Norma is distressed, both because her husband, Joe Dawson is much older than her and because she had previously vowed her eternal love to Idrus, and dreamt of having a home with him.

Their marriage becomes increasingly unhappy: Nazzaruddin is unable to handle his wife's Western education, whilst Norma sinks further into a depression after hearing of the heartbroken Idrus' death.

[1] Melati van Agam was directed by Tan Tjoei Hock for Java Industrial Films and produced by the company's owner, The Teng Chun.

Tan adapted the story from the 1922 novel of the same name by Swan Pen (a pseudonym of journalist Parada Harahap).

[2] Marketing emphasised Harahap's role as the original novelist; at the time, the film industry was attempting to push away from the theatrical traditions, and journalism was considered a "modern" profession.

[2] A review in the Medan-based De Sumatra Post praised Soekarti's performance as Norma, saying she "appears to have great talents.