Sengsara Membawa Nikmat
Encyclopedia
Sengsara Membawa Nikmat (English
: Blessing in Disguise) is an Indonesian novel
written by Tulis Sutan Sati
. It was published in 1929 by Balai Pustaka
. It tells the story of Munir, the son of a farmer, who experiences many trials before finally living happily with his new wife. It has been noted as one of Sati's most interesting works.
, is jealous of Midun, the religious and popular son of a poor farmer; Kacak often attempts to goad Midun into fighting him. After Midun saves his wife from drowning, Kacak becomes enraged at the thought that Midun had touched his wife and attacks him. Midun fights back, quickly knocking Kacak out. As a result of his actions, Midun is forced to do tasks for the village leader under Kacak's supervision.
Still enraged at Midun, Kacak hires an assassin to kill him. When the attempt fails, the assassin and Midun are arrested and sent to prison. While in prison, Midun is tortured until he earns a reputation for being a good fighter. He also meets Halimah, who lives with her stepfather, after returning her diamond necklace. After he is released from prison, Midun takes Halimah to find her father in Bogor
.
After living with them for two months, Midun attempts to go to Batavia
to find work, together with Halimah. Along the way, he meets the Arab Indonesian
Syekh Abdullah, who lends him money; after refusing to pay the high interest
or letting Abudullah marry Halimah, Midun is arrested. After his release, he saves a Dutch youth being attacked in Pasar Baru. For saving the boy, Midun is granted a job at the police station by the boy's father, the hoofdcommissaris (head commissioner). He also marries Halimah.
Midun is later stationed in Padang upon request to the commissioner, after hearing that his father had died. Kacak is arrested for embezzlement, and Midun lives happily ever after.
view. Unlike the earlier novel Muda Teruna by Muhammad Kasim, part of the story takes place outside of Sumatra
.
C. W. Watson notes that Sengsara Membawa Nikmat, similar to Marah Roesli
's novel Sitti Nurbaya
, reflects Balai Pustaka's "antitraditional stance", which in his opinion required the support of progressive ideas and the condemnation of conservative traditionalism. He points to the two-page passage in the novel where Midun discusses the traditional witch doctors (dukun
) with Halimah, indicating that women who go to the dukun for help saving their marriages actually end up destroying them with the extra costs; other acts condemned include the traditional love potions and possible vengeful actions of the dukun. This theme is later continued in Sati's novel Syair Rosina.
Dutch critic of Indonesian literature A. Teeuw notes that the novel's theme is not exclusively Minangkabau, as it is about the conflict between an evil and a good youth, with the good eventually winning.
in 1929. It was adapted into a sinetron (Indonesian soap opera
) in 1991. The adaptation was directed by Agus Wijoyono and starred W.D. Mochtar, Septian Dwi Cahyo, and Sandy Nayoan.
Teeuw considers it Sati's most interesting work. He writes that it is capable of immersing the reader in the Minangkabau village life, with its everyday events and natural human reactions.
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
: Blessing in Disguise) is an Indonesian novel
Indonesian literature
Indonesian literature, is a term grouping various genres of South-East Asian literature.Indonesian Literature can refer to literature produced in the Indonesian archipelago. It is also used to refer more broadly to literature produced in areas with common language roots based on the Malay language...
written by Tulis Sutan Sati
Tulis Sutan Sati
Tulis Sutan Sati was one of Indonesian prominent writers of the Balai Pustaka Generation.-List of Novels:* Tak Disangka * Sengsara Membawa Nikmat * Syair Rosina...
. It was published in 1929 by Balai Pustaka
Balai Pustaka
Balai Pustaka is the state-owned publisher of Indonesia and publisher of major pieces of Indonesian literature such as Salah Asuhan, Sitti Nurbaya and Layar Terkembang. Its head office is in Jakarta....
. It tells the story of Munir, the son of a farmer, who experiences many trials before finally living happily with his new wife. It has been noted as one of Sati's most interesting works.
Plot
Kacak, the conceited nephew of a rich village leader in PadangPadang, Indonesia
Padang is the capital and largest city of West Sumatra, Indonesia. It is located on the western coast of Sumatra at . It has an area of and a population of over 833,000 people at the 2010 Census.-History:...
, is jealous of Midun, the religious and popular son of a poor farmer; Kacak often attempts to goad Midun into fighting him. After Midun saves his wife from drowning, Kacak becomes enraged at the thought that Midun had touched his wife and attacks him. Midun fights back, quickly knocking Kacak out. As a result of his actions, Midun is forced to do tasks for the village leader under Kacak's supervision.
Still enraged at Midun, Kacak hires an assassin to kill him. When the attempt fails, the assassin and Midun are arrested and sent to prison. While in prison, Midun is tortured until he earns a reputation for being a good fighter. He also meets Halimah, who lives with her stepfather, after returning her diamond necklace. After he is released from prison, Midun takes Halimah to find her father in Bogor
Bogor
Bogor is a city on the island of Java in the West Java province of Indonesia. The city is located in the center of the Bogor Regency , 60 kilometers south of the Indonesian capital Jakarta...
.
After living with them for two months, Midun attempts to go to Batavia
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
to find work, together with Halimah. Along the way, he meets the Arab Indonesian
Arab Indonesian
Arab Indonesians are citizens of Indonesia of Arab, mainly Hadrami, descent. Restricted under Dutch East Indies' law until 1919, the community elites later gained economic power through real estate investment and trading...
Syekh Abdullah, who lends him money; after refusing to pay the high interest
Usury
Usury Originally, when the charging of interest was still banned by Christian churches, usury simply meant the charging of interest at any rate . In countries where the charging of interest became acceptable, the term came to be used for interest above the rate allowed by law...
or letting Abudullah marry Halimah, Midun is arrested. After his release, he saves a Dutch youth being attacked in Pasar Baru. For saving the boy, Midun is granted a job at the police station by the boy's father, the hoofdcommissaris (head commissioner). He also marries Halimah.
Midun is later stationed in Padang upon request to the commissioner, after hearing that his father had died. Kacak is arrested for embezzlement, and Midun lives happily ever after.
Themes
Sengsara Membawa Nikmat focuses mainly on the story of Midun, taking a realisticLiterary realism
Literary realism most often refers to the trend, beginning with certain works of nineteenth-century French literature and extending to late-nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century authors in various countries, towards depictions of contemporary life and society "as they were." In the spirit of...
view. Unlike the earlier novel Muda Teruna by Muhammad Kasim, part of the story takes place outside of Sumatra
Sumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
.
C. W. Watson notes that Sengsara Membawa Nikmat, similar to Marah Roesli
Marah Roesli
-Biography:Marah Roesli was is an Indonesian author of the Balai Pustaka generation. He is famous for his novel, Sitti Nurbaya, which is about Sitti Nurbaya, a woman who is forced by her parents to marry a boy she has not chosen...
's novel Sitti Nurbaya
Sitti Nurbaya
Sitti Nurbaya: Kasih Tak Sampai is an Indonesian novel by Marah Rusli. It was published by Balai Pustaka, the state-owned publisher and literary bureau of the Dutch East Indies, in 1922...
, reflects Balai Pustaka's "antitraditional stance", which in his opinion required the support of progressive ideas and the condemnation of conservative traditionalism. He points to the two-page passage in the novel where Midun discusses the traditional witch doctors (dukun
Dukun
A dukun is an Indonesian-Malay term for shaman. In Malaysia, they are often referred to as bomoh, but dukun is the more ancient term. Their societal role is that of a traditional healer, spirit medium, custom and tradition experts and on occasion sorcerers and masters of black magic.The dukun is...
) with Halimah, indicating that women who go to the dukun for help saving their marriages actually end up destroying them with the extra costs; other acts condemned include the traditional love potions and possible vengeful actions of the dukun. This theme is later continued in Sati's novel Syair Rosina.
Dutch critic of Indonesian literature A. Teeuw notes that the novel's theme is not exclusively Minangkabau, as it is about the conflict between an evil and a good youth, with the good eventually winning.
Release
Sengsara Membawa Nikmat was originally published by Balai PustakaBalai Pustaka
Balai Pustaka is the state-owned publisher of Indonesia and publisher of major pieces of Indonesian literature such as Salah Asuhan, Sitti Nurbaya and Layar Terkembang. Its head office is in Jakarta....
in 1929. It was adapted into a sinetron (Indonesian soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
) in 1991. The adaptation was directed by Agus Wijoyono and starred W.D. Mochtar, Septian Dwi Cahyo, and Sandy Nayoan.
Teeuw considers it Sati's most interesting work. He writes that it is capable of immersing the reader in the Minangkabau village life, with its everyday events and natural human reactions.