The Story of " The Crying Stone " from Borneo Island

Summary

In a small village on Borneo Island, a daughter, known for her beauty but selfishness, neglects her mother, who loves her deeply. The daughter demands a new crown, and despite not having the money, her mother fulfills the request. The daughter insists on walking ahead of her mother and denies her, calling her a servant instead. Hurt by this, the mother prays for punishment, and in an instant, the daughter’s legs turn to stone. As her body slowly transforms, she pleads for forgiveness, but it’s too late. Her story ends as a stone, known as Batu Manangis, symbolizing the moral: never hurt your parents' feelings.

Takeaways

• 😀 A mother and her daughter, a doctor, lived in a small village on Borneo Island.
• 😀 The doctor was admired by the villagers for her beauty but had a bad attitude.
• 😀 Despite her bad behavior, the doctor never helped her mother with daily chores.
• 😀 The doctor loved admiring her own face in the mirror, neglecting her mother's needs.
• 😀 One day, the doctor asked her mother to buy her a new crown, and though the mother had no money, she agreed out of love for her daughter.
• 😀 The mother went to the market to buy the crown, walking behind her daughter as the doctor was embarrassed to be seen with her.
• 😀 The doctor told people that the woman walking behind her was not her mother but her servant.
• 😀 The mother was deeply hurt by this, praying to God to punish her daughter for her cruel words.
• 😀 As a result of her cruelty, the doctor's leg turned into stone as punishment.
• 😀 Slowly, the doctor's entire body turned into stone, leaving only her tears, which is why the stone is called Batu Manangis (Crying Stone).
• 😀 The moral of the story is to never hurt your parents' feelings, as actions that disrespect them can lead to consequences.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the story?

The main theme of the story is the importance of respecting and appreciating one's parents, particularly mothers, and the consequences of mistreating them.

What is the significance of the character referred to as 'the doctor' in the story?

The character 'the doctor' represents a spoiled and selfish daughter who is more concerned with her beauty than fulfilling her responsibilities or showing love and respect towards her mother.

Why did the doctor ask her mother to buy her a new crown?

The doctor asked her mother to buy her a new crown because she desired it, despite her mother not having enough money.

How did the doctor behave towards her mother when they went to the market?

The doctor was ashamed of her mother and asked her to walk behind her so that others wouldn’t see them together, claiming that the woman behind her was not her mother, but her servant.

What was the mother's emotional response to her daughter's behavior?

The mother was deeply hurt by her daughter's actions, but she remained silent and prayed to God to punish the daughter for her disrespect.

What happened to the doctor after the mother's prayer?

As a result of the mother's prayer, the doctor's leg turned into stone, and eventually, her entire body transformed into stone, becoming a monument known as 'Batu Manangis.'

What is the meaning of 'Batu Manangis'?

'Batu Manangis' translates to 'Crying Stone' in English. It is named so because of the tears that were said to be seen on the stone, symbolizing the doctor's regret and the mother’s sorrow.

What does the story teach about the relationship between parents and children?

The story teaches that children should always respect and appreciate their parents, as mistreating them can lead to severe consequences, as shown by the doctor's transformation into stone.

What moral lesson can be drawn from the mother's reaction to her daughter’s behavior?

The moral lesson is that a mother's love is deep and unconditional, but disrespecting her can lead to dire consequences. The mother's silent prayer for justice demonstrates how the hurt caused by a child can lead to divine retribution.

Why is the stone called 'Batu Manangis' a lasting memorial?

The stone is called 'Batu Manangis' because it serves as a lasting memorial of the doctor’s pride and disrespect towards her mother. The tears on the stone symbolize the pain and regret of both the mother and the daughter.