Episode 055: End Lahirnya I La Galigo
by I La Galigo
Adapted Version
A new warmth settled over Ale Cina with Sawerigading and We Cudai's marriage. Yet, We Cudai, secretly admiring her handsome husband, refused to praise him to her parents, creating tension.
"He deeply hurt my feelings," We Cudai sharply told her sister, We Tenriabeng. Though she loved him, her immense pride prevented her from admitting it, fueling resentment.
We Cudai's Mother noticed her strange behavior. "Why do you not eat, child?" she asked, observing her cravings, suspecting *ngidam*.
We Tenriabeng watched We Cudai, concerned by her unpredictable attitude. Sawerigading, however, remained calm, believing their child's birth would normalize everything.
We Cudai soon showed clear pregnancy signs. Yet, her stubbornness persisted. "I will not apologize," she vowed, her pride unyielding despite her changing body.
When birth arrived, intense pain wracked We Cudai. "Call Puang Matoa!" she cried, invoking a revered elder. Sawerigading rushed to her side, heart heavy. He gently placed his hand on her swollen belly,
Original Story
Episode 055: End Lahirnya I La Galigo
Hari-hari di kerajaan Ale Cina kini dibungkus kehangatan, di mana Sawerigading dan We Cudai berbagi kebahagiaan baru. Namun, We Cudai masih tak mau mengakui ketampanan suaminya di depan orang tuanya. "Apa kamu yakin Sawerigading seburuk itu?" tanya We Tenriabeng, mengamati tingkah saudarinya.
"Dia adalah penguasa yang menyakitkan hatiku," jawab We Cudai dengan nada menggigit. "Bukan berarti aku tidak mencintainya, tetapi harga diriku terlalu tinggi."
Di sudut lainnya, sang ibu putih dari We Cudai, merasa gelisah dengan perilaku putrinya, bertanya, "Mengapa kau tidak mau makan, Nak? Apa yang terjadi padamu?"
"Aku ingin jambu dan mangga muda," jawabnya mendesak, seraya menyembunyikan perasaannya yang sebenarnya. Tentu saja, ibunya mengetahui apa makna permintaan itu. "Apakah kau sedang ngidam?" ia curiga.
We Tenriabeng menatap Sawerigading, "Dia pasti mengalami sesuatu. Sikapnya makin tidak terduga."
Sawerigading hanya tersenyum, "Ini semua akan berlalu. Ketika bayi kami lahir, semua akan kembali normal."
Waktu berlalu dan pengharapan tiba di puncaknya. We Cudai mulai merasakan tanda-tanda kehamilan, tapi tetap bertahan dalam sikapnya yang keras hati. "Aku tidak akan meminta maaf padanya," geramnya dalam batin.
Ketika saat melahirkan tiba, rasa sakit menyengat sekujur tubuh We Cudai. "Panggil Puang Matoa!" teriaknya.
Ketidaksabaran mengalir, dan sawah Gading tak tinggal diam. "Biarkan aku berdoa untukmu," ujarnya saat meraba perut istrinya. "Ya, Patoto'e, ampuni kami."
Ajaib, rasa sakit We Cudai mereda. Akhirnya lahir seorang bayi laki-laki dan kegembiraan merayapi istana. Namun, di balik kegembiraan itu, We Cudai tak dapat menahan rasa bencinya. "Buang dia!" teriaknya, menjambak emosinya yang meluap.
"Saya tidak akan membiarkan anakku dibuang!" Sawerigading bersuara tegas, berusaha menengahi perasaan hampa yang menyelimuti. "Dia adalah masa depan kita!"
Bayi itu terpaksa diletakkan di atas rakit, menyisakan air mata di wajah bundo. Sawerigading menggelar hatinya, bertekad untuk menemui anaknya yang terasing. "Aku akan menemukannya," tuturnya dengan nada penuh keyakinan.
"Bayi itu akan menjadi sejarah," ucapnya penuh harapan. Dan di sinilah, kisah La Galigo dimulai, sebuah lahirnya penulisan sejarah yang akan dikenang sepanjang masa.
Setiap telapak kaki yang digenggam tak pernah sia-sia, dan Sawerigading melanjutkan pencarian cinta dan harapan yang tak lekang oleh waktu.
Story DNA
Moral
Pride can lead to suffering and separation, but love and destiny will ultimately prevail.
Plot Summary
Despite their new marriage, We Cudai's immense pride prevents her from acknowledging her handsome husband, Sawerigading, even as she becomes pregnant. Her stubbornness persists through her pregnancy and childbirth, but Sawerigading's prayer miraculously eases her pain. Upon the birth of their son, We Cudai, in a fit of emotion, demands the baby be cast away. Sawerigading, however, saves the child, placing him on a raft and vowing to find him, thus beginning the epic tale of La Galigo.
Themes
Emotional Arc
tension to relief, followed by sorrow and hope
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
The I La Galigo is one of the world's longest epic poems, originating from the Bugis people of South Sulawesi, Indonesia. It recounts the mythical origins of their ancestors and their journey. This episode describes the birth of one of its central figures, La Galigo.
Plot Beats (13)
- Sawerigading and We Cudai are married, but We Cudai refuses to acknowledge her husband's good looks to her parents.
- We Cudai expresses her resentment towards Sawerigading, despite loving him, due to her high pride.
- We Cudai's mother notices her daughter's unusual behavior and cravings for specific fruits, suspecting pregnancy.
- We Tenriabeng observes We Cudai's unpredictable attitude, while Sawerigading remains calm, believing the baby's birth will normalize things.
- We Cudai experiences pregnancy symptoms but remains stubborn, refusing to apologize to Sawerigading.
- During childbirth, We Cudai suffers immense pain and calls for Puang Matoa.
- Sawerigading prays for We Cudai, touching her belly, and her pain miraculously subsides.
- A baby boy is born, bringing joy to the palace.
- Overwhelmed by emotion, We Cudai demands the baby be cast away.
- Sawerigading firmly refuses, stating the child is their future.
- The baby is placed on a raft, causing sorrow for We Cudai.
- Sawerigading vows to find his son, believing the child will become history.
- The story concludes with the statement that this event marks the beginning of the La Galigo narrative, and Sawerigading embarks on a quest for his son.
Characters
★
Sawerigading
Implied handsome, though We Cudai refuses to admit it.
Attire: Implied royal attire of Bugis tradition.
Patient, loving, determined, firm.
★
We Cudai
Pregnant during the story's events.
Attire: Implied royal attire of Bugis tradition, possibly maternity wear during pregnancy.
Stubborn, proud, hard-hearted, emotional, conflicted.
◆
We Tenriabeng
Sister of We Cudai.
Attire: Implied royal attire of Bugis tradition.
Observant, concerned, supportive.
The Mother of We Cudai
Referred to as 'sang ibu putih' (the white mother), possibly indicating status or wisdom.
Attire: Implied royal attire of Bugis tradition.
Concerned, wise, understanding.
I La Galigo
A newborn baby boy.
Attire: Swaddled in infant clothes, later placed on a raft.
Innocent, helpless.
Puang Matoa
Not described, but implied to be a person of authority or spiritual significance.
Attire: Unknown, but likely traditional Bugis attire for a person of their role.
Implied to be a figure of help or authority.
Patoto'e
A deity or spiritual entity, not physically present.
Attire: None (spiritual entity).
Benevolent, forgiving (as invoked by Sawerigading).
Locations
Kerajaan Ale Cina
A royal palace, likely grand and ornate, where Sawerigading and We Cudai reside. It is filled with the warmth of new happiness, despite underlying tensions.
Mood: Initially warm and hopeful, later tense and emotional due to We Cudai's stubbornness and the birth.
The initial setting for Sawerigading and We Cudai's life together, where We Cudai's pregnancy is revealed and the birth of their child occurs.
We Cudai's Chambers (during childbirth)
A private room within the palace, filled with the sounds of pain and urgency during childbirth.
Mood: Intense, painful, urgent, then joyful with the birth, quickly turning to anger and despair.
The dramatic birth of the baby, followed by We Cudai's rejection of the child and Sawerigading's intervention.
River/Waterway
A body of water where a baby is placed on a raft and set adrift.
Mood: Sorrowful, desperate, but also imbued with a sense of destiny and hope for the future.
The pivotal moment where the baby, La Galigo, is cast away on a raft, marking the beginning of his legendary journey.