open-minded than the majority of the contemporary intelligentsia (who criticized him for allegedly condoning immoral behavior), for example:
  • Kiều's decisive footsteps out of her house to meet Kim and court him by herself, going against the norms of Arranged Marriage for socioeconomic benefits, is considered a proto-feminist action. Her family, upon discovery of their relationship, does not shame her for going behind their back, only grieving with her because of tragedy tearing her away from her first love.
  • Kim respecting Kiều's unwillingness to consent to premarital sex, and valuing her even more for her eloquent refusal.
  • The author's clear anger at the Police Brutality that tore the Vương family apart. The silk merchant who wrongfully accused Mr. Vương of cheating him out of money is a Karma Houdini, while both (innocent) Vương men were tortured, Kiều was forced to sell herself and undergo a Trauma Conga Line, and Vân forced to marry a man she (at least initially) did not love.
  • Từ Hải being portrayed as a folk hero, sympathetic revolutionary, and loving husband to the end, despite the government considering him a criminal.
  • Kim's passionate speech upon their reunion, convincing Kiều that she is not Defiled Forever due to the tragedies in her life. He still respects her decision to enter into a Sexless Marriage.

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