Chapter Overview
'The Happy Prince' tells the tale of a statue of a once-joyful prince, who, after his death, is placed on a pedestal in the city. From there, he observes the suffering of the poor and decides to help them by giving away all his riches. A little swallow, who has migrated from Egypt, helps him by delivering his jewels and gold to the needy. Through these acts of kindness, the statue loses its beauty, but the prince’s compassion shines through. Ultimately, the prince and the swallow are rewarded for their selflessness, illustrating the true meaning of sacrifice and generosity.
Important Keywords
- Happy Prince: A statue of a prince who was once rich and happy but becomes sorrowful when he sees the poverty and suffering in his city. He gives away all his wealth to help others.
- Swallow: A small bird that befriends the Happy Prince and helps him in his acts of charity by delivering the prince's gold and jewels to the poor.
- Selflessness: A key theme of the story, where both the Happy Prince and the swallow sacrifice their comfort and well-being for the good of others.
- Compassion: The ability to empathize with the suffering of others, demonstrated by the Happy Prince in his acts of charity.
- Charity: The giving of one’s wealth, time, or resources to help those in need, a central idea in the story.
- Sacrifice: The act of giving up something valuable for the benefit of others, exemplified by the Happy Prince and the swallow.