The Angel's Tear
Story Summary
In "The Angel's Tear," a classic moral story, an unworthy man who once mocked the misfortunes of the woman he loved regrets his actions while dressed in sackcloth and ashes. The Angel of Compassion, observing his plight, drops a tear that turns into a hailstone, striking him on the head and causing him to fumble with an umbrella, prompting the Angel to laugh at his misfortune. This captivating tale serves as a simple moral story about the consequences of laughing at others' suffering, making it a memorable addition to famous fables with moral lessons for kids.
Click to reveal the moral of the story
The moral of the story is that mocking others in their suffering can lead to one's own misfortune and regret.
Historical Context
This story reflects themes found in various folk tales and moral fables that critique human behavior and the consequences of cruelty, notably drawing on elements from Western literary traditions such as those seen in Aesop’s Fables and the works of medieval morality plays. The juxtaposition of divine compassion with human folly also echoes motifs from religious texts, such as the biblical Proverbs, which emphasize the moral lessons of humility and empathy. The absurdity of the Unworthy Man's plight, combined with the Angel's laughter, serves to highlight the complexity of compassion and the often ironic nature of justice in both folklore and literature.
Our Editors Opinion
This story serves as a poignant reminder that mocking others in their moments of vulnerability can lead to unforeseen consequences, often returning to haunt us in our own times of distress. In modern life, consider a scenario where a colleague belittles another's struggles at work; later, that same colleague finds themselves in a difficult situation and feels isolated, realizing too late the importance of empathy and support, while their previous laughter reverberates in the silence of those they once scorned.
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Related Collections
Other names for this story
Angel's Compassion, Tears of Redemption, The Hailstone's Lesson, Laughter of the Divine, A Mortal's Regret, Compassion's Tear, The Unworthy's Awakening, Hail from Heaven
Did You Know?
This story highlights the theme of empathy and the consequences of mocking others' suffering, illustrating how the Unworthy Man's lack of compassion ultimately leads to his own misfortune, while the Angel of Compassion embodies the duality of sorrow and humor in the face of human folly.
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Story Details
- Age Group
- adultkidschildrenstory for class 2story for class 3story for class 4story for class 5story for class 6story for class 7story for class 8
- Theme
- compassionhumilitythe consequences of mockery
- Characters
- Unworthy ManWomanAngel of Compassion
- Setting
- sack-cloth-of-goldashes-of-rosescelestial realm