Synopsis of Indonesian Folktale, "The Golden Snail"

Synopsis of Indonesian Folktale, "The Golden Snail"

The Golden Snail

Once upon a time there lived a family of four persons, Jayanegara, Liku, and two of his children were named Dewi Candra and Galuh Ajeng. That siblings had a very contradictory behavior.

One time , Jaya and his son, Inu Kertapati visited Jayanegara’s home to formed friendships. Jaya intends to match Inu with one of the daughters of Jayanegara. But Inu was confused and he takes 5 years to choose between Dewi and Ajeng to be his future wife. Before Inu went home , he gave two gifts to them. Ajeng choose great gifts and Dewi gets the rest. After receiving the gift, Ajeng felt bad because she only gets a ring. While Dewi get diamond jewelry. Because Ajeng couldn’t accept it then she asks for Dewi’s gifts.

Five years have passed, Inu went back to visit Jayanegara’s home to decide the choice between Dewi or Ajeng who would be his future wife. When he got Jayanegara’s home, he was surprised because Dewi only wear rings, while Ajeng wear jewelry that should be used Dewi. Since then, Inu came to know the true nature between the Dewi and Ajeng. And Inu prefer Dewi to Ajeng to be his future wife.

Because Ajeng can’t accept that thing, Ajeng and her mother went to the witch at Mount Demit to bewitch Dewi into snail. At the appointed time, Ajeng invites Dewi to the river to be conjured as snail. And Ajeng done to bewitch Dewi. When she got home, she said that the Dewi is lost when they sightseeing.

When Inu heard that the Dewi is lost , immediately he tried to found where’s Dewi. On the way he looked for Dewi, Inu met an old widow who lives in Dadakan village. When Inu asleep, he got the hint that the Dewi was not far from where he was looking for.

When Inu walking, he saw an old woman who was attacked by the crocodile. Immediately he was helping that grandma. Then that grandmother was invited Inu to his house. Inu then told her about his purposes why he went there. And finally the grandmother was take golden snail and she told that it’s  Dewi Candra.

After that, Inu asked Dewi to go home. When they reached home, Ajeng and Liku shocked. They did not expect that Dewi can turn to be a human again . Ajeng and Liku as soon as possible escape from the house. They scared that their secret has been uncovered. Suddenly their faces turn so ugly, they are not aware and then they hurted each other. Liku and Ajeng eventually died.