VOlUME 05 ISSUE 04 April 2026
Truong Thi Linh
Faculty of Education, Thu Dau Mot University, Vietnam
DOI : https://doi.org/10.58806/ijsshmr.2026.v5i4n22Google Scholar Download Pdf
ABSTRACT
Southern Vietnamese detective novels in the first half of the 20th century played a crucial role in the modernization of Vietnamese literature, particularly regarding the techniques of human portraiture. This paper focuses on elucidating the art of describing the appearance and actions of typical character types within this genre. Based on textual analysis, the research findings reveal that the character system is distinctly portrayed through two main groups. Firstly, the male character line is categorized into three types: the heroic character, possessing ideal traits and chivalrous actions; the anti-hero (half-hero), characterized by a complex inner world and edgy actions that reflect a multidimensional realistic perspective; and the villain, depicted with sharp, contrasting strokes that serve as a foil to elevate the good. Secondly, the emergence of the female hero line—with their robust appearances, resourcefulness, and courageous actions—marks a profound breakthrough, transcending the gender prejudices of contemporary Confucianism. The study affirms that through the art of describing appearance and actions—which simultaneously inherits traditional conventions and assimilates Western literary techniques—Southern writers successfully constructed a vivid world of characters. This not only creates the distinctive appeal of detective novels but also profoundly reflects the cultural, social, and aesthetic transformations of the Southern region during a transitional era.
KEYWORDS:Southern detective novels, descriptive art, appearance and actions, heroic characters, villains, Vietnamese literature in the Early of the 20th century.
REFERENCES
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Cite this Article:Linh, T. T. (2026). The Art of Describing the Appearance and Actions of Heroic and Villainous Characters in Southern Vietnamese Detective Novels in the Early of 20th Century. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE HUMANITY & MANAGEMENT RESEARCHS, 5(4), 754-759. https://doi.org/10.58806/ijsshmr.2026.v5i4n22