THE PERCEPTION OF WOMEN AS FEMALE SAINTS IN BUI GIANG’S POETRY AND ANDRE GIDE’S NOVELS

DOI: 10.18173/2354-1067.2024-0026

Abstract

Bui Giang (1926 - 1998), a unique andmysterious poet of Vietnam, and Andre Gide (1869- 1951), the French writer who won the Nobel Prizein Literature in 1947, share an intriguing literaryconnection. Gide's works in South Vietnam after1954 gained widespread popularity mainly due tothe exceptional translations by Bui Giang. Betweenthese two authors, there is a prominent “harmoniousresonance” marked by a profound affection for thefemale character. The depiction of the femalefigure in the poetry of Bùi Giáng and the stories ofAndre Gide evokes strong emotions and leaves alasting impression on readers. However, until now,this special convergence in the creative careers ofboth authors remains unexplored, with no existingworks addressing it. This preliminary article aimsto compare the “Perception of the Sacred Female”in the poetry of Bui Giang and the stories of AndreGide (through translations by Bui Giang). The goalis to contribute to a deeper understanding, thedecoding of poetic thoughts of Bùi Giáng, andengaging in discussions about one of the exemplaryfacets of literature in South Vietnam during theperiod from 1955 to 1975.