The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde
A statue of a gilded prince stands high above a city, admired for its beauty but unaware of the suffering below. Once a living man, the prince was blissfully ignorant of sorrow, but now, from his lofty perch, he weeps for the misery he sees. A swallow, delayed in his migration to Egypt, lands at the statue's feet and learns of the prince's sorrow. The prince asks the swallow to help a poor seamstress whose son is ill, offering his ruby for the boy's medicine. The swallow, moved by the prince's plight, agrees to stay and assist. The swallow delivers the ruby, witnessing the joy it brings to the seamstress and her son. The next night, the prince requests the swallow's help again, this time to aid a struggling young playwright. The swallow plucks out one of the prince's sapphires and delivers it to the starving artist, who is inspired to finish his work. As winter approaches, the swallow contemplates leaving for Egypt but is persuaded to stay one more night to help the prince. The prince, now blind, continues to direct the swallow to help those in need. The swallow removes the prince's remaining sapphire to give to a poor match-girl, ensuring she won't be punished by her father. The swallow decides to remain with the prince, who shares stories of the world beyond the city, but the swallow grows weaker from the cold. As the swallow nears death, he bids farewell to the prince, who expresses his love. The swallow kisses the prince and dies at his feet, causing the prince's lead heart to break. The next day, city officials, noticing the statue's disrepair, decide to dismantle it, deeming it no longer beautiful or useful. They melt down the statue, but the lead heart refuses to melt and is discarded alongside the dead swallow. In heaven, God recognizes the sacrifice of the swallow and the prince's compassion, declaring them the most precious things in the city. The prince and the swallow are rewarded in paradise, where the swallow sings eternally, and the prince praises God.
By Oscar Wilde · First published 1888 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Children's Literature, Allegory · 4,267 words
First lines
High above the city, on a tall column, stood the statue of the Happy Prince. He was gilded all over with thin leaves of fine gold, for eyes he had two bright sapphires, and a large red ruby glowed on his sword-hilt.
He was very much admired indeed. "He is as beautiful as a weathercock," remarked one of the Town Councillors who wished to gain a reputation for having artistic tastes; "only not quite so useful," he added, fearing lest people should think him unpractical, which he really was not.
What this Textopian page supports
The Happy Prince is listed on Textopian as a novella by Oscar Wilde, dated 1888 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novella
- Author: Oscar Wilde
- Date: 1888 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fairy Tale, Children's Literature, Allegory, Fantasy, Social Commentary
- Length: 4,267 words
- Structure: 1 section, 85 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Happy Prince?
- How does this novella by Oscar Wilde fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fairy Tale first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Nightingale And The Rose by Oscar Wilde
- The Old Beggar Woman by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Andersen
- The Wild Swans by Hans Christian Andersen
- Once There Was A King by Rabindranath Tagore
- Wings by Fyodor Sologub
Genres
- Fairy Tale — The story features fantastical elements, moral lessons, and a narrative style typical of fairy tales.
- Children's Literature — The themes of kindness, sacrifice, and compassion are suitable for a young audience.
- Allegory — The characters and events symbolize deeper moral and social issues, such as poverty and selflessness.
- Fantasy — The presence of talking animals and anthropomorphized characters creates a fantastical setting.
Tags
Fable · Philosophy · Poetry · Social Commentary · Altruism · Selflessness · Compassion · Empathy · Morality · Mortality · Beauty · Ugliness