Nguyet Cam (2004) maintains, ôIf ShakespeareÆs work represents the greatest literary achievement in the English language, then Nguyen DuÆs 3254 line masterpiece, The Tale of Kieu, can be considered the pinnacle of classical Vietnamese literatureö (1). The opening of Nguyen DuÆs (1987) The Tale of Kieu offers an introductory saying: ôOf course, when two kin spirits meet, one tie soon bins them in a knot none can yank looseö (1). Such kin spirits are Kieu and Kim. Through upheaval of dynasties, murder, kidnapping, prostitution, and other turmoil, the love of Kieu and Kim remains strong in The Tale of Kieu. Kieu and Kim are kindred spirits, Kieu the daughter of a well-educated family and Kim a young scholar. Throughout the story, the kindred spirit and strong bond of love shared by Kieu and Kim is likened to the permanent shine of the moon. Though they are different in a number of ways, Kieu and KimÆs love continues to shine through a number of tragedies like the moon, ôstill shines the same old moon both once swore byö (Du 1987, 3074).
In Vietnamese society, a girlÆs fate, particularly her marriage fate, is determined by her parents. When Kieu and Kim first meet, she wonders if they meet due to fate and tells Kim a girlÆs fate is decided by her parents. In this manner, Kieu is different than Kim in that Kim is more impulsive about their love and marriage. Kim is a romantic who likens himself to a love struck boy of Vietnamese lore and declares his love because they meet by chance. KieuÆs nature is to conceal her feelings more than Kim does. However, they exchange gifts, including a hairpin that will be an important part of their later meeting, and pledge themselves to each other. Once more the moon is used to illustrate the nature of their strong bond of love, ôAlone, in silence, she beheld the moon, her hear a raveled coil of hopes and fearsö (Du 1987, 177-178).
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