A Smiling Idol
Story Summary
In "A Smiling Idol," a Missionary confronts an Idol about the impact of his influence, insisting on sharing his beliefs despite the Idol's mockery. During a religious ceremony, the Missionary is ultimately sacrificed, leading the Idol to humorously reflect on the futility of the Missionary's efforts, which causes a blight across surrounding provinces. This captivating moral story serves as a reminder that some battles are fought in vain, making it one of the best moral stories in the realm of moral-based storytelling.
Click to reveal the moral of the story
The story illustrates the danger of misguided zeal and the consequences of underestimating the power of belief, as well as the irony of using words as weapons that can lead to one's own destruction.
Historical Context
This story reflects themes from colonial encounters between missionaries and indigenous cultures, highlighting the tension between Western religious ideologies and local beliefs. It draws on the tradition of satire in literature, reminiscent of works like Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal," where absurdity exposes the contradictions and moral dilemmas of its context. The narrative also echoes the folklore of various cultures where idols and deities engage in dialogue with humans, illustrating the clash of values between spirituality and materialism.
Our Editors Opinion
This story highlights the tension between tradition and progress, illustrating how deeply ingrained beliefs can resist change, even at the cost of one's own well-being. In modern life, this scenario parallels individuals or communities clinging to outdated ideologies despite evidence that change could lead to growth and improvement; for example, a community resistant to adopting renewable energy sources due to a reliance on traditional fossil fuels may suffer economically and environmentally as a result.
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Related Collections
Other names for this story
Idol's Witty Revenge, The Missionary's Dilemma, Smiles of the Idol, The Cunning Idol, Sacred Blight, The Idol's Paradox, Spiritual Conflict, Wit and Worship
Did You Know?
This story explores the irony of faith and the consequences of blind adherence to belief systems, highlighting how the very tools of persuasion can lead to one's downfall, as seen in the Missionary's fate despite his conviction. The Idol's smug reflection on the Missionary's demise underscores the theme of the futility of conflict between opposing ideologies when taken to extreme ends.
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Story Details
- Age Group
- adultkidschildrenstory for class 5story for class 6story for class 7story for class 8
- Theme
- the struggle between belief and idolatrythe consequences of pridethe futility of misguided devotion
- Characters
- idolmissionaryhigh priestworshippersprovinces of ghargaroomgwanascowow
- Setting
- idol's pedestalbase of the pedestalprovinces of GhargarooM'gwanaScowow