The Happy Prince

 Introduction

This story is about a Prince. When the prince was alive, he was very happy. He didn't know what misery was. After his death, a big statue of his was erected on a pedestal. From there, the statue of Prince could see the entire city. Then he saw the miseries of the people. He saw the poor people, the homeless, their hunger, and starvation. The Prince was sad to see all these miseries, and sadness of the people. He wanted to help them somehow. A swallow became his messenger. 

The story is written by Oscar Wilde, a well-known Irish dramatist, and author.

Meanings

gilded: to be covered with something, coating of something

hilt: the handle of a weapon or tool, especially a sword, dagger, or knife 

swallow: a tiny bird 

Alighted: descended 

curious: strange 

drenched: soaked with water 

misery: sadness 

coarse: rough

seamstress: a woman who makes a living by sewing. 

sword hilt: the handle of the sword

pedestal: a raised platform 

mast: sail of the ship 

slumber: sleep

sank: drown (but here it means the boy is going to sleep)

prospect: the thought of something 

Steeple: high tower of the church 

garret: small dark room at the top of the house

withered: worn out

violet: a kind of flower 

pomegranate: a fruit 

faint: weak

grate: fireplace

darted: pushed himself inside 

appreciate: to praise someone 

harbor: seaport

swooped: fly very low 

shabby: untidy

proclamation: order, rule 

furnace: a fireplace where metal is melted 

overseer: supervisor

foundry: a workshop for casting metals

Summary

Once in a town, there lived a prince. He was called the Happy Prince because he had been happy all his life. After his death, his statue was erected on a tall pedestal in the middle of the town. The statue was covered with gold and had two precious sapphire stones embedded in the eyes. A ruby stone had been fitted into the handle of his sword. From there, he could see all around the place and realized that the people lived in a lot of poverty and misery. This sight saddened the prince and being helpless, he would weep to see the plight of his people.

One day a swallow was flying through the city, on its way to Egypt to meet his friends. It took shelter for the night at the feet of the statue happy prince. The swallow came to know that the prince was weeping for peoples’ miseries. The helpless prince requested the bird to help poor people by becoming his messenger. The swallow was unwilling initially. Later the bird agreed to become the prince’s messenger.

The swallow plucked the ruby from the hilt of the prince and gave it to a poor seamstress. Her son was suffering from a fever. The swallow fanned the boy with his wings and made his sleep. The seamstress felt happy for the ruby.

The next morning, as he went to bid goodbye, the happy prince convinced him to stay back for one more day. That day, the bird was asked to remove the sapphire stone from one of the statue’s eyes and deliver it to a young playwright. The playwright was without food and firewood.

On the third day, the happy prince ordered the bird to pull out the second sapphire. It was for a poor match girl. The match girl had dropped all her matches and worried that her father would punish her. She was happy to receive the sapphire.

By this time, the weather had become cold. The swallow decided to stay with the happy prince.  The statue asked the bird to go around the city and inform him about the condition of the people living there. The bird told him that the rich were making merry while the poor lived in misery. Then happy prince ordered the bird to remove the gold foils from his body and give it to the poor who needed money. Gradually, the statue of the prince lost its covering of gold and became dull and grey. The poor were as they got bread to eat.

The swallow was now unable to withstand the cold weather and realized that death was approaching. He told the happy prince that he had to leave him forever. As the bird died and fell at the statue’s feet, a strange sound came out of the statue. It was the sound of the breaking of its heart. Although the statue’s heart was made of lead, it broke as it was overwhelmed with affection towards the bird. When the statue was melted in the furnace, the heart did not melt and was thrown in the garbage. It landed near the swallow’s body. God’s angel took both the dead swallow and the broken heart to him as they were the most precious things in the city.

Textual Questions

Think about it (Page 36)

1. Why do the courtiers call the prince ‘the Happy Prince’? Is he really happy? What does he see all around him?

He was a prince when he was alive. Being a prince he never knew sorrow and suffering. So, the courtiers called him ‘the happy prince’. But he was not happy after he was made as a statue. He could see the miserable conditions of the people around him. That made him sad.

2. Why does the Happy Prince send a ruby for the seamstress? What does the swallow do in the seamstress’ house?

The seamstress was tired due to overwork. She was so poor that she could not buy oranges for her little sick son. The Happy Prince saw the poor lady and her son. He felt pity for them. So, he sent a ruby for her. The swallow came to the poor woman’s house and laid the ruby on the table beside her. The bird fanned the boy’s forehead with wings and flew back to the Happy Prince.

3. For whom does the prince send the sapphires and why?

The playwright was very poor. He was not able to food and firewood. The prince sent the first sapphire to the playwright so that he could finish a play for the director of the theatre in time. He sent his second sapphire to a poor match girl. Her matches had fallen into the gutter. She was afraid that her father would punish her for this loss. So, she was helped by the prince by sending her the second sapphire.

4. What does the swallow see when it was flying over the city?

The swallow saw all kinds of people. He found the rich making merry in their beautiful houses and beggars begging at the gates. He also saw a group of wandering children who were very poor.

5. Why did the swallow not leave the prince and go to Egypt?

In the beginning, the swallow wished to go to Egypt just after discharging his duty. But when he saw Prince’s activities of charity and kindness he got impressed. After giving away his two sapphires the Happy Prince had become totally blind. The swallow could not leave the Prince helpless. He decided not to go to Egypt. 

6. What are the precious things mentioned in the story? Why are they precious?

The leaden heart of the Happy Prince and the dead swallow are the two precious things mentioned in the story. They are precious as they did various deeds for the welfare of people and sacrificed their lives for the sake of others.

Talk about it  (Page 36)

1. The little swallow says, “It is curious, but I feel quite warm now, although it is so cold.” Have you ever had such a feeling? Share your experience with your friends.

We are living in a society. We need each other to live happily. We have to help each other. If we help others without any selfishness, we feel happy and satisfied. In the same way, when others help us, we feel grateful.

In this lesson, the happy prince, the little swallow feels warmth when he helps the needy people. Because of this selfless service, he becomes satisfied. Yes, I have experienced such a feeling many a time. I believe in helping others. Others also help me whenever I am in need. If we can help others we feel more confident, lively, and happy.