Task: Write your views on storytelling, characterisation, plot, theme, connection between different parts, and the relevance and interpretation of the play. Explain how this play is relevant to present day world politics in the context of War and Occupation. Also tell us how this text will help them in their final Playwriting project. While writing your interpretation, discuss following issues: Set, Light, Costume, and Make-up, Props, Sound, Music, and Location.
Interpreting “Legend of youth” || 532 words || by Mehnab Arin Khan (ID - 213055031)
The storytelling seemed like done
by a whisper which is anonymous. The whispers told us the story of war taking
place at a war zone in Vietnam. The place was attacked many times by the
Americans soldiers by bombardments and fires. This story shows the bloodshed,
sacrifices of ten female’s heroic martyrs on the battlefield of Dong Loc, to
liberate the homeland and unify the country. The words and the writing were
offered to their sacred souls of these ten martyred females. This play has
shown different places in Vietnam which were attacked by the Americans. We
observed that the play has been divided into nine scenes. These scenes or
episodes show the cruelty of the war zone and how the fighters are ready to sacrifice their souls
to save their land.
The first scene describes the
surroundings in Dong Loc where it is twilight afternoon. At this hour, the hazy
smoke filled air, the Charred and withered tree trunks, the surface of the road
marked by bombs and bullets are seen. The faint silhouette of military trucks
and bunkers stand huddled together. The leader calls upon the female volunteers
to stand on the training ground for checking. The girls are required conceal
their chest. One of the fighter learned a song called Hirl who open the road to
put in the group energy, good vibes, and a spirit to strenthen themselves.
After adjusting their cloths to tighten their intimate parts of the bodies they
stand in a straight line. The leader calls their names for attendance. They are
finally assigned to do the work like fixing the road. The leader points out
that the practice of teasing and joking around should be prohibited as the
practice creates emotional attachment for the male soldiers. They are allowed
to share each other’s sorrows but not to joke around rather to understand and
feel each other’s struggle.
The instructions were given so
that they are prepared in the battlefield. The play shows that the fighters
of Vietnam diggs9 deeper holes on the road and they see the flesh and blood of
other comrades due to bombing by the enemies. But they did not cry rather made
deeper holes. The scenes also show us the happy times before the battlefield
and how the female fighters were working in the field growing vegetables, fishing,
cleaning the shovel and singing. This picture is just an illusion of what it
looked like this 55 years ago before it turned into a death zone by the
Americans who bombed 1863 times 50,000 bombs to make the Dong Loc a death zone.
In current times, there are wars
in several parts of the world which also resonate with the scenes of
battlefield of Dong Loc Junktion. This bombings, sufferings, bloodshed and
screams of the citizens. This story is really a different
kind, told by the whisper to show us the picture of a war zone using
these characters who are real and fought for their country and died to protect
the country. The whole description will enable us to write or create a story to
reveal the condition of humans.
Against Darkness: An
interpretation of “Legend of Youth” || 465 Words || by Rifat Islam Chowdhury (ID: 2302055013)
Amidst the darkness, the audience
gets a warm welcoming by the Whispers; who intricately and with sensitivity
provides the audience about the initial setting and the situation that the play
is based on. It's the Vietnam War that the characters are in and we get to know
that the Captain of Platoon4-C552, Vo Thi Tan is the oldest one being only in
his mid 20's. Merely 24 years of age. And surprisingly the youngest volunteer,
Vo Thi Ha being only 17 years old. The aging criteria of the 10 characters
gives us an idea of the desperation a war brings on human psyche. The lacking
and innocent mistakes by multiple characters in scene 1 can be seen fulfilled
and corrected in scene8 completing a full circle of accomplishment. Which makes
us in synced with the journey and the experience of each of the characters went
through out the play. We sense a tendency of unity amongst the girls. In scene2
after multiple bombings Nho was unable to face the harsh and crude reality of
the war. In spite of being in a frenzy shocked state Nho reports that she is
not scared...she is not scared. Flesh...bones… splattered everywhere yet she is
not scared. The girls rushes to Nho to be beside her. To give her courage and
to let her feel that she is not alone in this war. We see Hoi hugging Nho as if
she is protecting a seed she planted. Gradually the play organically grows and
moves further and we see the entire platoon fighting for rubber buckets and who
should take the bath first. And then again during the end of scene3 we see the
whole squad carrying bags of soil, house doors, and wooden bars putting them on
the road to protect the truck. Not a single dimension or angle of a war can
ever bring justice to the devastating destruction of the aftermath. The reason
behind every war always stays in a gray area resembling the glorious and larger
than life "reason" behind every war. But it is the sacrifice that
only the people make. It might be the Left it might be the Right who wins. We
forget to see the full picture and we fail to agree that we always lose to
humanity when it comes to war. This is what the play by Duong is for me. The
set will change according to the scenes. During the bombing scene there will be
sounds of explosions. An intense music can be added to portray the importance
of the moment. The costumes as well will change when it is needed for the
characters. Make up... props and location will be followed according to the
need of the play.
Structure and Content in "Legend of Youth" || 784 Words || by Sumaiya Swati Udita (ID: 233055020)
In today's class, we have read
Legend of Youth: Live A Worthy Life, which is a nine-scene stage play written
by the Vietnamese Script Writer-Director, Le Quy Duong. Set in the year 1968,
the play pays tribute to the 10 female volunteers of the Vietnam-US War, all of
whom sacrifice their lives.
The story is set at the Dong Loc
Junction battlefield, where the ten volunteers of the entire Platoon 4 C- 552
became martyrs during the Vietnam War. The volunteers would be divided
according to the ranks of Platoon leaders, Deputy Platoon Leaders, and
Volunteers. 9 people shared 3 tents, while the Platoon Leader, Vo Thi Tan, had
a separate tent for herself. As a leader, Vo Thi Tan would give feedback on the
tasks she delegated between the other nine people, and gave feedback on each of
their works, including herself. The ten people together would clear the
Junction, each time after the US Air Force would drop a bomb, for the
convenience of the "trucks" that supplied them with food and war
ammunition. All of them were engaged in this task even on the day the US Air
Force dropped the bombs on the junction most aggressively, thus costing the lives
of the entire Platoon.
Le Quy Duong follows an
interesting method of character development in this stage play. He uses an
anonymous narrator's "whispers" which speaks at the beginning of each
scene. The "whisper" uses a nationalistic, yet skeptical tone, which
must have been triggered from views of the current generation who hold a
varying, almost an indifferent attitude towards this war. For this reason, the
"whisper" witfully scorns at the ones by continually asking this
question in various ways and languages throughout the play, "If you were
unfortunately born and raised in a war-torn country, ravaged by bombs and
conflict! Can you imagine it?" At the end of the play, the
"Whispers" introduces itself to us readers/audience that he is just
an ordinary citizen, who has witnessed the days of the war, as their generation
"was born in 1968". We get introduced to the members of the Platoon,
when the Platoon Leader names calls all the volunteers in Scene 1. We also get
to know about the flaws of each character in this scene, after the Platoon
Leader gives her feedback not only to the other nine volunteers, but also
comments on herself. In Scene three through the dialogues, we get to know about
the weak points and weaknesses of each character. In scene 4, we get to realize
that, through the setup of the stage, we are just having an
"illusion" of a time when the volunteers were alive. Between scene
five and nine, we are continuously introduced to the significant others of each
volunteer and how they feel for their lovers, despite of an ongoing war. We
also get to encounter various other human emotions that the volunteers
concealed initially. The determined attitude of the volunteers works as a motif
throughout the play.
To comment on the setting of the
play, it can be understood that it is a stage play, meant to be performed live
in a theatre. Le Quy Duong also has mentioned that it has been performed at
Vietnamese Women's Museum. Le Quy Duong specifically provided his directions in
his play, including regarding the lighting of each scene. The play makes use of
a flute, which metaphorically gives us a character's identity through the
variation of its sound. The consistency of the flute's sound signifies the
shift between the original player and its unaccustomed players. The sounds and
props used in this play help in foreshadowing of the events that follow. The
sound of the flute signifies Vietnam's achievement of the victory, which came
at the cost of the lives of both the male and the female soldiers. To comment
on the props, Le Quy Duong puts attention in the clothes of the soldiers, as
well as on other elements, namely food and water, to symbolise the fact that
wars can judge fittest human for survival at times. In scene 9, the letters, as
a prop, gives the details of the other props, which are the items, used by the
10 volunteers, during their lifetimes, thus signifying the legacy they left
behind. To comment on the location, the number of US bombs Dong Loc Junction
has endured makes it a legendary war location.
Through the rising action,
climax, and the falling action in scene 2 and scene 6, Le Quy Duong shows how
love can be found through empathetic attitude even during wars, and how biases
can create more wars within a team, in the middle of an ongoing war.
“Legend of Youth”: A Structural
Analysis || 879 Words || (SM Tauhidur Rahman ID- 232055017)
The play Legend of Youth is a
story of 10 young brave girls who worked at a junction in the middle of a war.
Although they worked in between bullets and explosions, they remained
determined and high spirited, eventually sacrificing their lives to the great
cause.
The play from the get go
constructs a brilliant imagery through its writing alone that helps a reader
visualise how the opening set and setting out be like. From a story telling
point of view the progression of the imagery, especially in the opening
descriptions of many scenes, the detailed description that build the atmosphere
is profound. The storytelling from the start wastes no time in establishing
anything. The audience is made part of the situation immediately and introduced
to the group young women who are at the centre of the play. The storytelling
progresses in such a way that by the time we reach the last scene, we have an
emotional bond, a connection with them, not individually but as a whole.
Throughout the story most of the characters had individual traits and plots
however the feeling that the progression of the story generates is not individualistic
rather interconnected. As an audience, we all know how the play is going to
conclude and that a tragedy awaits but we cannot help ourselves but connect
with the performers on stage due to the strategic storytelling.
It was a very effective move to
not let the focus be on individual characters. The characterisation for such a
story requires a balance because these real life characters made the biggest
sacrifice and hence deserve equal treatment. The playwright here quite
skilfully structured every incident of action in this play in such a way that
the involvement of all the characters or at least a hand full of characters is
required. However, it would be wrong to state the fact that the characters were
not individually developed at all. All the characters had their individual
impacts through instances in multiple scenes that helped develop their
characters. The blend of playfulness as well as seriousness is what makes the
audience connect further with them as a group and as individuals. That
characters have their differences, personal characteristics, insecurities,
growth and spirit and all of these things combined is what makes every scene
with every character impactful. Although the plot is a very serious and
eventful tragic one, something we are reminded by the whisper narration a few
times, we don’t disconnect with the characters for being playful, immature and
vibrant because the girls were young, between 18-24 and it was quite evident.
However, it was well portrayed that although they were young ladies with hearts
of such, they were 100% dedicated to their cause and duties.
The theme of the play is quite
interesting because we as the audience go in knowing that this is a play where
the visuals would have 10 young girls torn in between a war-like setting
however that mostly acts as the shell of the entire theme. Many themes are explored
inside this shell that is not only tragic. There is a theme of unity and
communal belonging where 10 young girls have made a world for themselves out of
nothing. The story explores theses of honour courage and sacrifice that too
form individuals who would have had their entire lives in front of them. The
characters were designed to be relative, a young girl no different than a
friend we know or a member of our family. However, the theme of their cause and
effort is what underlines the entire plot. From their introductions to their
final messages, there was growth but there was no change in the spark of their
eyes. They lived like a group of young woman would, but their determination
remained intact and that was the most important and recurring theme of the
story. The multiple scenes and parts of the play interconnect very well because
it helps develop the characters and their bond with the audience. As an
interpretation of the whole story, I believe that the playwright was bold
enough to follow a very real route till the end. The playwright was not afraid
to showcase humour or very light hearted moments amidst the on going chaos.
Although it was a group young girls in between a war, they had their cheerful
moments, conflicts, insecurities and friendships, all keeping their intentions
and goals intact.
In today’s context, it could be
highlighted that this story can reflect upon the daily life and how life goes
on in Palestine. It is not a regular situation for us living in the middle of
explosions and gunshots however that is the horrific everyday situation is what
the 10 girls from the story live and so do the numerous people in Palestine. We
can draw a parallel however we can never properly empathise what these lives go
through.
The playwright has selected a
very relative language and tone that makes it easy yet impactful for an
audience and I personally have learned from this play, how simple plot points can
gather to leave an effective impression on an audience. Furthermore, this would
help me shape and structure my own play better because I can draw inspiration
from this style of writing.
Thematic elements and dramatic structure
in “Legend of Youth” || 382 Words || Janefer Alam Oney (Id: 23205502)
Legends of youth is a play from
Vietnam and its themes surround the bravery of ten young women who gave up
their lives. The play was written and directed by Le Quy Duong.
The storytelling was done by a
whispers. He was telling about the war of Vietnam. Vietnam was attracted by
American soldiers. The whisper narrates the sacrifices of ten female volunteers
who gave up their lives to complete the duty trusted on them. This story
happened at the Dong Loc Junction battlefield in 1968 on the 15A arterial road.
There 10 female volunteers lived, fought for their country, studied to gather
knowledge, worked in production and they heroically sacrificed their lives in
the mission to clear the road for trucks carrying weapons and food from the
north to the southern battlefield in the resistance war against the US to save
their own country. This play portraits the conflict between two county Vietnam
and American. The volunteers were categorized based on their ranks as Platoon
leaders, Deputy Platoon Leaders, and regular Volunteers. Within the group, nine
individuals shared three tents, while the Platoon Leader, Vo Thi Tan, had a
tent to herself. Vo Thi Tan, as a leader, provided feedback on delegated tasks
among the nine, evaluating each person’s performance, including her own.
“Legends of Youth” draws
parallels to present-day world politics, specifically in the context of war and
occupation, it may offer a lens through which to explore the human consequences
of such geopolitical events. The relevance could lie in shedding light on the
impact on individuals, families, and societies, fostering a deeper
understanding of the human experience amidst conflict. In the context of war
and occupation, the play serve as a mirror to present-day world politics. By
exploring the consequences and complexities of conflict, it prompts reflection
on the ethical and human dimensions of war. This relevance allows the audience
to draw parallels with current geopolitical situations, fostering a deeper
understanding of global issues. For a final Playwriting project, studying this
text offers insights into crafting intricate characters, developing a plot, and
addressing relevant themes.
It encourages writers to consider
the societal and political relevance of their work, challenging them to create
narratives that resonate beyond the stage, fostering dialogues on pressing
issues like war in the contemporary world.
The Dramatic Structure and Themes in "The Legend of Youth" || 604 Words || Kashfia Nahreen
The play The Legend of Youth depicts the true story of 10 brave young girls who dedicated their lives to their country. They played a vital role in helping the Vietnamese soldiers defend their nation against the attack by America. The storytelling of the play was interesting, drawing in the audience from the start. The way the Whispers narrated the story was engaging, allowing the audience to understand the context and timeline of the setting. The play portrayed the brutal reality of war and the destruction it leaves in its wake. The play skilfully portrayed the relationship between the characters and their commitment to their country through the dialogues between the characters. The first scene illustrates the relationship dynamics among the characters and their cooperation. Throughout the play we see moments of connection between the platoon members, we see camaraderie, we see support, all which makes these characters come alive.
The dialogues also characterise the distinct personalities of the young women. One of them loved to garden, one of them was clumsy, one of them was embarrassed about a scar on their back. These small details humanised the characters and elicited empathy from the audience. The team leader, Vo Thi Tan, among others wishing to be reunited with her finance after the war made the audience empathise with her situation. The cruelty of war was vividly displayed during the scene where the members of Platoon C-552 were clearing the roads after a bombing, and amidst the dirt they have to shovel human bones and remains of their brethren, their comrades. This scene was heartrending, evoking emotions in the audience.
The progression of the play, the narration by the whispers are done well. The scene where the girls read out the letter they wrote for home was a deeply touching. Their wish to see their loved ones once more after the end of the war was heartbreaking. The play ending with the brave young girls being killed represented the all those who have sacrificed their lives for their nation. The play made the audience connect with the characters, and their death left the audience feeling grief stricken.
The themes of unity, patriotism, and courage portrayed in the play is universal and timeless. Through the bond between the girls we see the importance of being united, of belonging and fighting together. The dedication for their nation, their willingness to sacrifice their lives, all reflect the patriotism every soldier has felt for their country. Their courage in the face of the danger, clearing the roads during air raids show us how brave and resilient humans are. In today’s context, the play continues to be relevant as there are still so many wars taking innocent lives. As a situation in Palestine continues to worsen, I cannot help but think of the people there fighting for their liberation, just as the girls in Platoon C-552 did. From the description and the directions written in the script of the play, I can tell the visualisation of the stages play is done well. The use of lighting throughout the play, especially at the last scene, after the bombs dropped and everything went dark was effective. The use of sounds - bombs being dropped, explosion, etc. also seem well incorporated within the play. I think this would be inspirational and empowering play to see acted on stage.
Reading and analysing this play will help me with my writing in a number of ways. This play has shown us how to describe a detailed setting, how to portray rounded characters through their actions and dialogues, and incorporate these elements will enhance my writing.
