The Devoted Friend by Oscar Wilde
An old Water-rat observes a mother Duck teaching her ducklings to stand on their heads, leading to a discussion about friendship. The Water-rat claims that true friendship is the highest virtue, prompting a Green Linnet to inquire about the responsibilities of a devoted friend. The Water-rat's inability to articulate reciprocity leads the Linnet to share a story. The tale centers on a kind-hearted man named Hans, who lives alone and tends to a beautiful garden. His closest friend is Hugh the Miller, who frequently takes from Hans's garden but never gives anything in return. Despite the Miller's selfishness, Hans admires him and believes in the nobility of their friendship. As winter arrives, Hans struggles with hunger and loneliness, while the Miller rationalizes his absence, claiming that friends should not burden each other during tough times. When spring comes, the Miller visits Hans, who is excited to sell flowers at the market to buy back his sold possessions. The Miller offers Hans a broken wheelbarrow, expecting Hans to give him flowers in return, which Hans willingly does, despite needing them for himself. The Miller continues to impose on Hans, asking him to perform various tasks, which Hans dutifully accepts, believing it is the essence of friendship. Hans neglects his garden, but he remains optimistic about the wheelbarrow. One stormy night, the Miller sends Hans to fetch a doctor for his injured son, but Hans gets lost and ultimately drowns in a moor. At Hans's funeral, the Miller mourns, primarily concerned about the wheelbarrow he had intended to give Hans. The story concludes with the Linnet and the Water-rat discussing the moral implications of the tale, which the Water-rat dismisses, revealing his lack of understanding of true friendship. The Linnet suggests that the story carries a moral lesson, but the Water-rat's indifference highlights the theme of selfishness versus genuine friendship.
By Oscar Wilde · First published 1887 · Genre: Fable, Children's Literature, Satire · 5,397 words
First lines
One morning the old Water-rat put his head out of his hole. He had bright beady eyes and stiff grey whiskers and his tail was like a long bit of black india-rubber. The little ducks were swimming about in the pond, looking just like a lot of yellow canaries, and their mother, who was pure white with real red legs, was trying to teach them how to stand on their heads in the water.
"You will never be in the best society unless you can stand on your heads," she kept saying to them; and every now and then she showed them how it was done. But the little ducks paid no attention to her. They were so young that they did not know what an advantage it is to be in society at all.
What this Textopian page supports
The Devoted Friend is listed on Textopian as a short story by Oscar Wilde, dated 1887 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Oscar Wilde
- Date: 1887 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fable, Children's Literature, Satire, Fantasy, Moral Tale
- Length: 5,397 words
- Structure: 1 section, 113 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Devoted Friend by Oscar Wilde
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Devoted Friend?
- How does this short story by Oscar Wilde fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fable first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Reward Of Kindness by Parker Fillmore
- Everything In Its Right Place by Hans Christian Andersen
- How The First Letter Was Written by Rudyard Kipling
- The Lion The Wolf And The Fox by Leo Tolstoy
- The Duck And The Moon by Leo Tolstoy
- There Is A Difference by Hans Christian Andersen
Genres
- Fable — The story conveys a moral lesson through anthropomorphized characters and a narrative structure typical of fables.
- Children's Literature — The simple language, engaging characters, and moral themes make it suitable for a young audience.
- Satire — The story critiques the nature of friendship and self-interest, highlighting the absurdity of the Miller's behavior.
- Fantasy — The use of talking animals and a whimsical setting places it within the fantasy genre.
Tags
Fiction · Novella · Philosophy · Friendship · Morality · Satire · Social Commentary · Literary Fiction · 19th Century Literature · English Literature · Classical Education · Coming of Age