REFLECTIONS OF VIETNAMESE SOCIETY AND CULTURE IN “THE END OF THE SEASON OF BEAUTY”

Abstract

This article aims to examine the social and cultural reflections of Vietnamese society in the short story Cuối Mùa Nhan Sắc by Nguyễn Ngọc Tư. The analysis focuses on the use of flashback narrative structure, which serves as a mechanism to connect the past and the present. The findings reveal that the story portrays Vietnamese society across three periods: (1) the pre–Vietnam War period, reflecting relatively stable living conditions, in which traditional arts—particularly cải lương (Vietnamese folk opera)—played a significant role in people’s daily lives; (2) the Vietnam War period, which illustrates political and economic instability that affected the status and livelihoods of artists; and (3) the post-war period, especially under the Đổi Mới reform policy, which led to structural economic changes. The analysis further synthesizes three key aspects of social and cultural reflection: (1) reflections on lifestyle, society, and culture resulting from both adherence to tradition and adaptation within the context of globalization; (2) economic reflections arising from the transition toward a market-oriented economy; and (3) reflections on performing arts and their persistence under modern social conditions.