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Oscar Wilde’s The Happy Prince

                                                           Oscar Wilde’s The Happy Prince



Introduction

The Happy Prince is a famous story written by Oscar Wilde. It is a fairy tale, but it teaches important lessons about kindness, love, and helping poor people. Oscar Wilde was an Irish writer who wrote many stories, plays, and poems. 

The Happy Prince was very happy when he was alive. As a child, he lived in a big palace. He wore fine clothes, ate delicious food, and played in beautiful gardens. He had everything, but he did not know about the poor people who were suffering in the city. He thought life was only about happiness and luxury.

The Happy Prince Statue

After he died, the city placed a statue of him on a high column. The statue was covered with gold, and its eyes were made of sapphires. There was a big ruby on the hilt of his sword. The statue was very beautiful, but now the Happy Prince could see the city from above and notice the suffering of the poor people.

The Swallow and the Prince

One winter, a little swallow stopped near the statue. The Happy Prince asked the swallow to help the poor. He wanted the swallow to carry his gold and jewels to the needy people.

Helping the Poor

The Prince and the swallow helped many people:

  1. A poor woman whose child was sick — the swallow gave her the ruby.

  2. A little girl selling matches — she received gold from the Prince to buy food.

  3. A playwright/director who was very poor — he received sapphires so he could continue his work.

The swallow helped the Prince distribute all the gold and jewels. The swallow became weaker because of the cold winter, but he continued helping others.

Sacrifice and Death

Finally, the little swallow died from the cold after completing the Prince’s work. The statue, now without gold and jewels, was considered useless. The city melted it in a furnace. But the Prince’s lead heart did not melt.

The Reward

God saw the sacrifice of the Happy Prince and the swallow. He rewarded them for their kindness and love. Their souls were taken to heaven because they helped the poor selflessly.

Conclusion

The Happy Prince is a story of love, kindness, and sacrifice. It shows that real happiness comes from helping others, not from living in luxury. Oscar Wilde teaches us that even small acts of kindness can make a big difference in someone’s life.

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