Drama "BAWANG MERAH & BAWANG PUTIH" | Cerita Rakyat Jawa Tengah

Summary

The story follows Bawang Putih, a kind-hearted girl who is mistreated by her stepmother and stepsister, Bawang Merah. Despite the hardship, she continues to help others selflessly. One day, after helping a grandmother by the river, Bawang Putih is rewarded with a small song that contains gold. Bawang Merah, seeing the reward, decides to visit the grandmother for a larger one, but her greed leads to her downfall. In the end, the stepmother perishes after being bitten by a snake, and Bawang Putih’s kindness is ultimately rewarded.

Takeaways

• 😀 Bawang Putih is a kind and hardworking young girl who lives with her father and stepmother.
• 😀 Bawang Merah, the stepdaughter, is arrogant, selfish, and often bullies Bawang Putih.
• 😀 Bawang Putih’s stepmother favors Bawang Merah, causing Bawang Putih to suffer and feel neglected.
• 😀 Despite her hardships, Bawang Putih remains diligent, waking up early to clean the house and complete chores.
• 😀 One day, Bawang Putih accidentally loses her mother’s clothes in the river and sets off to find them.
• 😀 While searching, Bawang Putih encounters a grandmother and helps her with her chores without complaint.
• 😀 In return for her kindness, the grandmother gifts Bawang Putih a song, symbolizing her good deeds.
• 😀 When Bawang Putih returns home late, her mother scolds her, but Bawang Merah is intrigued by the song’s value.
• 😀 Bawang Merah, eager for riches, helps the grandmother too, hoping for a bigger reward.
• 😀 The grandmother gives Bawang Merah a much larger song, leading her to believe she will become wealthy.
• 😀 In the end, the stepmother dies after being bitten by a snake, bringing an unexpected twist to the story.

Q & A

What is the main conflict in the story of Bawang Putih and Bawang Merah?

The main conflict revolves around the mistreatment of Bawang Putih by her stepmother and stepsister, Bawang Merah, who is favored and behaves arrogantly, making Bawang Putih's life difficult.

How does Bawang Putih respond to her stepmother's harsh treatment?

Bawang Putih responds with patience and kindness, doing her chores without complaint, despite not receiving breakfast or appreciation.

What significant event happens to Bawang Putih while she is washing clothes by the river?

While washing clothes by the river, Bawang Putih’s mother’s favorite clothes are swept away by the current, leading her to search the river and ultimately encounter a kind grandmother in a cave.

What reward does the grandmother give to Bawang Putih for her help?

The grandmother rewards Bawang Putih with two songs, one small and one large, as a token of gratitude for her sincere help.

Why does Bawang Merah want to meet the grandmother?

Bawang Merah wants to meet the grandmother in hopes of receiving a larger reward, as she believes the bigger song will make her and her mother rich.

What happens when Bawang Merah receives her reward from the grandmother?

Bawang Merah receives a large pumpkin instead of a valuable song, which is a symbol of her greed and selfishness, contrasting with the valuable rewards given to Bawang Putih.

What is the significance of the small and large songs given by the grandmother?

The small and large songs symbolize the rewards for good deeds, with the small song representing the value of kindness and the large one symbolizing the consequence of greed.

How does the stepmother's fate unfold in the story?

The stepmother, who had treated Bawang Putih poorly and favored Bawang Merah, dies after fainting and being bitten by a snake, highlighting the eventual consequences of her cruel behavior.

How does the ending of the story reflect the central themes?

The ending reinforces the themes of kindness and justice, as Bawang Putih is rewarded for her good deeds, while the greedy Bawang Merah faces misfortune, and the stepmother suffers for her cruelty.

What moral lessons can be drawn from the story of Bawang Putih and Bawang Merah?

The story teaches the values of kindness, humility, and the idea that good actions are ultimately rewarded, while selfishness and greed lead to negative consequences.